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Topic: Photos of Venezuela Topic: 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, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by military strongmen who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Although democratically elected governments largely held sway since 1959, the executive branch under Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, exercised increasingly authoritarian control over other branches of government.  This undemocratic 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 last democratically-elected institution is the 2015 National Assembly. The President of the 2015 National Assembly, Juan GUAIDO is currently recognized by several countries - including the United States - as the interim president of Venezuela, while MADURO is recognized by most countries. In 2020, legislative elections were held for a new National Assembly, which the opposition boycotted and which were widely condemned as fraudulent. The resulting assembly is viewed by GUAIDO, most opposition parties, and many international actors as illegitimate. In November 2021, most opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott to participate 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. The MADURO regime places strong restrictions on freedoms of expression and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party's economic policies expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls that discourage private sector investment and production, and overdependence on the petroleum industry for revenues, among others. 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 over 6 million Venezuelans to migrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. Since 2017, the US has imposed financial and sectoral sanctions on the MADURO regime. Since mid-2020, and despite MADURO regime mismanagement and faltering infrastructure, oil production has begun to rise primarily due to strengthened MADURO regime trade relations with China, Russia, Iran, and the illicit oil trade. Caracas has more recently relaxed some economic controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased currency and liberalizing import flexibility for private citizens and companies. Other concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by military strongmen who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Although democratically elected governments largely held sway since 1959, the executive branch under Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, exercised increasingly authoritarian control over other branches of government.  This undemocratic 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 last democratically-elected institution is the 2015 National Assembly. The President of the 2015 National Assembly, Juan GUAIDO is currently recognized by several countries - including the United States - as the interim president of Venezuela, while MADURO is recognized by most countries. In 2020, legislative elections were held for a new National Assembly, which the opposition boycotted and which were widely condemned as fraudulent. The resulting assembly is viewed by GUAIDO, most opposition parties, and many international actors as illegitimate. In November 2021, most opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott to participate 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. The MADURO regime places strong restrictions on freedoms of expression and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party's economic policies expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls that discourage private sector investment and production, and overdependence on the petroleum industry for revenues, among others. 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 over 6 million Venezuelans to migrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. Since 2017, the US has imposed financial and sectoral sanctions on the MADURO regime. Since mid-2020, and despite MADURO regime mismanagement and faltering infrastructure, oil production has begun to rise primarily due to strengthened MADURO regime trade relations with China, Russia, Iran, and the illicit oil trade. Caracas has more recently relaxed some economic controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased currency and liberalizing import flexibility for private citizens and companies. Other concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 882,050 sq km 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 border countries (3): Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km Coastline: 2,800 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 450 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds Land use: agricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.6% (2018 est.) forest: 52.1% (2018 est.) other: 23.4% (2018 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 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 account for some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m) that drops off Auyan Tepuinote 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South Americanote 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are 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 account for some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m) that drops off Auyan Tepui Map description: Venezuela map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caribbean Sea.Venezuela map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 29,789,730 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan Ethnic groups: unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects 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 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% Demographic profile: Social investment in Venezuela during the CHAVEZ administration reduced poverty from nearly 50% in 1999 to about 27% in 2011, increased school enrollment, substantially decreased infant and child mortality, and improved access to potable water and sanitation through social investment. "Missions" dedicated to education, nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation were funded through petroleum revenues. The sustainability of this progress remains questionable, however, as the continuation of these social programs depends on the prosperity of Venezuela's oil industry. In the long-term, education and health care spending may increase economic growth and reduce income inequality, but rising costs and the staffing of new health care jobs with foreigners are slowing development. While CHAVEZ was in power, more than one million predominantly middle- and upper-class Venezuelans are estimated to have emigrated. The brain drain is attributed to a repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, a high crime rate, and corruption. Thousands of oil engineers emigrated to Canada, Colombia, and the United States following CHAVEZ's firing of over 20,000 employees of the state-owned petroleum company during a 2002-03 oil strike. Additionally, thousands of Venezuelans of European descent have taken up residence in their ancestral homelands. Nevertheless, Venezuela has attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants from South America and southern Europe because of its lenient migration policy and the availability of education and health care. Venezuela also has been a fairly accommodating host to Colombian refugees, numbering about 170,000 as of year-end 2016. However, since 2014, falling oil prices have driven a major economic crisis that has pushed Venezuelans from all walks of life to migrate or to seek asylum abroad to escape severe shortages of food, water, and medicine; soaring inflation; unemployment; and violence. As of March 2020, an estimated 5 million Venezuelans were refugees or migrants worldwide, with almost 80% taking refuge in Latin America and the Caribbean (notably Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Curacao). Asylum applications increased significantly in the US and Brazil in 2016 and 2017. Several receiving countries are making efforts to increase immigration restrictions and to deport illegal Venezuelan migrants - Ecuador and Peru in August 2018 began requiring valid passports for entry, which are difficult to obtain for Venezuelans. Nevertheless, Venezuelans continue to migrate to avoid economic collapse at home.Social investment in Venezuela during the CHAVEZ administration reduced poverty from nearly 50% in 1999 to about 27% in 2011, increased school enrollment, substantially decreased infant and child mortality, and improved access to potable water and sanitation through social investment. "Missions" dedicated to education, nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation were funded through petroleum revenues. The sustainability of this progress remains questionable, however, as the continuation of these social programs depends on the prosperity of Venezuela's oil industry. In the long-term, education and health care spending may increase economic growth and reduce income inequality, but rising costs and the staffing of new health care jobs with foreigners are slowing development.While CHAVEZ was in power, more than one million predominantly middle- and upper-class Venezuelans are estimated to have emigrated. The brain drain is attributed to a repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, a high crime rate, and corruption. Thousands of oil engineers emigrated to Canada, Colombia, and the United States following CHAVEZ's firing of over 20,000 employees of the state-owned petroleum company during a 2002-03 oil strike. Additionally, thousands of Venezuelans of European descent have taken up residence in their ancestral homelands. Nevertheless, Venezuela has attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants from South America and southern Europe because of its lenient migration policy and the availability of education and health care. Venezuela also has been a fairly accommodating host to Colombian refugees, numbering about 170,000 as of year-end 2016. However, since 2014, falling oil prices have driven a major economic crisis that has pushed Venezuelans from all walks of life to migrate or to seek asylum abroad to escape severe shortages of food, water, and medicine; soaring inflation; unemployment; and violence. As of March 2020, an estimated 5 million Venezuelans were refugees or migrants worldwide, with almost 80% taking refuge in Latin America and the Caribbean (notably Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Curacao). Asylum applications increased significantly in the US and Brazil in 2016 and 2017. Several receiving countries are making efforts to increase immigration restrictions and to deport illegal Venezuelan migrants - Ecuador and Peru in August 2018 began requiring valid passports for entry, which are difficult to obtain for Venezuelans. Nevertheless, Venezuelans continue to migrate to avoid economic collapse at home. Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.66% (male 3,759,280/female 3,591,897) 15-24 years: 16.14% (male 2,348,073/female 2,275,912) 25-54 years: 41.26% (male 5,869,736/female 5,949,082) 55-64 years: 8.76% (male 1,203,430/female 1,305,285) 65 years and over: 8.18% (2020 est.) (male 1,069,262/female 1,272,646) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 54.4 youth dependency ratio: 42.1 elderly dependency ratio: 12.3 potential support ratio: 8.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 30 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.43% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 17.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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 (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.957 million CARACAS (capital), 2.333 million Maracaibo, 1.959 million Valencia, 1.241 million Barquisimeto, 1.230 million Maracay, 950,000 Ciudad Guayana (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 125 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.29 years male: 70.12 years female: 76.62 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 75% (2010) Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 94.2% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 5.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019) Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 95.8% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 4.2% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 100,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,200 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Note: as of 1 March 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Venezuela; the country is experiencing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and adequate health care is currently not available in most of the country Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2017) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.1% male: 97% female: 97.2% (2016) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.1% male: 10.5% NA female: 14.9% (2017 est.) NA Topic: Environment Environment - current 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 irresponsible mining operations Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 164.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 68.66 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Land use: agricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.6% (2018 est.) forest: 52.1% (2018 est.) other: 23.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 88.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Note: as of 1 March 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Venezuela; the country is experiencing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and adequate health care is currently not available in most of the country Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to severe economic crisis - the national economy, highly dependent on oil production and exports, is forecast to contract in 2021 for the eighth consecutive year; with the persistent negative effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic that have compounded the already severe macro‑economic crisis, the access to food of the most vulnerable households is expected to deteriorate throughout 2021 due to widespread losses of income‑generating activities and soaring food prices (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,779,093 tons (2010 est.) 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) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5.123 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 793.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 16.71 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 1.325 trillion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela etymology: native stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded early explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI in 1499 of buildings in Venice and so they named the region "Venezuola," which in Italian means "Little Venice" Government type: federal presidential republic Capital: name: Caracas geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named for the native Caracas tribe that originally settled in the city's valley site near the Caribbean coast Administrative divisions: 23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, La Guaira, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811) Constitution: history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999 amendments: 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; amended 2009; note - in 2016, President MADURO issued a decree to hold an election to form a constituent assembly to change the constitution; the election in July 2017 approved the formation of a 545-member constituent assembly and elected its delegates, empowering them to change the constitution and dismiss government institutions and officials Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 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: Notification Statement: the United States recognizes Juan GUAIDO as the Interim President of Venezuela President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013); Executive Vice President Delcy RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 14 June 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 19 April 2013); Executive Vice President Delcy RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 14 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); election last held on 20 May 2018 (next election scheduled for 2024) election results: 2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 68%, Henri FALCON (AP) 21%, Javier BERTUCCI 11%; note - the election was marked by serious shortcomings and electoral fraud; voter turnout was approximately 46% due largely to an opposition boycott of the election 2013: Nicolas MADURO Moros elected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 50.6%, Henrique CAPRILES Radonski (PJ) 49.1%, other 0.3% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (277 seats; 3 seats reserved for indigenous peoples of Venezuela; members serve 5-year terms); note - in 2020, the National Electoral Council increased the number of seats in the National Assembly from 167 to 277 for the 6 December 2020 election elections: last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - GPP (pro-government) 69.32%, Democratic Alliance (opposition coalition) 17.68%, other 13%; seats by party - GPP 253, Democratic Alliance 18, indigenous peoples 3, other 3 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions) 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; note - in July 2017, the National Assembly named 33 judges to the court to replace a series of judges, it argued, had been illegally appointed in late 2015 by the outgoing, socialist-party-led Assembly; the Government of President MADURO and the Socialist Party-appointed judges refused to recognize these appointments, however, and many of the new judges have since been imprisoned or forced into exile 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 and leaders: A New Era or UNT [Manuel ROSALES] Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Richard BLANCO] Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC [Timoteo ZAMBRANO] Christian Democrats or COPEI [Miguel SALAZAR] Clear Accounts or CC [Enzo SCARENO] Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO -- Great Patriotic Pole or GPP [Nicolas MADURO] Coalition of opposition parties -- Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (comprised of AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP) Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV [Maria MACHADO] Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA] Democratic Action or AD [Jose Bernabe GUTIERREZ Parra] EL CAMBIO (The Change) [Javier Alejandro BERTUCCI Carrero] Justice First or PJ [Julio BORGES] Popular Will or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ] Progressive Wave or AP [Henri FALCON] The Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELAZQUEZ] United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Nicolas MADURO] Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA] Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique Fernando SALAS FEO]A New Era or UNT [Manuel ROSALES] Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Richard BLANCO] Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC [Timoteo ZAMBRANO] Christian Democrats or COPEI [Miguel SALAZAR] Clear Accounts or CC [Enzo SCARENO] Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO -- Great Patriotic Pole or GPP [Nicolas MADURO] Coalition of opposition parties -- Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (comprised of AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP) Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV [Maria MACHADO] Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA] Democratic Action or AD [Jose Bernabe GUTIERREZ Parra] EL CAMBIO (The Change) [Javier Alejandro BERTUCCI Carrero] Justice First or PJ [Julio BORGES] Popular Will or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ] Progressive Wave or AP [Henri FALCON] The Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELAZQUEZ] United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Nicolas MADURO] Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA] Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique Fernando SALAS FEO] International organization participation: 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, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alfredo VECCHIO (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 email address and website: despacho.embveus@mppre.gob.ve Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: James “Jimmy” STORY, Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit (since November 2020); note - on 11 March 2019, the Department of State announced the temporary suspension of operations of the US Embassy in Caracas and the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel; the Venezuela Affairs Unit is located at the United States Embassy in Bogota, Colombia embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota previously - F St. and Suapure St.; Urb. Colinas de Valle Arriba; Caracas 1080 mailing address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC  20521-3140 telephone: 1-888-407-4747   email address and website: ACSBogota@state.gov https://ve.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band; the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, then President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy - to conform with the flag proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana National symbol(s): troupial (bird); national colors: yellow, blue, red National anthem: name: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People) lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA note: adopted 1881; lyrics written in 1810, the music some years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's struggle for independence National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c), Canaima National Park (n), Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for almost all export earnings and nearly half of the government’s revenue, despite a continued decline in oil production in 2017. In the absence of official statistics, foreign experts estimate that GDP contracted 12% in 2017, inflation exceeded 2000%, people faced widespread shortages of consumer goods and medicine, and the central bank's international reserves dwindled. In late 2017, Venezuela also entered selective default on some of its sovereign and state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., (PDVSA) bonds. Domestic production and industry continues to severely underperform and the Venezuelan Government continues to rely on imports to meet its basic food and consumer goods needs.   Falling oil prices since 2014 have aggravated Venezuela’s economic crisis. Insufficient access to dollars, price controls, and rigid labor regulations have led some US and multinational firms to reduce or shut down their Venezuelan operations. Market uncertainty and PDVSA’s poor cash flow have slowed investment in the petroleum sector, resulting in a decline in oil production.   Under President Nicolas MADURO, the Venezuelan Government’s response to the economic crisis has been to increase state control over the economy and blame the private sector for shortages. MADURO has given authority for the production and distribution of basic goods to the military and to local socialist party member committees. The Venezuelan Government has maintained strict currency controls since 2003. The government has been unable to sustain its mechanisms for distributing dollars to the private sector, in part because it needed to withhold some foreign exchange reserves to make its foreign bond payments. As a result of price and currency controls, local industries have struggled to purchase production inputs necessary to maintain their operations or sell goods at a profit on the local market. Expansionary monetary policies and currency controls have created opportunities for arbitrage and corruption and fueled a rapid increase in black market activity.Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for almost all export earnings and nearly half of the government’s revenue, despite a continued decline in oil production in 2017. In the absence of official statistics, foreign experts estimate that GDP contracted 12% in 2017, inflation exceeded 2000%, people faced widespread shortages of consumer goods and medicine, and the central bank's international reserves dwindled. In late 2017, Venezuela also entered selective default on some of its sovereign and state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., (PDVSA) bonds. Domestic production and industry continues to severely underperform and the Venezuelan Government continues to rely on imports to meet its basic food and consumer goods needs. Falling oil prices since 2014 have aggravated Venezuela’s economic crisis. Insufficient access to dollars, price controls, and rigid labor regulations have led some US and multinational firms to reduce or shut down their Venezuelan operations. Market uncertainty and PDVSA’s poor cash flow have slowed investment in the petroleum sector, resulting in a decline in oil production. Under President Nicolas MADURO, the Venezuelan Government’s response to the economic crisis has been to increase state control over the economy and blame the private sector for shortages. MADURO has given authority for the production and distribution of basic goods to the military and to local socialist party member committees. The Venezuelan Government has maintained strict currency controls since 2003. The government has been unable to sustain its mechanisms for distributing dollars to the private sector, in part because it needed to withhold some foreign exchange reserves to make its foreign bond payments. As a result of price and currency controls, local industries have struggled to purchase production inputs necessary to maintain their operations or sell goods at a profit on the local market. Expansionary monetary policies and currency controls have created opportunities for arbitrage and corruption and fueled a rapid increase in black market activity. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $269.068 billion (2018 est.) $381.6 billion (2017 est.) $334.751 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -19.67% (2018 est.) -14% (2017 est.) -15.76% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $7,704 (2018 est.) $12,500 (2017 est.) $9,417 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $210.1 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 146,101.7% (2019 est.) 45,518.1% (2018 est.) 416.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: RD (2017) Moody's rating: WR (2019) Standard & Poors rating: SD (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.7% (2017 est.) industry: 40.4% (2017 est.) services: 54.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -10.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, maize, milk, rice, plantains, bananas, pineapples, potatoes, beef, poultry 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 Industrial production growth rate: -2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 14.21 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 21.8% services: 70.9% (4th quarter, 2011 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2018 est.) 27.1% (2017 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.1% male: 10.5% NA female: 14.9% (2017 est.) NA Population below poverty line: 33.1% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 39 (2011) 49.5 (1998) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 32.7% (2006) Budget: revenues: 92.8 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 189.7 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -46.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 38.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 31.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 44.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $4.277 billion (2017 est.) -$3.87 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $83.401 billion (2018 est.) $93.485 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: India 34%, China 28%, United States 12%, Spain 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, industrial alcohols, gold, iron (2019) Imports: $18.432 billion (2018 est.) $18.376 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 28%, United States 22%, Brazil 8%, Spain 6%, Mexico 6%  (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, corn, tires, soybean meal, wheat (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9.661 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $11 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $100.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $109.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 3,345 (2017 est.) 673.76 (2016 est.) 48.07 (2015 est.) 13.72 (2014 est.) 6.284 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99.6% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 99% (2019) Electricity - production: 109.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 71.96 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 31 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1.484 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 1.656 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 302.3 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 926,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 659,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 325,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,640 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 27.07 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 24.21 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.739 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,251,182 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 13,476,300 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.26 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom industry is struggling due to political upheaval in the country; poor quality of service in many areas of the country due to decrepit state of fixed-line network and operators’ inability to pay for equipment from foreign vendors; operator suffering from stolen or damaged infrastructure; many consumers favor mobile service, and cancel their fixed-line services; popularity of social networks caused growth in mobile data traffic; LTE coverage to about half of the population; government launched National Fiber Optic backbone project in 2019; national satellite drifted off course and became non-operational; an American company closed a telecom service due to US sanctions and a Chilean company later acquired the service; Internet freedom deteriorating amid crisis, with frequent disruptions to service and monitoring; importer of broadcasting equipment from the US (2020) domestic: two domestic satellite systems with three earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; 3 major providers operate in the mobile market and compete with state-owned company; fixed-line over 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 63 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 58; landing points for the Venezuela Festoon, ARCOS, PAN-AM, SAC, GlobeNet, ALBA-1 and Americas II submarine cable system providing connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Venezuela has a mixture of state-run and private broadcast media that are subject to high levels of regime control, including the shuttering of opposition-leaning media outlets; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, a privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a regime-backed Pan-American channel; 3 regime-run radio networks officially control roughly 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; regime-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations has been declining, but many still remain in operation (2021) Internet country code: .ve Internet users: total: 20,531,397 (2019 est.) percent of population: 72% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,561,556 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 75 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,137,771 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.55 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YV Airports: total: 444 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 17 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 317 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 57 914 to 1,523 m: 127 under 914 m: 130 (2021) Heliports: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 981 km extra heavy crude, 5941 km gas, 7588 km oil, 1778 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 447 km (2014) standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified) Roadways: total: 96,189 km (2014) Waterways: 7,100 km (2011) (Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels) Merchant marine: total: 281 by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 18, other 232 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon oil terminal(s): Jose terminal Topic: 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; includes a joint-service Aerospace Defense Command (Comando de Defensa Aeroespacial Integral, CODAI), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB)  Bolivarian National Police: Special Action Forces (Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales, FAES) (2021) note(s) - the Bolivarian Militia was added as a "special component" to the FANB in 2020; the National Guard is responsible for maintaining public order, guarding the exterior of key government installations and prisons, conducting counter-narcotics operations, monitoring borders, and providing law enforcement in remote areas; it reports to both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace the FAES police paramilitary unit was created by President MADURO after the 2017 anti-government protests to bolster internal security; it has been accused of multiple human rights abuses  Military expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $7.5 billion) 4.4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $9.9 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $8.5 billion) 2.2% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $7.7 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $9.3 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active personnel, including about 25-30,000 National Guard; approximately 200-225,000 Bolivarian Militia (2021) note - the Bolivarian Militia is comprised of armed civilians who receive periodic training in exchange for a small stipend Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FANB inventory is mainly of Chinese and Russian origin with a smaller mix of equipment from Western countries, including the US; since 2010, Russia is the top supplier of military hardware to Venezuela (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; all citizens of military service age (18-50 years old) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training, although “forcible recruitment” is forbidden (2021) note - as of 2017, women made up more than 20% of the active duty military Military - note: between 2013 and 2017, Venezuela established at least a dozen military-led firms in a variety of economic sectors, such as agriculture, banking, construction, insurance, the media, mining, oil, and tourism; as of 2020, military officers reportedly led at least 60 state-owned companies; as of 2019, 9 of 32 government ministries were controlled by the military, including the ministries of agriculture and energy as of late 2021, an estimated 1,500- 2,000 members of the terrorist organizations National Liberation Army (ELN) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissidents (FARC-People's Army and Segundo Marquetalia - see Appendix T) operated in Venezuela, mostly in the states of Amazonas, Apure, Bolivar, Guarico, Tachira, and Zulia, although ELN was assessed to be present in 12 of Venezuela’s 23 states; the groups were particularly active in Apure state where the Venezuelan military clashed several times with FARC dissidents of the 10th Front in 2020-2021 Maritime threats: The International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; in 2021, no attacks were reported Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claimclaims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 67,935 (Colombia) (2020) note: As of December 2020, more than 800,000 Venezuelans have applied for asylum worldwide Trafficking in persons: current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Venezuelan women and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; women from Colombia, Peru, Haiti, China, and South Africa are also reported to have been sexually exploited in Venezuela; some Venezuelan women are transported to Caribbean islands, particularly Aruba, Curacao, and Trinidad & Tobago, where they are subjected to forced prostitution; some Venezuelan children are forced to beg on the streets or work as domestic servants, while Ecuadorian children, often from indigenous communities, are subjected to forced labor; the government provided support to FARC dissidents and the ELN, which grew through the recruitment of child soldiers and exploitation of children in sex trafficking and forced labor; Illegal armed groups lure children in vulnerable conditions and dire economic circumstances with gifts and promises of basic sustenance to later recruit them into their ranks tier rating: Tier 3 — Venezuela does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government created a specialized prosecutor’s office to oversee trafficking investigations and prosecutions; authorities began legal proceedings against three complicit officials in a notable case; however, the government did not assist any victims or investigate, prosecute, or convict any traffickers; little effort was made to curb the forced recruitment of Venezuelan children by Colombian armed groups operating illegally in Venezuela; authorities made little effort to screen Cuban medical professionals for trafficking indicators as the Cuban Government may have forced them to work by withholding their documentation, and coercing them to falsify medical records (2020) Illicit drugs:  a major drug transit country and trafficking route in the Western Hemisphere largely destined for the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, West Africa, and Europe for illegal drugs, predominately cocaine; government officials reportedly complicit with illegal armed narcotrafficking groups little international drug control cooperation;  significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border a major drug transit country and trafficking route in the Western Hemisphere largely destined for the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, West Africa, and Europe for illegal drugs, predominately cocaine; government officials reportedly complicit with illegal armed narcotrafficking groups little international drug control cooperation;  significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

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field-telephones-mobile-cellular

This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Note that because of the ubiquity of mobile phone use in developed countries, the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants can exceed 100. Topic: Afghanistantotal subscriptions: 22,580,071 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63.18 (2020) Topic: Albaniatotal subscriptions: 2,618,880 (2021) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (2021) Topic: Algeriatotal subscriptions: 45,555,673 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103.9 (2020 est.) Topic: American Samoatotal subscriptions: 2,250 (2009 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.8 (2009 est.) Topic: Andorratotal subscriptions: 87,909 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2019 est.) Topic: Angolatotal subscriptions: 14,645,050 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44.56 (2020 est.) Topic: Anguillatotal subscriptions: 26,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182.09 (2019 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal subscriptions: 184,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192.8 (2019 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal subscriptions: 54,763,900 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal subscriptions: 3,488,797 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.7 (2020 est.) Topic: Arubatotal subscriptions: 141,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.1 (2018 est.) Topic: Australiatotal subscriptions: 27.454 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107.7 (2020 est.) Topic: Austriatotal subscriptions: 10,682,294 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118.6 (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal subscriptions: 10,344,300 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal subscriptions: 425,507 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109.3 (2019 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal subscriptions: 1,748,672 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal subscriptions: 170,136,762 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal subscriptions: 329,326 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.7 (2019 est.) Topic: Belarustotal subscriptions: 11,704,084 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal subscriptions: 11,529,728 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99.48 (2020 est.) Topic: Belizetotal subscriptions: 254,919 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65.3 (2019 est.) Topic: Benintotal subscriptions: 11,140,891 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Bermudatotal subscriptions: 64,997 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103.1 (2019 est.) Topic: Bhutantotal subscriptions: 745,137 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.57 (2020 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal subscriptions: 11,804,343 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal subscriptions: 3,509,674 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal subscriptions: 3,819,019 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.4 (2020 est.) Topic: Braziltotal subscriptions: 205,834,781 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.84 (2020 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal subscriptions: 35,163 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal subscriptions: 526,732 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.4 (2020 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal subscriptions: 7,945,739 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.4 (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal subscriptions: 22,117,218 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Burmatotal subscriptions: 61,143,964 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89.82 (2019 est.) Topic: Burunditotal subscriptions: 6,631,154 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.77 (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal subscriptions: 544,729 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97.98 (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal subscriptions: 21,418,681 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal subscriptions: 25,245,134 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Canadatotal subscriptions: 36,093,021 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95.63 (2020 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal subscriptions: 96,656 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152.5 (2019 est.) Topic: Central African Republictotal subscriptions: 1,595,294 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33.62 (2019 est.) Topic: Chadtotal subscriptions: 8,687,151 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52.89 (2020 est.) Topic: Chiletotal subscriptions: 25,068,249 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Chinatotal subscriptions: 1,696,356,000 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Colombiatotal subscriptions: 67,672,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Comorostotal subscriptions: 472,815 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54.37 (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal subscriptions: 40,798,396 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45.55 (2019 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal subscriptions: 5 million (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98.93 (2019 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal subscriptions: 14,539 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83.05 (2019 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal subscriptions: 7,512,370 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147.5 (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal subscriptions: 40,095,246 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal subscriptions: 4,375,699 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106.6 (2020 est.) Topic: Cubatotal subscriptions: 6,661,763 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58.82 (2020 est.) Topic: Curacaototal subscriptions: 184,236 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112.7 (2019 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal subscriptions: 1,230,706 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138.6 (2020 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal subscriptions: 12,999,353 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121.4 (2020 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal subscriptions: 7,144,123 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Djiboutitotal subscriptions: 434,035 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43.93 (2020 est.) Topic: Dominicatotal subscriptions: 75,771 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105.3 (2019 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal subscriptions: 8,989,587 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82.87 (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal subscriptions: 15,485,366 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87.77 (2019 est.) Topic: Egypttotal subscriptions: 95,357,427 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93.18 (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal subscriptions: 10,396,786 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161.1 (2019 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal subscriptions: 591,223 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44.86 (2019 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal subscriptions: 695,000 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.36 (2019 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal subscriptions: 1,925,789 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 145.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal subscriptions: 1.052 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93.53 (2019 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal subscriptions: 39.54 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37.22 (2019 est.) Topic: European Uniontotal subscriptions: 529,497,242 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2019 est.) 117.70 Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total subscriptions: 5,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2019 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal subscriptions: 59,003 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Fijitotal subscriptions: 1,033,920 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.8 (2019 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal subscriptions: 7.12 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.5 (2020 est.) Topic: Francetotal subscriptions: 72.751 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111.5 (2020 est.) Topic: French Polynesiatotal subscriptions: 302,673 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104.3 (2019 est.) Topic: Gabontotal subscriptions: 3,088,742 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal subscriptions: 2,677,954 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza Striptotal subscriptions: 4,135,363 (includes the West Bank) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (includes the West Bank) (2017 est.) Topic: Georgiatotal subscriptions: 5,100,101 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Germanytotal subscriptions: 107.5 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal subscriptions: 40,461,609 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Gibraltartotal subscriptions: 40,537 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.3 (2019 est.) Topic: Greecetotal subscriptions: 11,412,995 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109.5 (2020 est.) Topic: Greenlandtotal subscriptions: 61,656 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108.8 (2019 est.) Topic: Grenadatotal subscriptions: 113,177 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Guamtotal subscriptions: 98,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61.99 (2021 est.) Topic: Guatemalatotal subscriptions: 20,390,671 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Guernseytotal subscriptions: 71,249 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2016 est.) Topic: Guineatotal subscriptions: 12.873 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal subscriptions: 1,913,858 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97.25 (2020 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal subscriptions: 643,210 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82.97 (2020) Topic: Haititotal subscriptions: 6,843,380 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.76 (2020) Topic: Hondurastotal subscriptions: 6,960,654 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70.28 (2020) Topic: Hong Kongtotal subscriptions: 21,865,215 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 291.7 (2020) Topic: Hungarytotal subscriptions: 10,332,660 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020) Topic: Icelandtotal subscriptions: 421,384 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.5 (2020) Topic: Indiatotal subscriptions: 1,153,709,832 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83.6 (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal subscriptions: 355,748,606 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.1 (2020) Topic: Irantotal subscriptions: 127,624,951 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal subscriptions: 34,946,600 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.86 (2020) Topic: Irelandtotal subscriptions: 5,234,027 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020) Topic: Isle of Mantotal subscriptions: 1.125 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.5 (2020) Topic: Israeltotal subscriptions: 11.4 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.7 (2020 est.) Topic: Italytotal subscriptions: 77,796,840 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.7 (2020) Topic: Jamaicatotal subscriptions: 2,873,259 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97.03 (2020) Topic: Japantotal subscriptions: 192,284,308 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020) Topic: Jerseytotal subscriptions: 122,668 (2016) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2016) Topic: Jordantotal subscriptions: 6,987,891 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68.49 (2020) Topic: Kazakhstantotal subscriptions: 25.117 million (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134.1 (2020) Topic: Kenyatotal subscriptions: 61,408,904 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.2 (2020) Topic: Kiribatitotal subscriptions: 54,661 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45.76 (2020) Topic: Korea, Northtotal subscriptions: 3,821,857 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14.98 (2019 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal subscriptions: 70,513,676 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137.5 (2020 est.) Topic: Kosovototal subscriptions: 620,186 (2021) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.3 (2019) Topic: Kuwaittotal subscriptions: 6,770,346 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 158.5 (2020) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal subscriptions: 8,662,565 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134.4 (2020 est.) Topic: Laostotal subscriptions: 4,362,183 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.84 (2020 est.) Topic: Latviatotal subscriptions: 2,051,359 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal subscriptions: 4,288,221 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62.83 (2020) Topic: Lesothototal subscriptions: 1,562,648 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 72.94 (2020 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal subscriptions: 2.66 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.57 (2019 est.) Topic: Libyatotal subscriptions: 6.02 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.48 (2019) Topic: Liechtensteintotal subscriptions: 48,904 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal subscriptions: 4,742,427 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal subscriptions: 890,000 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Macautotal subscriptions: 2,181,194 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 345.3 (2018 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal subscriptions: 10,654,710 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40.57 (2018 est.) Topic: Malawitotal subscriptions: 10,004,680 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal subscriptions: 43,723,600 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal subscriptions: 717,708 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Malitotal subscriptions: 25,315,598 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Topic: Maltatotal subscriptions: 634,386 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139.94 (2020 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal subscriptions: 16,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27.56 (2019 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal subscriptions: 4,932,571 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal subscriptions: 1,912,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150.4 (2019 est.) Topic: Mexicototal subscriptions: 120,481,969 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93.45 (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal subscriptions: 23,114 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.74 (2019 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal subscriptions: 3,420,383 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84.79 (2020 est.) Topic: Monacototal subscriptions: 35,485 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90.43 (2020 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal subscriptions: 4,363,919 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal subscriptions: 1,080,089 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 172 (2020 est.) Topic: Montserrattotal subscriptions: 5,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100.7 (2019 est.) Topic: Moroccototal subscriptions: 49,421,023 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133.9 (2020 est.) Topic: Mozambiquetotal subscriptions: 14,773,364 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48.65 (2019 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal subscriptions: 2,594,382 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Naurutotal subscriptions: 10,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94.58 (2019 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal subscriptions: 39,178,451 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.6 (2019) Topic: Netherlandstotal subscriptions: 21,914,852 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127.29 (2019 est.) Topic: New Caledoniatotal subscriptions: 260,277 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.02 (2019 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal subscriptions: 6.4 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136.1 (2019 est.) Topic: Nicaraguatotal subscriptions: 5,788,430 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88.43 (2019 est.) Topic: Nigertotal subscriptions: 8,778,880 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40.64 (2019 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal subscriptions: 184.592 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.85 (2019 est.) Topic: North Macedoniatotal subscriptions: 1,921,010 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92.2 (2019 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal subscriptions: 20,474 (2004) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2004) Topic: Norwaytotal subscriptions: 5,775,830 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107.38 (2019 est.) Topic: Omantotal subscriptions: 6,383,460 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138.23 (2019 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal subscriptions: 165.406 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76.38 (2019 est.) Topic: Palautotal subscriptions: 23,743 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134.41 (2019 est.) Topic: Panamatotal subscriptions: 5,599,010 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.85 (2019 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal subscriptions: 4.018 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.62 (2019 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal subscriptions: 7,761,850 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110.18 (2019 est.) Topic: Perutotal subscriptions: 38,915,400 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.76 (2019 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal subscriptions: 16,732,200 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154.76 (2019 est.) Topic: Polandtotal subscriptions: 48,392,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127.73 (2019 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal subscriptions: 11,909,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116.46 (2019 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricototal subscriptions: 3,371,970 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.95 (2019 est.) Topic: Qatartotal subscriptions: 3,917,570 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138.33 (2019) Topic: Romaniatotal subscriptions: 22.671 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.08 (2019) Topic: Russiatotal subscriptions: 239.796 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 164.39 (2019) Topic: Rwandatotal subscriptions: 9,658,550 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76.49 (2019) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal subscriptions: 4,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66.58 (2019) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal subscriptions: 76,878 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147.71 (2019) Topic: Saint Luciatotal subscriptions: 184,944 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97.65 (2019) Topic: Saint Martintotal subscriptions: 68,840 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 195.54 (2019) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal subscriptions: 102,700 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92.87 (2019) Topic: Samoatotal subscriptions: 124,211 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63.58 (2019) Topic: San Marinototal subscriptions: 38,750 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.4 (2019 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal subscriptions: 165,761 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.08 (2019) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal subscriptions: 41,298,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.52 (2019) Topic: Senegaltotal subscriptions: 17,880,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109.72 (2019) Topic: Serbiatotal subscriptions: 8,453,890 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.37 (2019) Topic: Seychellestotal subscriptions: 193,672 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 198.15 (2019) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal subscriptions: 6,729,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.13 (2019) Topic: Singaporetotal subscriptions: 9,034,300 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155.65 (2019) Topic: Sint Maartentotal subscriptions: 68,840 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 195.94 (2019) Topic: Slovakiatotal subscriptions: 7,399,530 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.6 (2019) Topic: Sloveniatotal subscriptions: 2,511,980 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.85 (2019) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal subscriptions: 478,116 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71.38 (2019) Topic: Somaliatotal subscriptions: 7.119 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48.8 (2019) Topic: South Africatotal subscriptions: 96,972,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165.6 (2019) Topic: South Sudantotal subscriptions: 2,221,970 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.09 (2019) Topic: Spaintotal subscriptions: 55,354,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118.44 (2019) Topic: Sri Lankatotal subscriptions: 30,778,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144.34 (2019) Topic: Sudantotal subscriptions: 33,014,200 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.11 (2019) Topic: Surinametotal subscriptions: 813,844 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139.99 (2019) Topic: Swedentotal subscriptions: 12,895,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.49 (2019) Topic: Switzerlandtotal subscriptions: 10.829 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126.05 (2019) Topic: Syriatotal subscriptions: 19,387,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113.58 (2019) Topic: Taiwantotal subscriptions: 29,291,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.21 (2019) Topic: Tajikistantotal subscriptions: 9.904 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111.53 (2019) Topic: Tanzaniatotal subscriptions: 47,685,200 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82.21 (2019) Topic: Thailandtotal subscriptions: 129.614 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 186.16 (2019) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal subscriptions: 1,425,260 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110.22 (2019) Topic: Togototal subscriptions: 6,239,180 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.2 (2019) Topic: Tongatotal subscriptions: 62,104 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59.43 (2019) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal subscriptions: 2,163,730 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155.11 (2019) Topic: Tunisiatotal subscriptions: 14.771 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126.31 (2019) Topic: Turkeytotal subscriptions: 80,790,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.84 (2019) Topic: Turkmenistantotal subscriptions: 9.377 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.86 (2019) Topic: Tuvalutotal subscriptions: 8,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70.36 (2019) Topic: Ugandatotal subscriptions: 25,395,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57.37 (2019) Topic: Ukrainetotal subscriptions: 54,842,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.63 (2019) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal subscriptions: 19,602,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 200.63 (2019) Topic: United Kingdomtotal subscriptions: 80.967 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119.9 (2019) Topic: United Statestotal subscriptions: 442.457 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134.46 (2019) Topic: Uruguaytotal subscriptions: 4,779,790 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138.08 (2019) Topic: Uzbekistantotal subscriptions: 33.387 million (2022) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022) Topic: Vanuatutotal subscriptions: 265,219 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88.44 (2019) Topic: Venezuelatotal subscriptions: 13,476,300 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.26 (2019) Topic: Vietnamtotal subscriptions: 136.23 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141.23 (2019) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal subscriptions: 59,121 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 204.5 (2019) Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal subscriptions: 0 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2019) Topic: West Banktotal subscriptions: 4,274,119 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip Topic: Worldtotal subscriptions: 7,876,696,447 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2017 est.) 103.4 Topic: Yementotal subscriptions: 15,357,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.18 (2019) Topic: Zambiatotal subscriptions: 17,220,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.41 (2019) Topic: Zimbabwetotal subscriptions: 13,195,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90.1 (2019)

20220601

field-military-note

This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere. Topic: Afghanistanduring the fighting with the Afghan Government, the Taliban’s military operations and strategy were directed by a leadership council (Rahbari Shura) led by HAIBATULLAH Akhundzada; Taliban forces were a decentralized guerrilla and militia force of approximately 60-80,000 full-time fighters loosely organized as battalions and brigades with at least one corps headquarters; as of October 2021, the Taliban was still forming an official military structure, although it reportedly had named commanders for 8 regional corps and established a named special forces unitduring the fighting with the Afghan Government, the Taliban’s military operations and strategy were directed by a leadership council (Rahbari Shura) led by HAIBATULLAH Akhundzada; Taliban forces were a decentralized guerrilla and militia force of approximately 60-80,000 full-time fighters loosely organized as battalions and brigades with at least one corps headquarters; as of October 2021, the Taliban was still forming an official military structure, although it reportedly had named commanders for 8 regional corps and established a named special forces unit Topic: Akrotiridefense is the responsibility of the UK; Akrotiri (aka the Western Sovereign Base Area) has a full RAF base, headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and the Episkopi Cantonment Topic: AlbaniaAlbania officially became a member of NATO in 2009; Greece and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Albania  Topic: Algeriathe ANP has played a large role in the country’s politics since independence in 1962, including coups in 1965 and 1991; it was a key backer of BOUTEFLIKA’s election in 1999 and remained a center of power during his 20-year rule; the military was instrumental in BOUTEFLIKA’s resignation in 2019 when it withdrew support and called for him to be removed from office the ANP traditionally has focused on internal stability and on Morocco where relations as of 2022 remained tense over Western Sahara and Algerian accusations that Morocco supports the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK), a separatist group in Algeria’s Kabylie region; however, following the Arab Spring events of 2011 and a series of cross-border terrorist attacks emanating from Mali in 2012-2013, particularly the 2013 attack on a commercial gas plant by al-Qa’ida-linked terrorists that resulted in the deaths of 35 hostages and 29 jihadists, it has made a concerted effort to beef up security along its other borders and promote regional security cooperation; since 2013, additional Army and paramilitary forces were deployed to the borders with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, and Mali to interdict and deter cross-border attacks by Islamic militant groups; in addition, Algeria has provided security assistance to some neighboring countries, particularly Tunisia, and conducted joint military/counter-terrorism operationsthe ANP has played a large role in the country’s politics since independence in 1962, including coups in 1965 and 1991; it was a key backer of BOUTEFLIKA’s election in 1999 and remained a center of power during his 20-year rule; the military was instrumental in BOUTEFLIKA’s resignation in 2019 when it withdrew support and called for him to be removed from officethe ANP traditionally has focused on internal stability and on Morocco where relations as of 2022 remained tense over Western Sahara and Algerian accusations that Morocco supports the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK), a separatist group in Algeria’s Kabylie region; however, following the Arab Spring events of 2011 and a series of cross-border terrorist attacks emanating from Mali in 2012-2013, particularly the 2013 attack on a commercial gas plant by al-Qa’ida-linked terrorists that resulted in the deaths of 35 hostages and 29 jihadists, it has made a concerted effort to beef up security along its other borders and promote regional security cooperation; since 2013, additional Army and paramilitary forces were deployed to the borders with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, and Mali to interdict and deter cross-border attacks by Islamic militant groups; in addition, Algeria has provided security assistance to some neighboring countries, particularly Tunisia, and conducted joint military/counter-terrorism operations Topic: American Samoadefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Andorradefense is the responsibility of France and Spain Topic: Angolathe Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the name remained even after UNITA rejected the 1992 election results and returned to fighting against the Angolan Government the Angolan Armed Forces are responsible for external security but also have domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions against groups like the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda separatists in Cabindathe Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the name remained even after UNITA rejected the 1992 election results and returned to fighting against the Angolan Governmentthe Angolan Armed Forces are responsible for external security but also have domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions against groups like the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda separatists in Cabinda Topic: Anguilladefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Antarcticathe Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes Topic: Antigua and Barbudahas been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, 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 securityhas been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, 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 Topic: Argentinaas of 2021, the Argentine military was focused primarily on border security and counter-narcotics operations; in 2018, the government approved a decree allowing greater latitude for the military in internal security missions, with a focus on logistics support in border areas Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Armeniasince November 2020, Russia has deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a cease-fire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; fighting erupted between the two countries over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September of 2020; Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces (the "Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army") backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994; six weeks of fighting resulted in about 6,000 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high through 2021, and both sides have accused the other of provocations since the fighting ended; Armenia has accused Azerbaijani forces of a series of border intrusions and of seizing pockets of territory  Armenia has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force Topic: Arubadefense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force Topic: AustraliaAustralia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including annual rotations of US Marines and enhanced rotations of US Air Force aircraft to Australia; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Australian military forces often train with US forces; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 at the Battle of Hamel, and have fought together in every major US conflict since Australia has long-standing defense and security ties to the UK, including a Defense and Security Cooperation Treaty signed in 2013; in 2020, Australia and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the building of a next generation of frigates for their respective navies; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issues in 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities; the first initiative under AUKUS was a commitment to support Australia in acquiring conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy since the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations, including in Cambodia, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, and East Timor (2022)Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including annual rotations of US Marines and enhanced rotations of US Air Force aircraft to Australia; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Australian military forces often train with US forces; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 at the Battle of Hamel, and have fought together in every major US conflict sinceAustralia has long-standing defense and security ties to the UK, including a Defense and Security Cooperation Treaty signed in 2013; in 2020, Australia and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the building of a next generation of frigates for their respective navies; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issuesin 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities; the first initiative under AUKUS was a commitment to support Australia in acquiring conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navysince the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations, including in Cambodia, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, and East Timor Topic: AustriaAustria is constitutionally non-aligned, but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO, but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; as of 2021, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960Austria is constitutionally non-aligned, but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO, but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; as of 2021, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 Topic: Azerbaijansince November 2020, Russia has deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a cease-fire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; fighting erupted between the two countries over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September of 2020; Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces (the "Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army") backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994; six weeks of fighting resulted in about 6,000 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high through 2021, and both sides have accused the other of provocations since the fighting ended; Armenia has accused Azerbaijani forces of a series of border intrusions and of seizing pockets of territory Topic: Bahamas, Thethe RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US  Topic: Bahrainas of 2022, Bahrain hosted the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which included the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2018, the UK opened a naval support base in Bahrain in addition to the US and UK, Bahrain maintains close security ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; both Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; in 2015, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military action to try to restore the Government of Yemen that was ousted by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft Bahrain has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2022, Bahrain hosted the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which included the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2018, the UK opened a naval support base in Bahrain in addition to the US and UK, Bahrain maintains close security ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; both Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; in 2015, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military action to try to restore the Government of Yemen that was ousted by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft Bahrain has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Bangladeshas of 2021, the military’s chief areas of focus were border, economic exclusion zone, and domestic security; the Army maintained a large domestic security presence in the Chittagong Hills area where it conducted counterinsurgency operations against tribal guerrillas from the 1970s until the late 1990s; since 2009, the military has been in a force-wide expansion and modernization program known as Forces Goal 2030as of 2021, the military’s chief areas of focus were border, economic exclusion zone, and domestic security; the Army maintained a large domestic security presence in the Chittagong Hills area where it conducted counterinsurgency operations against tribal guerrillas from the 1970s until the late 1990s; since 2009, the military has been in a force-wide expansion and modernization program known as Forces Goal 2030 Topic: BarbadosBarbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in BarbadosBarbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados Topic: BelarusBelarus has close security ties with Russia, including an integrated air and missile defense system, joint training exercises, and the establishment of three joint training centers since 2020 (1 in Belarus, 2 in Russia); Russia is the principal supplier of arms to Belarus, and Belarusian troops reportedly train on Russian equipment; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities, and combating extremism and terrorism Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force (KSOR)Belarus has close security ties with Russia, including an integrated air and missile defense system, joint training exercises, and the establishment of three joint training centers since 2020 (1 in Belarus, 2 in Russia); Russia is the principal supplier of arms to Belarus, and Belarusian troops reportedly train on Russian equipment; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities, and combating extremism and terrorism Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force (KSOR) Topic: BelgiumBelgium is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries Topic: Belizethe BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817 the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2021, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partnersthe BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2021, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners Topic: Beninas of 2021, Benin participated in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against the terrorist group Boko Haram (see Appendix T) along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; the Benin military contingent is in charge of MNJTF garrison duties as of 2021, the FAB had a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offered advice, training, and secondhand equipment donations, and deployed to Benin for limited military exercisesas of 2021, the FAB had a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offered advice, training, and secondhand equipment donations, and deployed to Benin for limited military exercises Topic: Bermudadefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: BhutanIndia is responsible for military training, arms supplies, and the air defense of Bhutan (2021) Topic: BoliviaBolivia has a small 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 desire to regain the access to the Pacific Ocean that the country lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884); 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 lossBolivia has a small 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 desire to regain the access to the Pacific Ocean that the country lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884); 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 Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinathe Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are comprised of the former Bosnian-Croat Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vojska Federacije Bosne i Hercegovin, VF) and the Bosnian-Serb Republic of Serbia Army (Vojska Republike Srpske, VRS); the two forces were unified under the 2003 Law on Defense, which also established the country’s Ministry of Defense the European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004; in addition to its security mission, EUFOR supports the overall EU comprehensive strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the efforts of the AFBiH to attain NATO standards; as of 2022, it had about 600 troops from 19 countries Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2007 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; as of 2021, NATO maintained a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to EUFOR  the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are comprised of the former Bosnian-Croat Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Vojska Federacije Bosne i Hercegovin, VF) and the Bosnian-Serb Republic of Serbia Army (Vojska Republike Srpske, VRS); the two forces were unified under the 2003 Law on Defense, which also established the country’s Ministry of Defense the European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004; in addition to its security mission, EUFOR supports the overall EU comprehensive strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the efforts of the AFBiH to attain NATO standards; as of 2022, it had about 600 troops from 19 countriesBosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2007 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; as of 2021, NATO maintained a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to EUFOR  Topic: BotswanaBechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2021, the BDF’s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poaching as of 2021, the Army was comprised of approximately 4 small combat brigades (2 infantry, 1 light armored, 1 artillery), while the Air Force had 1 fighter/ground attack squadron; Botswana has no navy, but the Army has a marine unit with boats and other river craft for patrolling the country’s numerous waterways, particularly the Chobe River and Okavango swamps Botswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC’s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgencyBechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2021, the BDF’s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poachingas of 2021, the Army was comprised of approximately 4 small combat brigades (2 infantry, 1 light armored, 1 artillery), while the Air Force had 1 fighter/ground attack squadron; Botswana has no navy, but the Army has a marine unit with boats and other river craft for patrolling the country’s numerous waterways, particularly the Chobe River and Okavango swampsBotswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC’s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgency Topic: Bouvet Islanddefense is the responsibility of Norway Topic: Brazilthe origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; as of 2021, the military's primary role was enforcing border security, particularly in the Amazon states; it was also assisting with internal security operations with a focus on organized crime Brazilian police forces are divided into Federal Police (around 15,000 personnel), Military Police (approximately 400,000 personnel), and Civil Police (approximately 125,000 personnel); the Federal Police serve under the Ministry of Justice, while the Military and Civil police are subordinate to the state governments; the National Public Security Force (Forca Nacional de Seguranca Publica or SENASP) is a national police force made up of Military Police from various states; all state Military Police are classified as reserve troops and ancillary forces of the Brazilian Army Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2021) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorydefense is the responsibility of the UK; in November 2016, the UK extended the US lease on Diego Garcia for 20 years; the lease now expires in December 2036 Topic: British Virgin Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: BruneiBrunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the United Kingdom and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also hosts a Singaporean military training base (2021) Topic: BulgariaBulgaria officially became a member of NATO in 2004; Bulgaria conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Bulgarian Air Force since 2014 Topic: Burkina Fasoincluding the most recent in January 2022, the military has conducted 7 coups since 1960; as of 2022, the military  was also actively engaged in combat operations with terrorist groups linked to al-Qa'ida and ISIS; since 2016, military counter-terrorism operations have occurred in the Centre‐Est, Centre‐Nord, Est, Nord, and Sahel administrative regions (2021) Topic: Burmasince the country's founding, the armed forces have been heavily involved in domestic politics, running the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962; prior to the 2021 coup, the military already controlled three key security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), one of two vice presidential appointments, 25% of the parliamentary seats, and had a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) as of 2022, the military owned and operated two business conglomerates that had over 100 subsidiaries and close ties to other companies; the business activities of these conglomerates included banking and insurance, hotels, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas; some of the companies supplied goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and cellphone service; the military also managed a film industry, publishing houses, and television stations as of 2022, the military's primary operational focus was internal security, particularly attempts to quell civilian armed resistance to the coup and counterinsurgency operations against ethnic-based insurgent groups; these operations have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and internal displacement as of 2022, there were approximately 20 ethnic-based armed groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to more than 20,000 estimated fighters; they reportedly controlled about one-third of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups included the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army in 2015, the Burmese Government signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with eight mostly small armed groups, including the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, Karen National Union, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and the Shan State Army-South; seven other groups did not sign the NCA, but have since signed bi-lateral ceasefires with the Burmese Government, including the National Democratic Alliance Army, Shan State Army, New Mon State Army, Karenni Army, National Socialist Council of Nagaland–Khaplang, and the United Wa State Army, which in 2021 was assessed to be the largest and most capable group, with more than 20,000 fighters; others, including the Arakan Army (Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, Shan states), Kachin Independence Army (Kachin state), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Shan state), Shanni Nationalities Army (Kachin state), and Taang National Liberation Army (Shan state) continued to engage in active insurgent operations against the Burmese Government in 2021; in 2021, the Karen National Union and Chin National Front resumed fighting with the Burmese military as of 2021, Burma also had a large number (estimates run into the thousands) of armed militias which took many different forms and varied in allegiances and size; most were pro-military government and associated with the Tatmadaw; some were integrated within the Tatmadaw’s command structure as Border Guard Forces (BGF); the BGF were organized as 325-man battalions, which included a mix of militia forces, ethnic armed groups, and government soldiers; they were armed, supplied, and paid by the Tatmadaw; other pro-military government militias were not integrated within the Tatmadaw command structure, but received direction from the military and were recognized as government militias; the amount of support they received from the Tatmadaw varied depending on local security conditions; the third type of pro-military government militias were small community-based units that were armed, coordinated, and trained by local Tatmadaw forces and activated as needed; as of 2022, the military government was reportedly raising new militia units to help combat the popular uprising as of 2022, the armed wing of Burma's pro-democracy movement contained hundreds of local groups of fighters known collectively as the People's Defense Forceas of 2022, there were approximately 20 ethnic-based armed groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to more than 20,000 estimated fighters; they reportedly controlled about one-third of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups included the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Armyin 2015, the Burmese Government signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with eight mostly small armed groups, including the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council, Karen National Union, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and the Shan State Army-South; seven other groups did not sign the NCA, but have since signed bi-lateral ceasefires with the Burmese Government, including the National Democratic Alliance Army, Shan State Army, New Mon State Army, Karenni Army, National Socialist Council of Nagaland–Khaplang, and the United Wa State Army, which in 2021 was assessed to be the largest and most capable group, with more than 20,000 fighters; others, including the Arakan Army (Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, Shan states), Kachin Independence Army (Kachin state), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Shan state), Shanni Nationalities Army (Kachin state), and Taang National Liberation Army (Shan state) continued to engage in active insurgent operations against the Burmese Government in 2021; in 2021, the Karen National Union and Chin National Front resumed fighting with the Burmese militaryas of 2021, Burma also had a large number (estimates run into the thousands) of armed militias which took many different forms and varied in allegiances and size; most were pro-military government and associated with the Tatmadaw; some were integrated within the Tatmadaw’s command structure as Border Guard Forces (BGF); the BGF were organized as 325-man battalions, which included a mix of militia forces, ethnic armed groups, and government soldiers; they were armed, supplied, and paid by the Tatmadaw; other pro-military government militias were not integrated within the Tatmadaw command structure, but received direction from the military and were recognized as government militias; the amount of support they received from the Tatmadaw varied depending on local security conditions; the third type of pro-military government militias were small community-based units that were armed, coordinated, and trained by local Tatmadaw forces and activated as needed; as of 2022, the military government was reportedly raising new militia units to help combat the popular uprising as of 2022, the armed wing of Burma's pro-democracy movement contained hundreds of local groups of fighters known collectively as the People's Defense Force Topic: Burundiin addition to its foreign deployments, the FDN as of 2021 was focused on internal security missions, particularly against rebel groups opposed to the regime such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); these groups were based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi Topic: Cabo Verdeas of 2021, the FACV/National Guard was mostly a ground force with 2 infantry battalions and a small air component with a maritime patrol squadron; the Coast Guard had a few coastal patrol craft and patrol boatsas of 2021, the FACV/National Guard was mostly a ground force with 2 infantry battalions and a small air component with a maritime patrol squadron; the Coast Guard had a few coastal patrol craft and patrol boats Topic: Cambodiathe Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999  the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999  Topic: Cameroonthe FAC is largely focused on the threat from the terrorist group Boko Haram along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions (as of Feb 2021, this internal conflict has left an estimated 3,000 civilians dead and over 700,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC often deploys units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits Topic: CanadaCanada is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 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 Canadian Armed Forces 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 continued to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US as of 2021 British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the UK-US 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 1968Canada is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949Canada 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 Canadian Armed Forces officer has served as the deputy commander of NORADCanada’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 continued to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US as of 2021British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the UK-US 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 Topic: Cayman Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Central African Republicthe 2013 coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; reportedly only 10% of the FACA returned after the coup, and it has struggled to rebuild in the years of instability since; the European Union, France, Russia, the UN, and the US are providing various levels of security assistance  in 2018, the UN Security Council approved Russian security assistance for the CAR to help train and advise FACA personnel, as well as transport them to operational areas, provide logistical support, and assist with medical evacuation; Russia sent private military contractors, and as of late 2021, there were reportedly as many as 2,300 providing assistance to the FACA, as well as performing other security roles such as guarding mines and government officials; some Russian contractors and the CAR forces they supported have been accused of carrying out indiscriminate killings, using excessive force against civilians, and looting the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its peacekeeping mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; in November 2019, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission another year; as of November 2021, MINUSCA had about 15,500 total personnel the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016; the EUTM-RCA contributes to the restructuring of the country's military and defense sector through advice, training, and educational programs; as of mid-2021, it had trained 4 territorial infantry battalions (Bataillon d’Infanterie Territorial) and 1 amphibious infantry battalion    Topic: Chadas of 2021, the ANT was chiefly focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations; it was engaged with the Boko Haram (BH) and the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin area (primarily the Lac Province) and in the Sahel; in 2020, it conducted a large military operation against BH in the Lake Chad region; that same year, Chad sent troops to the tri-border area with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to combat ISWA militants (it also contributes a large force to the UN MINUSCA mission in Mali); in addition, the ANT was conducting operations against internal anti-government militias and armed dissident groups; several Chadian rebel groups, including the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) and the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), operate in northern Chad from bases in Libya; former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting in the northern part of the country between FACT and the Chadian Army Topic: Chilethe 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; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and its 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); Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation schoolthe 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; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and its 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); Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school Topic: Chinaestablished in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making body the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary: the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism the MSS is China’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service the PAP is a paramilitary component of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Chinese maritime claims in the East and South China seasestablished in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making bodythe PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorismthe MSS is China’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence servicethe PAP is a paramilitary component of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcementthe militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Chinese maritime claims in the East and South China seas Topic: Christmas Islanddefense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Clipperton Islanddefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Colombiathe Colombian Armed Forces are primarily focused on internal security, particularly counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, militants from several factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorist/guerrilla organizations, and other illegal armed groups; the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting; the Colombian military resumed operations against FARC dissidents and their successor paramilitary groups in late 2019; in 2017, the Colombian Government initiated formal peace talks with the ELN, but in January 2019, the government ended the peace talks shortly after the ELN exploded a car bomb at the National Police Academy in Bogotá and resumed counter-terrorism/counterinsurgency operations against the group; operations against both the FARC and ELN continued into 2022 (see Appendix T); the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers and both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly Topic: Comorosthe AND is limited in capabilities to performing search and rescue operations and maintaining internal security; a defense treaty with France provides naval resources for protection of territorial waters, training of Comoran military personnel, and air surveillance; France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on neighboring Mayotte (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thethe modern FARDC was created out of the armed factions of the two Congo wars of 1996-1997 and 1998-2003; as part of the peace accords that ended the last war, the largest rebel groups were incorporated into the FARDC; many armed groups, however, continue to fight (note - there are as many as 120 total armed groups in the country by some estimates); as of 2022, the FARDC was actively engaged in combat operations against numerous armed groups inside the country, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, although violence also continues in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; the military is widely assessed as being unable to provide adequate security throughout the country due to insufficient training, poor morale and leadership, ill-discipline and corruption, low equipment readiness, a fractious ethnic makeup, and the sheer size of the country and diversity of armed rebel groups MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping and stabilization force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; as of November 2021, MONUSCO comprised around 17,800 personnel; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB; 3 infantry battalions, plus artillery and special forces), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian securitythe modern FARDC was created out of the armed factions of the two Congo wars of 1996-1997 and 1998-2003; as part of the peace accords that ended the last war, the largest rebel groups were incorporated into the FARDC; many armed groups, however, continue to fight (note - there are as many as 120 total armed groups in the country by some estimates); as of 2022, the FARDC was actively engaged in combat operations against numerous armed groups inside the country, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, although violence also continues in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; the military is widely assessed as being unable to provide adequate security throughout the country due to insufficient training, poor morale and leadership, ill-discipline and corruption, low equipment readiness, a fractious ethnic makeup, and the sheer size of the country and diversity of armed rebel groups Topic: Congo, Republic of theas of 2021, that FAC had limited capabilities due to obsolescent and poorly maintained equipment and low levels of training; its primary focus was internal security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured  an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019as of 2021, that FAC had limited capabilities due to obsolescent and poorly maintained equipment and low levels of training; its primary focus was internal security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured  an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019 Topic: Cook Islandsdefense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request Topic: Coral Sea Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Costa RicaCosta Rica relies on specialized paramilitary units within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) for internal security missions and countering transnational threats such as narcotics smuggling and organized crime, as well as for participating in regional security operations and exercises; MPS forces have received advisory and training support from both Colombia and the US; since 2012, the US has also provided equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats (2021) Topic: Cote d'Ivoirethe military has mutinied several times since the late 1990s, most recently in 2017, and has had a large role in the country’s political turmoil; as of late 2021, the FACI was focused on internal security and the growing threat posed by Islamic militants associated with the al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group operating across the border in Burkina Faso; AQIM militants conducted significant attacks in the country in 2016 and 2020; Côte d’Ivoire since 2016 has stepped up border security and completed building a joint counter-terrorism training center with France near Abidjan in 2020 the UN maintained a 9,000-strong peacekeeping force in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) from 2004 until 2017 Topic: CroatiaCroatia officially became a member of NATO in 2009 Topic: Cubathe FAR has a large role in the Cuban economy through several military owned and operated conglomerates, including such sectors as banking, hotels, industry, retail, transportation, and tourism (2021) Topic: Curacaodefense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security Topic: Cyprusthe United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions; the UNFICYP mission had about 1,000 personnel as of November 2021 Topic: CzechiaCzechia joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance Topic: DenmarkDenmark is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Denmark is a member of the EU, but opted out of the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy, and therefore does not participate in EU military operations or in the cooperation on development and acquisition of military capabilities within the EU framework the Danish Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020the Danish Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 Topic: Dhekeliadefense of Dhekelia (aka Eastern Sovereign Base Area) is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway Topic: Djiboutias of 2022, China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintained bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance (note – France has multiple bases and hosts troop contingents from Germany and Spain); the EU and NATO have also maintained a presence to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts; in 2017, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia announced plans for the Saudis to build a military base there, although no start date was announcedas of 2022, China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintained bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance (note – France has multiple bases and hosts troop contingents from Germany and Spain); the EU and NATO have also maintained a presence to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts; in 2017, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia announced plans for the Saudis to build a military base there, although no start date was announced Topic: DominicaDominica has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2021) Topic: Dominican Republicthe military's primary focuses are countering illegal immigration and refugees along its 350-kilometer-long border with Haiti and interdicting air and maritime narcotics trafficking, as well as disaster relief (2021) Topic: Ecuadorborder conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2021, border security remained a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have shifted towards counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, has spilled over the border; troop deployments along the border with Colombia were scaled back following the 2016 signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group (see Appendix T), but recent violence associated with FARC dissidents to the agreement have led Ecuador and Colombia to reinforce their shared border; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has also expanded the military’s role in general public security and counter-narcotics operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness the military has had a large role in Ecuador’s political history; it ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010  border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2021, border security remained a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have shifted towards counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, has spilled over the border; troop deployments along the border with Colombia were scaled back following the 2016 signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group (see Appendix T), but recent violence associated with FARC dissidents to the agreement have led Ecuador and Colombia to reinforce their shared border; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has also expanded the military’s role in general public security and counter-narcotics operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectivenessthe military has had a large role in Ecuador’s political history; it ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010  Topic: Egyptsince 2011, the Egyptian Armed Forces, police, and other security forces have been actively engaged in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the North Sinai governorate against several militant groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Sinai Province; as of 2021, Egypt reportedly had approximately 40,000 military troops, police, and other security personnel deployed in the Sinai for internal security duties; in addition, tribal militias were assisting Egyptian security forces the military has a large stake in the civilian economy, including running banks, businesses, and shipping lines, producing consumer and industrial goods, importing commodities, and building and managing infrastructure projects, such as bridges, roads, hospitals, and housing Egypt has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) has operated in the Sinai since 1982 as a peacekeeping and monitoring force to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace; the MFO is an independent international organization, created by agreement between Egypt and Israel; as of 2021, it was composed of about 1,150 troops from 13 countriessince 2011, the Egyptian Armed Forces, police, and other security forces have been actively engaged in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the North Sinai governorate against several militant groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Sinai Province; as of 2021, Egypt reportedly had approximately 40,000 military troops, police, and other security personnel deployed in the Sinai for internal security duties; in addition, tribal militias were assisting Egyptian security forces the military has a large stake in the civilian economy, including running banks, businesses, and shipping lines, producing consumer and industrial goods, importing commodities, and building and managing infrastructure projects, such as bridges, roads, hospitals, and housing Egypt has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: El Salvadorthe National Civilian Police (Ministry of Justice and Public Security) is responsible for maintaining public security, while the Ministry of Defense is responsible for maintaining national security; the constitution separates public security and military functions, but allows the president to use the armed forces in exceptional circumstances to maintain internal peace and public security; Salvadoran presidents have deployed military troops for internal security duties for years, and President BUKELE has continued the tradition; in November 2019, he signed a decree authorizing military involvement in police duties to combat gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security; as of 2021, about half of the Army was reportedly deployed in support of the National Policethe National Civilian Police (Ministry of Justice and Public Security) is responsible for maintaining public security, while the Ministry of Defense is responsible for maintaining national security; the constitution separates public security and military functions, but allows the president to use the armed forces in exceptional circumstances to maintain internal peace and public security; Salvadoran presidents have deployed military troops for internal security duties for years, and President BUKELE has continued the tradition; in November 2019, he signed a decree authorizing military involvement in police duties to combat gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security; as of 2021, about half of the Army was reportedly deployed in support of the National Police Topic: Equatorial Guineaas of 2021, the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the Navy focused on anti-piracy and protecting the country’s natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea; the Navy is small is size, but its inventory included a light frigate and a corvette, as well as several off-shore patrol boats; the Air Force possessed only a few operational combat aircraft and ground attack-capable helicoptersas of 2021, the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the Navy focused on anti-piracy and protecting the country’s natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea; the Navy is small is size, but its inventory included a light frigate and a corvette, as well as several off-shore patrol boats; the Air Force possessed only a few operational combat aircraft and ground attack-capable helicopters Topic: Eritreain 2020-2021, the Eritrean military assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; information is limited and varied, but the Eritrean military in 2021 reportedly consisted of about 20 Army divisions (approximately 15 light infantry, 4 mechanized, and 1 commando/special operations) while the Air Force had 2 fighter/ground attack squadronsin 2020-2021, the Eritrean military assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; information is limited and varied, but the Eritrean military in 2021 reportedly consisted of about 20 Army divisions (approximately 15 light infantry, 4 mechanized, and 1 commando/special operations) while the Air Force had 2 fighter/ground attack squadrons Topic: EstoniaEstonia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative NATO also has provided air protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiativeNATO also has provided air protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014 Topic: Eswatinithe UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force; as of 2021, the UEDF’s primary mission was external security but it also had domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief  the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force; as of 2021, the UEDF’s primary mission was external security but it also had domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief  Topic: Ethiopiaeach of the nine states has a regional and/or a "special" paramilitary security forces that report to regional civilian authorities; local militias operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with these regional security and police forces, the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP), and the Ethiopian military; the EFP reports to the Ministry of Peace, which was created in October of 2018 since November 2020, the Government of Ethiopia has been engaged in a protracted military conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the former governing party of the Tigray Region; the government deemed a TPLF attack on Ethiopia military forces as a domestic terrorism incident and launched a military offensive in response; the TPLF asserted that its actions were self-defense in the face of planned Ethiopian Government action to remove it from the provincial government; the Ethiopian Government sent large elements of the ENDF into Tigray to remove the TPLF and invited militia and paramilitary forces from the states of Afar and Amara, as well as the military forces of Eritrea, to assist; fighting continued through the end of 2021 with heavy civilian and military casualties and widespread human rights abuses reported the military forces of the Tigray regional government are known as the Tigray Defense Force (TDF); the TDF is comprised of state paramilitary forces, local militia, and troops that defected from the ENDF; it reportedly had up to 250,000 fighters at the start of the conflict; in August 2021, the TPLF struck an alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) as of 2021, the Ethiopian military consisted of approximately 22 Army divisions (approximately 14 light infantry, 6 mechanized, and 1 commando/special operations), while the Air Force had 2 fighter/ground attack and 2 mixed attack/transport helicopter squadrons  the military forces of the Tigray regional government are known as the Tigray Defense Force (TDF); the TDF is comprised of state paramilitary forces, local militia, and troops that defected from the ENDF; it reportedly had up to 250,000 fighters at the start of the conflict; in August 2021, the TPLF struck an alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)as of 2021, the Ethiopian military consisted of approximately 22 Army divisions (approximately 14 light infantry, 6 mechanized, and 1 commando/special operations), while the Air Force had 2 fighter/ground attack and 2 mixed attack/transport helicopter squadrons  Topic: European UnionEU Battlegroups are rapid reaction multinational military units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to emerging crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Council; the core of a battlegroup typically consists of one infantry battalion (about 1,500 troops) reinforced with combat and combat service support units; the composition of the supporting units may differ depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; 2 battlegroups are always on standby for a period of 6 months; the battlegroups were declared operational in 2007, but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles  the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e. conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; NATO and the EU have 21 member countries in common Eurocorps, which supports both the EU and NATO, was formally established in 1992 and activated the following year; it originated in 1987 with the French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (since 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France (2021)EU Battlegroups are rapid reaction multinational military units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to emerging crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Council; the core of a battlegroup typically consists of one infantry battalion (about 1,500 troops) reinforced with combat and combat service support units; the composition of the supporting units may differ depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; 2 battlegroups are always on standby for a period of 6 months; the battlegroups were declared operational in 2007, but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles  the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e. conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; NATO and the EU have 21 member countries in common Eurocorps, which supports both the EU and NATO, was formally established in 1992 and activated the following year; it originated in 1987 with the French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (since 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains about 1,200 troops on the islands Topic: Faroe Islandsthe Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn Topic: Fijithe RFMF consists of only 1 infantry regiment and a small naval element with a few patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not possess any aircraft the RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics since the late 1980s, including coups in 1987 and 2006, and a mutiny in 2000 the RFMF also has a long tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations; since its first deployment of troops to South Lebanon in 1978 under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), it has deployed troops on nearly 20 additional UN missionsthe RFMF consists of only 1 infantry regiment and a small naval element with a few patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not possess any aircraftthe RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics since the late 1980s, including coups in 1987 and 2006, and a mutiny in 2000the RFMF also has a long tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations; since its first deployment of troops to South Lebanon in 1978 under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), it has deployed troops on nearly 20 additional UN missions Topic: FinlandFinland is not a member of NATO, but the two actively cooperate in peace-support operations, exercise together, and exchange analysis and information; Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operations the Finnish Armed Forces closely cooperate with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009Finland is not a member of NATO, but the two actively cooperate in peace-support operations, exercise together, and exchange analysis and information; Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and IraqFinland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operationsthe Finnish Armed Forces closely cooperate with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 Topic: FranceFrance was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty), which created NATO in 1949; in 1966, President Charles DE GAULLE decided to withdraw France from NATO’s integrated military structure, reflecting his desire for greater military independence, particularly vis-à-vis the US, and the refusal to integrate France’s nuclear deterrent or accept any form of control over its armed forces; it did, however, sign agreements with NATO setting out procedures in the event of Soviet aggression; beginning with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, France distanced itself from the 1966 decision and has regularly contributed troops to NATO’s military operations, being one of the largest troop-contributing states; in 2009 it officially announced its decision to fully participate in NATO structures in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance the French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a military force that is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces for service in France and abroad; the Foreign Legion is an integrated part of the French Army and is comprised of approximately 8,000 personnel in eight regiments, a regiment-sized demi-brigade, a battalion-sized overseas detachment, a battalion-sized recruiting group, and a command staff; the combat units are a mix of armored cavalry and airborne, light, mechanized, and motorized infantry (2021)in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistancethe French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a military force that is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces for service in France and abroad; the Foreign Legion is an integrated part of the French Army and is comprised of approximately 8,000 personnel in eight regiments, a regiment-sized demi-brigade, a battalion-sized overseas detachment, a battalion-sized recruiting group, and a command staff; the combat units are a mix of armored cavalry and airborne, light, mechanized, and motorized infantry Topic: French Polynesiadefense is the responsibility of France; France maintains forces (about 900 troops) in French Polynesia Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsdefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Gabonmembers of the Gabonese Defense Forces attempted a failed coup in January 2019 Topic: Gambia, Thein 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent security forces to The Gambia to conduct stability operations and provide assistance and training following the 2016 election; as of 2021, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal; ECOMIG is slated to become a police mission by the end of 2021 the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the Gambian Armed Forces in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of two-thirds Senegalese and one-third Gambian soldiers the military in Gambia, including the Field Force, has a history of heavy involvement in the country’s politics, including multiple coups or coup attempts and mutinies  in 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent security forces to The Gambia to conduct stability operations and provide assistance and training following the 2016 election; as of 2021, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal; ECOMIG is slated to become a police mission by the end of 2021the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the Gambian Armed Forces in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of two-thirds Senegalese and one-third Gambian soldiersthe military in Gambia, including the Field Force, has a history of heavy involvement in the country’s politics, including multiple coups or coup attempts and mutinies  Topic: Gaza Stripsince seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF); HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued through 2021, including incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza and retaliatory IDF strikes; Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in 2020, also prompting IDF counter-strikes; see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and PIJsince seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF); HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued through 2021, including incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza and retaliatory IDF strikes; Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in 2020, also prompting IDF counter-strikes; see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and PIJ Topic: Georgiaas of 2021, Georgia did not have any military stationed in the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but approximately 7-10,000 Russian troops have been stationed in these regions since the 2008 Russia-Georgia War Topic: Germanythe Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in May 1955; with the reunification of Germany in October 1990, the states of the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany in its membership of NATO the German Army has incorporated a joint Franco-German mechanized infantry brigade since 1989, a Dutch airmobile infantry brigade since 2014, and a Dutch mechanized infantry brigade since 2016; in addition, the German Navy’s Sea Battalion (includes marine infantry, naval divers, reconnaissance, and security forces) has worked closely with the Dutch Marine Corps since 2016, including as a binational amphibious landing group (2021) Topic: Ghanathe military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army as of 2021, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missionsthe military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Armyas of 2021, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions Topic: Gibraltardefense is the responsibility of the UK (2021) Topic: GreeceGreece joined NATO in 1952 Topic: Greenlandthe Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for the defense of Greenland Topic: GrenadaGrenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts, 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 securityGrenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts, 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 Topic: Guamdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Guatemalasince the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has frequently used the Army to support the National Civil Police (PNC; under the Ministry of Government) in internal security operations (as permitted by the constitution) to combat organized crime, gang violence, and narco-trafficking the military held power during most of the country’s 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and conducted a campaign of widespread violence and repression, particularly against the country’s majority indigenous population; more than 200,000 people were estimated to have been killed or disappeared during the conflictsince the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has frequently used the Army to support the National Civil Police (PNC; under the Ministry of Government) in internal security operations (as permitted by the constitution) to combat organized crime, gang violence, and narco-traffickingthe military held power during most of the country’s 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and conducted a campaign of widespread violence and repression, particularly against the country’s majority indigenous population; more than 200,000 people were estimated to have been killed or disappeared during the conflict Topic: Guernseydefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Guineathe Army is responsible for external defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities; piracy and natural resource protection in the Gulf of Guinea are key areas of concern for the small Navy, which possesses only a few patrol boatsthe Army is responsible for external defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities; piracy and natural resource protection in the Gulf of Guinea are key areas of concern for the small Navy, which possesses only a few patrol boats Topic: Guinea-Bissaufrom 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegalfrom 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegal Topic: Guyanathe Guyana Defense Force was established in 1965; as of 2021, its primary missions were defense of the country, assisting civil authorities with law and order as needed, and contributing to the economic development of the country; the GDF’s ground force officers are trained at the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, while coast guard officers receive training the British Royal Naval Collegethe Guyana Defense Force was established in 1965; as of 2021, its primary missions were defense of the country, assisting civil authorities with law and order as needed, and contributing to the economic development of the country; the GDF’s ground force officers are trained at the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, while coast guard officers receive training the British Royal Naval College Topic: Haitiaccording to the Haitian Government, the mission of the reconstituted armed forces will focus on patrolling the border with the Dominican Republic, combating smuggling, and executing recovery efforts after natural disasters the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) operated in Haiti from 2004 until 2017; its mission was to help restore stability after President Bertrand ARISTIDE fled the country, including assisting with the political process, strengthening government institutions, and promoting and protecting human rights; following the completion of MINUSTAH’s mandate in 2017, a smaller peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), operated until 2019; its mission was to assist with the further development and strengthening of the national police, as well as Haiti’s justice and prison systems, and to promote and protect human rights; in 2019, the UN established the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) with the political mission of advising the Haiti Government in elections, governance, and security; as of 2021, BINUH continued to operateaccording to the Haitian Government, the mission of the reconstituted armed forces will focus on patrolling the border with the Dominican Republic, combating smuggling, and executing recovery efforts after natural disastersthe UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) operated in Haiti from 2004 until 2017; its mission was to help restore stability after President Bertrand ARISTIDE fled the country, including assisting with the political process, strengthening government institutions, and promoting and protecting human rights; following the completion of MINUSTAH’s mandate in 2017, a smaller peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), operated until 2019; its mission was to assist with the further development and strengthening of the national police, as well as Haiti’s justice and prison systems, and to promote and protect human rights; in 2019, the UN established the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) with the political mission of advising the Haiti Government in elections, governance, and security; as of 2021, BINUH continued to operate Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)defense is the responsibility of Italy Topic: Hondurasthe armed forces, including the PMOP, are subordinate to the Secretariat of Defense, while the HNP reports to the Secretariat of Security; the National Interinstitutional Security Force is an interagency command that coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the HNP, PMOP, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry (public prosecutor), but exercises coordination, command, and control responsibilities only during interagency operations involving those forces; as of 2021, civilian authorities at times reportedly did not maintain effective control over security forces Topic: Hong Kongdefense is the responsibility of China Topic: HungaryHungary joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997 and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance Topic: IcelandIceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) Iceland cooperates with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009  Iceland cooperates with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009  Topic: Indiaas of 2021, the Indian Armed Forces were chiefly focused on China and Pakistan; the short 1962 Sino-India War left in place one of the world’s longest disputed international borders, resulting in occasional standoffs between Indian and Chinese security forces, including lethal clashes in 1975 and 2020; meanwhile, India and Pakistan have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (the First Kashmir War of 1947 and the 1999 Kargil Conflict); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2021, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir where Indian forces have conducted counterinsurgency operations since the 1980s; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area at least three times between 1985 and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2021, both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sicknessas of 2021, the Indian Armed Forces were chiefly focused on China and Pakistan; the short 1962 Sino-India War left in place one of the world’s longest disputed international borders, resulting in occasional standoffs between Indian and Chinese security forces, including lethal clashes in 1975 and 2020; meanwhile, India and Pakistan have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (the First Kashmir War of 1947 and the 1999 Kargil Conflict); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2021, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir where Indian forces have conducted counterinsurgency operations since the 1980s; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area at least three times between 1985 and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2021, both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness Topic: Indonesiaas of 2022, Indonesian military and police forces were engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Papua against the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, which has been fighting a low-level insurgency since the 1960s when Indonesia annexed the former Dutch colony; since 2019, there has been an increase in militant activity in Papua and a larger Indonesian military presence; Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969; in addition, the Indonesian military has been assisting police in Sulawesi in countering the Mujahideen Indonesia Timur (MIT; aka East Indonesia Mujahideen), a local Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated terrorist group Indonesia is not a formal claimant in the South China Sea, although some of its waters lie within China's “nine-dash line” maritime claims, resulting in some stand offs in recent years; since 2016, the Indonesian military has bolstered its presence on Great Natuna Island (aka Pulau Natuna Besar), the main island of the Middle Natuna Archipelago, which is part of the Riau Islands Province, held military exercises in surrounding waters, and increased security cooperation Topic: Iranthe 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 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; as of 2021, the IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces (Artesh); it was heavily involved in internal security and had significant influence in the political and economic spheres of Iranian society, as well as Iran’s foreign policy; its special operations forces, known as the Qods/Quds Force, specialized in foreign missions and has 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 (see Appendix-T for additional details on the IRGC and Qods Force); the Qods Force also conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations  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 forcesthe 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 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; as of 2021, the IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces (Artesh); it was heavily involved in internal security and had significant influence in the political and economic spheres of Iranian society, as well as Iran’s foreign policy; its special operations forces, known as the Qods/Quds Force, specialized in foreign missions and has 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 (see Appendix-T for additional details on the IRGC and Qods Force); the Qods Force also conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations 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 Topic: Iraqas of early 2022, Iraqi security forces (ISF) continued to conduct counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group, particularly in northern and western Iraq; Kurdish Security Forces (KSF, aka Peshmerga) also conducted operations against ISIS the KSF are formally recognized as a legitimate Iraqi military force under the country’s constitution and have operated jointly with the Iraqi military against ISIS militants, but they also operate outside of Iraqi military command structure; in late 2021, the ISF and the KSF signed an agreement to establish a Joint Force Brigade that would provide security in a disputed area known as the Kurdish Coordination Line (KCL); the KSF/Peshmerga report to the Kurdistan Regional Government or Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan parties instead of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense Popular Mobilization Commission and Affiliated Forces (PMF or PMC), also known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU, or al-Hashd al-Sha’abi in Arabic), tribal militia units have fought alongside the Iraqi military against ISIS since 2014, but the majority of these forces continue to largely ignore the 2016 Law of the Popular Mobilization Authority, which mandated that armed militias must be regulated in a fashion similar to Iraq’s other security forces and act under the Iraqi Government’s direct control; the Iraqi prime minister legally commands the PMF, but most of the militia brigades take orders from associated political parties and/or other government officials, including some with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two that have been designated as terrorist organizations by the US; the PMF/PMU is an umbrella organization comprised of many different militias, the majority of which are Shia; there are typically three types of Shia militia: --militias backed by Iran, particularly the IRGC; they are considered the most active and capable, and include such groups as the Badr Organization, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Hizballah --militias affiliated with Shia political parties, but not aligned with Iran, such as Moqtada al-SADR's Saray al-Salam (Peace Brigades) --militias not connected with political parties, but affiliated with the Najaf-based Grand Ayatollah Ali al-SISTANI (Iraq’s supreme Shia cleric), such as the Hawza militias other PMF/PMU militias include Tribal Mobilization militias, or Hashd al-Asha’iri, which are composed of fighters from Sunni tribes; some of these militias take orders from the ISF and local authorities while others respond to orders from the larger Shia PMU militias; still other militias include Yazidi and Christian militias and the Turkmen brigades; the links of these forces to the PMU is not always clear-cut and may be loosely based on financial, legal, or political incentives at the request of the Iraqi government, NATO agreed to establish an advisory, training and capacity-building mission in Iraq in October 2018 to help Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIS; NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) currently has about 500 troops, but in February 2021 NATO announced it would increase the presence to about 4,000, although no timeframe was given (2021)as of early 2022, Iraqi security forces (ISF) continued to conduct counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group, particularly in northern and western Iraq; Kurdish Security Forces (KSF, aka Peshmerga) also conducted operations against ISIS the KSF are formally recognized as a legitimate Iraqi military force under the country’s constitution and have operated jointly with the Iraqi military against ISIS militants, but they also operate outside of Iraqi military command structure; in late 2021, the ISF and the KSF signed an agreement to establish a Joint Force Brigade that would provide security in a disputed area known as the Kurdish Coordination Line (KCL); the KSF/Peshmerga report to the Kurdistan Regional Government or Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan parties instead of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense Popular Mobilization Commission and Affiliated Forces (PMF or PMC), also known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU, or al-Hashd al-Sha’abi in Arabic), tribal militia units have fought alongside the Iraqi military against ISIS since 2014, but the majority of these forces continue to largely ignore the 2016 Law of the Popular Mobilization Authority, which mandated that armed militias must be regulated in a fashion similar to Iraq’s other security forces and act under the Iraqi Government’s direct control; the Iraqi prime minister legally commands the PMF, but most of the militia brigades take orders from associated political parties and/or other government officials, including some with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two that have been designated as terrorist organizations by the US; the PMF/PMU is an umbrella organization comprised of many different militias, the majority of which are Shia; there are typically three types of Shia militia:--militias backed by Iran, particularly the IRGC; they are considered the most active and capable, and include such groups as the Badr Organization, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Hizballah--militias affiliated with Shia political parties, but not aligned with Iran, such as Moqtada al-SADR's Saray al-Salam (Peace Brigades)--militias not connected with political parties, but affiliated with the Najaf-based Grand Ayatollah Ali al-SISTANI (Iraq’s supreme Shia cleric), such as the Hawza militiasother PMF/PMU militias include Tribal Mobilization militias, or Hashd al-Asha’iri, which are composed of fighters from Sunni tribes; some of these militias take orders from the ISF and local authorities while others respond to orders from the larger Shia PMU militias; still other militias include Yazidi and Christian militias and the Turkmen brigades; the links of these forces to the PMU is not always clear-cut and may be loosely based on financial, legal, or political incentivesat the request of the Iraqi government, NATO agreed to establish an advisory, training and capacity-building mission in Iraq in October 2018 to help Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIS; NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) currently has about 500 troops, but in February 2021 NATO announced it would increase the presence to about 4,000, although no timeframe was given Topic: Irelandthe Irish Defense Forces trace their origins back to the Irish Volunteers, which was established in 1913; the Irish Volunteers took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence, 1919-1921 Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, it participates in international peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, as well as crisis management; Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO, but has a relationship going back to 1997 when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; Ireland has been an active participate in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950sthe Irish Defense Forces trace their origins back to the Irish Volunteers, which was established in 1913; the Irish Volunteers took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence, 1919-1921Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, it participates in international peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, as well as crisis management; Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO, but has a relationship going back to 1997 when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; Ireland has been an active participate in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s Topic: Isle of Mandefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Israelthe 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; as of November 2021, UNDOF consisted of about 1,250 personnel as of 2021 and since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian, Iranian-backed militia and Hizballah forces, and some Syrian Government troops; over the same period, the IDF has carried out numerous strikes against Hizballah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli territory; Israel fought a month-long war in Lebanon with Hizballah in 2006 (see Appendix-T for details on Hizballah) as of 2021, the IDF also conducted frequent operations against the HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups operating out of the Gaza Strip; since seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the IDF; HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued through 2021, including incendiary balloon attacks from Palestinian territory and retaliatory IDF strikes; PIJ has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in February 2020 (see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad) Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2021 and since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian, Iranian-backed militia and Hizballah forces, and some Syrian Government troops; over the same period, the IDF has carried out numerous strikes against Hizballah in Lebanon in response to attacks on Israeli territory; Israel fought a month-long war in Lebanon with Hizballah in 2006 (see Appendix-T for details on Hizballah)as of 2021, the IDF also conducted frequent operations against the HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups operating out of the Gaza Strip; since seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, HAMAS has claimed responsibility for numerous rocket attacks into Israel and organized protests at the border between Gaza and Israel, resulting in violent clashes, casualties, and reprisal military actions by the IDF; HAMAS and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May of 2021, which ended in an informal truce; sporadic clashes continued through 2021, including incendiary balloon attacks from Palestinian territory and retaliatory IDF strikes; PIJ has conducted numerous attacks on Israel since the 1980s, including a barrage of mortar and rocket strikes in February 2020 (see Appendix-T for more details on HAMAS and Palestine Islamic Jihad) Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: ItalyItaly is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Italy is an active participant in EU, NATO, UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations abroad; as of 2021, it hosted the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force (EUNAVFOR-MED) in Rome and the US Navy’s 6th Fleet in Naples; Italy was admitted to the UN in 1955 and in 1960 participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC); since 1960, it has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions, and as of 2021, was the top supplier of military and police forces among Western and EU nations to UN peacekeeping operations; since 2006, Italy has hosted a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions Topic: Jamaicaas of 2021, the JDF’s primary missions were maritime/border and internal security, including support to police operations to combat crime and violenceas of 2021, the JDF’s primary missions were maritime/border and internal security, including support to police operations to combat crime and violence Topic: Jan Mayendefense is the responsibility of Norway Topic: JapanJapan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954 in addition to having one of the region’s largest and best equipped militaries, Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large part of the US security role in Asia; as of 2021, nearly 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsJapan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954in addition to having one of the region’s largest and best equipped militaries, Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large part of the US security role in Asia; as of 2021, nearly 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Jerseydefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Jordanthe Jordanian military traces its origins back to the Arab Legion, which was formed under the British protectorate of Transjordan in the 1920s due largely to its proximity to regional conflicts in Iraq and Syria, the presence of major terrorist organizations in both of those countries, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the highest priorities of Jordan’s military and security services in 2021 included securing its borders and the potential for domestic terrorist attacks; the terrorist group Hizballah and Iranian-backed militia forces were operating in southwestern Syria near Jordan’s border while fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group continued operating in both Iraq and Syria; ISIS fighters included Jordanian nationals, some of whom have returned to Jordan; meanwhile, individuals and groups sympathetic to Palestine have planned and conducted terrorist attacks in Jordan Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994the Jordanian military traces its origins back to the Arab Legion, which was formed under the British protectorate of Transjordan in the 1920sdue largely to its proximity to regional conflicts in Iraq and Syria, the presence of major terrorist organizations in both of those countries, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the highest priorities of Jordan’s military and security services in 2021 included securing its borders and the potential for domestic terrorist attacks; the terrorist group Hizballah and Iranian-backed militia forces were operating in southwestern Syria near Jordan’s border while fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group continued operating in both Iraq and Syria; ISIS fighters included Jordanian nationals, some of whom have returned to Jordan; meanwhile, individuals and groups sympathetic to Palestine have planned and conducted terrorist attacks in JordanJordan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 Topic: KazakhstanKazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force Topic: KenyaKenyan military forces intervened in Somalia in October 2011 to combat the al Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group, which had conducted numerous cross-border attacks into Kenya; in November 2011, the UN and the African Union invited Kenya to incorporate the force into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM in February 2012; as of mid-2021, they consisted of approximately 3,600 troops and were responsible for AMISOM’s Sector 2 comprising Lower and Middle Jubba (see Appendix-T for additional details on al-Shabaab)Kenyan military forces intervened in Somalia in October 2011 to combat the al Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group, which had conducted numerous cross-border attacks into Kenya; in November 2011, the UN and the African Union invited Kenya to incorporate the force into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM in February 2012; as of mid-2021, they consisted of approximately 3,600 troops and were responsible for AMISOM’s Sector 2 comprising Lower and Middle Jubba (see Appendix-T for additional details on al-Shabaab) Topic: Kiribatidefense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ Topic: Korea, Northin addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the KPA and the South Korean military maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreement the KPA was founded in 1948; Kim Jong Un is the KPA supreme commander, while operational control of the armed forces resides in the General Staff Department (GSD), which reports directly to Kim; the GSD maintains overall control of all military forces and is charged with turning Kim’s directives into operational military orders; the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is responsible for administrative control of the military and external relations with foreign militaries as of 2022, North Korea’s growing ballistic missile program included close- (CRBM), short- (SRBM), medium- (MRBM), intermediate- (IRBM), and intercontinental- (ICBM) range ballistic missiles; the North received its first ballistic missiles, short-range FROGs (free rocket over ground), from the Soviet Union in the 1960s, but its modern ballistic missile program is generally thought to date back to the mid-1970s when it received a Soviet Scud-class missile, likely from Egypt; the North reverse-engineered the missile and developed an indigenously built version in 1984; it flight-tested its first Scud-based medium-range Nodong missile in 1990, and probably began development of the multi-stage Taepodong missiles around this time as well; the North revealed its first road-mobile ICBM in 2012 and conducted the first test of an ICBM-class system in 2017 North Korea in the 2010s and 2020s has increasingly relied on illicit activities — including cybercrime — to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs to evade US and UN sanctions  in addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the KPA and the South Korean military maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreementthe KPA was founded in 1948; Kim Jong Un is the KPA supreme commander, while operational control of the armed forces resides in the General Staff Department (GSD), which reports directly to Kim; the GSD maintains overall control of all military forces and is charged with turning Kim’s directives into operational military orders; the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is responsible for administrative control of the military and external relations with foreign militariesas of 2022, North Korea’s growing ballistic missile program included close- (CRBM), short- (SRBM), medium- (MRBM), intermediate- (IRBM), and intercontinental- (ICBM) range ballistic missiles; the North received its first ballistic missiles, short-range FROGs (free rocket over ground), from the Soviet Union in the 1960s, but its modern ballistic missile program is generally thought to date back to the mid-1970s when it received a Soviet Scud-class missile, likely from Egypt; the North reverse-engineered the missile and developed an indigenously built version in 1984; it flight-tested its first Scud-based medium-range Nodong missile in 1990, and probably began development of the multi-stage Taepodong missiles around this time as well; the North revealed its first road-mobile ICBM in 2012 and conducted the first test of an ICBM-class system in 2017 North Korea in the 2010s and 2020s has increasingly relied on illicit activities — including cybercrime — to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs to evade US and UN sanctions   Topic: Korea, Souththe 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack, particularly from North Korea; in addition, the Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; as of 2021, the US maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the country the South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973) South Korea has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the European Union for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which protects maritime shipping and conducts counter-piracy operations off the coast of East Africa South Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including leading an integrated civilian-military reconstruction team in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, 2010-2013; it has also cooperated with NATO in countering the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by providing naval vessels as escorts in addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the North and the South Korean militaries maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreementthe 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack, particularly from North Korea; in addition, the Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; as of 2021, the US maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the countrythe South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973) South Korea has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the European Union for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which protects maritime shipping and conducts counter-piracy operations off the coast of East AfricaSouth Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including leading an integrated civilian-military reconstruction team in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, 2010-2013; it has also cooperated with NATO in countering the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by providing naval vessels as escortsin addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the North and the South Korean militaries maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreement Topic: Kosovothe NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has operated in the country as a peace support force since 1999; as of 2021, it numbered about 3,500 troops; KFOR also assists in developing the Kosovo Security Force Topic: KuwaitKuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force Topic: Laosthe LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorismthe LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism Topic: LatviaLatvia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia NATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotationssince 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and LatviaNATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations Topic: Lebanonas of late 2021, the Lebanese military faced multiple challenges, including securing the border with war-torn Syria from infiltrations of militants linked to the Islamic State and al-Qa’ida terrorist groups and maintaining stability along its volatile border with Israel, where the Iranian-backed and Lebanon-based militant group Hizballah conducted a war with Israel in 2006 and tensions remained high, including occasional armed skirmishes; in 2021, the military also faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties undercut its ability to fully pay and supply personnel, which has sparked domestic and international fears that the armed forces may disintegrate  the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the country since 1978, originally under UNSCRs 425 and 426 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area; following the July-August 2006 war, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1701 enhancing UNIFIL and deciding that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; UNIFIL had about 10,500 personnel deployed in the country as of November 2021as of late 2021, the Lebanese military faced multiple challenges, including securing the border with war-torn Syria from infiltrations of militants linked to the Islamic State and al-Qa’ida terrorist groups and maintaining stability along its volatile border with Israel, where the Iranian-backed and Lebanon-based militant group Hizballah conducted a war with Israel in 2006 and tensions remained high, including occasional armed skirmishes; in 2021, the military also faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties undercut its ability to fully pay and supply personnel, which has sparked domestic and international fears that the armed forces may disintegrate  Topic: LesothoLesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa Topic: Liberiathe first militia unit established for defense of the colony was raised in 1832; the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970; at the end of the second civil war in 2003, military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed; the AFL began to rebuild in 2003 with US assistance and the first infantry battalion of the restructured AFL was re-activated in late 2007; a second battalion was added in 2008 the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established in 2003 as a peacekeeping force; at its height, UNMIL was comprised of about 15,000 personnel, including more than 3,000 troops absorbed from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping mission; Liberian forces reassumed full control of the country’s security in June of 2016, and the UNMIL mission was ended in 2018 as of 2021, the AFL was comprised mostly of a small ground force consisting of 2 infantry battalions, while the Coast Guard had only a few small patrol boats; the AFL had no aircraftthe first militia unit established for defense of the colony was raised in 1832; the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970; at the end of the second civil war in 2003, military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed; the AFL began to rebuild in 2003 with US assistance and the first infantry battalion of the restructured AFL was re-activated in late 2007; a second battalion was added in 2008the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established in 2003 as a peacekeeping force; at its height, UNMIL was comprised of about 15,000 personnel, including more than 3,000 troops absorbed from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping mission; Liberian forces reassumed full control of the country’s security in June of 2016, and the UNMIL mission was ended in 2018as of 2021, the AFL was comprised mostly of a small ground force consisting of 2 infantry battalions, while the Coast Guard had only a few small patrol boats; the AFL had no aircraft Topic: Libyain April 2019, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces launched an offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-recognized GNU (formerly known as the Government of National Accord or GNA); the GNU and its local supporting militia forces forced the LNA to withdraw by June 2020; at the signing of a UN-sponsored ceasefire in October 2020, GNU and LNA forces were separated by a line of control running roughly from the coastal city of Sirte south to the vicinity of Al Jufra and Brak; as of late 2021, this line had grown increasingly fortified; in April 2021, the UN Security Council endorsed plans to deploy civilian ceasefire monitoring personnel at the request of the Libyans outside actors have played a large role in the fighting in Libya on both sides: as of 2021, GNU forces were backed militarily by Qatar and Turkey; Turkey has been the chief supporter; it signed a security agreement with the GNU in 2019, and Turkey’s aid was assessed as vital in turning back the LNA offensive in 2019-2020;  Turkey’s support has included air defense, unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones), equipment, weapons, training, and military personnel, including advisors, technicians, and equipment operators; in addition, Turkey has provided as many as 5,000 mercenary fighters from Syria as of 2021, LNA forces (aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) have received varying amounts of military support from Chad, Egypt, France, Jordan, Russia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Russia, Sudan, and the UAE have been the most active; Russia has provided equipment, weapons, aircraft, and air defense support, as well as an estimated 5,000 Russian mercenaries/private military contractors and Russian-sponsored Syrian mercenary fighters; Sudan reportedly provided at least 1,000 troops from its Rapid Support Forces in 2019-2020 and more than 1,000 Sudanese mercenaries were present in Libya as of late 2021; the UAE provided equipment, supplies, weapons, and air support, including air strikes from manned and unmanned aircraft; meanwhile, Egypt has provided arms, supplies, and training, as well as facilitated both Emirati and Russian operations in Libya by allowing them to use the country’s western bases and to transport arms over the border as of late 2021, it was estimated that as many as 20,000 third-country nationals were involved in military operations in Libya, despite the confidence building measure of the October 2020 ceasefire that called for all foreign forces to leave the country by early 2021; in addition to the military and proxy forces provided by Russia, Sudan, and Turkey, foreign fighters from Libya’s neighbors (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia, as well as Sudan) have travelled to Libya since the civil war began in 2011 to support various armed groups, including those aligned with the GNU and the LNA, as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham and Al Qa’ida terrorist group affiliates operating in Libya; most of these fighters arrived as individuals, but rebel groups from Chad and Sudan were also reportedly involved in the fightingin April 2019, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces launched an offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-recognized GNU (formerly known as the Government of National Accord or GNA); the GNU and its local supporting militia forces forced the LNA to withdraw by June 2020; at the signing of a UN-sponsored ceasefire in October 2020, GNU and LNA forces were separated by a line of control running roughly from the coastal city of Sirte south to the vicinity of Al Jufra and Brak; as of late 2021, this line had grown increasingly fortified; in April 2021, the UN Security Council endorsed plans to deploy civilian ceasefire monitoring personnel at the request of the Libyansoutside actors have played a large role in the fighting in Libya on both sides:as of 2021, GNU forces were backed militarily by Qatar and Turkey; Turkey has been the chief supporter; it signed a security agreement with the GNU in 2019, and Turkey’s aid was assessed as vital in turning back the LNA offensive in 2019-2020;  Turkey’s support has included air defense, unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones), equipment, weapons, training, and military personnel, including advisors, technicians, and equipment operators; in addition, Turkey has provided as many as 5,000 mercenary fighters from Syriaas of 2021, LNA forces (aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) have received varying amounts of military support from Chad, Egypt, France, Jordan, Russia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Russia, Sudan, and the UAE have been the most active; Russia has provided equipment, weapons, aircraft, and air defense support, as well as an estimated 5,000 Russian mercenaries/private military contractors and Russian-sponsored Syrian mercenary fighters; Sudan reportedly provided at least 1,000 troops from its Rapid Support Forces in 2019-2020 and more than 1,000 Sudanese mercenaries were present in Libya as of late 2021; the UAE provided equipment, supplies, weapons, and air support, including air strikes from manned and unmanned aircraft; meanwhile, Egypt has provided arms, supplies, and training, as well as facilitated both Emirati and Russian operations in Libya by allowing them to use the country’s western bases and to transport arms over the borderas of late 2021, it was estimated that as many as 20,000 third-country nationals were involved in military operations in Libya, despite the confidence building measure of the October 2020 ceasefire that called for all foreign forces to leave the country by early 2021; in addition to the military and proxy forces provided by Russia, Sudan, and Turkey, foreign fighters from Libya’s neighbors (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia, as well as Sudan) have travelled to Libya since the civil war began in 2011 to support various armed groups, including those aligned with the GNU and the LNA, as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham and Al Qa’ida terrorist group affiliates operating in Libya; most of these fighters arrived as individuals, but rebel groups from Chad and Sudan were also reportedly involved in the fighting Topic: LithuaniaLithuania officially became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Basesince 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiativeNATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base Topic: LuxembourgLuxembourg is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countriesin 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries Topic: Macaudefense is the responsibility of China; the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintains a garrison in Macau Topic: Madagascarone of the military’s duties is assisting the gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, particularly in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling (cattle thieves are known as dahalo), and criminal groups (2021)one of the military’s duties is assisting the gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, particularly in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling (cattle thieves are known as dahalo), and criminal groups (2021) Topic: Malawias of 2021, the Malawi Defense Force’s primary responsibility was external security; it was also tasked as necessary with carrying out policing or other domestic activities, such as disaster relief; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operationsas of 2021, the Malawi Defense Force’s primary responsibility was external security; it was also tasked as necessary with carrying out policing or other domestic activities, such as disaster relief; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations Topic: Malaysiamaritime security has long been a top priority for the Malaysian Armed Forces, but it has received even greater emphasis in the 2000s, particularly anti-piracy operations in the Strait of Malacca and countering Chinese naval incursions in Malaysia’s Economic Exclusion Zone, as well as addressing identified shortfalls in maritime capabilities; as such, it has undertaken modest efforts to procure more modern ships, improve air and maritime surveillance, expand the Navy’s support infrastructure (particularly bases/ports) and domestic ship-building capacities, restructure naval command and control, and increase naval cooperation with regional and international partners; as of 2021, for example, the Navy had 6 frigates fitting out or under construction and scheduled for completion by 2023, which will increase the number of operational frigates from 2 to 8; in addition, it began tri-lateral air and naval patrols with Indonesia and the Philippines in 2017; Malaysia also cooperates closely with the US military, including on maritime surveillance and participating regularly in bilateral and multilateral training exercisesmaritime security has long been a top priority for the Malaysian Armed Forces, but it has received even greater emphasis in the 2000s, particularly anti-piracy operations in the Strait of Malacca and countering Chinese naval incursions in Malaysia’s Economic Exclusion Zone, as well as addressing identified shortfalls in maritime capabilities; as such, it has undertaken modest efforts to procure more modern ships, improve air and maritime surveillance, expand the Navy’s support infrastructure (particularly bases/ports) and domestic ship-building capacities, restructure naval command and control, and increase naval cooperation with regional and international partners; as of 2021, for example, the Navy had 6 frigates fitting out or under construction and scheduled for completion by 2023, which will increase the number of operational frigates from 2 to 8; in addition, it began tri-lateral air and naval patrols with Indonesia and the Philippines in 2017; Malaysia also cooperates closely with the US military, including on maritime surveillance and participating regularly in bilateral and multilateral training exercises Topic: Maldivesthe MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone (2021) Topic: Maliprior to the coups in August 2020 and May 2021, the Malian military had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960; two attempts failed (1976 and 1978), while three succeeded in overturning civilian rule (1968, 1991, and 2012); the military collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants; it has been since rebuilt, but continues to have limited capabilities and is heavily reliant on external assistance as of 2022, Malian security forces were conducting operations against insurgents and terrorist groups in the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has operated in the country since 2013; the Mission's responsibilities include providing security, rebuilding Malian security forces, supporting national political dialogue, and assisting in the reestablishment of Malian government authority; as of November 2021, MINUSMA had around 18,000 personnel deployed; in June 2021, MINUSMA's mission was extended until the end of June 2022 the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-M) and the French military have also operated in the country since 2013; the EUTM-M provides advice and training to the Malian Armed Forces and military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force; as 2021, the mission included almost 700 personnel from 25 European countries; as of early 2022, the French had approximately 2,400 troops providing military assistance and conducting counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations; note - in February 2022, France announced it would remove its personnel from Mali, citing obstructions from the ruling military government; in April of 2022, the EU said it would halt its training program in Mali Topic: MaltaMalta maintains a security policy of neutrality, but contributes to EU 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  Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality, but contributes to EU 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  Topic: Marshall Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Mauritaniasince a spate of terrorist attacks in the 2000s, including a 2008 attack on a military base in the country’s north that resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers, the Mauritanian Government has increased the defense budget and military equipment acquisitions, enhanced military training, heightened security cooperation with its neighbors and the international community, and built up the military’s special operations and civil-military affairs forces (2021) Topic: Mauritiusas of 2021, the country’s primary security partner was India, and Indian naval vessels often patrol Mauritian waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US; the MPF’s chief security concerns are piracy and narcotics trafficking the paramilitary Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrisonas of 2021, the country’s primary security partner was India, and Indian naval vessels often patrol Mauritian waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US; the MPF’s chief security concerns are piracy and narcotics traffickingthe paramilitary Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison Topic: Mexicothe 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’ role in law enforcement activities in support of civilian authorities through 2024; under these authorities, President LOPEZ OBRADOR has expanded the Mexican military's role in public security duties and other internal tasks; as of 2021, Mexican military operations were heavily focused on internal security duties, particularly in countering drug cartels and organized crime groups, as well as border control and immigration enforcement; in addition, the military has been placed in charge of some infrastructure projects, such as building a new airport for Mexico City and sections of a train line in the country’s southeast; in mid-2020, the armed forces were directed to administer the country’s land and sea ports and customs services in order to fight crime and corruption; the military also runs approximately 2,700 branches of a state-owned bank Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: MoldovaMoldova is constitutionally neutral, but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992; bilateral cooperation started when Moldova joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Moldova has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support (2021) Topic: Monacodefense is the responsibility of France Topic: MongoliaMongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021)Mongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021) Topic: MontenegroMontenegro officially became a member of NATO in 2017; Greece and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Montenegro Topic: Montserratdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Moroccothe UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front (aka Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro or Frente Polisario); MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but as of 2021 continued to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led confidence building measures with personnel and air and ground assets; as of July 2021, MINURSO had about 200 military personnel assigned Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsthe UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front (aka Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro or Frente Polisario); MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but as of 2021 continued to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led confidence building measures with personnel and air and ground assets; as of July 2021, MINURSO had about 200 military personnel assigned Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Mozambiquethe Government of Mozambique is facing an insurgency driven by militants with ties to the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique, which was declared a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021) in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; insurgent attacks in the province began in 2017 and as of 2022, the fighting had left an estimated 3,000 dead and over 700,000 displaced; the FADM is widely assessed as lacking the training, equipment, and overall capabilities to address the insurgency; as of early 2022, several countries from the Southern Africa Development Community and the European Union, as well as Rwanda and the US were providing various forms of military assistance; African countries have provided approximately 3,000 troops Topic: Namibiathe Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDFthe Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF Topic: NauruNauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Navassa Islanddefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: NepalNepal became a member of the UN in 1955 and has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations since, sending its first military observers to a UN peacekeeping mission in 1958 and its first peacekeeping military contingent to Egypt in 1974 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 until merged to form the Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1994; 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 (2021)Nepal became a member of the UN in 1955 and has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations since, sending its first military observers to a UN peacekeeping mission in 1958 and its first peacekeeping military contingent to Egypt in 1974 Topic: Netherlandsthe Netherlands is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 since 1973, the Dutch Marine Corps has worked closely with the British Royal Marines, including jointly in the UK-Netherlands amphibious landing force a Dutch Army airmobile infantry brigade and a mechanized infantry brigade have been integrated into the German Army since 2014 and 2016 respectively in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countriessince 1973, the Dutch Marine Corps has worked closely with the British Royal Marines, including jointly in the UK-Netherlands amphibious landing forcea Dutch Army airmobile infantry brigade and a mechanized infantry brigade have been integrated into the German Army since 2014 and 2016 respectivelyin 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries Topic: New Caledoniadefense is the responsibility of France Topic: New ZealandNew Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments  New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments   Topic: Nicaraguathe modern Army of Nicaragua was created in 1979 as the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1984); prior to 1979, the military was known as the National Guard, which was organized and trained by the US in the 1920s and 1930s; the first commander of the National Guard, Anastasio SOMOZA García, seized power in 1937 and ran the country as a military dictator until his assassination in 1956; his sons ran the country either directly or through figureheads until the Sandinistas came to power in 1979; the defeated National Guard was disbanded by the Sandinistasthe modern Army of Nicaragua was created in 1979 as the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1984); prior to 1979, the military was known as the National Guard, which was organized and trained by the US in the 1920s and 1930s; the first commander of the National Guard, Anastasio SOMOZA García, seized power in 1937 and ran the country as a military dictator until his assassination in 1956; his sons ran the country either directly or through figureheads until the Sandinistas came to power in 1979; the defeated National Guard was disbanded by the Sandinistas Topic: Nigeras of 2021, the FAN was conducting counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations against Islamic militants on two fronts; in the Diffa region, the Nigeria-based Boko Haram terrorist group has conducted dozens of attacks on security forces, army bases, and civilians; on Niger’s western border with Mali, the Islamic State-West Africa (ISWA) has conducted numerous attacks on security personnel; a series of ISWA attacks on FAN forces near the Malian border in December of 2019 and January of 2020 resulted in the deaths of more than 170 soldiers; terrorist attacks continued through 2021 (2021) Topic: Nigeriaas of 2022, the Nigerian military was sub-Saharan Africa’s largest and regarded as one of its most capable forces; it was focused largely on internal security and faced a number of challenges that have stretched its resources, however; in the northeast, the military was conducting counterinsurgency/counter-terrorist operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and jihadist-related violence has killed an estimated 35-40,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009 (as of late 2021); in the northwest, it faced growing threats from criminal gangs, bandits, and violence associated with historical and ongoing farmer-herder conflicts, as well as BH and ISWA terrorists; bandits in the northwest were estimated to number in the low 10,000s and violence there has killed more than 10,000 since the mid-2010s; the military also continued to protect the oil industry in the Niger Delta region against militants and criminal activity, although the levels of violence there have decreased in recent years; in May 2021, a contingent of military troops and police were deployed to eastern Nigeria to quell renewed agitation for a state of Biafra (Biafra seceded from Nigeria in the late 1960s, sparking a civil war that caused more than 1 million deaths) the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the RWAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the RWAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960 Topic: Niuedefense is the responsibility of New Zealand Topic: Norfolk Islanddefense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia officially became the 30th member of NATO in 2020; Greece provides NATO's air policing mission for North Macedonia Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: NorwayNorway is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 the Norwegian Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 (2021)the Norwegian Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 Topic: Omanthe Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; as of 2021, the SAF and the British maintained a joint training base in Oman and exercised together regularly; in 2017, Oman and the British signed an agreement allowing the British military the use of facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the portthe Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; as of 2021, the SAF and the British maintained a joint training base in Oman and exercised together regularly; in 2017, Oman and the British signed an agreement allowing the British military the use of facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port Topic: Pakistanthe military has carried out three coups since Pakistan's independence in 1947 and as of 2021 remained a dominant force in the country’s political arena; in 2021, its chief focus was on the perceived threat from India, but over the past 15 years, the military also has increased its role in internal counterinsurgency and counterterrorism missions Pakistan and India have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (First Kashmir War of 1947 and the Kargil Conflict of 1999); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2021, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area in 1985, 1987, and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2021 both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather or the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsthe military has carried out three coups since Pakistan's independence in 1947 and as of 2021 remained a dominant force in the country’s political arena; in 2021, its chief focus was on the perceived threat from India, but over the past 15 years, the military also has increased its role in internal counterinsurgency and counterterrorism missionsPakistan and India have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (First Kashmir War of 1947 and the Kargil Conflict of 1999); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2021, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area in 1985, 1987, and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2021 both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather or the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Palauunder a 1994 Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US until 2044 is responsible for the defense of Palaus and the US military is granted access to the islands, but it has not stationed any military forces there Topic: PanamaPanama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 ConstitutionPanama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution Topic: Papua New Guineaas of 2021, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War IIas of 2021, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War II Topic: Paracel Islandsoccupied by China, which is assessed to maintain 20 outposts in the Paracels (Antelope, Bombay, and North reefs; Drummond, Duncan, Lincoln, Middle, Money, North, Pattle, Quanfu, Robert, South, Tree, Triton, Woody, and Yagong islands; South Sand and West Sand; Observation Bank); the outposts range in size from one or two buildings to bases with significant military infrastructure; Woody Island is the main base in the Paracels and includes an airstrip with fighter aircraft hangers, naval facilities, surveillance radars, and defenses such as surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles; fighter aircraft have deployed to the island (2022) Topic: Paraguayas of 2022, the armed forces were principally focused on the Paraguayan People's Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo, EPP), a Marxist-nationalist insurgent group operating in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil and assisting internal security forces to counter narco-trafficking networks Topic: Peruas of 2021, the Peruvian security forces continued to conduct operations against remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T), particularly in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valleys (VRAEM) of eastern Peru; the military had approximately 8,000-10,000 troops in the VRAEM under a special combined military-police command, including 3 army infantry battalionsas of 2021, the Peruvian security forces continued to conduct operations against remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T), particularly in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valleys (VRAEM) of eastern Peru; the military had approximately 8,000-10,000 troops in the VRAEM under a special combined military-police command, including 3 army infantry battalions Topic: Philippinesthe US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; the Philippines has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments as of 2021, the AFP's primary operational focus was on internal security duties, particularly in the south, where several insurgent and terrorist groups operated and up to 60% of the armed forces were deployed; additional combat operations were being conducted against the Communist Peoples Party/New People’s Army, which was active mostly on Luzon, the Visayas, and areas of Mindanao in addition to its typical roles of patrolling and defending the country's maritime claims, the Navy conducts interdiction operations against terrorist, insurgent, and criminal groups around the southern islands; in 2017, the Philippines began conducting joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia to counter regional terrorist activities, particularly in the Sulu Sea; the Philippine Marine Corps assists the Army in counterinsurgency operations the Philippines National Police (PNP) also has an active role in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations alongside the AFP, particularly the Special Action Force, a PNP commando unit that specializes in counter-terrorism operationsthe US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; the Philippines has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Pitcairn Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: PolandPoland joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangements Poland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) (2022)since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangementsPoland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) Topic: PortugalPortugal is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Topic: Puerto Ricodefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Qataras of 2021, Qatar hosted more than 8,000 US military forces and the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) at various military facilities, including the large Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar also hosted as many as 5,000 Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 Qatar (as of early 2022) has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2021, Qatar hosted more than 8,000 US military forces and the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) at various military facilities, including the large Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar also hosted as many as 5,000 Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 Qatar (as of early 2022) has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: RomaniaRomania officially became a member of NATO in 2004 Romania conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014  Romania hosts a NATO multinational divisional (Multinational Division Southeast; became operational in 2017) and a brigade-sized headquarters as part of NATO's tailored forward presence in the southeastern part of the AllianceRomania hosts a NATO multinational divisional (Multinational Division Southeast; became operational in 2017) and a brigade-sized headquarters as part of NATO's tailored forward presence in the southeastern part of the Alliance Topic: Russiaas of 2022, Russian military forces continued to conduct active combat operations in Syria; Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war at the request of the ASAD government in September 2015; Russian assistance included air support, special operations forces, military advisors, private military contractors, training, arms, and equipment Russia is the leading member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and contributes approximately 8,000 troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force (2021) Topic: Rwandathe RDF is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best trained and most capable and professional military forces; as of late 2021, over 5,000 RDF personnel were deployed on missions in the African countries of the Central African Republic, Mozambique, and South Sudanthe RDF is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best trained and most capable and professional military forces; as of late 2021, over 5,000 RDF personnel were deployed on missions in the African countries of the Central African Republic, Mozambique, and South Sudan Topic: Saint Barthelemydefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhadefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, 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 (2021) Topic: Saint LuciaSt. Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national securitySt. Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security Topic: Saint Martindefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelondefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesthe country has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Saint Lucia) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2021) Topic: SamoaSamoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship Topic: San Marinodefense is the responsibility of Italy Topic: Sao Tome and Principethe FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air forcethe FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air force Topic: Saudi Arabiain 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawfin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf Topic: SenegalSenegalese security forces continued to be engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against various factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance; while violent incidents have decreased since a tacit cease-fire was reached in 2012, the insurgency, which began in 1982, remains one of longest running low-level conflicts in the world, claiming more than 5,000 lives and leaving another 60,000 displacedSenegalese security forces continued to be engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against various factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance; while violent incidents have decreased since a tacit cease-fire was reached in 2012, the insurgency, which began in 1982, remains one of longest running low-level conflicts in the world, claiming more than 5,000 lives and leaving another 60,000 displaced Topic: SerbiaSerbia does not aspire to join NATO, but has cooperated with the Alliance since 2006 when it joined the Partnership for Peace programSerbia does not aspire to join NATO, but has cooperated with the Alliance since 2006 when it joined the Partnership for Peace program Topic: Seychellesformed in 1977, the SPDF's primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smugglingformed in 1977, the SPDF's primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling Topic: Sierra Leoneafter the end of the civil war in 2002, the military was reduced in size and restructured with British military assistance; the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Warsafter the end of the civil war in 2002, the military was reduced in size and restructured with British military assistance; the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars Topic: Singaporethe SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965; as of 2021, the SAF was widely viewed as the best equipped military in southeast Asia; the Army was largely based on conscripts and reservists with a small cadre of professional soldiers, while the Air Force and Navy were primarily comprised of well-trained professionalsthe SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965; as of 2021, the SAF was widely viewed as the best equipped military in southeast Asia; the Army was largely based on conscripts and reservists with a small cadre of professional soldiers, while the Air Force and Navy were primarily comprised of well-trained professionals Topic: Sint Maartendefense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: SlovakiaSlovakia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 in 2022, Slovakia agreed to host a NATO ground force battlegroup comprised of troops from Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the US Topic: SloveniaSlovenia officially became a member of NATO in 2004; Hungary and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Slovenia’s airspace Topic: Solomon IslandsAustralia and New Zealand provide material and training assistance to the policeAustralia and New Zealand provide material and training assistance to the police Topic: Somaliaas of 2022, large parts of the country remained outside government control and under the control of the insurgent Islamist group al-Shabaab; al-Shabaab contested government control in some other areas (see Appendix T) as of 2022, a significant portion of the SNA was comprised of militia forces that lacked the discipline, structure, weapons, and overall capabilities for effective military operations; of the SNA’s approximately 13 brigades, the most effective were assessed to be the US-trained Danab ("Lightning") Advanced Infantry Brigade and those of the Turkish-trained Gorgor ("Eagle") Special Division; in 2020-2021, the Danab Brigade conducted most of the SNA’s offensive operations in Somalia and nearly all counterterrorism operations against the al-Shabaab terrorist group; as of 2021, it numbered about 1,000 troops with an eventual projected strength of 3,000, while the Gorgor Division was estimated to have 4,500-5,000 trained troops AMISOM has operated in the country with the approval of the United Nations (UN) since 2007; its peacekeeping mission includes assisting Somali forces in providing security for a stable political process, enabling the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, and reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups; as of early 2022, AMISOM had about 20,000 military troops from six African countries deployed in Somalia; note - AMISOM's mandate scheduled to end on 31 March 2022; it is to be replaced by the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS); the ATMIS mission will be to support the Somalia Federal Government (FGS) in implementing the security objectives of the FGS's security transition plan, a comprehensive strategy developed by the FGS and its international partners to gradually transfer security responsibilities from AMISOM to Somali security forces UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is mandated by the Security Council to work with the Federal Government of Somalia to support national reconciliation, provide advice on peace-building and state-building, monitor the human rights situation, and help coordinate the efforts of the international community the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) is responsible for providing logistical field support to AMISOM, UNSOM, the Somali National Army, and the Somali Police Force on joint operations with AMISOM the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S) has operated in the country since 2010; the EUTM provides advice and training to the Somali military; the US and Turkey maintain separate unilateral military training missions in Somalia; the UAE also maintains a military presence in Somalia (Somaliland)as of 2022, large parts of the country remained outside government control and under the control of the insurgent Islamist group al-Shabaab; al-Shabaab contested government control in some other areas (see Appendix T) as of 2022, a significant portion of the SNA was comprised of militia forces that lacked the discipline, structure, weapons, and overall capabilities for effective military operations; of the SNA’s approximately 13 brigades, the most effective were assessed to be the US-trained Danab ("Lightning") Advanced Infantry Brigade and those of the Turkish-trained Gorgor ("Eagle") Special Division; in 2020-2021, the Danab Brigade conducted most of the SNA’s offensive operations in Somalia and nearly all counterterrorism operations against the al-Shabaab terrorist group; as of 2021, it numbered about 1,000 troops with an eventual projected strength of 3,000, while the Gorgor Division was estimated to have 4,500-5,000 trained troops Topic: South Africathe SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the guerrilla and militia forces of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands as of 2021, the SANDF was one of Africa’s most capable militaries; it participated regularly in African and UN peacekeeping missions and had the ability to independently deploy throughout Africa; over the past decade, however, its operational readiness and modernization programs have been hampered by funding shortfallsthe SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the guerrilla and militia forces of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelandsas of 2021, the SANDF was one of Africa’s most capable militaries; it participated regularly in African and UN peacekeeping missions and had the ability to independently deploy throughout Africa; over the past decade, however, its operational readiness and modernization programs have been hampered by funding shortfalls Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: South Sudanthe South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), was founded as a guerrilla movement against the Sudanese Government in 1983 and participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005); the Juba Declaration that followed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 unified the SPLA and the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), the second-largest rebel militia remaining from the civil war, under the SPLA name; in 2017, the SPLA was renamed the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) and in September 2018 was renamed again as the SSPDF under the September 2018 peace agreement, all armed groups in South Sudan were to assemble at designated sites where fighters could be either disarmed and demobilized, or integrated into unified military and police forces; the unified forces were then to be retrained and deployed prior to the formation of a national unity government; all fighters were ordered to these sites in July 2019; some progress toward merging the various armed forces into a national army has been made; for example, in May 2020, South Sudan announced that it was graduating some unified forces at various training centers across the country, and in June the SSPDF incorporated some senior officers from the main opposition force, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Army - in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) into its rank structure; nevertheless, overall progress has been slow, and as of 2022 armed clashes continued to occur between government forces and armed militant groups, including the SPLM the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has operated in the country since 2011 with the objectives of consolidating peace and security and helping establish conditions for the successful economic and political development of South Sudan; UNMISS had about 18,000 personnel deployed in the country as of November 2021 United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of July 2021, UNISFA had some 3,800 personnel deployed Topic: SpainSpain joined NATO in 1982, but refrained from participating in the integrated military structure until 1996 the Spanish Marine Corps, established in 1537, is the oldest marine corps in the world Topic: Spratly IslandsSpratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam China: occupies 7 outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief, Subi, Cuarteron, Gavin, Hughes, and Johnson reefs); the outposts on Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi include air bases with helipads and aircraft hangers, naval port facilities, surveillance radars, air defense and anti-ship missile sites, and other military infrastructure such as communications, barracks, maintenance facilities, and ammunition and fuel bunkers Malaysia:  occupies 5 outposts in the southern portion of the archipelago, closest to the Malaysian state of Sabah (Ardasier Reef, Eric Reef, Mariveles Reef, Shallow Reef, and Investigator Shoal); all the outposts have helicopter landing pads, while Shallow Reef also has an airstrip Philippines: occupies 9 features (Commodore Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Flat Island, Loaita Cay, Loaita Island, Nanshan Island, Northeast Cay, Thitu Island, and West York Island); Thitu Island has the only Philippine airstrip in the Spratlys Taiwan: maintains a coast guard outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island Vietnam: occupies about 50 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations,” or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra; over the past few years, Vietnam has continued to make modest improvements to its outposts, including defensive positions and infrastructure (2022)Taiwan: maintains a coast guard outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island Vietnam: occupies about 50 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations,” or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra; over the past few years, Vietnam has continued to make modest improvements to its outposts, including defensive positions and infrastructure Topic: Sri LankaSri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; India participated in the counter-insurgency war against the LTTE from 1987-1991, losing over 1,000 soldiers in the conflict; as of 2021, the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries continued to conduct exercises together, and India trains over 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; however, since the end of the war with LTTE, Sri Lanka has also increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for trainingSri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; India participated in the counter-insurgency war against the LTTE from 1987-1991, losing over 1,000 soldiers in the conflict; as of 2021, the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries continued to conduct exercises together, and India trains over 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; however, since the end of the war with LTTE, Sri Lanka has also increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training Topic: Sudanthe Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA had about 3,800 personnel deployed as of November 2021 in addition, the United Nations African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) operated in the war-torn Darfur region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in July 2021; UNAMID was a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force with the mission of bringing stability to Darfur, including protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and promoting mediation efforts, while peace talks on a final settlement continued; UNAMID withdrew the last of its personnel in December 2021; note - the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a joint security force comprised of 12,000 members tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of UNAMID; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations (2022)the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports Topic: Surinameas of 2021, a key mission of the National Leger was assisting the Suriname police as part of the government’s overall efforts to secure the country’s borders and combat crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teamsas of 2021, a key mission of the National Leger was assisting the Suriname police as part of the government’s overall efforts to secure the country’s borders and combat crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams Topic: SvalbardSvalbard 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 (2021) Topic: SwedenSweden maintains a policy of military non-alignment, but cooperates with NATO and regional countries; it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo the Swedish military cooperates closely with the military forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009  Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and contributes to CSDP missions and operationsSweden maintains a policy of military non-alignment, but cooperates with NATO and regional countries; it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovothe Swedish military cooperates closely with the military forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and contributes to CSDP missions and operations Topic: SwitzerlandSwitzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does occasionally participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military operations; Swiss law excludes participation in combat operations for peace enforcement, and Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it contributed to the NATO-led Kosovo peace-support force (KFOR) in 1999 and as of 2021, continued doing so with about 165 personnel; Switzerland also provided a small number of staff officers to the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2004-2007Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does occasionally participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military operations; Swiss law excludes participation in combat operations for peace enforcement, and Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it contributed to the NATO-led Kosovo peace-support force (KFOR) in 1999 and as of 2021, continued doing so with about 165 personnel; Switzerland also provided a small number of staff officers to the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2004-2007 Topic: Syriathe 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; as of November 2021, UNDOF consisted of about 1,250 personnel as of 2022, multiple actors were conducting military operations in Syria in support of the ASAD government or Syrian opposition forces, as well in pursuit of their own security goals, such counterterrorism; operations have included air strikes, direct ground combat, and sponsoring proxy forces, as well as providing non-lethal military support, including advisors, technicians, arms and equipment, funding, intelligence, and training: pro-ASAD elements operating in Syria have included Lebanese Hezbollah, Iranian, Iranian-backed Shia militia, and Russian forces; since early in the civil war, the ASAD government has relied on Lebanese Hezbollah (see Appendix T for further information), as well as Iran and Iranian-backed forces, for combat operations and to hold territory; Iran has provided military advisors and combat troops from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (including the Qods Force; see Appendix T for further information), as well as intelligence, logistical, material, technical, and financial support; it has funded, trained, equipped, and led Shia militia/paramilitary units comprised of both Syrian and non-Syrian personnel, primarily from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan; Russia intervened at the request of the ASAD government in 2015 and has since provided air support, special operations forces, military advisors, private military contractors, training, arms, and equipment; Iranian and Russian support has also included assisting Syria in combating the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS; see Appendix T) terrorist group Turkey intervened militarily in 2016 to combat Kurdish militants and ISIS, support select Syrian opposition forces, and establish a buffer along portions of its border with Syria; as of 2022, Turkey continued to maintain a considerable military presence in northern Syria; it has armed and trained militia/proxy forces, such as the Syrian National Army, which was formed in late 2017 of Syrian Arab and Turkmen rebel factions in the Halab (Aleppo) province and northwestern Syria the US and some regional and European states have at times backed Syrian opposition forces militarily and/or conducted military operations, primarily against ISIS; the US has operated in Syria since 2015 with ground forces and air strikes; as of 2022, the majority the ground forces were deployed in the Eastern Syria Security Area (ESSA, which includes parts of Hasakah and Dayr az Zawr provinces east of the Euphrates River) in support of operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS, while the remainder were in southeast Syria around Tanf supporting counter-ISIS operations by the Jaysh Mughawir al-Thawra (MaT, or Revolutionary Commando Army) Syrian opposition force; the US has also conducted air strikes against Syrian military targets in response to Syrian Government use of chemical weapons against opposition forces and civilians; in addition, France, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UK have provided forms of military assistance to opposition forces and/or conducted operations against ISIS, including air strikes Israel has conducted hundreds of military air strikes in Syria, mostly targeting Hezbollah, Iranian, and/or Iranian-backed militia targets the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are an anti-ASAD regime coalition of forces composed primarily of Kurdish, Sunni Arab, and Syriac Christian fighters; it is dominated and led by Kurdish forces, particularly the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia; the SDF began to receive US support in 2015 and as of 2022 was the main local US partner in its counter-ISIS campaign; the SDF has internal security, anti-terror, and commando units; Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a US-designated terrorist organization (see Appendix T) the ISIS terrorist group (see Appendix T) lost its last territorial stronghold to SDF forces in 2019, but continued to maintain a low-level insurgency as of 2022; in addition, the SDF held about 10,000 captured suspected ISIS fighters in detention facilities across northern Syria, including 2,000 from countries other than Iraq and Syria as of 2021, the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS; formerly known as al-Nusrah Front) terrorist organization (see Appendix T) was the dominate militant group in northwest Syria and asserted considerable influence and control over the so-called Syrian Salvation Government in the Iblib de-escalation zone; as of 2021, the group had an estimated 10,000 fighterspro-ASAD elements operating in Syria have included Lebanese Hezbollah, Iranian, Iranian-backed Shia militia, and Russian forces; since early in the civil war, the ASAD government has relied on Lebanese Hezbollah (see Appendix T for further information), as well as Iran and Iranian-backed forces, for combat operations and to hold territory; Iran has provided military advisors and combat troops from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (including the Qods Force; see Appendix T for further information), as well as intelligence, logistical, material, technical, and financial support; it has funded, trained, equipped, and led Shia militia/paramilitary units comprised of both Syrian and non-Syrian personnel, primarily from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan; Russia intervened at the request of the ASAD government in 2015 and has since provided air support, special operations forces, military advisors, private military contractors, training, arms, and equipment; Iranian and Russian support has also included assisting Syria in combating the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS; see Appendix T) terrorist groupTurkey intervened militarily in 2016 to combat Kurdish militants and ISIS, support select Syrian opposition forces, and establish a buffer along portions of its border with Syria; as of 2022, Turkey continued to maintain a considerable military presence in northern Syria; it has armed and trained militia/proxy forces, such as the Syrian National Army, which was formed in late 2017 of Syrian Arab and Turkmen rebel factions in the Halab (Aleppo) province and northwestern Syriathe US and some regional and European states have at times backed Syrian opposition forces militarily and/or conducted military operations, primarily against ISIS; the US has operated in Syria since 2015 with ground forces and air strikes; as of 2022, the majority the ground forces were deployed in the Eastern Syria Security Area (ESSA, which includes parts of Hasakah and Dayr az Zawr provinces east of the Euphrates River) in support of operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS, while the remainder were in southeast Syria around Tanf supporting counter-ISIS operations by the Jaysh Mughawir al-Thawra (MaT, or Revolutionary Commando Army) Syrian opposition force; the US has also conducted air strikes against Syrian military targets in response to Syrian Government use of chemical weapons against opposition forces and civilians; in addition, France, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UK have provided forms of military assistance to opposition forces and/or conducted operations against ISIS, including air strikesIsrael has conducted hundreds of military air strikes in Syria, mostly targeting Hezbollah, Iranian, and/or Iranian-backed militia targetsthe Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are an anti-ASAD regime coalition of forces composed primarily of Kurdish, Sunni Arab, and Syriac Christian fighters; it is dominated and led by Kurdish forces, particularly the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia; the SDF began to receive US support in 2015 and as of 2022 was the main local US partner in its counter-ISIS campaign; the SDF has internal security, anti-terror, and commando units; Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a US-designated terrorist organization (see Appendix T)the ISIS terrorist group (see Appendix T) lost its last territorial stronghold to SDF forces in 2019, but continued to maintain a low-level insurgency as of 2022; in addition, the SDF held about 10,000 captured suspected ISIS fighters in detention facilities across northern Syria, including 2,000 from countries other than Iraq and Syriaas of 2021, the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS; formerly known as al-Nusrah Front) terrorist organization (see Appendix T) was the dominate militant group in northwest Syria and asserted considerable influence and control over the so-called Syrian Salvation Government in the Iblib de-escalation zone; as of 2021, the group had an estimated 10,000 fighters Topic: Taiwanthe US Taiwan Relations Act of April 1979 states that the US shall provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character and shall maintain the capacity of the US to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan (2021) Topic: TajikistanTajikistan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force Topic: Tanzaniain 2021-2022, Tanzania deployed additional troops to its border with Mozambique and contributed troops to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) intervention force that was assisting the Mozambique Government's fight against Islamic militants Topic: Thailandincluding the most recent in 2014, the military has attempted more than 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932 since 2004, the military has fought against separatist insurgents in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): since 2020, the Thai military has been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups; since 2004, the fighting has claimed more than 7,000 lives (as of early 2022); as of 2021, at least 70,000 military, paramilitary, and government-backed militia forces were estimated to be deployed in the south to combat the insurgency Thailand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022) Topic: Timor-Lestesince achieving independence, Timor-Leste has received security assistance from or has made defense cooperation arrangements with Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US; some F-FDTL personnel train with the Indonesian military and the two countries maintain a joint Border Security Task Force to jointly monitor and patrol the border, particularly the Oecussi exclave area where smuggling and trafficking are prevalent the F-FDTL is a small force comprised of 2 infantry battalions and operates fewer than 10 patrol boats; it does not have any combat aircraftsince achieving independence, Timor-Leste has received security assistance from or has made defense cooperation arrangements with Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US; some F-FDTL personnel train with the Indonesian military and the two countries maintain a joint Border Security Task Force to jointly monitor and patrol the border, particularly the Oecussi exclave area where smuggling and trafficking are prevalentthe F-FDTL is a small force comprised of 2 infantry battalions and operates fewer than 10 patrol boats; it does not have any combat aircraft Topic: Togothe first Togolese Army unit was created in 1963, while the Air Force was established in 1964; the Navy was not established until 1976; since its creation, the Togolese military has a history of interfering in the country’s politics with assassinations, coups, influence, and a large military crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds; over the past decade, it has made some efforts to reform and professionalize; over the same period, the military has increased its role in UN peacekeeping activities and as of 2021, more than 10% of the Army was deployed on peacekeeping missions; Togolese police have also been deployed on peacekeeping operations, and Togo maintains a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome; the Navy and Air Force have increasingly focused on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guineathe first Togolese Army unit was created in 1963, while the Air Force was established in 1964; the Navy was not established until 1976; since its creation, the Togolese military has a history of interfering in the country’s politics with assassinations, coups, influence, and a large military crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds; over the past decade, it has made some efforts to reform and professionalize; over the same period, the military has increased its role in UN peacekeeping activities and as of 2021, more than 10% of the Army was deployed on peacekeeping missions; Togolese police have also been deployed on peacekeeping operations, and Togo maintains a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome; the Navy and Air Force have increasingly focused on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea Topic: Tokelaudefense is the responsibility of New Zealand Topic: TongaTonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014 Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoas of 2021, the primary responsibilities for the TTDF were conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement  as of 2021, the primary responsibilities for the TTDF were conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement  Topic: Tunisiaas of 2022, the Tunisian military’s primary operational areas of focus were counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security; it was conducting counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations against al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State of ash-Sham (ISIS)-linked militants who have been fighting a low-intensity insurgency, mostly in the mountainous region along the border with Algeria, particularly the Chaambi Mountains near the city of Kasserine; the military maintained the lead role for security in this area and also routinely conducted joint operations with Algerian security forces against these  groups, as well to counter smuggling and trafficking activities; the military in recent years also has increased its role in securing the southern border against militant activity, smuggling, and trafficking from war-torn Libya; since 2015, Tunisia has constructed a complex structure of berms, trenches, and water-filled moats, complemented by electronic surveillance equipment such as motion detectors, ground surveillance radars, and infrared sensors along the 220-kilometer border with Libya; in the remote southern areas of the border with Libya, buffer/exclusion zones have also been established where the military has the lead for counter-terrorism efforts; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior has the lead responsibility for counter-terrorism in Tunisia, particularly for urban areas; the National Police Anti-Terrorism Brigade (BAT) and the National Guard Special Unit have the lead for MOI counterterrorism operations Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2022, the Tunisian military’s primary operational areas of focus were counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security; it was conducting counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations against al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State of ash-Sham (ISIS)-linked militants who have been fighting a low-intensity insurgency, mostly in the mountainous region along the border with Algeria, particularly the Chaambi Mountains near the city of Kasserine; the military maintained the lead role for security in this area and also routinely conducted joint operations with Algerian security forces against these  groups, as well to counter smuggling and trafficking activities; the military in recent years also has increased its role in securing the southern border against militant activity, smuggling, and trafficking from war-torn Libya; since 2015, Tunisia has constructed a complex structure of berms, trenches, and water-filled moats, complemented by electronic surveillance equipment such as motion detectors, ground surveillance radars, and infrared sensors along the 220-kilometer border with Libya; in the remote southern areas of the border with Libya, buffer/exclusion zones have also been established where the military has the lead for counter-terrorism efforts; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior has the lead responsibility for counter-terrorism in Tunisia, particularly for urban areas; the National Police Anti-Terrorism Brigade (BAT) and the National Guard Special Unit have the lead for MOI counterterrorism operations Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: TurkeyTurkey is a NATO ally (joined 1952) and hosts NATO's Land Forces Command in Izmir, as well as the AN/TPY-2 radar as part of NATO Missile Defense as of 2021, the Turkish Land Forces continued an overhaul under the "Force 2014" program with the intent of producing a 20-30% smaller, more highly trained force characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; it is planning to launch new frigates, submarines, and a light aircraft carrier/amphibious assault ship in the next few years, adding to its current force of about 16 frigates and 12 submarines (as of 2021); the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications the Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept" in 2002 and is developing an integrated missile defense system; in a controversial move, it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system for an estimated $2.5 billion in 2019; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system in recent years, the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities, including keeping a substantial force under NATO in Afghanistan until withdrawing in 2021; Turkey in recent years has built expeditionary military bases in Qatar, Somalia, northern Cyprus, and Sudan the military has a substantial stake in Turkey's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2021)the military has a substantial stake in Turkey's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production Topic: Turkmenistanas of 2021, Turkmenistan continued to pursue a nationalist and isolationist security policy and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization military alliance (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); however, in September 2020, it participated in a Russian-led multinational military exercise held in southern Russia’s Astrakhan region alongside Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Mongolian, Syrian, Iranian, Egyptian, Belarusian, Turkish, Armenian, and Azerbaijani contingents as of 2021, Turkmenistan was trying to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea by expanding ship building capabilities and adding larger vessels to the Navy’s inventory; in 2018, it opened its first naval shipyard and in August 2021, the Navy commissioned its largest warship, a corvette that was jointly constructed with Turkeyas of 2021, Turkmenistan continued to pursue a nationalist and isolationist security policy and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization military alliance (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); however, in September 2020, it participated in a Russian-led multinational military exercise held in southern Russia’s Astrakhan region alongside Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Mongolian, Syrian, Iranian, Egyptian, Belarusian, Turkish, Armenian, and Azerbaijani contingentsas of 2021, Turkmenistan was trying to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea by expanding ship building capabilities and adding larger vessels to the Navy’s inventory; in 2018, it opened its first naval shipyard and in August 2021, the Navy commissioned its largest warship, a corvette that was jointly constructed with Turkey Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: TuvaluAustralia provides support to the Tuvalu Police Force, including donations of patrol boatsAustralia provides support to the Tuvalu Police Force, including donations of patrol boats Topic: Ugandathe UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates as of 2021, the UPDF was conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including cross-border operations) against a Congo-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see Appendix T); in addition, elements of the UPDF were deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangs beginning in 2012, the UPDF led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threat Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016 and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020 the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (“KAR”) in 1902, which participated in both world wars; the UPDF was established in 1995the UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidatesas of 2021, the UPDF was conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including cross-border operations) against a Congo-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see Appendix T); in addition, elements of the UPDF were deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangsbeginning in 2012, the UPDF led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threatUganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016 and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020 the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (“KAR”) in 1902, which participated in both world wars; the UPDF was established in 1995 Topic: Ukraine    Topic: United Arab Emiratesas of 2021, the UAE was closely aligned with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on regional security issues; it hosted a multi-service French military base, which included the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and, as of 2021, hosted about 3,500 US troops, mostly air and naval personnel in 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary units the UAE's military 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 Emirati armed forces were formed in 1976as of 2021, the UAE was closely aligned with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on regional security issues; it hosted a multi-service French military base, which included the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and, as of 2021, hosted about 3,500 US troops, mostly air and naval personnelin 2015, UAE intervened militarily in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition in support of the Republic of Yemen Government with an estimated 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary units the UAE's military 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 Emirati armed forces were formed in 1976 Topic: United Kingdomthe UK is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for UK-French bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from Baltic and Scandinavian countries able to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; its principal geographic area of interest is the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions, where the JEF can complement national capabilities or NATO’s deterrence posture, although it is designed to be flexible and prepared to respond to humanitarian crises further afield; the JEF consists of 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) and was declared operational in 2018; most of the forces in the pool are British, and the UK provides the most rapidly deployable units as well as the command and control elementsin 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for UK-French bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from Baltic and Scandinavian countries able to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; its principal geographic area of interest is the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions, where the JEF can complement national capabilities or NATO’s deterrence posture, although it is designed to be flexible and prepared to respond to humanitarian crises further afield; the JEF consists of 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) and was declared operational in 2018; most of the forces in the pool are British, and the UK provides the most rapidly deployable units as well as the command and control elements Topic: United Statesthe US is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 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 US Air Force was established in 1947, but the first military unit of the US Army devoted exclusively to aviation began operations in 1913Congress 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 US Air Force was established in 1947, but the first military unit of the US Army devoted exclusively to aviation began operations in 1913 Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Uruguayas of 2021, the military had some domestic responsibilities, including perimeter security for a number of prisons and border security; in 2020, the military deployed more than 1,000 troops to assist the National Police in securing the land border with Brazil and the riverine border with Argentina as part of a border control law passed in 2018  as of 2021, the military had some domestic responsibilities, including perimeter security for a number of prisons and border security; in 2020, the military deployed more than 1,000 troops to assist the National Police in securing the land border with Brazil and the riverine border with Argentina as part of a border control law passed in 2018   Topic: Uzbekistanthe Uzbek armed forces were established in January 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when the newly-established Ministry for Defense Affairs assumed jurisdiction over all former Soviet ground, air, and air defense units, formations, and installations then deployed on its soil; the building hosting the headquarters for the ex-Soviet Turkestan Military District became the headquarters for the Uzbek armed forces; all former Soviet troops departed Uzbekistan by 1995; as of 2021, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreement as of 2021, Uzbekistan was not part of the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that is comprised of former Soviet Republics; Uzbekistan joined in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012the Uzbek armed forces were established in January 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when the newly-established Ministry for Defense Affairs assumed jurisdiction over all former Soviet ground, air, and air defense units, formations, and installations then deployed on its soil; the building hosting the headquarters for the ex-Soviet Turkestan Military District became the headquarters for the Uzbek armed forces; all former Soviet troops departed Uzbekistan by 1995; as of 2021, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreementas of 2021, Uzbekistan was not part of the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that is comprised of former Soviet Republics; Uzbekistan joined in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012 Topic: Vanuatuthe separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 under Ni-Vanuatu officers as the New Hebrides Constabulary; the force retained some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980 as of 2021, the Vanuatu Mobile Force had received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the USthe separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 under Ni-Vanuatu officers as the New Hebrides Constabulary; the force retained some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980as of 2021, the Vanuatu Mobile Force had received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US Topic: Venezuelabetween 2013 and 2017, Venezuela established at least a dozen military-led firms in a variety of economic sectors, such as agriculture, banking, construction, insurance, the media, mining, oil, and tourism; as of 2020, military officers reportedly led at least 60 state-owned companies; as of 2019, 9 of 32 government ministries were controlled by the military, including the ministries of agriculture and energy as of late 2021, an estimated 1,500- 2,000 members of the terrorist organizations National Liberation Army (ELN) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissidents (FARC-People's Army and Segundo Marquetalia - see Appendix T) operated in Venezuela, mostly in the states of Amazonas, Apure, Bolivar, Guarico, Tachira, and Zulia, although ELN was assessed to be present in 12 of Venezuela’s 23 states; the groups were particularly active in Apure state where the Venezuelan military clashed several times with FARC dissidents of the 10th Front in 2020-2021 Topic: Vietnamthe PAVN is the military arm of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and responsible to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest party organ on military policy; the CMC is led by the CPV General Secretary as of 2021, Vietnam maintained a security policy of non-alignment, but noted in 2019 that it would consider developing appropriate defense and security relations with other countries depending on circumstances the PAVN is the military arm of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and responsible to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest party organ on military policy; the CMC is led by the CPV General Secretaryas of 2021, Vietnam maintained a security policy of non-alignment, but noted in 2019 that it would consider developing appropriate defense and security relations with other countries depending on circumstances Topic: Virgin Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Wake Islanddefense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island facilities; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Topic: Wallis and Futunadefense is the responsibility of France Topic: Yemenin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) against the separatist Huthis; as of early 2022, the conflict had become largely stalemated, but the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces), ROYG forces, and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also taking place over the key oil-rich province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen based largely on tribal or regional affiliation to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf; in April 2022, the warring parties agreed to a two-month cease-fire the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in Yemen in 2015 as part of the Saudi-led coalition with about 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary unitsin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) against the separatist Huthis; as of early 2022, the conflict had become largely stalemated, but the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces), ROYG forces, and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also taking place over the key oil-rich province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen based largely on tribal or regional affiliation to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf; in April 2022, the warring parties agreed to a two-month cease-firethe United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in Yemen in 2015 as part of the Saudi-led coalition with about 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary units Topic: Zambiathe Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) Topic: Zimbabwethe ZDF was formed after independence from the former Rhodesian Army and the two guerrilla forces that opposed it during the Rhodesian Civil War (aka "Bush War") of the 1970s, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA); internal security is a key current responsibility, and the military continues to play an active role in the country’s politics since the coup of 2017 (2021)

20220601

countries-seychelles-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to this country due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required; visitor permits granted upon arrival with return ticket. US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles; +(230) 202-4400; EMER: +(230) 5253 3641; US Embassy Port Louis, 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis, Mauritius; PTLConsular@state.gov; https://mu.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 248 Local Emergency Phone: 999 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) Currency (Code): Seychelles rupees (SCR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G Major Languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French Major Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican, Pentecostal Assembly, Seventh Day Adventist, other Protestant), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6% Time Difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Aldabra Atoll; Morne Blanc; Moyenne Island; Victoria (includes Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, Victoria Market) Major Sports: Basketball, water sports Cultural Practices: When greeting someone for the first time, and when saying goodbye, shake hands with both men and women. Wearing swimwear is fine for the beaches; otherwise, modest clothing is advised. Tipping Guidelines: Most hotels, restaurants, taxis, and porters already include a 5-10% service charge so tipping is not obligatory. However, as a reward for exceptional service, a nominal tip is sure to be appreciated.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

20220601

countries-argentina

Topic: Photos of Argentina Topic: Introduction Background: In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up 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, an era of populism under former President Juan Domingo PERON - the founder of the Peronist political movement - and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, 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 Nestor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNANDEZ 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 FERNANDEZ and Vice President FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Presidential elections will take place next in 2023.In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up 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, an era of populism under former President Juan Domingo PERON - the founder of the Peronist political movement - and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, 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 Nestor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNANDEZ 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 FERNANDEZ and Vice President FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Presidential elections will take place next in 2023.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 43,710 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 11,968 km border countries (5): 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 contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 lowest point: Laguna del Carbon (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m 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: 53.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 39.6% (2018 est.) forest: 10.7% (2018 est.) other: 35.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 23,600 sq km (2012) 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 Martin (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhue Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km; Major rivers (by length in km): Rio de la Plata/Parana 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: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km) Major aquifers: Guarani 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 Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areasvolcanism: 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, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and ViedmaSan Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areasvolcanism: 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, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma Geography - note: note 1: 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 Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguazu Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil note 2: southeast Bolivia and northwest Argentina seem to be the original development site for peanuts Map description: Argentina map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.Argentina map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 46,245,668 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine Ethnic groups: European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian ancestry) 97.2%, Amerindian 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.) Languages: Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua) 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.) Demographic profile: Argentina's population continues to grow but at a slower rate because of its steadily declining birth rate. Argentina's fertility decline began earlier than in the rest of Latin America, occurring most rapidly between the early 20th century and the 1950s, and then becoming more gradual. Life expectancy has been improving, most notably among the young and the poor. While the population under age 15 is shrinking, the youth cohort - ages 15-24 - is the largest in Argentina's history and will continue to bolster the working-age population. If this large working-age population is well-educated and gainfully employed, Argentina is likely to experience an economic boost and possibly higher per capita savings and investment. Although literacy and primary school enrollment are nearly universal, grade repetition is problematic and secondary school completion is low. Both of these issues vary widely by region and socioeconomic group. Argentina has been primarily a country of immigration for most of its history, welcoming European immigrants (often providing needed low-skilled labor) after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. More than 7 million European immigrants are estimated to have arrived in Argentina between 1880 and 1930, when it adopted a more restrictive immigration policy. European immigration also began to wane in the 1930s because of the global depression. The inflow rebounded temporarily following WWII and resumed its decline in the 1950s when Argentina's military dictators tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration increased, however, supplying low-skilled workers escaping economic and political instability in their home countries. As of 2015, immigrants made up almost 5% of Argentina's population, the largest share in South America. Migration from neighboring countries accounted for approximately 80% of Argentina's immigrant population in 2015. The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by economic decline and repressive military dictatorships. The 2008 European economic crisis drove the return migration of some Argentinean and other Latin American nationals, as well as the immigration of Europeans to South America, where Argentina was a key recipient. In 2015, Argentina received the highest number of legal migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of its migrant inflow came from Paraguay and Bolivia.Argentina's population continues to grow but at a slower rate because of its steadily declining birth rate. Argentina's fertility decline began earlier than in the rest of Latin America, occurring most rapidly between the early 20th century and the 1950s, and then becoming more gradual. Life expectancy has been improving, most notably among the young and the poor. While the population under age 15 is shrinking, the youth cohort - ages 15-24 - is the largest in Argentina's history and will continue to bolster the working-age population. If this large working-age population is well-educated and gainfully employed, Argentina is likely to experience an economic boost and possibly higher per capita savings and investment. Although literacy and primary school enrollment are nearly universal, grade repetition is problematic and secondary school completion is low. Both of these issues vary widely by region and socioeconomic group.Argentina has been primarily a country of immigration for most of its history, welcoming European immigrants (often providing needed low-skilled labor) after its independence in the 19th century and attracting especially large numbers from Spain and Italy. More than 7 million European immigrants are estimated to have arrived in Argentina between 1880 and 1930, when it adopted a more restrictive immigration policy. European immigration also began to wane in the 1930s because of the global depression. The inflow rebounded temporarily following WWII and resumed its decline in the 1950s when Argentina's military dictators tightened immigration rules and European economies rebounded. Regional migration increased, however, supplying low-skilled workers escaping economic and political instability in their home countries. As of 2015, immigrants made up almost 5% of Argentina's population, the largest share in South America. Migration from neighboring countries accounted for approximately 80% of Argentina's immigrant population in 2015.The first waves of highly skilled Argentine emigrant workers headed mainly to the United States and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by economic decline and repressive military dictatorships. The 2008 European economic crisis drove the return migration of some Argentinean and other Latin American nationals, as well as the immigration of Europeans to South America, where Argentina was a key recipient. In 2015, Argentina received the highest number of legal migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of its migrant inflow came from Paraguay and Bolivia. Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.02% (male 5,629,188/female 5,294,723) 15-24 years: 15.19% (male 3,539,021/female 3,367,321) 25-54 years: 39.6% (male 9,005,758/female 9,002,931) 55-64 years: 9.07% (male 2,000,536/female 2,122,699) 65 years and over: 12.13% (2020 est.) (male 2,331,679/female 3,185,262) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.5 youth dependency ratio: 38.1 elderly dependency ratio: 17.7 potential support ratio: 5.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.4 years male: 31.1 years female: 33.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.82% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.32 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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: 92.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 15.370 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.598 million Cordoba, 1.574 million Rosario, 1.209 million Mendoza, 1.014 million San Miguel de Tucuman, 904,000 La Plata (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 39 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 9.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.31 years male: 75.23 years female: 81.59 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 81.3% (2013) note:  percent of women aged 14-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: NA total: (2020 est.) NA Current Health Expenditure: 9.5% (2019) Physicians density: 3.99 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 5 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population (2017 est.) rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: 1% of population (2017 est.) rural: NA total: (2020 est.) NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 140,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,400 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Argentina; as of 30 March 2022, Argentina has reported a total of 9,028,730 cases of COVID-19 or 19,976.93 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 127,943 cumulative deaths or 283.08 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 89.69% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.7% (2018/19) Education expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 98.9% female: 99.1% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 19 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 30.2% male: 26.8% female: 35% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation (erosion, salinization), desertification, air pollution, and water pollution Environment - international 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.83 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 201.35 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 120.66 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest Land use: agricultural land: 53.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 39.6% (2018 est.) forest: 10.7% (2018 est.) other: 35.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 92.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.09% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Argentina; as of 30 March 2022, Argentina has reported a total of 9,028,730 cases of COVID-19 or 19,976.93 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 127,943 cumulative deaths or 283.08 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 89.69% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,910,550 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,074,633 tons (2010 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2010 est.) 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 Martin (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhue Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km; Major rivers (by length in km): Rio de la Plata/Parana 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: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km) Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 876.24 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina etymology: originally the area was referred to as Tierra Argentina, i.e., "Land beside the Silvery River" or "silvery land," which referred to the massive estuary in the east of the country, the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver); over time the name shortened to simply Argentina or "silvery" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Buenos Aires geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name translates as "fair winds" in Spanish and derives from the original designation of the settlement that would become the present-day city, "Santa Maria del Buen Aire" (Saint Mary of the Fair Winds) 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 Atlantico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) National holiday: Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810) Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853 amendments: 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; amended several times, last significant amendment in 1994 Legal system: civil law system based on West European legal systems; note - in mid-2015, Argentina adopted a new civil code, replacing the old one in force since 1871 International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 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 Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (since 10 December 2019); Vice President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government (2019) head of government: President Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (since 10 December 2019); Vice President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December 2019) (2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (2017) elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: 2019: Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3% 2015: Mauricio MACRI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel SCIOLI (PJ) 37.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 34.2%, Sergio MASSA (FR/PJ) 21.4%, other 7.3%; percent of vote in second round - Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 51.4%, Daniel SCIOLI (PJ) 48.6% Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (72 seats; members directly elected on a provincial basis with 2 seats awarded to the party with the most votes and 1 seat to the party with the second highest number of votes; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) Chamber of Deputies or Cámara de Diputados (257 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 2 years) elections: Senate - last held on 14 November 2021 (next to be held 29 October 2023) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 14 November 2021 (next to be held 29 October 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - JxC 14, FdT 9, VcV 1; composition (as of February 2022) - JxC 33, FdT 35, other 4; men 41, women 31, percent of women 43.1% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - JxC 61, FdT 50, FIT-U 4, VcV 4, other 8; composition (as of February 2022) - JxC 116, FdT 118, FIT-U 4, others 19; men 142, women 115, percent of women 44.7%; note - total National Congress percent of women 44.4% Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - JxC 14, FdT 9, VcV 1; composition (as of February 2022) - JxC 33, FdT 35, other 4; men 41, women 31, percent of women 43.1%Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - JxC 61, FdT 50, FIT-U 4, VcV 4, other 8; composition (as of February 2022) - JxC 116, FdT 118, FIT-U 4, others 19; men 142, women 115, percent of women 44.7%; note - total National Congress percent of women 44.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate subordinate courts: federal level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial level supreme, appellate, and first instance courts Political parties and leaders: Avanza Libertad or AL [Jose Luis ESPERT] Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI [Elisa CARRIO, Maximiliano FERRARO] Federal Consensus or CF [Roberto LAVAGNA, Juan Manuel URTUBEY] Frente Civico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago) [Gerardo ZAMORA] Frente de Izquierda (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U [Nicolas DEL CANO / Miriam BREGMAN] (coalition of leftist parties in lower house and includes PTS, PO, and MST) Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS [Carlos Eduardo ROVIRA] Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT [Alberto FERNANDEZ] - (includes FR, La Campora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties Generacion por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN [Margarita STOLBIZER] Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR [Sergio MASSA, Pablo MIROLO] Hacemos por Cordoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC [Juan SCHIARETTI] Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC - (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019 Juntos Somos Rio Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN [Alberto WERETILNECK]    Justicialist Party or PJ [Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ] La Campora [Maximo KIRCHNER] La Libertad Avanza or LLA [Javier MILEI] Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquen People's Movement) or MPN [Omar GUTIERREZ] Partido Socialista or PS [Rosario Monica FEIN] Propuesta Republicana or PRO [Patricia BULLRICH] Radical Civic Union or UCR [Gerardo MORALES] Socialist Workers' Party or PTS [Nicolas DEL CANO] Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house) - (includes FRCS and JSRN) Workers' Party or PO [Gabriel SOLANO] Workers' Socialist Movement or MST [Alejandro BODART] Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV [Florencio RANDAZZO]Avanza Libertad or AL [Jose Luis ESPERT] Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI [Elisa CARRIO, Maximiliano FERRARO] Federal Consensus or CF [Roberto LAVAGNA, Juan Manuel URTUBEY] Frente Civico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago) [Gerardo ZAMORA] Frente de Izquierda (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U [Nicolas DEL CANO / Miriam BREGMAN] (coalition of leftist parties in lower house and includes PTS, PO, and MST) Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS [Carlos Eduardo ROVIRA] Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT [Alberto FERNANDEZ] - (includes FR, La Campora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties Generacion por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN [Margarita STOLBIZER] Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR [Sergio MASSA, Pablo MIROLO] Hacemos por Cordoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC [Juan SCHIARETTI] Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC - (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019 Juntos Somos Rio Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN [Alberto WERETILNECK]    Justicialist Party or PJ [Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ] La Campora [Maximo KIRCHNER] La Libertad Avanza or LLA [Javier MILEI] Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquen People's Movement) or MPN [Omar GUTIERREZ] Partido Socialista or PS [Rosario Monica FEIN] Propuesta Republicana or PRO [Patricia BULLRICH] Radical Civic Union or UCR [Gerardo MORALES] Socialist Workers' Party or PTS [Nicolas DEL CANO] Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house) - (includes FRCS and JSRN) Workers' Party or PO [Gabriel SOLANO] Workers' Socialist Movement or MST [Alejandro BODART] Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV [Florencio RANDAZZO] International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, 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, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge Martin Arturo ARGUELLO (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171 email address and website: eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc Robert STANLEY (since 24 January 2022) embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires mailing address: 3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC  20521-3130 telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533 FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240 email address and website: buenosaires-acs@state.gov https://ar.usembassy.gov/ 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 (delineated in brown) known as the Sun of May; the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun National symbol(s): Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: sky blue, white National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem) lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA note: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 11 (6 cultural, 5 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n), Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis, 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) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight.   Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as president in late 2007, and in 2008 the rapid economic growth of previous years slowed sharply as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. In 2010 the economy rebounded strongly, but slowed in late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which kept inflation in the double digits.   In order to deal with these problems, the government expanded state intervention in the economy: it nationalized the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol, expanded measures to restrict imports, and further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. Between 2011 and 2013, Central Bank foreign reserves dropped $21.3 billion from a high of $52.7 billion. In July 2014, Argentina and China agreed on an $11 billion currency swap; the Argentine Central Bank has received the equivalent of $3.2 billion in Chinese yuan, which it counts as international reserves.   With the election of President Mauricio MACRI in November 2015, Argentina began a historic political and economic transformation, as his administration took steps to liberalize the Argentine economy, lifting capital controls, floating the peso, removing export controls on some commodities, cutting some energy subsidies, and reforming the country’s official statistics. Argentina negotiated debt payments with holdout bond creditors, continued working with the IMF to shore up its finances, and returned to international capital markets in April 2016.   In 2017, Argentina’s economy emerged from recession with GDP growth of nearly 3.0%. The government passed important pension, tax, and fiscal reforms. And after years of international isolation, Argentina took on several international leadership roles, including hosting the World Economic Forum on Latin America and the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, and is set to assume the presidency of the G-20 in 2018.Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as president in late 2007, and in 2008 the rapid economic growth of previous years slowed sharply as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. In 2010 the economy rebounded strongly, but slowed in late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which kept inflation in the double digits. In order to deal with these problems, the government expanded state intervention in the economy: it nationalized the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol, expanded measures to restrict imports, and further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight. Between 2011 and 2013, Central Bank foreign reserves dropped $21.3 billion from a high of $52.7 billion. In July 2014, Argentina and China agreed on an $11 billion currency swap; the Argentine Central Bank has received the equivalent of $3.2 billion in Chinese yuan, which it counts as international reserves. With the election of President Mauricio MACRI in November 2015, Argentina began a historic political and economic transformation, as his administration took steps to liberalize the Argentine economy, lifting capital controls, floating the peso, removing export controls on some commodities, cutting some energy subsidies, and reforming the country’s official statistics. Argentina negotiated debt payments with holdout bond creditors, continued working with the IMF to shore up its finances, and returned to international capital markets in April 2016. In 2017, Argentina’s economy emerged from recession with GDP growth of nearly 3.0%. The government passed important pension, tax, and fiscal reforms. And after years of international isolation, Argentina took on several international leadership roles, including hosting the World Economic Forum on Latin America and the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, and is set to assume the presidency of the G-20 in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $893.31 billion (2020 est.) $991.52 billion (2019 est.) $1,012,670,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -2.03% (2019 est.) -2.53% (2018 est.) 2.83% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $19,700 (2020 est.) $22,100 (2019 est.) $22,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $447.467 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.7% (2017 est.) 26.5% (2016 est.) note: data are derived from private estimates Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2020) Moody's rating: Ca (2020) Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 10.8% (2017 est.) industry: 28.1% (2017 est.) services: 61.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 65.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 11.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -13.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, milk, barley, sunflower seed, beef, grapes, potatoes Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (2017 est.) note: based on private sector estimates Labor force: 18 million (2017 est.) note: urban areas only Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 28.6% services: 66.1% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.84% (2019 est.) 9.18% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 30.2% male: 26.8% female: 35% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 35.5% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 41.4 (2018 est.) 45.8 (2009) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 31% (2017 est.) Budget: revenues: 120.6 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 158.6 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 57.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 55% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$3.997 billion (2019 est.) -$27.049 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $64.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $79.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $77.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Brazil 16%, China 11%, United States 7%, Chile 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: soybean products, corn, delivery trucks, wheat, frozen meat, gold (2019) Imports: $52.14 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $66.28 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $86.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Brazil 21%, China 18%, US 14%, Germany 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts, natural gas, soybeans (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $55.33 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $38.43 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $278.524 billion (2019 est.) $261.949 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 82.034 (2020 est.) 59.96559 (2019 est.) 37.23499 (2018 est.) 9.23 (2014 est.) 8.08 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2020) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2020) electrification - rural areas: 85% (2020) Electricity - production: 131.9 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 121 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 55 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 9.851 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 38.35 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 69% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 489,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 36,630 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 16,740 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 2.162 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 669,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 806,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 58,360 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 121,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 40.92 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 49.04 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 76.45 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 9.826 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 336.6 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,356,165 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 54,763,900 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Argentina has one of the most developed mobile markets in Latin America; with additional operators in the market, mobile penetration fell in 2020 as incentives for multiple-SIM card ownership eased; LTE with tests of 5G; government plan to boost fixed broadband coverage nationally and declared TV, cable, and mobile services were essential public services; submarine system linking Sao Paolo and Rio De Janeiro with Buenos Aires is operational; national operator increased investment in Uruguay; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: roughly 16 per 100 fixed-line and 121 per 100 mobile-cellular; microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network (2020) international: country code - 54; landing points for the UNISUR, Bicentenario, Atlantis-2, SAm-1, and SAC, Tannat, Malbec and ARBR submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: government owns a TV station and radio network; more than 2 dozen TV stations and hundreds of privately owned radio stations; high rate of cable TV subscription usage Internet country code: .ar Internet users: total: 39,024,016 (2020 est.) percent of population: 86% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 9,571,562 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 107 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 18,081,937 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 311.57 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LV Airports: total: 916 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 161 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 10 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 977 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 43 914 to 1,523 m: 484 under 914 m: 448 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 29930 km gas, 41 km liquid petroleum gas, 6248 km oil, 3631 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 36,917 km (2014) standard gauge: 2,745.1 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.1 km electrified) narrow gauge: 7,523.3 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge broad gauge: 26,391 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (149 km electrified) 258 km 0.750-m gauge Roadways: total: 281,290 km (2017) paved: 117,616 km (2017) unpaved: 163,674 km (2017) Waterways: 11,000 km (2012) Merchant marine: total: 202 by type: container ship 1,bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 159 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Ushuaia container port(s) (TEUs): Buenos Aires (1,485,328) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Bahia Blanca river port(s): Arroyo Seco, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin (Parana) Topic: 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)  (2022) Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020) 0.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $5 billion) 0.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $5.3 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $5.95 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 82,000 active duty personnel (50,000 Army; 18,000 Navy (includes about 3,500 marines); 14,000 Air Force); est. 20,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, France and the US are the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that can produce air, land, and sea systems (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (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 (2022) note - as of 2021, women made up over 21% of the active duty military Military deployments: 200 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (Jan 2022) Military - note: Argentina has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Argentina-Bolivia: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia Argentina-Brazil: Uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Argentina-Chile: The joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur). Argentina-Paraguay: None identified Argentina-Uruguay: In 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime. Isla de Martín Garcia situated in the Rio de la Plata estuary is wholly within Uruguayan territorial waters but up to its low tide mark, the island is Argentinian territory.  The island is accorded unrestricted access rights. Argentina-United Kingdom: Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks.Argentina-Bolivia: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia Argentina-Brazil: Uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Argentina-Chile: The joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur). Argentina-Paraguay: None identified Argentina-Uruguay: In 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime. Isla de Martín Garcia situated in the Rio de la Plata estuary is wholly within Uruguayan territorial waters but up to its low tide mark, the island is Argentinian territory.  The island is accorded unrestricted access rights. Argentina-United Kingdom: Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks. Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 170,517 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) Illicit drugs: counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other smuggling offenses along the border; some money laundering organizations in the Tri-Border Area may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursorscounterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other smuggling offenses along the border; some money laundering organizations in the Tri-Border Area may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursors

20220601

countries-cook-islands

Topic: Photos of Cook Islands Topic: Introduction Background: Polynesians from Tahiti were probably the first people to settle Rarotonga around A.D. 900. Over time, Samoans and Tongans also settled in Rarotonga, and Rarotongans voyaged to the northern Cook Islands, settling Manihiki and Rakahanga. Pukapuka and Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands were settled directly from Samoa. Prior to European contact, there was considerable travel and trade between inhabitants of the different islands and atolls but they were not united in a single entity. Spanish navigators were the first Europeans to spot the northern Cook Islands in 1595 followed by the first landing in 1606. The Cook Islands remained free of further European contact until the 1760s, and in 1773, British explorer James COOK saw Manuae in the southern Cook Islands. The islands were named after COOK in the 1820s by Russian mapmakers. English missionary activity during the 1820s and 1830s banned singing and dancing and converted most of the population. Fearing France would militarily occupy the islands like it did in Tahiti, Rarotongans asked the UK for protectorate status in the 1840s and 1860s, which the UK ignored. In 1888, Queen MAKEA TAKAU of Rarotonga formally petitioned for protectorate status, which the UK reluctantly agreed to. In 1901, the UK placed Rarotonga and the rest of the islands in the New Zealand Colony and in 1915, the Cook Islands Act organized the Cook Islands into one political entity. It remained a protectorate until 1965, when New Zealand granted the Cook Islands self-government status. The Cook Islands has a great deal of local autonomy and is an independent member of international organizations, but it is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Economic opportunities in the Cook Islands are sparse, and more Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than in the Cook Islands. In a referendum in 1994, voters chose to keep the name Cook Islands rather than changing to a Maori name for the islands. The issue was revived in 2019, but after being poorly received by the diaspora in New Zealand, the government decided to retain the name Cook Islands but to provide a Maori name alongside it. The Maori name has not yet been determined.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 236 sq km land: 236 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 120 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south Elevation: highest point: Te Manga 652 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: coconuts (copra) Land use: agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 64.6% (2018 est.) other: 27% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (November to March) Geography - note: the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km Map description: Cook Islands map showing the islands positioned in the South Pacific Ocean.Cook Islands map showing the islands positioned in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 8,128 (2022 est.) note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016 Nationality: noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander Ethnic groups: Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.) Languages: English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% (2011 est.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census Religions: Protestant 62.8% (Cook Islands Christian Church 49.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 7.9%, Assemblies of God 3.7%, Apostolic Church 2.1%), Roman Catholic 17%, Church of Jesus Christ 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.69% (male 797/female 722) 15-24 years: 13.9% (male 606/female 524) 25-54 years: 37.66% (male 1,595/female 1,634) 55-64 years: 15.69% (male 711/female 564) 65 years and over: 14.74% (2022 est.) (male 584/female 614) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 38.3 years male: 37.8 years female: 38.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -2.39% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -27.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga Urbanization: urban population: 75.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.26 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 15.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.14 years male: 74.32 years female: 80.11 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.1% (2019) Physicians density: 1.41 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.1% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 55.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 14 years (2012) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; soil destruction and deforestation; environmental degradation due to indiscriminant use of pesticides; improper disposal of pollutants; overfishing and destructive fishing practices; over dredging of lagoons and coral rubble beds; unregulated building Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) Climate: tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March Land use: agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 64.6% (2018 est.) other: 27% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 75.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Hervey Islands etymology: named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777 Government type: parliamentary democracy Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands Capital: name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: translates as "two harbors" in Maori Administrative divisions: none Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) National holiday: Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965) Constitution: history: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964) amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in each of several readings and assent of the chief of state’s representative; passage of amendments relating to the chief of state also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004 Legal system: common law similar to New Zealand common law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand Acting High Commissioner Ms Rachel BENNETT (since 9 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; UK representative appointed by the monarch; New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes prime minister Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament, formerly the Legislative Assembly (24 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the House of Ariki, a 24-member parliamentary body of traditional leaders appointed by the Queen's representative serves as a consultative body to the Parliament elections: last held on 14 June 2018 (next to be held by 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Demo 11, CIP 10, One Cook Islands Movement 1, independent 2; composition - men 17, women 7, percent of women 17.7% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions); note - appeals beyond the Cook Islands Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms subordinate courts: justices of the peace Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Mark BROWN] Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE] One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP] International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag National symbol(s): a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white National anthem: name: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty) lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics Topic: Economy Economic overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing more than one-quarter of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country became overextended, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth. The government is targeting fisheries and seabed mining as sectors for future economic growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $299.9 million (2016 est.) $183.2 million (2015 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 0.1% (2005 est.) Real GDP per capita: $16,700 (2016 est.) $9,100 (2005 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $299.9 million (2016 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2011 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.) industry: 12.7% (2010 est.) services: 82.1% (2010 est.) Agricultural products: vegetables, coconuts, roots/tubers, cassava, papayas, tomatoes, pork, fruit, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas Industries: fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2002) Labor force: 6,820 (2001) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995) Unemployment rate: 13.1% (2005) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 86.9 million (2010) expenditures: 77.9 million (2010) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 3% (of GDP) (2010 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 29% (of GDP) (2010 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $26.67 million (2005) Exports: $3.125 million (2011 est.) $5.163 million (2010 est.) Exports - partners: Japan 37%, Thailand 21%, France 17% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish products, recreational boats, precious metal scraps, fruit juice, chemical analysis instruments (2019) Imports: $109.3 million (2011 est.) $90.62 million (2010 est.) Imports - partners: New Zealand 41%, China 21%, Italy 12%, Fiji 10% (2019) Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, flavored water (2019) Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.) Exchange rates: NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.416 (2017 est.) 1.4341 (2016 est.) 1.4341 (2015 est.) 1.441 (2014 est.) 1.4279 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity - production: 34 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 31.62 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 14,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 600 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 611 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 6,576 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 14,539 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2018 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region; Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, and fax; individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone (2020) domestic: service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; nearly 38 per 100 fixed-line and about 83 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 682; the Manatua submarine cable to surrounding islands of Niue, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Cook Islands, the topography of the South Pacific region has made Internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fiber-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019) Internet country code: .ck Internet users: total: 9,476 (2019 est.) percent of population: 54% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,700 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2018 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: E5 Airports: total: 11 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 295 km (2018) paved: 207 km (2018) unpaved: 88 km (2018) Merchant marine: total: 194 by type: bulk carrier 19, container ship 1, general cargo 57, oil tanker 54, other 63 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Avatiu Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

field-airports-country-comparison

20220601

countries-china

Topic: Photos of China Topic: Introduction Background: China's historical civilization dates to at least 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity following the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong. MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies - such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) - that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, subsequent leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty, and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. The growth, however, has created considerable social displacement, adversely affected the country’s environment, and reduced the country’s natural resources. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies, but also has maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has also increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and initiating a global connectivity initiative in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). While many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, others have balked the opaque lending behavior; weak environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards; and other practices that undermine local governance and foster corruption associated with some BRI-linked projects. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023.  China's historical civilization dates to at least 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity following the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong. MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies - such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) - that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, subsequent leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty, and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. The growth, however, has created considerable social displacement, adversely affected the country’s environment, and reduced the country’s natural resources. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies, but also has maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has also increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and initiating a global connectivity initiative in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). While many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, others have balked the opaque lending behavior; weak environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards; and other practices that undermine local governance and foster corruption associated with some BRI-linked projects. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: total: 22,457 km border countries (14): Afghanistan 91 km; Bhutan 477 km; Burma 2,129 km; India 2,659 km; Kazakhstan 1,765 km; North Korea 1,352 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km; Laos 475 km; Mongolia 4,630 km; Nepal 1,389 km; Pakistan 438 km; Russia (northeast) 4,133 km and Russia (northwest) 46 km; Tajikistan 477 km; Vietnam 1,297 km Coastline: 14,500 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east Elevation: highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m lowest point: Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression) -154 m mean elevation: 1,840 m Natural resources: coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land Land use: agricultural land: 54.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.8% (2018 est.) forest: 22.3% (2018 est.) other: 23% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 690,070 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590 Salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Mekong river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Brahmaputra river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Salween river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Pearl (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Red river source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km) Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km) Major aquifers: North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuriesfrequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries Geography - note: note 1: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak above sea level note 2: the largest cave chamber in the world is the Miao Room, in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, which encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume note 3: China appears to have been the center of domestication for two of the world's leading cereal crops: millet in the north along the Yellow River and rice in the south along the lower or middle Yangtze River Map description: China map showing major cities as well as the many bordering East Asian countries and neighboring seas.China map showing major cities as well as the many bordering East Asian countries and neighboring seas. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,410,539,758 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.) note: the PRC officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry); note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uighur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uygur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet) major-language sample(s): 世界概況  –  不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.) note: officially atheist Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.29% (male 129,296,339/female 111,782,427) 15-24 years: 11.48% (male 86,129,841/female 73,876,148) 25-54 years: 46.81% (male 333,789,731/female 318,711,557) 55-64 years: 12.08% (male 84,827,645/female 83,557,507) 65 years and over: 12.34% (2020 est.) (male 81,586,490/female 90,458,292) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 42.2 youth dependency ratio: 25.2 elderly dependency ratio: 17 potential support ratio: 5.9 (2020 est.) data do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Median age: total: 38.4 years male: 37.5 years female: 39.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.19% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau Major urban areas - population: 28.517 million Shanghai, 21.333 million BEIJING (capital), 16.875 million Chongqing, 14.012 million Tianjin, 13.965 million Guangzhou, 12.831 million Shenzhen (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.72 years male: 75 years female: 80.7 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 84.5% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.3% of population rural: 91.5% of population total: 95.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.7% of population rural: 8.5% of population total: 4.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019) Physicians density: 1.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.6% of population rural: 90.6% of population total: 94.9% of population unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population rural: 9.4% of population total: 5.1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis soil contact diseases: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 30 March 2022, China has reported a total of 899,803 cases of COVID-19 or 61.15 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 13,062 cumulative deaths or a rate 0.88 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 88.32% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2013) Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2018) NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.8% male: 98.5% female: 95.2% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2015) People - note: in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and future economic needs Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; China is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leads to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 49.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9,893.04 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1,490.24 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north Land use: agricultural land: 54.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.8% (2018 est.) forest: 22.3% (2018 est.) other: 23% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.57% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis soil contact diseases: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 30 March 2022, China has reported a total of 899,803 cases of COVID-19 or 61.15 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 13,062 cumulative deaths or a rate 0.88 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 88.32% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 210 million tons (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590 Salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Mekong river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Brahmaputra river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Salween river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Pearl (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Red river source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km) Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km) Major aquifers: North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 79.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 133.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 385.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 2,840,220,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhongguo abbreviation: PRC etymology: English name derives from the Qin (Chin) rulers of the 3rd century B.C., who comprised the first imperial dynasty of ancient China; the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation" or "Middle Kingdom" Government type: communist party-led state Capital: name: Beijing geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone; before 1949 it was divided into five etymology: the Chinese meaning is "Northern Capital" Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural)provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet)municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau Independence: 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China) National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949) Constitution: history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982 amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress or supported by more than one fifth of the National People’s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership; amended several times, last in 2018 Legal system: civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; note - on 28 May 2020, the National People's Congress adopted the PRC Civil Code, which codifies personal relations and property relations International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of China dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Vice President WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2018) head of government: Premier LI Keqiang (since 16 March 2013); Executive Vice Premiers HAN Zheng (since 19 March 2018), SUN Chunlan (since 19 March 2018), LIU He (since 19 March 2018), HU Chunhua (since 19 March 2018) cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress election results: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes note - in March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023 Legislative branch: description: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (maximum of 3,000 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses, and the People's Liberation Army; members serve 5-year terms); note - in practice, only members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its 8 allied independent parties, and CCP-approved independent candidates are elected elections: last held in December 2017-February 2018 (next to be held in late 2022 to early 2023) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 2,238, women 742, percent of women 24.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues note - in 2018, China established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP [XI Jinping] note: China has 8 nominally independent small parties controlled by the CCP International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador QIN Gangas (since 29 July 2021) chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266 FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138 email address and website: chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco; note - the US ordered closure of the Houston consulate in late July 2020 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas BURNS (since 2 April 2022) embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 mailing address: 7300 Beijing Place, Washington DC  20521-7300 telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000 FAX: [86] (10) 8531-4200 email address and website: BeijingACS@state.gov https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/ consulate(s) general: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan; note - the Chinese Government ordered closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in late July 2020 Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China National symbol(s): dragon, giant panda; national colors: red, yellow National anthem: name: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers) lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er note: adopted 1949; the anthem, though banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song); it was originally the theme song to the 1935 Chinese movie, "Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm" National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 56 (14 natural, 38 cultural, 4 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley (n); Potala Palace (c); Ancient Pingyao (c); Historic Macau (c); Dengfeng (c); Grand Canal (c) Government - note: in 2018, the Chinese Government established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a major global role. China has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion, resulting in efficiency gains that have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Reforms began with the phaseout of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, growth of the private sector, development of stock markets and a modern banking system, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China continues to pursue an industrial policy, state support of key sectors, and a restrictive investment regime. From 2013 to 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than 7% real growth per year. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2017 stood as the largest economy in the world, surpassing the US in 2014 for the first time in modern history. China became the world's largest exporter in 2010, and the largest trading nation in 2013. Still, China's per capita income is below the world average.   In July 2005 moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. From mid-2005 to late 2008, the renminbi (RMB) appreciated more than 20% against the US dollar, but the exchange rate remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing announced it would resume a gradual appreciation. From 2013 until early 2015, the renminbi held steady against the dollar, but it depreciated 13% from mid-2015 until end-2016 amid strong capital outflows; in 2017 the RMB resumed appreciating against the dollar – roughly 7% from end-of-2016 to end-of-2017. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the renminbi, after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket. However, since late 2015 the Chinese Government has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability.   The Chinese Government faces numerous economic challenges including: (a) reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low domestic household consumption; (b) managing its high corporate debt burden to maintain financial stability; (c) controlling off-balance sheet local government debt used to finance infrastructure stimulus; (d) facilitating higher-wage job opportunities for the aspiring middle class, including rural migrants and college graduates, while maintaining competitiveness; (e) dampening speculative investment in the real estate sector without sharply slowing the economy; (f) reducing industrial overcapacity; and (g) raising productivity growth rates through the more efficient allocation of capital and state-support for innovation. Economic development has progressed further in coastal provinces than in the interior, and by 2016 more than 169.3 million migrant workers and their dependents had relocated to urban areas to find work. One consequence of China’s population control policy known as the "one-child policy" - which was relaxed in 2016 to permit all families to have two children - is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the North - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and urbanization. The Chinese Government is seeking to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing on natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy development. In 2016, China ratified the Paris Agreement, a multilateral agreement to combat climate change, and committed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030.   The government's 13th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2016, emphasizes the need to increase innovation and boost domestic consumption to make the economy less dependent on government investment, exports, and heavy industry. However, China has made more progress on subsidizing innovation than rebalancing the economy. Beijing has committed to giving the market a more decisive role in allocating resources, but the Chinese Government’s policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Chinese leaders in 2010 pledged to double China’s GDP by 2020, and the 13th Five Year Plan includes annual economic growth targets of at least 6.5% through 2020 to achieve that goal. In recent years, China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors considered important to "economic security," explicitly looking to foster globally competitive industries. Chinese leaders also have undermined some market-oriented reforms by reaffirming the "dominant" role of the state in the economy, a stance that threatens to discourage private initiative and make the economy less efficient over time. The slight acceleration in economic growth in 2017—the first such uptick since 2010—gives Beijing more latitude to pursue its economic reforms, focusing on financial sector deleveraging and its Supply-Side Structural Reform agenda, first announced in late 2015.Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a major global role. China has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion, resulting in efficiency gains that have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Reforms began with the phaseout of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, growth of the private sector, development of stock markets and a modern banking system, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China continues to pursue an industrial policy, state support of key sectors, and a restrictive investment regime. From 2013 to 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than 7% real growth per year. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2017 stood as the largest economy in the world, surpassing the US in 2014 for the first time in modern history. China became the world's largest exporter in 2010, and the largest trading nation in 2013. Still, China's per capita income is below the world average. In July 2005 moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. From mid-2005 to late 2008, the renminbi (RMB) appreciated more than 20% against the US dollar, but the exchange rate remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing announced it would resume a gradual appreciation. From 2013 until early 2015, the renminbi held steady against the dollar, but it depreciated 13% from mid-2015 until end-2016 amid strong capital outflows; in 2017 the RMB resumed appreciating against the dollar – roughly 7% from end-of-2016 to end-of-2017. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the renminbi, after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket. However, since late 2015 the Chinese Government has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability. The Chinese Government faces numerous economic challenges including: (a) reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low domestic household consumption; (b) managing its high corporate debt burden to maintain financial stability; (c) controlling off-balance sheet local government debt used to finance infrastructure stimulus; (d) facilitating higher-wage job opportunities for the aspiring middle class, including rural migrants and college graduates, while maintaining competitiveness; (e) dampening speculative investment in the real estate sector without sharply slowing the economy; (f) reducing industrial overcapacity; and (g) raising productivity growth rates through the more efficient allocation of capital and state-support for innovation. Economic development has progressed further in coastal provinces than in the interior, and by 2016 more than 169.3 million migrant workers and their dependents had relocated to urban areas to find work. One consequence of China’s population control policy known as the "one-child policy" - which was relaxed in 2016 to permit all families to have two children - is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the North - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and urbanization. The Chinese Government is seeking to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing on natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy development. In 2016, China ratified the Paris Agreement, a multilateral agreement to combat climate change, and committed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030. The government's 13th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2016, emphasizes the need to increase innovation and boost domestic consumption to make the economy less dependent on government investment, exports, and heavy industry. However, China has made more progress on subsidizing innovation than rebalancing the economy. Beijing has committed to giving the market a more decisive role in allocating resources, but the Chinese Government’s policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Chinese leaders in 2010 pledged to double China’s GDP by 2020, and the 13th Five Year Plan includes annual economic growth targets of at least 6.5% through 2020 to achieve that goal. In recent years, China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors considered important to "economic security," explicitly looking to foster globally competitive industries. Chinese leaders also have undermined some market-oriented reforms by reaffirming the "dominant" role of the state in the economy, a stance that threatens to discourage private initiative and make the economy less efficient over time. The slight acceleration in economic growth in 2017—the first such uptick since 2010—gives Beijing more latitude to pursue its economic reforms, focusing on financial sector deleveraging and its Supply-Side Structural Reform agenda, first announced in late 2015. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $23,009,780,000,000 (2020 est.) $22,492,450,000,000 (2019 est.) $21,229,360,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 6.14% (2019 est.) 6.75% (2018 est.) 6.92% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $16,400 (2020 est.) $16,100 (2019 est.) $15,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $14,327,359,000,000 (2019 est.) note: because China's exchange rate is determined by fiat rather than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is not an accurate measure of China's output; GDP at the official exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China's output vis-a-vis the rest of the world; in China's situation, GDP at purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing output across countries Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 2% (2018 est.) 1.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A+ (2007) Moody's rating: A1 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.9% (2017 est.) industry: 40.5% (2017 est.) services: 51.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 39.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 42.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -18.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugar cane, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, sweet potatoes Industries: world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizer; consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics); food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 774.71 million (2019 est.) note: by the end of 2012, China's working age population (15-64 years) was 1.004 billion Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 27.7% industry: 28.8% services: 43.5% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.64% (2019 est.) 3.84% (2018 est.) note: data are for registered urban unemployment, which excludes private enterprises and migrants Population below poverty line: 0.6% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38.5 (2016 est.) 46.2 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 31.4% (2012) note: data are for urban households only Budget: revenues: 2.553 trillion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.008 trillion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 47% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover both central and local government debt, including debt officially recognized by China's National Audit Office report in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, and China Asset Management Company debt Taxes and other revenues: 21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $141.335 billion (2019 est.) $25.499 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $2,732,370,000,000 (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.631 trillion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2,651,010,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 17%, Hong Kong 10%, Japan 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, office machinery and parts, telephones (2019) Imports: $2,362,690,000,000 (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2,499,150,000,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2,563,100,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: South Korea 9%, Japan 8%, Australia 7%, Germany 7%, US 7%, Taiwan 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron, natural gas, cars, gold (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.236 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.098 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $2,027,950,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,935,206,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 6.5374 (2020 est.) 7.0403 (2019 est.) 6.8798 (2018 est.) 6.1434 (2014 est.) 6.1958 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 5.883 trillion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 5.564 trillion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 18.91 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 6.185 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.653 billion kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 62% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 3.773 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 57,310 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 6.71 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 25.63 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 11.51 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 12.47 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 848,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1.16 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 145.9 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 238.6 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 3.37 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 97.63 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.44 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 181.908 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.72 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: China has the largest Internet market in the world with almost all subscribers accessing Internet through mobile devices; market is driven through government-allied investment; fast-developing data center market; government aims to provide universal and affordable broadband coverage through market competition and private investment in state-controlled enterprises; 3G and LTE subscribers will migrate to 5G aiming for 2 million 5G base stations by the end of 2022; government strengthens IoT policies to boost economic growth; China is pushing development of smart cities beyond Beijing; Beijing residents carry virtual card integrating identity, social security, health, and education documents; government controls gateways to global Internet through censorship, surveillance, and shut-downs; major exporter of broadcasting equipment world-wide (2022) domestic: nearly 13 per 100 fixed line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; a domestic satellite system with several earth stations has been in place since 2018 (2020) international: country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019) Broadcast media: all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Chinese Communisty Party (CCP) or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department as well as local (provincial, municipal) sends directives to all domestic media outlets to guide its reporting with the government maintaining authority to approve all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved/censored prior to broadcast; increasingly, PRC nationals turn to online platforms (Bilibili, Tencent Video, iQiyi, etc) to access PRC and international films and television shows.  Video platforms have to abide by regulations issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which align with censorship policies from CCP propaganda authorities. (2022) Internet country code: .cn Internet users: total: 987 million (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 483,549,500 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 56 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2,890 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 436,183,969 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 611,439,830 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B Airports: total: 507 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 510 over 3,047 m: 87 2,438 to 3,047 m: 187 1,524 to 2,437 m: 109 914 to 1,523 m: 43 under 914 m: 84 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 0 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Heliports: 39 (2021) Pipelines: 76000 km gas, 30400 km crude oil, 27700 km refined petroleum products, 797000 km water (2018) Railways: total: 50,000 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 29,000 high-speed Roadways: total: 45.2 million km (2017) paved: 4.578 million km (2017) (includes 168000 km of expressways) unpaved: 622,000 km (2017) Waterways: 27,700 km (2011) (navigable waterways) Merchant marine: total: 6,662 by type: bulk carrier 1,558, container ship 341, general cargo 957, oil tanker 1,061, other 2,745 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin container port(s) (TEUs): Dalian (8,760,000), Guangzhou (23,236,200), Ningbo (27,530,000), Qingdao (21,010,000), Shanghai (43,303,000), Shenzhen (25,770,000), Tianjin (17,264,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Tangshan, Zhejiang river port(s): Guangzhou (Pearl) Transportation - note: seven of the world’s ten largest container ports are in China Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (PLAN, includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (PLAAF, includes airborne forces), Rocket Force (strategic missile force), and Strategic Support Force (information, electronic, and cyber warfare, as well as space forces); People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2022) note(s) - the Strategic Support Force includes the Space Systems Department, which is responsible for nearly all PLA space operations, including space launch and support, space surveillance, space information support, space telemetry, tracking, and control, and space warfare the PAP is a paramilitary police component of China’s armed forces that is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and charged with internal security, law enforcement, counterterrorism, and maritime rights protection in 2018, the Coast Guard was moved from the State Oceanic Administration to the PAP; in 2013, China merged four of its five major maritime law enforcement agencies – the China Marine Surveillance (CMS), Maritime Police, Fishery Law Enforcement (FLE), and Anti-Smuggling Police – into a unified coast guard Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $290 billion) 1.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $265 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $260 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2 million total active duty troops (approximately 1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 Strategic Support Forces); estimated 600-650,000 People’s Armed Police (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PLA is outfitted primarily with a wide mix of older and modern domestically-produced systems heavily influenced by technology derived from other countries; Russia is the top supplier of foreign military equipment since 2010; China's defense-industrial sector is large and capable of producing advanced weapons systems across all military domains (2022) note - the PLA is in the midst of a decades-long modernization effort; in 2017, President XI set three developmental goals for the force - becoming a mechanized force with increased information and strategic capabilities by 2020, a fully modernized force by 2035, and a world-class military by mid-century Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2022) Military deployments: 425 Mali (MINUSMA); 225 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 420 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); up to 2,000 Djibouti (Feb 2022) Military - note: established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making body the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary: the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Chinese maritime claims in the East and South China seas (2022)established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making bodythe PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorismthe MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence servicethe PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcementthe militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Chinese maritime claims in the East and South China seas Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protestsChina and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 303,107 (Vietnam), undetermined (North Korea) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: undetermined (2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in China and Chinese people abroad; Chinese men, women, and children are victims of forced labor and sex trafficking in at least 60 countries; traffickers also use China as a transit point to subject foreign individuals to trafficking in other countries throughout Asia and in international maritime industries; state-sponsored forced labor is intensifying under the government’s mass detention and political indoctrination campaign against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; well-organized criminal syndicates and local gangs subject Chinese women and girls to sex trafficking within China; women and girls from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and several countries in Africa experience forced labor in domestic service, forced concubinism leading to forced childbearing, and sex trafficking via forced and fraudulent marriage to Chinese men; African and Asian men reportedly experience conditions indicative of forced labor aboard Chinese-flagged fishing vessels; many North Korean refugees and asylum-seekers living in China illegally are particularly vulnerable to trafficking tier rating: Tier 3 — China does not fully meet the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government prosecuted and convicted some traffickers and continued to cooperate with international authorities to address forced and fraudulent marriages in China; however, there was a government policy or pattern of widespread forced labor, including the continued mass arbitrary detention of more than one million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and other Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; the government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of law enforcement officials allegedly complicit despite continued reports of officials benefiting from, permitting, or directly facilitating sex trafficking; authorities did not report identifying any trafficking victims or referring them to protective services; it is likely that law enforcement arrested and detained unidentified trafficking victims for crimes traffickers compelled them to commit; for the third consecutive year, the government did not report the extent to which it funded anti-trafficking activities in furtherance of the 2013-2020 National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking (2020) Illicit drugs: a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine;  PRC criminal organizations and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic illicit drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe    a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine;  PRC criminal organizations and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic illicit drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe   

20220601

field-birth-rate

This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population. Topic: Afghanistan35.46 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania12.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Algeria18.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: American Samoa16.7 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Andorra6.88 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Angola41.8 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Anguilla12.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda15.16 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Argentina15.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Armenia11.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Aruba11.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia12.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Austria9.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan13.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The14.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bahrain12.4 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bangladesh17.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Barbados10.83 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belarus9.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belgium10.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belize21.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Benin41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bermuda11.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bhutan15.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bolivia18.61 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina8.41 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Botswana20.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bouvet IslandNA Topic: Brazil13.96 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin Islands10.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Brunei16.14 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bulgaria8.05 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso33.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burma16.34 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burundi35.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde18.49 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cambodia19.29 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cameroon35.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Canada10.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands11.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Central African Republic32.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Chad40.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Chile12.75 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: China9.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Clipperton IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia15.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Comoros22.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the40.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the31.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cook Islands12.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica14.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire28.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Croatia8.65 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cuba10.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Curacao13.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cyprus10.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Czechia8.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Denmark11.22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti22.25 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Dominica13.91 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic18.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ecuador16.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Egypt21.46 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: El Salvador17.87 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea29.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Eritrea27.04 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Estonia8.75 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Eswatini23.35 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ethiopia30.49 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: European Union(2020 est.) 9.5 births/1,000 population Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) Topic: Faroe Islands14.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Fiji16.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Finland10.42 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: France11.66 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: French Polynesia13.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon26.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gambia, The28.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip27.67 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Georgia11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Germany9.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ghana28.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gibraltar13.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Greece7.61 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Greenland13.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Grenada13.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guam18.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guatemala22.34 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guernsey9.75 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea35.67 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau36.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guyana16.72 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Haiti21.12 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras17.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Hong Kong8.04 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Hungary8.65 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iceland12.96 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: India16.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Indonesia15.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iran15.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iraq24.7 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ireland12.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Isle of Man10.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Israel17.41 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Italy6.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jamaica15.91 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan6.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jersey12.41 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jordan22.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan15.38 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kenya26.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kiribati20.12 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, North14.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, South6.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kosovo14.85 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kuwait17.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan19.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Laos20.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Latvia8.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lebanon13.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lesotho23.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Liberia36.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Libya21.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Liechtenstein10.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lithuania9.26 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Luxembourg11.61 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Macau9.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Madagascar28.68 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malawi27.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malaysia14.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Maldives15.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mali41.07 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malta9.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritania28.06 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritius9.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mexico13.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of18.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Moldova10.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Monaco6.66 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mongolia15.84 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Montenegro11.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Montserrat10.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Morocco17.42 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique37.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Namibia25.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nauru21.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal17.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Netherlands10.99 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: New Caledonia14.13 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: New Zealand12.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nicaragua16.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Niger47.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nigeria34.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedonia10.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands15.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Norway12 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Oman22.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Pakistan26.48 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Palau11.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Panama17.99 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea29.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay16.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Peru17.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Philippines22.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: Poland8.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Portugal8 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico7.87 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Qatar9.33 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Romania8.76 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Russia9.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Rwanda26.44 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Barthelemy9.29 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha9.34 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis12.24 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia12.02 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Martin14.09 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon6.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines12.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Samoa19.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: San Marino8.85 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe28.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia14.22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Senegal31.51 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Serbia8.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Seychelles12.37 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone32.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Singapore9.05 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sint Maarten12.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Slovakia8.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Slovenia8.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands22.71 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Somalia37.98 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: South Africa18.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South Sudan37.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Spain7.13 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka13.8 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sudan33.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Suriname15.38 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Sweden10.83 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Switzerland10.36 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Syria22.72 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Taiwan7.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tajikistan20.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tanzania33.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Thailand10.14 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste30.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Togo31.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: Tonga20.31 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago10.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tunisia14.62 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turkey14.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan17.51 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands13.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tuvalu22.7 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Uganda40.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ukraine9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates10.81 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United Kingdom10.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United States12.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay12.71 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan15.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Vanuatu21.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Venezuela17.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Vietnam15.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Virgin Islands11.63 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and Futuna12.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: West Bank24.42 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: World18.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.) note: this rate results in about 259 worldwide births per minute or 4.3 births every second Topic: Yemen24.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Zambia34.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe33.07 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

20220601

countries-belarus

Topic: Photos of Belarus Topic: Introduction Background: After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than have any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and current negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place. Restrictions on political freedoms have grown increasingly strained following the disputed presidential election in August 2020. The election results sparked largescale protests as members of the opposition and civil society criticized the election’s validity. Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has remained in power as the disputed winner of the presidential election after quelling protests in late 2020.            Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 207,600 sq km land: 202,900 sq km water: 4,700 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: total: 3,599 km border countries (5): Latvia 161 km; Lithuania 640 km; Poland 375 km; Russia 1,312 km; Ukraine 1,111 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime Terrain: generally flat with much marshland Elevation: highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m mean elevation: 160 m Natural resources: timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay Land use: agricultural land: 43.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.9% (2018 est.) forest: 42.7% (2018 est.) other: 13.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,140 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Dnieper (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Natural hazards: large tracts of marshy land Geography - note: landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes Map description: Belarus map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Belarus map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 9,413,505 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian Ethnic groups: Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.) Languages: Russian (official) 70.2%, Belarusian (official) 23.4%, other 3.1% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 3.3% (2009 est.) major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.09% (male 784,231/female 740,373) 15-24 years: 9.59% (male 467,393/female 441,795) 25-54 years: 43.94% (male 2,058,648/female 2,105,910) 55-64 years: 14.45% (male 605,330/female 763,972) 65 years and over: 15.93% (2020 est.) (male 493,055/female 1,017,211) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.9 youth dependency ratio: 25.7 elderly dependency ratio: 23.2 potential support ratio: 4.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 40.9 years male: 38 years female: 43.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.31% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 12.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Urbanization: urban population: 80.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.049 million MINSK (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.35 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.8 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.28 years male: 68.9 years female: 79.97 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 71.2% (2017) note:  percent of women aged 18-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.6% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.4% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.9% (2019) Physicians density: 5.19 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 10.8 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 98.3% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 1.7% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 28,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.5% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.1% (2019) women married by age 18: 4.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 14.3% female: 10.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.06 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 58.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.19 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime Land use: agricultural land: 43.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.9% (2018 est.) forest: 42.7% (2018 est.) other: 13.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 80.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 684,800 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16% (2016 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Dnieper (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 523 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 443 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 431 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 57.9 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus'/Respublika Belarus' local short form: Byelarus'/Belarus' former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name is a compound of the Belarusian words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian Government type: presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship Capital: name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; Minsk may originally have been located 16 km to the southwest, on the banks of Menka River; remnants of a 10th-century settlement on the banks of the Menka have been found Administrative divisions: 6 regions (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian Independence: 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic through petition to the National Assembly or by petition of least 150,000 eligible voters; approval required by at least two-thirds majority vote in both chambers or by simple majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended 1996, 2004 Legal system: civil law system; note - nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 2000 International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Raman HALOWCHENKA (since 4 June 2020); First Deputy Prime Minister Mikalay SNAPKOW (since 4 June 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Uladzimir KUKHARAW, Ihar PETRYSHENKA (since 18 August 2018), Yuryy NAZARAW (since 3 March 2020), Alyaksandr SUBOTSIN (since 4 June 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); first election took place on 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999; however, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held on 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed the president to run and win in a third (19 March 2006), fourth (19 December 2010), fifth (11 October 2015), and sixth (9 August 2020); next election in 2025; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly election results: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.2%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 9.9%, other 9.9%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Assembly or Natsyyalny Skhod consists of: Council of the Republic or Savet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members indirectly elected by regional and Minsk city councils and 8 members appointed by the president; members serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Palata Pradstawnikow (110 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Council of the Republic - indirect election last held on 7 November 2019 House of Representatives - last held on 17 November 2019 (next to be held in 2023); OSCE observers determined that the election was neither free nor impartial and that vote counting was problematic in a number of polling stations; pro-LUKASHENKA candidates won every seat; international observers determined that the previous elections, on 28 September 2008, 23 September 2012, and 11 September 2016 also fell short of democratic standards, with pro-LUKASHENKA candidates winning every, or virtually every, seat election results: Council of the Republic - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - NA House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 11, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 6, Belarusian Patriotic Party 2, LDP 1, AP 1, independent 89; composition - men 66, women 44, percent of women 40% note: the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chairman and deputy chairman and organized into several specialized panels, including economic and military; number of judges set by the president of the republic and the court chairman); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 judges, including a chairman and deputy chairman) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Council of the Republic; judges initially appointed for 5 years and evaluated for life appointment; Constitutional Court judges - 6 appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Council of the Republic; the presiding judge directly elected by the president and approved by the Council of the Republic; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70 subordinate courts: oblast courts; Minsk City Court; town courts; Minsk city and oblast economic courts Political parties and leaders: pro-government parties: Belarusian Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail RUSY] Belarusian Patriotic Party [Mikalay ULAKHOVICH] Belarusian Social Sport Party [Uladzimir ALEKSANDROVICH] Communist Party of Belarus or KPB [Alyaksey SOKOL] Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Aleh GAYDUKEVICH] Republican Party [Uladzimir BELAZOR] Republican Party of Labor and Justice [Alyaksandr STSYAPANAW] Social Democratic Party of Popular Accord [Syarhey YERMAK] opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party [Paval SEVYARYNETS, Volha KAVALKOVA, Vital RYMASHEWSKI] (unregistered) Belarusian Party of the Green [Anastasiya DOROFEYEVA] Belarusian Party of the Left "Just World" [Syarhey KALYAKIN] Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Ryhor KASTUSYOW] Belarusian Social-Democratic Assembly [Syarhey CHERACHEN] Belarusian Social Democratic Party ("Assembly") or BSDPH [Ihar BARYSAW] Belarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly) [Mikalay STATKEVICH] (unregistered) Christian Conservative Party or BPF [Zyanon PAZNYAK] United Civic Party or UCP [Mikalay KAZLOW] International organization participation: BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Charge d'Affaires Dmitry BASIK (since 9 July 2019) chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1606 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.by Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Julie Fisher (since 23 December 2020); Charge d'Affaires Ruben HARUTUNIAN (since May 2021) embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: 7010 Minsk Place, Washington DC  20521-7010 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83/217-73-47/217-73-48 FAX: [375] (17) 334-78-53 email address and website: ConsularMinsk@state.gov https://by.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents hope and the many forests of the country National symbol(s): no clearly defined current national symbol, the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional Belarusian symbol; national colors: green, red, white National anthem: name: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians) lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI note: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed industrial base, but it is now outdated, inefficient, and dependent on subsidized Russian energy and preferential access to Russian markets. The country’s agricultural base is largely dependent on government subsidies. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, an initial burst of economic reforms included privatization of state enterprises, creation of private property rights, and the acceptance of private entrepreneurship, but by 1994 the reform effort dissipated. About 80% of industry remains in state hands, and foreign investment has virtually disappeared. Several businesses have been renationalized. State-owned entities account for 70-75% of GDP, and state banks make up 75% of the banking sector.   Economic output declined for several years following the break-up of the Soviet Union, but revived in the mid-2000s. Belarus has only small reserves of crude oil and imports crude oil and natural gas from Russia at subsidized, below market, prices. Belarus derives export revenue by refining Russian crude and selling it at market prices. Russia and Belarus have had serious disagreements over prices and quantities for Russian energy. Beginning in early 2016, Russia claimed Belarus began accumulating debt – reaching $740 million by April 2017 – for paying below the agreed price for Russian natural gas and Russia cut back its export of crude oil as a result of the debt. In April 2017, Belarus agreed to pay its gas debt and Russia restored the flow of crude.   New non-Russian foreign investment has been limited in recent years, largely because of an unfavorable financial climate. In 2011, a financial crisis lead to a nearly three-fold devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. The Belarusian economy has continued to struggle under the weight of high external debt servicing payments and a trade deficit. In mid-December 2014, the devaluation of the Russian ruble triggered a near 40% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble.   Belarus’s economy stagnated between 2012 and 2016, widening productivity and income gaps between Belarus and neighboring countries. Budget revenues dropped because of falling global prices on key Belarusian export commodities. Since 2015, the Belarusian government has tightened its macro-economic policies, allowed more flexibility to its exchange rate, taken some steps towards price liberalization, and reduced subsidized government lending to state-owned enterprises. Belarus returned to modest growth in 2017, largely driven by improvement of external conditions and Belarus issued sovereign debt for the first time since 2011, which provided the country with badly-needed liquidity, and issued $600 million worth of Eurobonds in February 2018, predominantly to US and British investors.As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed industrial base, but it is now outdated, inefficient, and dependent on subsidized Russian energy and preferential access to Russian markets. The country’s agricultural base is largely dependent on government subsidies. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, an initial burst of economic reforms included privatization of state enterprises, creation of private property rights, and the acceptance of private entrepreneurship, but by 1994 the reform effort dissipated. About 80% of industry remains in state hands, and foreign investment has virtually disappeared. Several businesses have been renationalized. State-owned entities account for 70-75% of GDP, and state banks make up 75% of the banking sector. Economic output declined for several years following the break-up of the Soviet Union, but revived in the mid-2000s. Belarus has only small reserves of crude oil and imports crude oil and natural gas from Russia at subsidized, below market, prices. Belarus derives export revenue by refining Russian crude and selling it at market prices. Russia and Belarus have had serious disagreements over prices and quantities for Russian energy. Beginning in early 2016, Russia claimed Belarus began accumulating debt – reaching $740 million by April 2017 – for paying below the agreed price for Russian natural gas and Russia cut back its export of crude oil as a result of the debt. In April 2017, Belarus agreed to pay its gas debt and Russia restored the flow of crude. New non-Russian foreign investment has been limited in recent years, largely because of an unfavorable financial climate. In 2011, a financial crisis lead to a nearly three-fold devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. The Belarusian economy has continued to struggle under the weight of high external debt servicing payments and a trade deficit. In mid-December 2014, the devaluation of the Russian ruble triggered a near 40% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. Belarus’s economy stagnated between 2012 and 2016, widening productivity and income gaps between Belarus and neighboring countries. Budget revenues dropped because of falling global prices on key Belarusian export commodities. Since 2015, the Belarusian government has tightened its macro-economic policies, allowed more flexibility to its exchange rate, taken some steps towards price liberalization, and reduced subsidized government lending to state-owned enterprises. Belarus returned to modest growth in 2017, largely driven by improvement of external conditions and Belarus issued sovereign debt for the first time since 2011, which provided the country with badly-needed liquidity, and issued $600 million worth of Eurobonds in February 2018, predominantly to US and British investors. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $179.97 billion (2020 est.) $181.61 billion (2019 est.) $179.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.22% (2019 est.) 3.17% (2018 est.) 2.53% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $19,100 (2020 est.) $19,300 (2019 est.) $18,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $63.168 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (2019 est.) 4.8% (2018 est.) 6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2018) Moody's rating: B3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: B (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 8.1% (2017 est.) industry: 40.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 54.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 5.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 67% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -67% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, sugar beet, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rye, rapeseed, poultry Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.381 million (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 23.4% services: 66.8% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 0.8% (2017 est.) 1% (2016 est.) note: official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 14.3% female: 10.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 5% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 25.2 (2018 est.) 21.7 (1998) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 21.9% (2008) Budget: revenues: 22.15 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 20.57 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 53.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 40.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$931 million (2017 est.) -$1.669 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $37.04 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $41.97 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $42.27 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Russia 42%, Ukraine 13%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, cheese, delivery trucks, crude petroleum (2019) Imports: $35.16 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $42.38 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $41.34 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Russia 57%, China 7%, Poland 5%, Germany 5%, Ukraine 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.927 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $39.847 billion (2019 est.) $39.297 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 1.9 (2017 est.) 2 (2016 est.) 2 (2015 est.) 15,926 (2014 est.) 10,224.1 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 31.58 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 31.72 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 3.482 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 6.319 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 10.04 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 31,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 31,730 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 468,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 198 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 477,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 141,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 351,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,630 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 59.46 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 17.7 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 17.53 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4,406,560 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 11,704,084 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: government owns and administers backbone network and much of telecom market with no independent regulator; government and telecom regulator are concluding three major programs aimed at developing the telecom sector and digital economy to enable 5G services and extension of fiber infrastructure; growing applications for smart cities; developing mobile broadband and data services to rural areas; commercial LTE services extended to 80% of the population; operators provide standalone 5G service and NB-IoT services; international connection through fiber optic and terrestrial link, nascent satellite system; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved, approximately 47 per 100 fixed-line; mobile-cellular teledensity now roughly 124 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 375; Belarus is landlocked and therefore a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations; almost 31,000 base stations in service in 2019 (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 7 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio operates 5 national networks and an external service; Russian and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2019) Internet country code: .by Internet users: total: 7,972,959 (2020 est.) percent of population: 85% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3,255,552 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,760,168 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.9 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EW Airports: total: 65 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 33 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 5386 km gas, 1589 km oil, 1730 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 5,528 km (2014) standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) Roadways: total: 86,600 km (2017) Waterways: 2,500 km (2011) (major rivers are the west-flowing Western Dvina and Neman Rivers and the south-flowing Dnepr River and its tributaries, the Berezina, Sozh, and Pripyat Rivers) Merchant marine: total: 4 by type: other 4 (2021) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Mazyr (Prypyats') Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Belarus Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force, Special Troops (electronic warfare, signals, engineers, biological/chemical/nuclear protection troops, etc); Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2021) Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.11 billion) 1.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.05 billion) 1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $1.98 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 45,000 active duty troops; information on the individual services varies, but probably includes about 25,000 Army, 15,000 Air/Air Defense, and 5,000 Special Operations forces (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Belarus Armed Forces is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-origin equipment, and since 2010 Russia is the leading provider of arms; Belarus's defense industry manufactures some equipment (mostly modernized Soviet designs), including vehicles, guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service, depending on academic qualifications; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2021) note - conscripts can be assigned to the military, as well as the Ministry of Interior as internal or border troops; as of 2020, conscripts comprised an estimated 40% of the military Military - note: Belarus has close security ties with Russia, including an integrated air and missile defense system, joint training exercises, and the establishment of three joint training centers since 2020 (1 in Belarus, 2 in Russia); Russia is the principal supplier of arms to Belarus, and Belarusian troops reportedly train on Russian equipment; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities, and combating extremism and terrorism Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force (KSOR)Belarus has close security ties with Russia, including an integrated air and missile defense system, joint training exercises, and the establishment of three joint training centers since 2020 (1 in Belarus, 2 in Russia); Russia is the principal supplier of arms to Belarus, and Belarusian troops reportedly train on Russian equipment; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities, and combating extremism and terrorism Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force (KSOR) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Belarus-Latvia: Boundary demarcated with Latvia. Belarus-Lithuania: Boundary demarcated with Lithuania. Belarus-Poland: As a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus.Belarus-Latvia: Boundary demarcated with Latvia. Belarus-Lithuania: Boundary demarcated with Lithuania. Belarus-Poland: As a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus. Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 27,308 (Ukraine) (as of 11 May 2022) stateless persons: 6,104 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims and exploit Belarusians abroad; the majority of trafficking victims are men subjected to forced labor; most Belarusian victims are trafficked in Belarus and Russia, but also in Poland, Turkey, and other Eurasian and Middle Eastern countries; the government continued to subject factory workers, civil servants, and students to state-sponsored forced labor harvesting crops on state-owned farms or cleaning streets tier rating: Tier 3 — Belarus does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking because of a government policy or pattern of government-sponsored forced labor in public works projects and the agricultural sector; however, authorities convicted traffickers under its trafficking statute for the first time in eight years, increased training for law enforcement officers, and confirmed significantly more victims; the government adopted a national action plan to protect minors from sexual violence and exploitation (2020) Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities

20220601

field-sex-ratio

This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually, it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners. Topic: Afghanistanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Albaniaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Algeriaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: American Samoaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Andorraat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Angolaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Anguillaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Argentinaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Armeniaat birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Arubaat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Australiaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Austriaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Theat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bahrainat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.29 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.61 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bangladeshat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Barbadosat birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Belarusat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.35 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Belgiumat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Belizeat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Beninat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bermudaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bhutanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Boliviaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.42 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Botswanaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Brazilat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bruneiat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Bulgariaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Burmaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Burundiat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cambodiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cameroonat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Canadaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Central African Republicat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Chadat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Chileat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Chinaat birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Colombiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Comorosat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.26 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Croatiaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cubaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Curacaoat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Cyprusat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Czechiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Denmarkat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Djiboutiat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.7 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.72 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Dominicaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Ecuadorat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Egyptat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: El Salvadorat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.72 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Eritreaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Estoniaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.42 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Eswatiniat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: European Unionat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.) note: sex ratio is somewhat skewed by the high proportion of males at the Royal Air Force station, Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA); excluding MPA, the sex ratio of the total population would be 1.04 Topic: Faroe Islandsat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Fijiat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Finlandat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Franceat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: French Polynesiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Gabonat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Georgiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Germanyat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Ghanaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Gibraltarat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Greeceat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Greenlandat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Grenadaat birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guamat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guatemalaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guernseyat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guineaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Guyanaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Haitiat birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Hondurasat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Hong Kongat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Hungaryat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Icelandat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Indiaat birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Indonesiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Iranat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Iraqat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Irelandat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Isle of Manat birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Israelat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Italyat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Jamaicaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Japanat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Jerseyat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Jordanat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanat birth: 0.94 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.35 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kenyaat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kiribatiat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, Northat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.33 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, Southat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kosovoat birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kuwaitat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.66 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 1.37 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Laosat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Latviaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.36 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Lebanonat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Lesothoat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.74 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Liberiaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Libyaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinat birth: 1.25 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.24 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Lithuaniaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Luxembourgat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Macauat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Madagascarat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Malawiat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Malaysiaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Maldivesat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Maliat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Maltaat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritiusat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Mexicoat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Moldovaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Monacoat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Mongoliaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Montenegroat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Montserratat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Moroccoat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiqueat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Namibiaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Nauruat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Nepalat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Netherlandsat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: New Caledoniaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: New Zealandat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Nigerat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Nigeriaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedoniaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsat birth: 1.17 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Norwayat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Omanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.32 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Pakistanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Palauat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.66 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.64 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.27 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Panamaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Paraguayat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Peruat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Philippinesat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: Polandat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Portugalat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricoat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Qatarat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 2.26 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 5.45 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 3.42 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 3.36 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Romaniaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Russiaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.36 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Rwandaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Barthelemyat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Martinat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Samoaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: San Marinoat birth: 1.09 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.54 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.62 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Senegalat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Serbiaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Seychellesat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Singaporeat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sint Maartenat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Slovakiaat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sloveniaat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Somaliaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: South Africaat birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: South Sudanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.28 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Spainat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sri Lankaat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Sudanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Surinameat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Swedenat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Switzerlandat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Syriaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Taiwanat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Tajikistanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Thailandat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Togoat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: Tongaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Tunisiaat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Turkeyat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Tuvaluat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Ugandaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Ukraineat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.42 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 3.32 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 5.41 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.86 male(s)/female total population: 2.21 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: United Kingdomat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: United Statesat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female NA 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Uruguayat birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Vanuatuat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Venezuelaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Vietnamat birth: 1.11 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunaat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: West Bankat birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Worldat birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.) Topic: Yemenat birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Zambiaat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Topic: Zimbabweat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.62 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

20220601

countries-panama

Topic: Photos of Panama Topic: Introduction Background: Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. An ambitious expansion project to more than double the Canal's capacity - by allowing for more Canal transits and larger ships - was carried out between 2007 and 2016.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 75,420 sq km land: 74,340 sq km water: 1,080 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total: 687 km border countries (2): Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km Coastline: 2,490 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May) Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills Elevation: highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 360 m Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.) forest: 43.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 321 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited Natural hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area Geography - note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean Map description: Panama map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.Panama map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 4,337,768 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 65%, Native American 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), Black or African descent 9.2%, Mulatto 6.8%, White 6.7% (2010 est.) Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican English Creole; a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere; also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese); note - many Panamanians are bilingual 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 48.6%, Evangelical 30.2%, other 4.7%, agnostic 0.2%, atheist 0.2%, none 12.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2018 est.) Demographic profile: Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.Panama has expanded access to education and clean water, but the availability of sanitation and, to a lesser extent, electricity remains poor. The increase in secondary schooling - led by female enrollment - is spreading to rural and indigenous areas, which probably will help to alleviate poverty if educational quality and the availability of skilled jobs improve. Inadequate access to sanitation contributes to a high incidence of diarrhea in Panama's children, which is one of the main causes of Panama's elevated chronic malnutrition rate, especially among indigenous communities.Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It is in the midst of a demographic transition, characterized by steadily declining rates of fertility, mortality, and population growth, but disparities persist based on wealth, geography, and ethnicity. Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. The indigenous population accounts for a growing share of Panama's poor and extreme poor, while the non-indigenous rural poor have been more successful at rising out of poverty through rural-to-urban labor migration. The government's large expenditures on untargeted, indirect subsidies for water, electricity, and fuel have been ineffective, but its conditional cash transfer program has shown some promise in helping to decrease extreme poverty among the indigenous population.Panama has expanded access to education and clean water, but the availability of sanitation and, to a lesser extent, electricity remains poor. The increase in secondary schooling - led by female enrollment - is spreading to rural and indigenous areas, which probably will help to alleviate poverty if educational quality and the availability of skilled jobs improve. Inadequate access to sanitation contributes to a high incidence of diarrhea in Panama's children, which is one of the main causes of Panama's elevated chronic malnutrition rate, especially among indigenous communities. Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.56% (male 508,131/female 487,205) 15-24 years: 16.59% (male 329,250/female 316,796) 25-54 years: 40.31% (male 794,662/female 774,905) 55-64 years: 8.54% (male 165,129/female 167,317) 65 years and over: 9.01% (2020 est.) (male 160,516/female 190,171) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.9 youth dependency ratio: 40.8 elderly dependency ratio: 13.1 potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 30.1 years male: 29.6 years female: 30.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.53% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 17.99 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited Urbanization: urban population: 69.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.938 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 16.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.62 years male: 74.76 years female: 80.66 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 50.8% (2014/15) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 88.1% of population total: 96.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 11.9% of population total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.6% (2019) Physicians density: 1.57 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 95.5% of population rural: 69.1% of population total: 87.2% of population unimproved: urban: 4.5% of population rural: 30.9% of population total: 12.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 31,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019) Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 98.8% female: 95.4% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2016) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.1% male: 30.8% female: 51.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.97 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May) Land use: agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.) forest: 43.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 69.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,472,262 tons (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 139.304 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama etymology: named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Panama City geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from a former fishing area near the present capital - an indigenous village and its adjacent beach - that were called "Panama" meaning "an abundance of fish" Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821) National holiday: Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903) Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2004 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019); Vice President Jose Gabriel CARRIZO Jaen (since 1 July 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term); election last held on 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panamenista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3% 2014: Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA (PP) 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS (CD) 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO (PRD) 28.2%, other 1.3% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by open list proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 5 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 35, CD 18, Panamenista 8, MOLIRENA 5, independent 5; composition - men 55, women 16, percent of women 22.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers) judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance Party or PA [Jose MUNOZ Molina] Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS [Jose ALVAREZ] Democratic Change or CD [Romulo ROUX] Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Benicio ROBINSON] Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Francisco "Pancho" ALEMAN] Panamenista Party [Isabel BLANDON Figueroa] (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP [Daniel Javier BREA Clavel] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party [Ricardo Alberto MARTINELLI Berrocal] International organization participation: BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Laura CASTRO Grimaldo (since December 2021) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413 email address and website: info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington DC Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Charge d'Affaires Stewart TUTTLE (since August 2020) embassy: Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton mailing address: 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100 telephone: [507] 317-5000 FAX: [507] 317-5568 (2018) email address and website: Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law National symbol(s): harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red National anthem: name: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE note: adopted 1925 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Caribbean Fortifications (c), Darien National Park (n), Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n), Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c), Coiba National Park (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $37 billion in 2016 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012.   Future growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project more than doubled the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate high-capacity vessels such as tankers and neopanamax vessels that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The US and China are the top users of the Canal.   Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points.Panama's dollar-based economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking. Panama's transportation and logistics services sectors, along with infrastructure development projects, have boosted economic growth; however, public debt surpassed $37 billion in 2016 because of excessive government spending and public works projects. The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011, and entered into force in October 2012. Future growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 10-15% of current GDP. The expansion project more than doubled the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate high-capacity vessels such as tankers and neopanamax vessels that are too large to traverse the existing canal. The US and China are the top users of the Canal. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About one-fourth of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $109.52 billion (2020 est.) $133.47 billion (2019 est.) $129.54 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.) 5% (2016 est.) 5.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $25,400 (2020 est.) $31,400 (2019 est.) $31,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $66.801 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2017 est.) 0.7% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2011) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 15.7% (2017 est.) services: 82% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 45.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 42.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -44.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, bananas, rice, poultry, milk, plantains, pineapples, maize, beef, pork Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.633 million (2017 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 18.6% services: 64.4% (2009 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.14% (2018 est.) 6% (2017 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.1% male: 30.8% female: 51.9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 22.1% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 49.2 (2018 est.) 56.1 (2003) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 38.9% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 12.43 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.44 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 37.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 20.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$3.036 billion (2017 est.) -$3.16 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $20.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $28.58 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $28.55 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars note: includes the Colon Free Zone Exports - partners: Ecuador 20%, Guatemala 14%, China 8%, United States 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, copper, bananas, ships, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019) Imports: $17.41 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $27.38 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $28.9 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars note: includes the Colon Free Zone Imports - partners: China 21%, United States 19%, Japan 16%, Colombia 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, tanker ships, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.703 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.878 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $101.393 billion (2019 est.) $94.898 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2017 est.) 1 (2016 est.) 1 (2015 est.) 1 (2014 est.) 1 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 92% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99.4% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 77% (2019) Electricity - production: 10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 8.708 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 139 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 30 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 3.4 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 146,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 66 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 129,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 649,156 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,599,010 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131.85 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: domestic and international facilities well-developed; steady increase in telecom revenue with effective competition; mobile connections account for 90% of connections; government-funded program to improve Internet infrastructure; connectivity through two submarine cables; launch of LTE services; Chinese company Huawei investment in bandwidth technologies; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line about 14 per 100 and rapid subscribership of mobile-cellular telephone roughly 132 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .pa Internet users: total: 2,761,452 (2020 est.) percent of population: 64% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 562,413 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 122 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,939,350 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 47.63 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HP Airports: total: 117 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 30 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 60 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 51 (2021) Heliports: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 128 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 77 km (2014) standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge Waterways: 800 km (2011) (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) Merchant marine: total: 7,980 by type: bulk carrier 2,697, container ship 643, general cargo 1,381, oil tanker 771, other 2,488 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (2,894,654), Colon (4,379,477) (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Panama National Police (La Policía Nacional de Panamá, PNP), National Air-Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2021) note - the PNP includes paramilitary special forces units for counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions; in addition to its 3 regionally-based border security brigades, SENAFRONT includes a special forces brigade, which is comprised of special forces, counternarcotics, maritime, and rapid reaction units Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.38 billion) 1.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.33 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.32 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 20,000 National Police; 4,000 National Border Service; 3,000 National Air-Naval Service (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: Panama's security forces are lightly armed; Canada, Italy and the US have provided equipment to the security forces since 2010 (2021) Military - note: Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 ConstitutionPanama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panamaorganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 80,021 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) Illicit drugs: a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe  a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe 

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countries-sint-maarten

Topic: Photos of Sint Maarten Topic: Introduction Background: Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and began exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island of Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The establishment of cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded African slavery on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a 2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, effective October 2010. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing. The UN estimated the storm destroyed or damaged 90% of the buildings, and Princess Juliana International Airport was heavily damaged and closed to commercial air traffic for five weeks.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin IslandsCaribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands Geographic coordinates: 18 4 N, 63 4 W18 4 N, 63 4 W Map references: Central America and the CaribbeanCentral America and the Caribbean Area: total: 34 sq km land: 34 sq km water: 0 sq km note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin Area - comparative: one-fifth the size of Washington, DCone-fifth the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 16 km border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km Coastline: 58.9 km (for entire island) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to Novembertropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November Terrain: low, hilly terrain, volcanic originlow, hilly terrain, volcanic origin Elevation: highest point: Mount Flagstaff 383 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: fish, saltfish, salt Population distribution: most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg), followed closely by Cul de Sac Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes from July to Novembersubject to hurricanes from July to November Geography - note: note 1: the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entitiesnote 1: the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka as Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities Map description: Sint Maarten map showing some of the major features of this part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Sea.  Sint Maarten map showing some of the major features of this part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Sea.  Topic: People and Society Population: 45,126 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Saint Maarten 29.9%, Dominican Republic 10.2%, Haiti 7.8%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Martin 5.9%, Guyana 5%, Dominica 4.4%, Curacao 4.1%, Aruba 3.4%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%, India 2.6%, Netherlands 2.2%, US 1.6%, Suriname 1.4%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, Anguilla 1.1%, other 8%, unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.) note:  data represent population by country of birth Languages: English (official) 67.5%, Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch (official) 4.2%, Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%, French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 est.) Religions: Protestant 41.9% (Pentecostal 14.7%, Methodist 10.0%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.6%, Baptist 4.7%, Anglican 3.1%, other Protestant 2.8%), Roman Catholic 33.1%, Hindu 5.2%, Christian 4.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, Evangelical 1.4%, Muslim/Jewish 1.1%, other 1.3% (includes Buddhist, Sikh, Rastafarian), none 7.9%, no response 2.4% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.64% (male 4,242/female 3,932) 15-24 years: 13.26% (male 2,967/female 2,849) 25-54 years: 39.08% (male 8,417/female 8,717) 55-64 years: 17.47% (male 3,638/female 4,020) 65 years and over: 11.55% (2020 est.) (male 2,385/female 2,680) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 41.1 years male: 39.6 years female: 42.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.23% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg), followed closely by Cul de Sac Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.) Major urban areas - population: 1,327 PHILIPSBURG (capital) (2011) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.26 years male: 76.91 years female: 81.73 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 95.1% of population unimproved: total: 4.9% of population (2017) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 98.8% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 1.2% of population (2017) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2014) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: scarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefsscarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefs Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to Novembertropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Country of Sint Maarten conventional short form: Sint Maarten local long form: Land Sint Maarten (Dutch); Country of Sint Maarten (English) local short form: Sint Maarten (Dutch and English) former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours because the 11 November 1493 day of discovery was the saint's feast day Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy Dependency status: constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairsconstituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs Capital: name: Philipsburg geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: Sint Maarten is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) National holiday: King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the islandKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the island Constitution: history: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 21 July 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Sint Maarten but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands) amendments: proposals initiated by the Government or by Parliament; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority of the Parliament membership; passage of amendments relating to fundamental rights, authorities of the governor and of Parliament must include the "views" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Government prior to ratification by Parliament Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influencebased on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence Citizenship: see the Netherlands Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Eugene HOLIDAY (since 10 October 2010) head of government: Interim Prime Minister Silveria JACOBS (since 16 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the governor-general elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by Parliament note - on 16 January 2020, Governor Eugene HOLIDAY appoints Silveria JACOBS as formateur of a new government Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament of Sint Maarten (15 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held 9 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA 35.2%, UP 24.2%, US Party 13.2%, PFP 10.6%, UD 8.7%, other 8.1%; seats by party - NA 6, UP 4, PFP 2, US Party 2, UD 1 Judicial branch: highest courts: Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, other members, and their substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court (in The Hague, Netherlands); note - prior to 2010, the Joint Court of Justice was the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch serve for life subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance Political parties and leaders: National Alliance or NA [Silveria JACOBS] Party for Progress or PFP [Melissa GUMBS] Sint Maarten Christian Party or SMCP [Garica ARRINDELL] United Democrats Party or UD [Sarah WESCOT-WILLIAMS] United Peoples Party or UP [Theodore HEYLIGER] United Sint Maarten Party or US Party [Frans RICHARDSON] International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ILO, Interpol, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMOCaricom (observer), ILO, Interpol, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of an orange-bordered  blue shield prominently displaying the white court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left,  and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto: SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are identical to those on the Dutch flag note: the flag somewhat resembles that of the Philippines but with the main red and blue bands reversed; the banner more closely evokes the wartime Philippine flag National symbol(s): brown pelican, yellow sage (flower); national colors: red, white, bluebrown pelican, yellow sage (flower); national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: O Sweet Saint Martin's Land lyrics/music: Gerard KEMPS note: the song, written in 1958, is used as an unofficial anthem for the entire island (both French and Dutch sides); as a collectivity of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" is official on the French side (see France); as a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to the local anthem, "Het Wilhelmus" is official on the Dutch side (see Netherlands) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy of Sint Maarten centers around tourism with nearly four-fifths of the labor force engaged in this sector. Nearly 1.8 million visitors came to the island by cruise ship and roughly 500,000 visitors arrived through Princess Juliana International Airport in 2013. Cruise ships and yachts also call on Sint Maarten's numerous ports and harbors. Limited agriculture and local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported. Sint Maarten had the highest per capita income among the five islands that formerly comprised the Netherlands Antilles. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.44 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $1.436 billion (2018 est.) $1.538 billion (2017 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 3.6% (2014 est.) 4.1% (2013 est.) 1.9% (2012 est.) Real GDP per capita: $35,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $35,342 (2018 est.) $37,914 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $304.1 million (2014 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2012 est.) 0.7% (2009 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.4% (2008 est.) industry: 18.3% (2008 est.) services: 81.3% (2008 est.) Agricultural products: sugar Industries: tourism, light industry Labor force: 23,200 (2008 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 15.2% services: 83.7% (2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 12% (2012 est.) 10.6% (2008 est.) Exports: $1.09 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $800 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - commodities: sugar Imports: $1.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2017 est.) 1.79 (2016 est.) 1.79 (2015 est.) 1.79 (2014 est.) 1.79 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 304.3 million kWh (2008 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 10,600 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,440 bbl/day (2015 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 68,840 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 195.94 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: generally adequate facilities; growth sectors include mobile telephone and data segments; effective competition; LTE expansion; tourism and telecom sector contribute greatly to the GDP (2018) domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; 196 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019) international: country code - 1-721; landing points for SMPR-1 and the ECFS submarine cables providing connectivity to the Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Internet country code: .sx; note - IANA has designated .sx for Sint Maarten, but has not yet assigned it to a sponsoring organization.sx; note - IANA has designated .sx for Sint Maarten, but has not yet assigned it to a sponsoring organization Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) note: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) was severely damaged on 6 September 2017 by hurricane Irma, but resumed commercial operations on 10 October 2017 Roadways: total: 53 km Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Philipsburg oil terminal(s): Coles Bay oil terminal Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Department for local law enforcement, supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

20220601

field-unemployment-youth-ages-15-24-country-comparison

20220601

countries-korea-south-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in South Korea. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [82] (2) 397-4114; US Embassy Seoul, 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; seoulinfoACS@state.gov; https://kr.usembassy.gov/ 03141 Telephone Code: 82 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 119; Police: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters Currency (Code): South Korean won (KRW) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): F Major Languages: Korean, English Major Religions: Protestant 19.7%, Buddhist 15.5%, Catholic 7.9%, none 56.9%; note: many people also practice some Confucian practices Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Gamcheon Culture Village; Jeonju Hanok Village; Bridge of No Return; Hwaseong Fortress; Ganghwa Peace Observatory; Jindo Sea Parting; Seoraksan National Park; Seokguram Grotto & Bulguksa Temple; Jongmyo Shrine; Boryeong Mud Festival Major Sports: Taekwondo, soccer, baseball Cultural Practices: It is regarded as rude to point with your fingers. Better to gesture with your arm or hand. Casual physical contact, such as back slapping, is considered rude. Tipping Guidelines: South Korea has a no-tip culture. Staff in restaurants and hotels, as well as taxi drivers, porters, and bellhops do not expect tips. Telling the taxi driver "keep the change" is appreciated. Most hotels add a compulsory 10% service charge to the bill.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, April 25, 2022

20220601

countries-tunisia

Topic: Photos of Tunisia Topic: Introduction Background: Tunisia has been the nexus of many different colonizations including those of the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and the Ottomans (16th to late 19th centuries). Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in convincing the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in January 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. Following ESSEBSI’s death in office in July 2019, Tunisia moved its scheduled presidential election forward two months and after two rounds of voting, Kais SAIED was sworn in as president in October 2019. Tunisia also held legislative elections on schedule in October 2019. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, expires in 2024. On 25 July 2021, SAIED seized exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to fire the prime minister and suspend the legislature.Tunisia has been the nexus of many different colonizations including those of the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and the Ottomans (16th to late 19th centuries). Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in convincing the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in January 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. Following ESSEBSI’s death in office in July 2019, Tunisia moved its scheduled presidential election forward two months and after two rounds of voting, Kais SAIED was sworn in as president in October 2019. Tunisia also held legislative elections on schedule in October 2019. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, expires in 2024. On 25 July 2021, SAIED seized exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to fire the prime minister and suspend the legislature.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries: total: 1,495 km border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km Coastline: 1,148 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara Elevation: highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m mean elevation: 246 m Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt Land use: agricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 31.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 28.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 4,590 sq km (2012) Major aquifers: North Western Sahara Aquifer System Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes; droughts Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration Map description: Tunisia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea.Tunisia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 11,896,972 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1% Languages: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight); note - despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1% Demographic profile: The Tunisian Government took steps in the 1960s to decrease population growth and gender inequality in order to improve socioeconomic development. Through its introduction of a national family planning program (the first in Africa) and by raising the legal age of marriage, Tunisia rapidly reduced its total fertility rate from about 7 children per woman in 1960 to 2 today. Unlike many of its North African and Middle Eastern neighbors, Tunisia will soon be shifting from being a youth-bulge country to having a transitional age structure, characterized by lower fertility and mortality rates, a slower population growth rate, a rising median age, and a longer average life expectancy.Currently, the sizable young working-age population is straining Tunisia’s labor market and education and health care systems. Persistent high unemployment among Tunisia’s growing workforce, particularly its increasing number of university graduates and women, was a key factor in the uprisings that led to the overthrow of the BEN ALI regime in 2011. In the near term, Tunisia’s large number of jobless young, working-age adults; deficiencies in primary and secondary education; and the ongoing lack of job creation and skills mismatches could contribute to future unrest. In the longer term, a sustained low fertility rate will shrink future youth cohorts and alleviate demographic pressure on Tunisia’s labor market, but employment and education hurdles will still need to be addressed.Tunisia has a history of labor emigration. In the 1960s, workers migrated to European countries to escape poor economic conditions and to fill Europe’s need for low-skilled labor in construction and manufacturing. The Tunisian Government signed bilateral labor agreements with France, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands, with the expectation that Tunisian workers would eventually return home. At the same time, growing numbers of Tunisians headed to Libya, often illegally, to work in the expanding oil industry. In the mid-1970s, with European countries beginning to restrict immigration and Tunisian-Libyan tensions brewing, Tunisian economic migrants turned toward the Gulf countries. After mass expulsions from Libya in 1983, Tunisian migrants increasingly sought family reunification in Europe or moved illegally to southern Europe, while Tunisia itself developed into a transit point for Sub-Saharan migrants heading to Europe.Following the ousting of BEN ALI in 2011, the illegal migration of unemployed Tunisian youths to Italy and onward to France soared into the tens of thousands. Thousands more Tunisian and foreign workers escaping civil war in Libya flooded into Tunisia and joined the exodus. A readmission agreement signed by Italy and Tunisia in April 2011 helped stem the outflow, leaving Tunisia and international organizations to repatriate, resettle, or accommodate some 1 million Libyans and third-country nationals.The Tunisian Government took steps in the 1960s to decrease population growth and gender inequality in order to improve socioeconomic development. Through its introduction of a national family planning program (the first in Africa) and by raising the legal age of marriage, Tunisia rapidly reduced its total fertility rate from about 7 children per woman in 1960 to 2 today. Unlike many of its North African and Middle Eastern neighbors, Tunisia will soon be shifting from being a youth-bulge country to having a transitional age structure, characterized by lower fertility and mortality rates, a slower population growth rate, a rising median age, and a longer average life expectancy.Currently, the sizable young working-age population is straining Tunisia’s labor market and education and health care systems. Persistent high unemployment among Tunisia’s growing workforce, particularly its increasing number of university graduates and women, was a key factor in the uprisings that led to the overthrow of the BEN ALI regime in 2011. In the near term, Tunisia’s large number of jobless young, working-age adults; deficiencies in primary and secondary education; and the ongoing lack of job creation and skills mismatches could contribute to future unrest. In the longer term, a sustained low fertility rate will shrink future youth cohorts and alleviate demographic pressure on Tunisia’s labor market, but employment and education hurdles will still need to be addressed.Tunisia has a history of labor emigration. In the 1960s, workers migrated to European countries to escape poor economic conditions and to fill Europe’s need for low-skilled labor in construction and manufacturing. The Tunisian Government signed bilateral labor agreements with France, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands, with the expectation that Tunisian workers would eventually return home. At the same time, growing numbers of Tunisians headed to Libya, often illegally, to work in the expanding oil industry. In the mid-1970s, with European countries beginning to restrict immigration and Tunisian-Libyan tensions brewing, Tunisian economic migrants turned toward the Gulf countries. After mass expulsions from Libya in 1983, Tunisian migrants increasingly sought family reunification in Europe or moved illegally to southern Europe, while Tunisia itself developed into a transit point for Sub-Saharan migrants heading to Europe.Following the ousting of BEN ALI in 2011, the illegal migration of unemployed Tunisian youths to Italy and onward to France soared into the tens of thousands. Thousands more Tunisian and foreign workers escaping civil war in Libya flooded into Tunisia and joined the exodus. A readmission agreement signed by Italy and Tunisia in April 2011 helped stem the outflow, leaving Tunisia and international organizations to repatriate, resettle, or accommodate some 1 million Libyans and third-country nationals. Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.28% (male 1,529,834/female 1,433,357) 15-24 years: 12.9% (male 766,331/female 745,888) 25-54 years: 42.85% (male 2,445,751/female 2,576,335) 55-64 years: 10.12% (male 587,481/female 598,140) 65 years and over: 8.86% (2020 est.) (male 491,602/female 546,458) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49.6 youth dependency ratio: 36.3 elderly dependency ratio: 13.3 potential support ratio: 7.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.7 years male: 32 years female: 33.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.69% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.62 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 70.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.439 million TUNIS (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.82 years male: 75.14 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 50.7% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 97.3% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2.7% of population total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019) Physicians density: 1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.8% of population rural: 99.4% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population rural: 0.6% of population total: 1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,500 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% (2018) women married by age 18: 1.5% (2018) men married by age 18: 0% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2016) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.8% male: 89.6% female: 74.2% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2016) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 34.9% male: 33.8% female: 37.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 35.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 29.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.89 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south Land use: agricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 31.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 28.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 70.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 108,000 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2014 est.) Major aquifers: North Western Sahara Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 137 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 965 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.773 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 4.615 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: three possibilities exist for the derivation of the name; originally a Berber settlement (earliest reference 4th century B.C.), the strategic site fell to the Carthaginians (Phoenicians) and the city could be named after the Punic goddess Tanit, since many ancient cities were named after patron deities; alternatively, the Berber root word "ens," which means "to lie down" or "to pass the night," may indicate that the site was originally a camp or rest stop; finally, the name may be the same as the city of Tynes, mentioned in the writings of some ancient authors Administrative divisions: 24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan) Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011) Constitution: history: history: several previous; latest approved by Constituent Assembly 26 January 2014, signed by the president, prime minister, and Constituent Assembly speaker on 27 January 2014; note - in September 2021, President Kais SAIED issued a decree granting him certain executive, legislative, and judiciary powers, and the authority to rule by decree, but allowed continued implementation of the preamble and chapters one and two of the Constitution, which guarantee rights and freedoms; in mid-December 202, SAIED announced that a constitutional referendum would be held on 25 July 2022 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following review by the Constitutional Court, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote by the Assembly and final passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passagehistory: several previous; latest approved by Constituent Assembly 26 January 2014, signed by the president, prime minister, and Constituent Assembly speaker on 27 January 2014; note - in September 2021, President Kais SAIED issued a decree granting him certain executive, legislative, and judiciary powers, and the authority to rule by decree, but allowed continued implementation of the preamble and chapters one and two of the Constitution, which guarantee rights and freedoms; in mid-December 202, SAIED announced that a constitutional referendum would be held on 25 July 2022 Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months Executive branch: chief of state: President Kais SAIED (elected 13 October, sworn in 23 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Najla BOUDEN Romdhane (since 11 October 2021) cabinet: selected by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly of the Representatives of the People; note - on 11 October 2021, SAIED and BOUDEN appointed a new cabinet without approval by the suspended parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 15 September 2019 with a runoff on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the prime minister is selected by the winning party or winning coalition and appointed by the president election results: first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI(independent) 10.7%,Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; runoff - Kais SAIED elected president; Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%            first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI(independent) 10.7%,Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; runoff - Kais SAIED elected president; Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%       Legislative branch: description: note: on 25 July 2021, President SAIED suspended indefinitely the Assembly, and on 30 March 2022 he dissolved the Assembly unicameral Assembly of the Representatives of the People or Majlis Nuwwab ash-Sha'b (Assemblee des representants du peuple) (217 seats; 199 members directly elected in Tunisian multi-seat constituencies and 18 members in multi-seat constituencies living abroad by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: initial election held on 6 October 2019 (next to be held in December 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - Ennahda 19.6%, Heart of Tunisia 14.6%, Free Destourian Party 6.6%, Democratic Current 6.4%, Dignity Coalition 5.9%, People's Movement 4.5%, TahyaTounes 4.1%, other 35.4%, independent 2.9%; seats by party -  Ennahda 52, Heart of Tunisia 38, Free Destourian Party 17, Democratic Current 22, Dignity Coalition 21, People's Movement 16, Long Live Tunisia 14, other 25, independent 12; composition (as of October 2021) - men 160, women 57, percent of women 26.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates and organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the constitution but inception has been delayed; note - in mid-February 2022, President SAIED dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and replaced it with an interim council in early March subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts note: the new Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the creation of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but as November 2021, the court had not been appointed; the court to consist of 12 members - 4 each to be appointed by the president, the Supreme Judicial Council (an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder are legal specialists), and the Chamber of the People's Deputies (parliament); members are to serve 9-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years Political parties and leaders: Afek Tounes [Yassine BRAHIM]Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) [Mehdi JOMAA] Amal Party [Ridha BELHAJ] Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) [Ali HAFSI] Current of Love [Hachemi HAMDI] (formerly the Popular Petition party) Democratic Current [Ghazi CHAOUACHI] Democratic Patriots' Unified Party [Zied LAKHDHAR] Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition [Seifeddine MAKHIOUF] Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) [Rached GHANNOUCHI] Free Destourian Party or PDL [Abir MOUSSI] Green Tunisia Party [Abdelkader ZITOUNI] Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) [Nabil KAROUI] Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) [Youssef CHAHED] Machrou Tounes (Tunisia Project) [Mohsen MARZOUK] Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ahmed KHASKHOUSSI] Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard [Kheireddine SOUABNI] People's Movement [Zouheir MAGHZAOUI] Republican Party (Al Joumhouri) [Issam CHEBBI] The Movement Party (Hizb Harak) [Moncef MARZOUKI] Third Republic Party [Olfa Hamdi] Tunisian Ba'ath Movement [Othmen Bel Haj AMOR] Workers' Party [Hamma HAMMAMI] International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hanene Tajouri BESSASSI (since 4 October 2021) chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald A. BLOME (since 7 February 2019) embassy: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis mailing address: 6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC  20521-6360 telephone: [216] 71-107-000 FAX: [216] 71-107-090 email address and website: tunisacs@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state to the Ottoman Empire National symbol(s): encircled red crescent moon and five-pointed star; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Amphitheatre of El Jem (c), Archaeological Site of Carthage (c), Medina of Tunis (c), Ichkeul National Park (n), Punic Town of Kerkuane (c), Kairouan (c), Medina of Sousse (c), Dougga / Thugga (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tunisia's economy – structurally designed to favor vested interests – faced an array of challenges exposed by the 2008 global financial crisis that helped precipitate the 2011 Arab Spring revolution. After the revolution and a series of terrorist attacks, including on the country’s tourism sector, barriers to economic inclusion continued to add to slow economic growth and high unemployment.   Following an ill-fated experiment with socialist economic policies in the 1960s, Tunisia focused on bolstering exports, foreign investment, and tourism, all of which have become central to the country's economy. Key exports now include textiles and apparel, food products, petroleum products, chemicals, and phosphates, with about 80% of exports bound for Tunisia's main economic partner, the EU. Tunisia's strategy, coupled with investments in education and infrastructure, fueled decades of 4-5% annual GDP growth and improved living standards. Former President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (1987-2011) continued these policies, but as his reign wore on cronyism and corruption stymied economic performance, unemployment rose, and the informal economy grew. Tunisia’s economy became less and less inclusive. These grievances contributed to the January 2011 overthrow of BEN ALI, further depressing Tunisia's economy as tourism and investment declined sharply.   Tunisia’s government remains under pressure to boost economic growth quickly to mitigate chronic socio-economic challenges, especially high levels of youth unemployment, which has persisted since the 2011 revolution. Successive terrorist attacks against the tourism sector and worker strikes in the phosphate sector, which combined account for nearly 15% of GDP, slowed growth from 2015 to 2017. Tunis is seeking increased foreign investment and working with the IMF through an Extended Fund Facility agreement to fix fiscal deficiencies.Tunisia's economy – structurally designed to favor vested interests – faced an array of challenges exposed by the 2008 global financial crisis that helped precipitate the 2011 Arab Spring revolution. After the revolution and a series of terrorist attacks, including on the country’s tourism sector, barriers to economic inclusion continued to add to slow economic growth and high unemployment. Following an ill-fated experiment with socialist economic policies in the 1960s, Tunisia focused on bolstering exports, foreign investment, and tourism, all of which have become central to the country's economy. Key exports now include textiles and apparel, food products, petroleum products, chemicals, and phosphates, with about 80% of exports bound for Tunisia's main economic partner, the EU. Tunisia's strategy, coupled with investments in education and infrastructure, fueled decades of 4-5% annual GDP growth and improved living standards. Former President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (1987-2011) continued these policies, but as his reign wore on cronyism and corruption stymied economic performance, unemployment rose, and the informal economy grew. Tunisia’s economy became less and less inclusive. These grievances contributed to the January 2011 overthrow of BEN ALI, further depressing Tunisia's economy as tourism and investment declined sharply. Tunisia’s government remains under pressure to boost economic growth quickly to mitigate chronic socio-economic challenges, especially high levels of youth unemployment, which has persisted since the 2011 revolution. Successive terrorist attacks against the tourism sector and worker strikes in the phosphate sector, which combined account for nearly 15% of GDP, slowed growth from 2015 to 2017. Tunis is seeking increased foreign investment and working with the IMF through an Extended Fund Facility agreement to fix fiscal deficiencies. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $114.97 billion (2020 est.) $125.78 billion (2019 est.) $124.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) 1.1% (2016 est.) 1.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $9,700 (2020 est.) $10,800 (2019 est.) $10,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $38.884 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (2019 est.) 7.2% (2018 est.) 5.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2020) Moody's rating: B2 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2013) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 10.1% (2017 est.) industry: 26.2% (2017 est.) services: 63.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 71.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, tomatoes, barley, olives, watermelons, green chillies/peppers, potatoes, dates, green onions/shallots Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.054 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.8% industry: 33.2% services: 51.7% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 15.5% (2017 est.) 15.5% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 34.9% male: 33.8% female: 37.2% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 15.2% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.8 (2015 est.) 41.7 (1995 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 27% (2010 est.) Budget: revenues: 9.876 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 12.21 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 70.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 62.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 24.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$4.191 billion (2017 est.) -$3.694 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $19.17 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $19.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: France 29%, Italy 17%, Germany 13% (2019) Exports - commodities: insulated wiring, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, olive oil, vehicle parts (2019) Imports: $23.42 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $24.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: France 17%, Italy 16%, Germany 8%, China 8%, Algeria 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, low-voltage protection equipment, cars, insulated wiring (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $5.594 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $5.941 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $35.911 billion (2019 est.) $33.79 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 2.71795 (2020 est.) 2.8518 (2019 est.) 2.95875 (2018 est.) 1.9617 (2014 est.) 1.6976 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 18.44 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 15.27 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 500 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 134 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 5.768 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 94% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 5% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 39,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 39,980 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 17,580 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 425 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 27,770 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 13,660 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 85,340 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 1.274 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 5.125 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 3.851 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,533,273 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 14.771 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126.31 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Tunisia has one of the most sophisticated telecom infrastructures in North Africa; penetration rates for mobile and Internet services are among the highest in the region; government program of regulation and infrastructure projects aims to improve Internet connectivity to underserved areas; operators built extensive LTE infrastructure in 2019, and are developing 5G networks and services; Chinese company Huawei invested in LTE network; operator planning nano-satellite launches in 2023; Internet censorship abolished, though concerns of government surveillance remain; legislation passed in 2017 supporting e-commerce and active e-government; importer of integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between several mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a surge in subscribership; fixed-line is nearly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 126 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 216; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-4, Didon, HANNIBAL System and Trapani-Kelibia submarine cable systems that provides links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019) Internet country code: .tn Internet users: total: 8,509,405 (2020 est.) percent of population: 72% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,334,059 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,274,199 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 13.23 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TS Airports: total: 29 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Pipelines: 68 km condensate, 3111 km gas, 1381 km oil, 453 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use) standard gauge: 471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge Roadways: paved: 20,000 km (2015) Merchant marine: total: 71 by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8 oil tanker 1, other 61 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Tunisian Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force; Ministry of Interior: National Police, National Guard (2021) note - the National Police has primary responsibility for law enforcement in the major cities, while the National Guard (gendarmerie) oversees border security and patrols smaller towns and rural areas Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.81 billion) 3.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.84 billion) 4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $2.81 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 35,000 active personnel (25,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force); est. 10,000 National Guard (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tunisian military's inventory includes mostly older or secondhand US and European equipment; since 2010, the Netherlands and US are the leading suppliers of arms to Tunisia (2021) Military service age and obligation: men 20-23 years of age for compulsory service, 1-year service obligation; individuals engaged in higher education or vocational training programs prior to their military drafting are allowed to delay service until they have completed their programs; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; women may volunteer (2021) note(s) - as of 2021, approximately 20-25,000 active military personnel were conscripts; women have been allowed in the service since 1975 as volunteers only, although as recently as 2018, the Tunisian Government has discussed the possibility of conscripting women; as of 2018, women constituted less than 7% of the military and served in all three services Military - note: as of 2022, the Tunisian military’s primary operational areas of focus were counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security; it was conducting counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations against al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State of ash-Sham (ISIS)-linked militants who have been fighting a low-intensity insurgency, mostly in the mountainous region along the border with Algeria, particularly the Chaambi Mountains near the city of Kasserine; the military maintained the lead role for security in this area and also routinely conducted joint operations with Algerian security forces against these  groups, as well to counter smuggling and trafficking activities; the military in recent years also has increased its role in securing the southern border against militant activity, smuggling, and trafficking from war-torn Libya; since 2015, Tunisia has constructed a complex structure of berms, trenches, and water-filled moats, complemented by electronic surveillance equipment such as motion detectors, ground surveillance radars, and infrared sensors along the 220-kilometer border with Libya; in the remote southern areas of the border with Libya, buffer/exclusion zones have also been established where the military has the lead for counter-terrorism efforts; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior has the lead responsibility for counter-terrorism in Tunisia, particularly for urban areas; the National Police Anti-Terrorism Brigade (BAT) and the National Guard Special Unit have the lead for MOI counterterrorism operations Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2022, the Tunisian military’s primary operational areas of focus were counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security; it was conducting counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations against al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State of ash-Sham (ISIS)-linked militants who have been fighting a low-intensity insurgency, mostly in the mountainous region along the border with Algeria, particularly the Chaambi Mountains near the city of Kasserine; the military maintained the lead role for security in this area and also routinely conducted joint operations with Algerian security forces against these  groups, as well to counter smuggling and trafficking activities; the military in recent years also has increased its role in securing the southern border against militant activity, smuggling, and trafficking from war-torn Libya; since 2015, Tunisia has constructed a complex structure of berms, trenches, and water-filled moats, complemented by electronic surveillance equipment such as motion detectors, ground surveillance radars, and infrared sensors along the 220-kilometer border with Libya; in the remote southern areas of the border with Libya, buffer/exclusion zones have also been established where the military has the lead for counter-terrorism efforts; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior has the lead responsibility for counter-terrorism in Tunisia, particularly for urban areas; the National Police Anti-Terrorism Brigade (BAT) and the National Guard Special Unit have the lead for MOI counterterrorism operations Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia; al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

field-area

This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 652,230 sq km land: 652,230 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Akrotiritotal: 123 sq km note: includes a salt lake and wetlands Topic: Albaniatotal: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km Topic: Algeriatotal: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: American Samoatotal: 224 sq km land: 224 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Atoll and Swains Island Topic: Andorratotal: 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Angolatotal: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Anguillatotal: 91 sq km land: 91 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Antarcticatotal: 14.2 million sq km land: 14.2 million sq km (285,000 sq km ice-free, 13.915 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 443 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km Topic: Arctic Oceantotal: 15.558 million sq km note: includes Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, Norwegian Sea, and other tributary water bodies Topic: Argentinatotal: 2,780,400 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 43,710 sq km Topic: Armeniatotal: 29,743 sq km land: 28,203 sq km water: 1,540 sq km Topic: Arubatotal: 180 sq km land: 180 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandstotal: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Topic: Atlantic Oceantotal: 85.133 million sq km note: includes Baffin Bay, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies Topic: Australiatotal: 7,741,220 sq km land: 7,682,300 sq km water: 58,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island Topic: Austriatotal: 83,871 sq km land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 86,600 sq km land: 82,629 sq km water: 3,971 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991 Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 13,880 sq km land: 10,010 sq km water: 3,870 sq km Topic: Bahraintotal: 760 sq km land: 760 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 148,460 sq km land: 130,170 sq km water: 18,290 sq km Topic: Barbadostotal: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Belarustotal: 207,600 sq km land: 202,900 sq km water: 4,700 sq km Topic: Belgiumtotal: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km Topic: Belizetotal: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km Topic: Benintotal: 112,622 sq km land: 110,622 sq km water: 2,000 sq km Topic: Bermudatotal: 54 sq km land: 54 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Bhutantotal: 38,394 sq km land: 38,394 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Boliviatotal: 1,098,581 sq km land: 1,083,301 sq km water: 15,280 sq km Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 51,197 sq km land: 51,187 sq km water: 10 sq km Topic: Botswanatotal: 581,730 sq km land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km Topic: Bouvet Islandtotal: 49 sq km land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Braziltotal: 8,515,770 sq km land: 8,358,140 sq km water: 157,630 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorytotal: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km (44 Diego Garcia) water: 54,340 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 151 sq km land: 151 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke Topic: Bruneitotal: 5,765 sq km land: 5,265 sq km water: 500 sq km Topic: Bulgariatotal: 110,879 sq km land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km Topic: Burmatotal: 676,578 sq km land: 653,508 sq km water: 23,070 sq km Topic: Burunditotal: 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Cambodiatotal: 181,035 sq km land: 176,515 sq km water: 4,520 sq km Topic: Cameroontotal: 475,440 sq km land: 472,710 sq km water: 2,730 sq km Topic: Canadatotal: 9,984,670 sq km land: 9,093,507 sq km water: 891,163 sq km Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 264 sq km land: 264 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Central African Republictotal: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Chadtotal: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km Topic: Chiletotal: 756,102 sq km land: 743,812 sq km water: 12,290 sq km note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez Topic: Chinatotal: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km Topic: Christmas Islandtotal: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Clipperton Islandtotal: 6 sq km land: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal: 14 sq km land: 14 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island Topic: Colombiatotal: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank Topic: Comorostotal: 2,235 sq km land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 2,344,858 sq km land: 2,267,048 sq km water: 77,810 sq km Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 236 sq km land: 236 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Coral Sea Islandstotal: 3 sq km less than land: 3 sq km less than water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi) with the Willis Islets the most important Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 51,100 sq km land: 51,060 sq km water: 40 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 322,463 sq km land: 318,003 sq km water: 4,460 sq km Topic: Croatiatotal: 56,594 sq km land: 55,974 sq km water: 620 sq km Topic: Cubatotal: 110,860 sq km land: 109,820 sq km water: 1,040 sq km Topic: Curacaototal: 444 sq km land: 444 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Cyprustotal: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,241 sq km water: 10 sq km Topic: Czechiatotal: 78,867 sq km land: 77,247 sq km water: 1,620 sq km Topic: Denmarktotal: 43,094 sq km land: 42,434 sq km water: 660 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland Topic: Dhekeliatotal: 131 sq km note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves Topic: Djiboutitotal: 23,200 sq km land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km Topic: Dominicatotal: 751 sq km land: 751 sq km water: NEGL Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km Topic: Ecuadortotal: 283,561 sq km land: 276,841 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands Topic: Egypttotal: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Topic: El Salvadortotal: 21,041 sq km land: 20,721 sq km water: 320 sq km Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Eritreatotal: 117,600 sq km land: 101,000 sq km water: 16,600 sq km Topic: Estoniatotal: 45,228 sq km land: 42,388 sq km water: 2,840 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea Topic: Eswatinitotal: 17,364 sq km land: 17,204 sq km water: 160 sq km Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 1,104,300 sq km land: 1,096,570 sq km water: 7,730 sq km note: area numbers are approximate since a large portion of the Ethiopia-Somalia border is undefined Topic: European Uniontotal: 4,236,351 sq km rank by area (sq km): 1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801 2. Spain 505,370 3. Sweden 450,295 4. Germany 357,022 5. Finland 338,145 6. Poland 312,685 7. Italy 301,340 8. Romania 238,391 9. Greece 131,957 10. Bulgaria 110,879 11. Hungary 93,028 12. Portugal 92,090 13. Austria 83,871 14. Czechia 78,867 15. Ireland 70,273 16. Lithuania 65,300 17. Latvia 64,589 18. Croatia 56,594 19. Slovakia 49,035 20. Estonia 45,228 21. Denmark 43,094 22. Netherlands 41,543 23. Belgium 30,528 24. Slovenia 20,273 25. Cyprus 9,251 26. Luxembourg 2,586 27. Malta 316 Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 1,393 sq km land: 1,393 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) Topic: Fijitotal: 18,274 sq km land: 18,274 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Finlandtotal: 338,145 sq km land: 303,815 sq km water: 34,330 sq km Topic: Francetotal: 643,801 sq km ; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) land: 640,427 sq km ; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France) water: 3,374 sq km ; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France) note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited) land: 3,827 sq km water: 340 sq km Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km; land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0 sq km Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon) Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US Topic: Gabontotal: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 11,300 sq km land: 10,120 sq km water: 1,180 sq km Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 360 sq km land: 360 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Georgiatotal: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km note: approximately 12,560 sq km, or about 18% of Georgia's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Abkhazia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti Topic: Germanytotal: 357,022 sq km land: 348,672 sq km water: 8,350 sq km Topic: Ghanatotal: 238,533 sq km land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 sq km Topic: Gibraltartotal: 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Greecetotal: 131,957 sq km land: 130,647 sq km water: 1,310 sq km Topic: Greenlandtotal: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered) Topic: Grenadatotal: 344 sq km land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Guamtotal: 544 sq km land: 544 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Guatemalatotal: 108,889 sq km land: 107,159 sq km water: 1,730 sq km Topic: Guernseytotal: 78 sq km land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands Topic: Guineatotal: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 36,125 sq km land: 28,120 sq km water: 8,005 sq km Topic: Guyanatotal: 214,969 sq km land: 196,849 sq km water: 18,120 sq km Topic: Haititotal: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandstotal: 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)total: 0 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Hondurastotal: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 1,108 sq km land: 1,073 sq km water: 35 sq km Topic: Hungarytotal: 93,028 sq km land: 89,608 sq km water: 3,420 sq km Topic: Icelandtotal: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km Topic: Indiatotal: 3,287,263 sq km land: 2,973,193 sq km water: 314,070 sq km Topic: Indian Oceantotal: 70.560 million sq km note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies Topic: Indonesiatotal: 1,904,569 sq km land: 1,811,569 sq km water: 93,000 sq km Topic: Irantotal: 1,648,195 sq km land: 1,531,595 sq km water: 116,600 sq km Topic: Iraqtotal: 438,317 sq km land: 437,367 sq km water: 950 sq km Topic: Irelandtotal: 70,273 sq km land: 68,883 sq km water: 1,390 sq km Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Israeltotal: 21,937 sq km land: 21,497 sq km water: 440 sq km Topic: Italytotal: 301,340 sq km land: 294,140 sq km water: 7,200 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily Topic: Jamaicatotal: 10,991 sq km land: 10,831 sq km water: 160 sq km Topic: Jan Mayentotal: 377 sq km land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Japantotal: 377,915 sq km land: 364,485 sq km water: 13,430 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto) Topic: Jerseytotal: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Jordantotal: 89,342 sq km land: 88,802 sq km water: 540 sq km Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 2,724,900 sq km land: 2,699,700 sq km water: 25,200 sq km Topic: Kenyatotal: 580,367 sq km land: 569,140 sq km water: 11,227 sq km Topic: Kiribatitotal: 811 sq km land: 811 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands - dispersed over about 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mi) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 120,538 sq km land: 120,408 sq km water: 130 sq km Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 99,720 sq km land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km Topic: Kosovototal: 10,887 sq km land: 10,887 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Kuwaittotal: 17,818 sq km land: 17,818 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 199,951 sq km land: 191,801 sq km water: 8,150 sq km Topic: Laostotal: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Topic: Latviatotal: 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km Topic: Lebanontotal: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km Topic: Lesothototal: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Liberiatotal: 111,369 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,049 sq km Topic: Libyatotal: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 65,300 sq km land: 62,680 sq km water: 2,620 sq km Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Macautotal: 28 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Madagascartotal: 587,041 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,501 sq km Topic: Malawitotal: 118,484 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,404 sq km Topic: Malaysiatotal: 329,847 sq km land: 328,657 sq km water: 1,190 sq km Topic: Maldivestotal: 298 sq km land: 298 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Malitotal: 1,240,192 sq km land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km Topic: Maltatotal: 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 181 sq km land: 181 sq km water: 0 sq km note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Mauritiustotal: 2,040 sq km land: 2,030 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues Topic: Mexicototal: 1,964,375 sq km land: 1,943,945 sq km water: 20,430 sq km Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) Topic: Moldovatotal: 33,851 sq km land: 32,891 sq km water: 960 sq km Topic: Monacototal: 2 sq km land: 2 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Mongoliatotal: 1,564,116 sq km land: 1,553,556 sq km water: 10,560 sq km Topic: Montenegrototal: 13,812 sq km land: 13,452 sq km water: 360 sq km Topic: Montserrattotal: 102 sq km land: 102 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Moroccototal: 716,550 sq km land: 716,300 sq km water: 250 sq km Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km Topic: Namibiatotal: 824,292 sq km land: 823,290 sq km water: 1,002 sq km Topic: Naurutotal: 21 sq km land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Navassa Islandtotal: 5 sq km land: 5.4 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Nepaltotal: 147,181 sq km land: 143,351 sq km water: 3,830 sq km Topic: Netherlandstotal: 41,543 sq km land: 33,893 sq km water: 7,650 sq km Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 18,575 sq km land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km Topic: New Zealandtotal: 268,838 sq km land: 264,537 sq km water: 4,301 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 130,370 sq km land: 119,990 sq km water: 10,380 sq km Topic: Nigertotal: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km Topic: Nigeriatotal: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km Topic: Niuetotal: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Norfolk Islandtotal: 36 sq km land: 36 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 464 sq km land: 464 sq km water: 0 sq km note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian Topic: Norwaytotal: 323,802 sq km land: 304,282 sq km water: 19,520 sq km Topic: Omantotal: 309,500 sq km land: 309,500 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Pacific Oceantotal: 161.760 million sq km note: includes Arafura Sea, Bali Sea, Banda Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Celebes Sea, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, Solomon Sea, South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies Topic: Pakistantotal: 796,095 sq km land: 770,875 sq km water: 25,220 sq km Topic: Palautotal: 459 sq km land: 459 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Panamatotal: 75,420 sq km land: 74,340 sq km water: 1,080 sq km Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km Topic: Paracel Islandstotal: 8 sq km ca. land: 7.75 sq km ca. water: 0 sq km Topic: Paraguaytotal: 406,752 sq km land: 397,302 sq km water: 9,450 sq km Topic: Perutotal: 1,285,216 sq km land: 1,279,996 sq km water: 5,220 sq km Topic: Philippinestotal: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km Topic: Pitcairn Islandstotal: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Polandtotal: 312,685 sq km land: 304,255 sq km water: 8,430 sq km Topic: Portugaltotal: 92,090 sq km land: 91,470 sq km water: 620 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km Topic: Qatartotal: 11,586 sq km land: 11,586 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Romaniatotal: 238,391 sq km land: 229,891 sq km water: 8,500 sq km Topic: Russiatotal: 17,098,242 sq km land: 16,377,742 sq km water: 720,500 sq km Topic: Rwandatotal: 26,338 sq km land: 24,668 sq km water: 1,670 sq km Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal: 25 sq km land: 25 sq km water: negligible Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 394 sq km land: 122 sq km Saint Helena Island water: 0 sq km 88 sq km Ascension Island, 184 sq km Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 sq km), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 616 sq km land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km Topic: Saint Martintotal: 50 sq km land: 50 sq km water: negligible Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Samoatotal: 2,831 sq km land: 2,821 sq km water: 10 sq km Topic: San Marinototal: 61 sq km land: 61 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 964 sq km land: 964 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Senegaltotal: 196,722 sq km land: 192,530 sq km water: 4,192 sq km Topic: Serbiatotal: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Seychellestotal: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km Topic: Singaporetotal: 719 sq km land: 709.2 sq km water: 10 sq km Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 34 sq km land: 34 sq km water: 0 sq km note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin Topic: Slovakiatotal: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km Topic: Sloveniatotal: 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 sq km Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 28,896 sq km land: 27,986 sq km water: 910 sq km Topic: Somaliatotal: 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km Topic: South Africatotal: 1,219,090 sq km land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandstotal: 3,903 sq km land: 3,903 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of 11 islands Topic: South Sudantotal: 644,329 sq km land: NA water: NA Topic: Southern Oceantotal: 21.960 million sq km note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies Topic: Spaintotal: 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera Topic: Spratly Islandstotal: 5 sq km less than land: 5 sq km less than water: 0 sq km note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 65,610 sq km land: 64,630 sq km water: 980 sq km Topic: Sudantotal: 1,861,484 sq km land: 1,731,671 sq km water: 129,813 sq km Topic: Surinametotal: 163,820 sq km land: 156,000 sq km water: 7,820 sq km Topic: Svalbardtotal: 62,045 sq km land: 62,045 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island) Topic: Swedentotal: 450,295 sq km land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 41,277 sq km land: 39,997 sq km water: 1,280 sq km Topic: Syriatotal: 187,437 sq km land: 185,887 sq km water: 1,550 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory Topic: Taiwantotal: 35,980 sq km land: 32,260 sq km water: 3,720 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands Topic: Tajikistantotal: 144,100 sq km land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 947,300 sq km land: 885,800 sq km water: 61,500 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar Topic: Thailandtotal: 513,120 sq km land: 510,890 sq km water: 2,230 sq km Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 14,874 sq km land: 14,874 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Togototal: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km Topic: Tokelautotal: 12 sq km land: 12 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Tongatotal: 747 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 30 sq km Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Tunisiatotal: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km Topic: Turkeytotal: 783,562 sq km land: 769,632 sq km water: 13,930 sq km Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 488,100 sq km land: 469,930 sq km water: 18,170 sq km Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 948 sq km land: 948 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Tuvalutotal: 26 sq km land: 26 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Ugandatotal: 241,038 sq km land: 197,100 sq km water: 43,938 sq km Topic: Ukrainetotal: 603,550 sq km land: 579,330 sq km water: 24,220 sq km note: approximately 43,133 sq km, or about 7.1% of Ukraine's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Crimea and about one-third of both Luhans'k and Donets'k oblasts Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 243,610 sq km land: 241,930 sq km water: 1,680 sq km note 1: the percentage area breakdown of the four UK countries is: England 53%, Scotland 32%, Wales 9%, and Northern Ireland 6% note 2: includes Rockall and the Shetland Islands, which are part of Scotland Topic: United Statestotal: 9,833,517 sq km land: 9,147,593 sq km water: 685,924 sq km note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesland: 6,959.41 sq km (emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged - 6,937 sq km) Baker Island: total - 129.1 sq km; emergent land - 2.1 sq km; submerged - 127 sq km Howland Island: total - 138.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km; submerged - 136 sq km Jarvis Island: total - 152 sq km; emergent land - 5 sq km; submerged - 147 sq km Johnston Atoll: total - 276.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km; submerged - 274 sq km Kingman Reef: total - 1,958.01 sq km; emergent land - 0.01 sq km; submerged - 1,958 sq km Midway Islands: total - 2,355.2 sq km; emergent land - 6.2 sq km; submerged - 2,349 sq km Palmyra Atoll: total - 1,949.9 sq km; emergent land - 3.9 sq km; submerged - 1,946 sq km Topic: Uruguaytotal: 176,215 sq km land: 175,015 sq km water: 1,200 sq km Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km Topic: Vanuatutotal: 12,189 sq km land: 12,189 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited Topic: Venezuelatotal: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km Topic: Vietnamtotal: 331,210 sq km land: 310,070 sq km water: 21,140 sq km Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km Topic: Wake Islandtotal: 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal: 142 sq km land: 142 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets Topic: West Banktotal: 5,860 sq km land: 5,640 sq km water: 220 sq km note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967 Topic: Worldtotal: 510.072 million sq km land: 148.94 million sq km water: 361.9 million sq km note: 70.9% of the world's surface is water, 29.1% is land Topic: Yementotal: 527,968 sq km land: 527,968 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen) Topic: Zambiatotal: 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 390,757 sq km land: 386,847 sq km water: 3,910 sq km

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countries-saudi-arabia

Topic: Photos of Saudi Arabia Topic: Introduction Background: Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. Since then, he has jockeyed for influence with neighboring countries in a bid to be the region’s main power broker. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices. In early 2020, this agreement by the so-called OPEC+ coalition collapsed. Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to OPEC+’s largest and longest-lasting output cut. This cut helped to buoy prices that had collapsed as a result of the price war and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism.The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. Since then, he has jockeyed for influence with neighboring countries in a bid to be the region’s main power broker.The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices. In early 2020, this agreement by the so-called OPEC+ coalition collapsed. Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to OPEC+’s largest and longest-lasting output cut. This cut helped to buoy prices that had collapsed as a result of the price war and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 2,149,690 sq km land: 2,149,690 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 4,272 km border countries (7): Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km Coastline: 2,640 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes Terrain: mostly sandy desert Elevation: highest point: As Sarawat range, 3,000 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 665 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper Land use: agricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.) forest: 0.5% (2018 est.) other: 18.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 16,200 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yarfrequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar Geography - note: Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal Map description: Saudi Arabia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.Saudi Arabia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies. Topic: People and Society Population: 35,354,380 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up 38.3% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Nationality: noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% Languages: Arabic (official) major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-15% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2012 est.) note: despite having a large expatriate community of various faiths (more than 30% of the population), most forms of public religious expression inconsistent with the government-sanctioned interpretation of Sunni Islam are restricted; non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship and non-Muslim places of worship are not permitted (2013) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.84% (male 4,327,830/female 4,159,242) 15-24 years: 15.38% (male 2,741,371/female 2,515,188) 25-54 years: 50.2% (male 10,350,028/female 6,804,479) 55-64 years: 5.95% (male 1,254,921/female 778,467) 65 years and over: 3.63% (2020 est.) (male 657,395/female 584,577) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 39.3 youth dependency ratio: 34.4 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 30.8 years male: 33 years female: 27.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.63% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 3.42 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea Urbanization: urban population: 84.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 7.538 million RIYADH (capital), 4.781 million Jeddah, 2.115 million Mecca, 1.545 million Medina, 1.305 million Ad Dammam, 860,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.54 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.62 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.65 years male: 75.07 years female: 78.32 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016) Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.7% (2019) Physicians density: 2.61 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 35.4% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98.6% female: 96% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.2% male: 21.5% female: 43.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 78.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 563.45 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 45.47 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes Land use: agricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.) forest: 0.5% (2018 est.) other: 18.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 84.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 16,125,701 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,418,855 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2015 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 3.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 19.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 2.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah etymology: named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi" Government type: absolute monarchy Capital: name: Riyadh geographic coordinates: 24 39 N, 46 42 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Arabic word "riyadh," meaning "gardens," and refers to various oasis towns in the area that merged to form the city Administrative divisions: 13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom) National holiday: Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932) Constitution: history: 1 March 1992 - Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad amendments: proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree; Basic Law amended many times, last in 2017 Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; restricted to males; universal for municipal elections Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes for a voice in selecting future Saudi kings Legislative branch: description: unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 seats plus a speaker; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms); note - in early 2013, the monarch granted women 30 seats on the Council note: composition as of 2021 - men 121, women 30, percent of women 19.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court (consists of the court chief and organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments) judge selection and term of office: High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree upon the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Princess REEMA bint Bandar Al Saud (since 8 July 2019) chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 FAX: [1] (202) 295-3625 email address and website: info@saudiembassy.net https://www.saudiembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Martina STRONG (since February 2021) embassy: Riyadh 11564 mailing address: 6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC  20521-6300 telephone: [966] (11) 835-4000 FAX: [966] (11) 488-7360 email address and website: RiyadhACS@state.gov https://sa.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jeddah Flag description: green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family, which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides note: the only national flag to display an inscription as its principal design; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay National symbol(s): palm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white National anthem: name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King) lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah; Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah; Rock Art in the Hail Region; Al-Ahsa Oasis; Ḥimā Cultural Area Topic: Economy Economic overview: Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 16% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 87% of budget revenues, 42% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings.   Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Approximately 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors; at the same time, however, Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population.   In 2017, the Kingdom incurred a budget deficit estimated at 8.3% of GDP, which was financed by bond sales and drawing down reserves. Although the Kingdom can finance high deficits for several years by drawing down its considerable foreign assets or by borrowing, it has cut capital spending and reduced subsidies on electricity, water, and petroleum products and recently introduced a value-added tax of 5%. In January 2016, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia intends to list shares of its state-owned petroleum company, ARAMCO - another move to increase revenue and outside investment. The government has also looked at privatization and diversification of the economy more closely in the wake of a diminished oil market. Historically, Saudi Arabia has focused diversification efforts on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. More recently, the government has approached investors about expanding the role of the private sector in the health care, education and tourism industries. While Saudi Arabia has emphasized their goals of diversification for some time, current low oil prices may force the government to make more drastic changes ahead of their long-run timeline.Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 16% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 87% of budget revenues, 42% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Approximately 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors; at the same time, however, Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population. In 2017, the Kingdom incurred a budget deficit estimated at 8.3% of GDP, which was financed by bond sales and drawing down reserves. Although the Kingdom can finance high deficits for several years by drawing down its considerable foreign assets or by borrowing, it has cut capital spending and reduced subsidies on electricity, water, and petroleum products and recently introduced a value-added tax of 5%. In January 2016, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia intends to list shares of its state-owned petroleum company, ARAMCO - another move to increase revenue and outside investment. The government has also looked at privatization and diversification of the economy more closely in the wake of a diminished oil market. Historically, Saudi Arabia has focused diversification efforts on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. More recently, the government has approached investors about expanding the role of the private sector in the health care, education and tourism industries. While Saudi Arabia has emphasized their goals of diversification for some time, current low oil prices may force the government to make more drastic changes ahead of their long-run timeline. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,543,240,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,609,320,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,604,010,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -0.9% (2017 est.) 1.7% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $44,300 (2020 est.) $47,000 (2019 est.) $47,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $792.849 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (2019 est.) -4.5% (2018 est.) -0.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2019) Moody's rating: A1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 44.2% (2017 est.) services: 53.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 41.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 4.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, dates, poultry, fruit, watermelons, barley, wheat, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 13.8 million (2017 est.) note: comprised of 3.1 million Saudis and 10.7 million non-Saudis Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.7% industry: 21.4% services: 71.9% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 6% (2017 est.) 5.6% (2016 est.) note: data are for total population; unemployment among Saudi nationals is more than double Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.2% male: 21.5% female: 43.8% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 45.9 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 181 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 241.8 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 17.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 13.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $15.23 billion (2017 est.) -$23.87 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $184.11 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $285.86 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $314.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 20%, India 11%, Japan 11%, South Korea 9%, United States 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, natural gas (2019) Imports: $179.8 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $218.94 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $209.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 18%, United Arab Emirates 12%, United States 9%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, telephones (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $496.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $535.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $205.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $189.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.7514 (2020 est.) 3.75 (2019 est.) 3.7518 (2018 est.) 3.75 (2014 est.) 3.75 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 324.1 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 296.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 82.94 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 10.425 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 7.341 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 266.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 2.476 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3.287 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1.784 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 609,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 109.3 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 109.3 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 8.619 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,749,058 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 41,298,600 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.52 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: one of the most progressive telecom markets in the Middle East; mobile penetration high, with a saturated market; mobile operators competitive and meeting the demand for workers, students and citizens working from home; Huawei partners with operator to provide 5G to dozens of cities; broadband is available with DSL, fiber, and wireless; mobile penetration is high; restrictive monarchy places limits on information and services available online; authorities operate extensive censorship and surveillance systems; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly to roughly 124 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 966; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, EIG, FALCON, FEA, IMEWE, MENA/Gulf Bridge International, SEACOM, SAS-1, -2, GBICS/MENA, and the Tata TGN-Gulf submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available Internet country code: .sa Internet users: total: 34,117,590 (2020 est.) percent of population: 98% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,890,261 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Communications - note: the innovative King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (informally known as Ithra, meaning "enrichment") opened on 1 December 2017 in Dhahran, Eastern Region; its facilities include a grand library, several museums, an archive, an Idea Lab, a theater, a cinema, and an Energy Exhibit, all which are meant to provide visitors an immersive and transformative experience Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 39,141,660 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,085,470,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HZ Airports: total: 214 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 132 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Heliports: 10 (2021) Pipelines: 209 km condensate, 2940 km gas, 1183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5117 km oil, 1151 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 5,410 km (2016) standard gauge: 5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) Roadways: total: 221,372 km (2006) paved: 47,529 km (2006) (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006) Merchant marine: total: 392 by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 1, general cargo 21, oil tanker 58, other 307 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, King Abdulla, Yanbu' container port(s) (TEUs): Ad Dammam (1,822,642), Jeddah (4,433,991), King Abdulla (2,020,683) (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard (SANG); Ministry of Interior: police, Border Guard, Facilities Security Force; State Security Presidency: General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2021) note - SANG (also known as the White Army) is a land force separate from the Ministry of Defense that is responsible for internal security, protecting the royal family, and external defense Military expenditures: 6% of GDP (2021 est.) 7.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 8.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $92.2 billion) 10% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $103 billion) 11.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $111 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Saudi military forces have about 225,000 active troops; approximately 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense (75,000 Land Forces; 15,000 Naval Forces; 35,000 Air Force/Air Defense/Strategic Missile Forces) and approximately 100,000 in the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) (2021) note - SANG also has an irregular force (Fowj), primarily Bedouin tribal volunteers, with a total strength of approximately 25,000 men Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, includes a mix of mostly modern weapons systems from the US and Europe; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments; as of 2020-21, Saudi Arabia was the world's largest arms importer (2021) Military service age and obligation: 17-40 for men; no conscription; as of 2021, women (aged 18-40) were allowed to serve in the Army, Air Defense, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, medical services, and internal security forces up to the rank of non-commissioned officer (2021) Military deployments: est. 2,500-5,000 Yemen (varies depending on operations, which continued into 2022) (2022) Military - note: in 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawfin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with IranSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 70,000 (mid-year 2021); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness Trafficking in persons: current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women primarily from South and Southeast Asia and Africa voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia to work in domestic service, construction, agriculture or other low-skilled jobs, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude (many are forced to work months or years beyond their contract term because employers withhold passports and required exit visas); women, primarily from Asian and African countries, are reported to be forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Saudi Arabia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so and was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; the government enacted the country’s first-ever national referral mechanism (NRM) and increased the number of prosecutions and convictions under the anti-trafficking law; victims are identified and referred for care; the government convicted and sentenced two Saudi officials complicit in trafficking crimes; however, the government continued to fine, jail, and/or deport migrant workers for prostitution or immigration violations who may have been trafficking victims; authorities regularly misclassified potential trafficking crimes as labor law violations rather than as criminal offenses (2020)Tier 2 Watch List — Saudi Arabia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so and was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; Illicit drugs: regularly sentences drug traffickers to the death penalty, although a moratorium on executions for drug offences has been in place since at least 2020; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

20220601

about-history

Topic: A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World FactbookThe Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired, converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and estimative. Basic intelligence provides the fundamental and factual reference material on a country or issue. Current intelligence reports on new developments. Estimative intelligence judges probable outcomes. The three are mutually supportive: basic intelligence is the foundation on which the other two are constructed; current intelligence continually updates the inventory of knowledge; and estimative intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue prospects for guidance of basic and current intelligence. The World Factbook, The President’s Daily Brief, and the National Intelligence Estimates are examples of the three types of finished intelligence.The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since the days of George Washington but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. Three programs have highlighted the development of coordinated basic intelligence since that time: (1) the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2) the National Intelligence Survey (NIS), and (3) The World Factbook.During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the production of basic intelligence by different components of the US Government resulted in a great duplication of effort and conflicting information. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home to leaders in Congress and the executive branch the need for integrating departmental reports to national policymakers. Detailed and coordinated information was needed not only on such major powers as Germany and Japan, but also on places of little previous interest. In the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch amphibious operations against many islands about which information was unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the United States should never again be caught unprepared.In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval Intelligence – ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of Strategic Services – OSS) decided that a joint effort should be initiated. A steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that recommended the formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing Board to assemble, edit, coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS). JANIS was the first interdepartmental basic intelligence program to fulfill the needs of the US Government for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of strategic basic intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board published 34 JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and numerous letters of commendation were received, including a statement from Adm. Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said, “JANIS has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based planners.”The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world was well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on national security. He wrote in The Future of American Secret Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press, 1946, page 46) that world leadership in peace requires even more elaborate intelligence than in war. “The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities – not just the enemy and his war production.”The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and officially began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October 1947, the Director of Central Intelligence assumed operational responsibility for JANIS. On 13 January 1948, the National Security Council issued Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 3, which authorized the National Intelligence Survey (NIS) program as a peacetime replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before adequate NIS country sections could be produced, government agencies had to develop more comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior produced the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps.The Hoover Commission’s Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the structure and administration of the CIA, reported to Congress in 1955 that: “The National Intelligence Survey is an invaluable publication which provides the essential elements of basic intelligence on all areas of the world. There will always be a continuing requirement for keeping the Survey up-to-date.” The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook, map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The Factbook was first made available on the Internet in June 1997. The year 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 79th year of continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor programs. Topic: The Evolution of The World FactbookNational Basic Intelligence Factbook produced semiannually until 1980. Country entries include sections on Land, Water, People, Government, Economy, Communications, and Defense Forces.

20220601

countries-slovakia

Topic: Photos of Slovakia Topic: Introduction Background: Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, backlash to language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) encouraged the strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. The new state was envisioned as a nation with Czech and Slovak branches. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state created by and allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, south of Poland Geographic coordinates: 48 40 N, 19 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km Area - comparative: about one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total: 1,587 km border countries (5): Austria 105 km; Czechia 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south Elevation: highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m mean elevation: 458 m Natural resources: lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land Land use: agricultural land: 40.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.2% (2018 est.) other: 19.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 869 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border Natural hazards: flooding Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys Map description: Slovakia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Slovakia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,431,252 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak Ethnic groups: Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Romani 2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 7% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 7–11% of Slovakia's population Languages: Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.13% (male 423,180/female 400,128) 15-24 years: 10.06% (male 280,284/female 266,838) 25-54 years: 44.61% (male 1,228,462/female 1,198,747) 55-64 years: 13.15% (male 342,124/female 373,452) 65 years and over: 17.05% (2020 est.) (male 366,267/female 561,120) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 47.6 youth dependency ratio: 23 elderly dependency ratio: 24.6 potential support ratio: 4.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 41.8 years male: 40.1 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.1% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.13 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border Urbanization: urban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 439,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.2 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.31 years male: 74.83 years female: 82.04 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019) Physicians density: 3.42 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2018 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,200 (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.5% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.4% male: 18.3% female: 21.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests; land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices; water pollution Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 32.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.43 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Land use: agricultural land: 40.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.2% (2018 est.) other: 19.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.784 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 135,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.6% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 293.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 231.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 31.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 50.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko etymology: may derive from the medieval Latin word "Slavus" (Slav), which had the local form "Sloven", used since the 13th century to refer to the territory of Slovakia and its inhabitants Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence and may derive from later transliterations of the 9th century military commander, Braslav, or the 11th century Bohemian Duke Bretislav I; alternatively, the name may derive from the Slovak words "brat" (brother) and "slava" (glory) Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 September (1992) Constitution: history: several previous (preindependence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Zuzana CAPUTOVA (since 15 June 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Eduard HEGER (since 1 April 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Stefan HOLY, Veronika REMISOVA, Richard SULIK (all since 21 March 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 March and 30 March 2019 (next to be held March 2024); following National Council elections (every 4 years), the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council election results: 2019: Zuzana CAPUTOVA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6% 2014: Andrej KISKA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrej KISKA (independent) 59.4%, Robert FICO (Smer-SD) 40.6% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Council or Narodna Rada (150 seats; members directly elected in a single- and multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 29 February 2020 (next to be held March 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - OLaNO-NOVA 25%, Smer-SD 18.3%, Sme-Rodina 8.2%, LSNS 8%, PS-SPOLU 7%, SaS 6.2%, Za Ludi 5.8%, other 21.5%; seats by party - OLaNO-NOVA 53, Smer-SD 38, Sme-Rodina 17, LSNS 17, SaS 13, Za Ludi 12, PS-SPOLU 0; composition - men 120, women 30, percent of women 20% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit; Political parties and leaders: Alliance-Szovetseg [Krisztian FORRO] Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO] For the People or Za Ludi [Veronika REMISOVA] Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK] Kotleba-People's Party Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA] Ordinary People and Independent Personalities - New Majority or OLaNO-NOVA [Igor MATOVIC] Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO] Voice or Hlas-SD [Petr PELLIGRINI] We Are Family or Sme-Rodina [Boris KOLLAR] International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Radovan JAVORCIK (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bridget A. BRINK (since 20 August 2019) embassy: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava mailing address: 5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC  20521-5840 telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861 email address and website: consulbratislava@state.gov https://sk.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia National symbol(s): double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks; national colors: white, blue, red National anthem: name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; music based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku" National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c), Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c), Vlkolínec (c), Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n), Bardejov Town (c), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n), Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c), Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Slovakia’s economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country’s authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. The country’s banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign owned.   Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force, and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. Exports and investment have been key drivers of Slovakia’s robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historical lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is also expected to pick up.   Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. The energy sector in particular is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government’s attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm the profitability of domestic energy firms while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives.Slovakia’s economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country’s authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. The country’s banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign owned. Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force, and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. Exports and investment have been key drivers of Slovakia’s robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historical lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is also expected to pick up. Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. The energy sector in particular is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government’s attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm the profitability of domestic energy firms while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $165.57 billion (2020 est.) $173.83 billion (2019 est.) $169.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.4% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 3.04% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $30,300 (2020 est.) $31,900 (2019 est.) $31,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $105.388 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2019 est.) 2.5% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2020) Moody's rating: A2 (2012) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.8% (2017 est.) industry: 35% (2017 est.) services: 61.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 54.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 96.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -92.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, maize, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, sunflower seed, soybeans, pork Industries: automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.511 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.9% industry: 22.7% services: 73.4% (2015) Unemployment rate: 5% (2019 est.) 5.42% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.4% male: 18.3% female: 21.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 11.9% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 25.2 (2016 est.) 26.1 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 19.3% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 37.79 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 38.79 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 50.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central, state, local government, and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 39.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$3.026 billion (2019 est.) -$2.635 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $89.92 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $97.04 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $100.76 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Czechia 11%, Poland 7%, France 7%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, video displays, broadcasting equipment, tires, refined petroleum (2019) Imports: $87.95 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $96.75 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $99.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 18%, Czechia 18%, Poland 8%, Hungary 7%, Russia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum, natural gas, insulated wiring (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.622 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.892 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $115.853 billion (2019 est.) $114.224 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 25.32 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 26.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 13.25 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 7.644 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 200 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 1,022 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 111,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 9 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 131,300 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 85,880 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 81,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 38,340 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 104.8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 4.672 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 4.984 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 648,462 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7,399,530 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.6 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: a modern telecom system; one operator has near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile- and fixed-broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable, and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; operator launched 1Gb/s cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises in 2019; EU funding for development and improvement of e-government and online services; regulator prepared groundwork for 5G services in 2020 (2020) domestic: four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services; a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 133 per 100 teledensity (2020) international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services; connects to DREAM cable (2017) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 2 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 50 privately owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 32 privately owned radio stations Internet country code: .sk Internet users: total: 4,912,944 (2020 est.) percent of population: 90% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,701,561 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OM Airports: total: 35 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 2270 km gas transmission pipelines, 6278 km high-pressure gas distribution pipelines, 27023 km mid- and low-pressure gas distribution pipelines (2016), 510 km oil (2015) Railways: total: 3,580 km (2016) standard gauge: 3,435 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (1,587 km electrified) narrow gauge: 46 km (2016) 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge broad gauge: 99 km (2016) 1.520-m gauge Roadways: total: 56,926 km (2016) (includes local roads, national roads, and 464 km of highways) Waterways: 172 km (2012) (on Danube River) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdušné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie) (2021) Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020) 1.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $2.34 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.72 billion) 1.1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.51 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic have approximately 13,000 active duty personnel (6,000 Land Forces; 4,000 Air Forces; 3,000 other, including staff, special operations, and support forces) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Slovakian military consists mostly of Soviet-era platforms; since 2010, it has imported limited quantities of equipment, particularly from Italy and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2004; women are eligible to serve (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up around 12% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO); 250 Slovakia (NATO) (2022) Military - note: Slovakia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 in 2022, Slovakia agreed to host a NATO ground force battlegroup comprised of troops from Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rulesbilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rules Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 446,755 (Ukraine) (as of 24 May 2022) stateless persons: 1,532 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

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field-education-expenditures-country-comparison

20220601

field-diplomatic-representation-in-the-us

This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery address, telephone, FAX, email and website addresses, consulate general locations, and consulate locations. The use of the annotated title Appointed Ambassador refers to a new ambassador who has presented his/her credentials to the secretary of state but not the US president. Such ambassadors fulfill all diplomatic functions except meeting with or appearing at functions attended by the president until such time as they formally present their credentials at a White House ceremony. Topic: Afghanistanchief of mission: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022 chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488 email address and website: info@afghanembassy.us https://www.afghanembassy.us/ Topic: Akrotirinone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Albaniachief of mission: Ambassador Floreta LULI-FABER (since 18 May 2015) chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 email address and website: embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Algeriachief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed BOUTACHE (since 26 October 2021) chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800 FAX: [1] (202) 986-5906 email address and website: mail@algerianembassy.org https://www.algerianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: American Samoanone (territory of the US) Topic: Andorrachief of mission: Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064; [1] (212) 750-8065 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 email address and website: contact@andorraun.org Topic: Angolachief of mission: Ambassador Joaquim do Espirito SANTO (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2100-2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156 FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049 email address and website: info@angola.org https://angola.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, New York Topic: Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Antigua and Barbudachief of mission: Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015) chancery: 3234 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 email address and website: embantbar@aol.com consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Topic: Argentinachief of mission: Ambassador Jorge Martin Arturo ARGUELLO (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171 email address and website: eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC Topic: Armeniachief of mission: Ambassador Lilit MAKUNTS (since 2 August 2021) chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 email address and website: armembassyusa@mfa.am https://usa.mfa.am/en/ consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA) Topic: Arubachief of mission: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Guillfred BESARIL (since 20 November 2017) is Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba, seated with his cabinet in the Aruba House (Arubahuis) in The Hague none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba, Rendolf "Andy" LEE,  at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Australiachief of mission: Ambassador Arthur SINODINOS (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000 FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 email address and website: https://usa.embassy.gov.au/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Topic: Austriachief of mission: Ambassador Martin WEISS (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 email address and website: washington-ka@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, Washington consulate(s): Chicago Topic: Azerbaijanchief of mission: Ambassador Kahzar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 email address and website: azerbaijan@azembassy.us; consul@azembassy.us https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Topic: Bahamas, Thechief of mission: Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022) chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 email address and website: embassy@bahamasembdc.org https://www.bahamasembdc.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York, Washington, DC Topic: Bahrainchief of mission: Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashid AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017) chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 email address and website: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org mofa.gov.bh consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Bangladeshchief of mission: Ambassador M Shahidul ISLAM (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183 FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771; [1] (202) 244 7830 email address and website: mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd http://www.bdembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Barbadoschief of mission: Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019) chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200 FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467 email address and website: washington@foreign.gov.bb consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Topic: Belaruschief of mission: Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Charge d'Affaires Dmitry BASIK (since 9 July 2019) chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1606 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.by Topic: Belgiumchief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Arthur REGIBEAU (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960 email address and website: Washington@diplobel.fed.be https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Belizechief of mission: Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 email address and website: reception.usa@mfa.gov.bz https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York (consular services temporarily suspended beginning 18 December 2020) consulate(s): Miami Topic: Beninchief of mission: Ambassador Jean Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656; [1] (202) 232-2611 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996 email address and website: ambassade.washington@gouv.bj https://beninembassy.us/ Topic: Bermudanone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Bhutanchief of mission: none; the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Doma TSHERING (since 13 September 2017); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551; email consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Boliviachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alejandro Roberto BILBAO LA VIEJA RUIZ, First Secretary (since 6 July 2021) chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410 FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712 email address and website: embolivia.wdc@gmail.com consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Maple Grove (MN), Miami, New York, Washington, DC note: in September 2008, the US expelled the Bolivian ambassador to the US in reciprocity for Bolivia expelling the US ambassador to Bolivia; in November 2019, the interim Bolivian government named Oscar SERRATE Cuellar as its temporary special representative to the US Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinachief of mission: Ambassador Bojan VUJIC (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 email address and website: consularaffairs@bhembassy; info@bhembassy.org http://www.bhembassy.org/index.html consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Topic: Botswanachief of mission: Ambassador Onkokame Kitso MOKAILA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164 email address and website: info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta Topic: Brazilchief of mission: Ambassador Nestor Jose FORSTER, Jr. (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 email address and website: http://washington.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/Main.xml consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorynone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: British Virgin Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Bruneichief of mission: Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji Serbini bin Haji ALI (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560 email address and website: info@bruneiembassy.org http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html consulate(s): New York Topic: Bulgariachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stefka Ivanova YOVCHEVA, Counselor chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174; [1] (202) 299-0273, [1] (202) 483-1386 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 email address and website: office@bulgaria-embassy.org; Embassy.Washington@mfa.bg https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Burkina Fasochief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Boulmonli Leonard LOMBO (since 15 April 2022) chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882 email address and website: contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/ Topic: Burmachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); HTWE Hteik Tin Lwin (Charge d'Affaires) chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344; [1] (202) 332-4250 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351 email address and website: pyi.thayar@verizon.net; washington-embassy@mofa.gov.mm http://www.mewashingtondc.com/wordpress/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Burundichief of mission: Ambassador Jean de Dieu NDIKUMANA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php Topic: Cabo Verdechief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 email address and website: embassy@caboverdeus.net https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/ consulate(s) general: Boston Topic: Cambodiachief of mission: Ambassador CHUM SOUNRY (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742 FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381 email address and website: camemb.usa@mfaic.gov https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/ Topic: Cameroonchief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826 email address and website: cs@cameroonembassyusa.org https://www.cameroonembassyusa.org/mainFolder/index.html Topic: Canadachief of mission: Ambassador Kirsten HILLMAN (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: [1] (844) 880-6519 FAX: [1] (202) 682-7738 email address and website: ccs.scc@international.gc.ca https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/washington.aspx?lang=eng consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco/Silicon Valley, Seattle trade office(s): Houston, Palo Alto (CA), San Diego; note - there are trade offices in the Consulates General Topic: Cayman Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Central African Republicchief of mission: Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 email address and website: pc@usrcaembassy.org https://www.usrcaembassy.org/ Topic: Chadchief of mission: Ambassador NGOTE GALI Koutou (since 22 June 2018) chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937 email address and website: info@chadembassy.us https://chadembassy.us/ Topic: Chilechief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Beatriz DE LA FUENTE FUENTES (since 8 March 2022) chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 email address and website: echile.eeuu@minrel.gob.cl https://chile.gob.cl/estados-unidos/en/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: Chinachief of mission: Ambassador QIN Gangas (since 29 July 2021) chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266 FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138 email address and website: chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco; note - the US ordered closure of the Houston consulate in late July 2020 Topic: Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Colombiachief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos PINZON Bueno (since August 2021) chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 email address and website: eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co https://www.colombiaemb.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston, Chicago, San Francisco Topic: Comoroschief of mission: Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020) chancery: Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637 FAX: [1] (212) 750-1657 email address and website: comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/ Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thechief of mission: Ambassador Francois Nkuna BALUMUENE (since 17 September 2015) chancery: 1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690; [1] (202) 234-7691 FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 email address and website: https://www.ambardcusa.org/ representative office: New York Topic: Congo, Republic of thechief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001) chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860 email address and website: info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx consulate(s): New Orleans Topic: Cook Islandsnone (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Topic: Coral Sea Islandsnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Costa Ricachief of mission: Ambassador Fernando LLORCA Castro (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 499-2984 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/21 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC honorary consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico), Saint Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ) Topic: Cote d'Ivoirechief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou HAIDARA (since 28 March 2018) chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444 email address and website: info@ambacidc.org https://ambaciusa.org/# Topic: Croatiachief of mission: Ambassador Pjer SIMUNOVIC (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899 FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936; [1] (202) 588-8937 email address and website: washington@mvep.hr http://us.mvep.hr/en/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA), Washington, DC consulate(s): Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA) Topic: Cubachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021) chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515 through 8518 FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521 email address and website: recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu http://misiones.minrex.gob.cu/en/usa Topic: Curacaonone (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Topic: Cypruschief of mission: Ambassador Marios LYSIOTIS (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 email address and website: info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Mustafa LAKADAMYALI; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 Topic: Czechiachief of mission: Ambassador Hynek KMONICEK (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Lane NW, Washington, DC 20008-3803 telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540 email address and website: washington@embassy.mzv.cz https://www.mzv.cz/washington/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Denmarkchief of mission: Ambassador Lone Dencker WISBORG (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 email address and website: wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA) Topic: Dhekelianone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Djiboutichief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016) chancery: 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302 email address and website: info@djiboutiembassyus.org https://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/ Topic: Dominicachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith-Anne ROLLE (since 16 December 2021) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791 email address and website: embdomdc@aol.com consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Dominican Republicchief of mission: Ambassador Sonia GUZMAN (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): San Francisco Topic: Ecuadorchief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne Leila Juez De A-BAKI (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893 email address and website: embassy@ecuador.org http://www.ecuador.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco Topic: Egyptchief of mission: Ambassador Motaz Mounir ZAHRAN (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400; [1] (202) 895-5408 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5131 email address and website: consulate@egyptembassy.net https://www.egyptembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York Topic: El Salvadorchief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763 email address and website: correo@elsalvador.org consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Doraville (GA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Nogales (AZ), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ), Washington, DC, Woodbridge (VA) consulate(s): Elizabeth (NJ), Newark (NJ), Seattle, Woodbridge (VA) Topic: Equatorial Guineachief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015) chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252 email address and website: info@egembassydc.com https://www.egembassydc.com/ consulate(s) general: Houston Topic: Eritreachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011) chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 email address and website: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/ Topic: Estoniachief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 1990 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco Topic: Eswatinichief of mission: Ambassador Njabuliso Busisiwe Sikhulile GWEBU (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254 email address and website: embassy@swaziland-usa.com; swaziland@compuserve.com Topic: Ethiopiachief of mission: Ambassador FITSUM Arega Gebrekidan (since 9 April 2019) chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200 FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195 email address and website: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York Topic: European Unionchief of mission: Ambassador Stavros LAMBRINIDIS (since 1 March 2019)  chancery: 2175 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766 Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Faroe Islandsnone (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Topic: Fijichief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akuila VUIRA chancery: 1707 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 466-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325 email address and website: info@FijiEmbassyDC.com https://www.fijiembassydc.com/ Topic: Finlandchief of mission: Ambassador Mikko Tapani HAUTALA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 email address and website: sanomat.was@formin.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Francechief of mission: Ambassador Philippe Noel Marie Marc ETIENNE (since 8 July 2019) chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166 email address and website: info@ambafrance-us.org https://franceintheus.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC Topic: French Polynesianone (overseas lands of France) Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsnone (overseas territory of France) Topic: Gabonchief of mission: Charge D'Affaires Rod Ciangillan REMBENDAMBYA, Counselor (17 March 2021) chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668 email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/ Topic: Gambia, Thechief of mission: Ambassador Dawda D. FADERA (since 24 January 2018) chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399; [1] (202) 785-1428 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 email address and website: info@gambiaembassy.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home Topic: Georgiachief of mission: Ambassador David BAKRADZE (since 18 January 2017) chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0864 email address and website: embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Germanychief of mission: Ambassador Emily Margarethe HABER (since 22 June 2018) chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000 FAX: [1] (202) 298-4261 email address and website: info@washington.diplo.de https://www.germany.info/us-en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: Ghanachief of mission: Ambassador Alima MAHAMA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 email address and website: info@ghanaembassydc.org https://ghanaembassydc.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Greecechief of mission: Ambassador Alexandra PAPADOPOULOU (since 6 February 2021) chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 email address and website: gremb.was@mfa.gr https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston Topic: Greenlandchief of mission: Kenneth HOEGH, Head of Representation; note - Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York chancery: Greenland Representation 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington, DC  20008 telephone: 202-797-5392 email address and website: washington@nanoq.gl https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington Topic: Grenadachief of mission: Ambassador Yolande Yvonne SMITH (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 email address and website: embassy@grenadaembassyusa.org https://grenadaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Topic: Guamnone (territory of the US) Topic: Guatemalachief of mission: Ambassador Alfonso Jose QUINONEZ LEMUS (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4953 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 email address and website: infoembaguateeuu@minex.gob.gt consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Del Rio (TX), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence (RI), Raleigh (NC), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Lake Worth (FL), Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ) Topic: Guernseynone (British crown dependency) Topic: Guineachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires (vacant)     chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/  Topic: Guinea-Bissauchief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC Topic: Guyanachief of mission: Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297 email address and website: guyanaembassydc@verizon.net http://www.guyanaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Haitichief of mission: Ambassador Bocchit EDMOND (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 email address and website: amb.washington@diplomatie.ht https://www.haiti.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036 email address and website: nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org http://www.nuntiususa.org/ Topic: Honduraschief of mission: Ambassador Luis Fernando SUAZO BARAHONA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 1220 19th Street NW, Suite #320, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 email address and website: https://hondurasembusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Dallas, McAllen (TX) Topic: Hong Kongchief of mission: none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities; Eddie MAK, JP (since 3 July 2018) is the Hong Kong Commissioner to the US Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; address: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] 202 331-8947; FAX: [1] 202 331-8958; hketo@hketowashington.gov.hk HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco Topic: Hungarychief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKACS (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 email address and website: info@mfa.gov.hu https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Icelandchief of mission: Ambassador Bergdis ELLERTSDOTTIR (since 16 September 2019) chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 email address and website: washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Indiachief of mission: Ambassador Taranjit Singh SANDHU (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351 email address and website: minca@washington@mea.gov.in (community affairs) https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco Topic: Indonesiachief of mission: Ambassador Rosan ROESLANI (since 25 October 2021) chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200 FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365 email address and website: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Topic: Iranchief of mission: none; 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; info@daftar.org Topic: Iraqchief of mission: Ambassador Fareed Mustafa Kamil YASSEEN (since 18 January 2017) chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129 email address and website: http://www.iraqiembassy.us/ consulate(s) general: Detroit, Los Angeles Topic: Irelandchief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Gerard MULHALL (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 email address and website: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/usa/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco Topic: Isle of Mannone (British crown dependency) Topic: Israelchief of mission: Ambassador Michael HERZOG (since 5 September 2021) chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607 email address and website: consular@washington.mfa.gov.il https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.aspx consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: Italychief of mission: Ambassador Mariangela ZAPPIA (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 518-2154 email address and website: amb.washington@cert.esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Charlotte (NC), Cleveland (OH), Detroit (MI), Hattiesburg (MS), Honolulu (HI), New Orleans, Newark (NJ), Norfolk (VA), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Seattle Topic: Jamaicachief of mission: Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017) chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0036 email address and website: firstsec@jamaicaembassy.org http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York consulate(s): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle Topic: Japanchief of mission: Ambassador TOMITA Koji (since 17 February 2021) (2018) chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 email address and website: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA) Topic: Jerseychief of mission: none (British Crown dependency) none (British Crown dependency) Topic: Jordanchief of mission: Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawfiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110 email address and website: hkjconsular@jordanembassyus.org http://www.jordanembassyus.org/ Topic: Kazakhstanchief of mission: Ambassador Yerzhan ASHIKBAYEV (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845 email address and website: washington@mfa.kz https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en consulate(s) general: New YorkAmbassador Yerzhan ASHIKBAYEV (since 7 July 2021) Topic: Kenyachief of mission: Ambassador Lazarus Ombai AMAYO (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 1616 P Street NW, Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/# consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York Topic: Kiribatichief of mission: Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018) chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 867-3310 FAX: [1] (212) 867-3320 email address and website: Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki note - the Kiribati Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassyAmbassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018) Topic: Korea, Northchief of mission: none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York Topic: Korea, Southchief of mission: Ambassador LEE Soo-hyuck (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595 email address and website: generalusa@mofa.go.kr https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/index.do consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas (TX), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC Topic: Kosovochief of mission: Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022) chancery: 2175 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130 FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609 email address and website: https://www.ambasada-ks.net/us/?page=2,1 consulate(s) general: New York consulate(s): Des Moines (IA) Topic: Kuwaitchief of mission: Ambassador SALEM Abdallah al-Jaber al-Sabah SALEM Abdallah al-Jaber al-Sabah (since 10 October 2001) chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8468 email address and website: https://www.kuwaitembassy.us/ consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (CA), New York Topic: Kyrgyzstanchief of mission: Ambassador Baktybek AMANBAYEV (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822 FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275 email address and website: kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg; kgconsulate.washington@mfa.gov.kg https://mfa.gov.kg/en/dm/-Embassy-of-the-Kyrgyz-Republic-in-the-USA-and-Canada honorary consulate(s): Maple Valley (WA) Topic: Laoschief of mission: Ambassador KHAMPHAN Anlavan (since 21 July 2019) chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-9148; [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 email address and website: embasslao@gmail.com; laoemb@verizon.net https://laoembassy.com/ consulate(s): New York Topic: Latviachief of mission: Ambassador Maris SELGA (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 email address and website: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa Topic: Lebanonchief of mission: Ambassador Ambassador Gabriel ISSA (since late January 2018) chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 email address and website: info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles Topic: Lesothochief of mission: Ambassador Sankatana Gabriel MAJA, Counselor (28 May 2021) chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815 email address and website: lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/ Topic: Liberiachief of mission: Ambassador George S.W. PATTEN, Sr. (since 11 January 2019) chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 email address and website: info@liberiaemb.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Libyachief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Khaled DAIEF (since October 2021) chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012 telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601 FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606 email address and website: info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012 Topic: Liechtensteinchief of mission: Ambassador Kurt JAEGER (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221 email address and website: info@embassyli.org https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/ Topic: Lithuaniachief of mission: Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 email address and website: info@usa.mfa.lt https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Luxembourgchief of mission: Ambassador Nicole BINTNER-BAKSHIAN (since 19 August 2021) chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 email address and website: washington.amb@mae.etat.lu https://washington.mae.lu/en.html consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco Topic: Macaunone (Special Administrative Region of China) Topic: Madagascarchief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Amielle Pelenne NIRINIAVISOA MARCEDA (since 31 October 2019) chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 email address and website: contact@us-madagascar-embassy.org https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Malawichief of mission: Ambassador Edward Yakobe SAWERENGERA (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288 email address and website: malawiembassy-dc.org http://www.malawiembassy-dc.org/ Topic: Malaysiachief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Fairuz Adli Mohd ROZALI (since August 2021) chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700 FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882 email address and website: mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Maldiveschief of mission: Maldives has no embassy in the US, but its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, THILMEEZA Hussain (since 8 July 2019), is accredited to the US and serves as ambassador (2020) chancery: 801 Second Avenue, Suite 202E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194; [1] (212) 599-6195 FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405 email address and website: info@maldivesmission.com http://www.maldivesmission.com/Maldives has no embassy in the US, but its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, THILMEEZA Hussain (since 8 July 2019), is accredited to the US and serves as ambassador Topic: Malichief of mission: Ambassador (designate) Sékou BERTHE (since April 2022) chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 email address and website: infos@mali.embassy.us https://www.maliembassy.us/ Topic: Maltachief of mission: Ambassador Keith AZZOPARDI (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611; [1] (202) 462-3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 email address and website: maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt https://foreignandeu.gov.mt/en/Embassies/ME_United_States/Pages/ME_United_States.aspx Topic: Marshall Islandschief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 email address and website: info@rmiembassyus.org https://www.rmiembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR) Topic: Mauritaniachief of mission: Ambassador BOIDE Cisse (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623 email address and website: office@mauritaniaembassyus.com http://mauritaniaembassyus.com/ Topic: Mauritiuschief of mission: Ambassador Purmanund JHUGROO (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; administrative offices at 3201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491; [1] (202) 244-1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983 email address and website: mauritius.embassy@verizon.net; washingtonemb@govmu.org https://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx Topic: Mexicochief of mission: Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barragan (since 20 April 2021) chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698 email address and website: mexembussa@sre.gob.mx https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/ 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) 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), 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)   Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofchief of mission: Ambassador Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 email address and website: dcmission@fsmembassy.fm https://fsmembassy.fm/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam) Topic: Moldovachief of mission: Ambassador Eugen CARAS (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2624 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en Topic: Monacochief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013) chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530 FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656 email address and website: info@monacodc.org https://monacodc.org/index.html consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Mongoliachief of mission: Ambassador Ulziidelger BATBAYAR (since 8 November 2021) chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mn http://mongolianembassy.us/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco Topic: Montenegrochief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marija STJEPCEVIC (since 4 February 2021) chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.me consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Montserratnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Moroccochief of mission: Ambassador Lalla Joumala ALAOUI (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 462-7643 email address and website: Washingtonembbmorocco@maec.gov.ma https://www.embassyofmorocco.us/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Mozambiquechief of mission: Ambassador Carlos DOS SANTOS (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7147 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 email address and website: washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/ Topic: Namibiachief of mission: Ambassador Margaret Natalie MENSAH-WILLIAMS (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 email address and website: info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/ Topic: Nauruchief of mission: Ambassador Margo DEIYE (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074 FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079 email address and website: nauru@onecommonwealth.org https://www.un.int/nauru/ Topic: Nepalchief of mission: Ambassador Yuba Raj KHATIWADA (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534 email address and website: info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Topic: Netherlandschief of mission: Ambassador Andre HASPELS (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 email address and website: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: New Caledonianone (overseas territory of France) Topic: New Zealandchief of mission: Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019) chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277 email address and website: wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Nicaraguachief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker (since 28 June 2010) chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570; [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: Nigerchief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Kiari LIMAN-TINGUIRI (since 19 April 2022) chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 FAX: [1] (202) 483-3169 email address and website: communication@embassyofniger.org http://www.embassyofniger.org/ Topic: Nigeriachief of mission: Ambassador Uzoma Elizabeth EMENIKE (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100) FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541 email address and website: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York Topic: Niuenone (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) Topic: Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia) Topic: North Macedoniachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Vilma PETKOVSKA, Minister Counselor (since 16 March 2020) chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mk consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York Topic: Norwaychief of mission: Ambassador Anniken Ramberg KRUTNES (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 469-3990 email address and website: emb.washington@mfa.no https://www.norway.no/en/usa/ consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco Topic: Omanchief of mission: Ambassador Moosa Hamdan Moosa AL TAI (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933 email address and website: washington@fm.gov.om https://www.culturaloffice.info/aboutomaniembassy Topic: Pakistanchief of mission: Ambassador Sadar Masood KHAN (since 24 March 2022) chancery: 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534 email address and website: consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Palauchief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997) chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 349-8598 FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 email address and website: info@palauembassy.org https://www.palauembassy.org/ consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam) Topic: Panamachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Laura CASTRO Grimaldo (since December 2021) chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413 email address and website: info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington DC Topic: Papua New Guineachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D’Affaires Cephas KAYO, Minister (since 31 January 2018) chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 email address and website: info@pngembassy.org http://www.pngembassy.org/ Topic: Paraguaychief of mission: Ambassador Jose Antonio DOS SANTOS (since 24 June 2021) chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 email address and website: eeuuembaparsc@mre.gov.py; secretaria@embaparusa.gov.py consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York Topic: Peruchief of mission: Ambassador Oswaldo DE RIVERO Barreto (since 17 November 2021) chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 email address and website: Webadmin@embassyofperu.us consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco, Washington DC Topic: Philippineschief of mission: Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017) chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614 email address and website: washington.pe@dfa.gov.ph; consular@phembassy-us.org consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Polandchief of mission: Ambassador Piotr Mark MAGIEROWSKI (since 23 November 2021) chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152 email address and website: washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Portugalchief of mission: Ambassador Domingos Teixeira de Abreu FEZAS VITAL (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400; [1] (202) 332-3007 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726; [1] (202) 387-2768 email address and website: info.washington@mne.pt; sconsular.washington@mne.pt https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI) Topic: Puerto Riconone (territory of the US) Topic: Qatarchief of mission: Ambassador MISHAL bin Hamad bin Muhammad Al Thani (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0682 email address and website: info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles Topic: Romaniachief of mission: Ambassador Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 email address and website: washington@mae.ro (chancery) contact@informatiiconsulare.ro (consular section) https://washington.mae.ro/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Topic: Russiachief of mission: Ambassador Anatoliy Ivanovich ANTONOV (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 email address and website: rusembusa@mid.ru https://washington.mid.ru/en/ consulate(s) general: Houston, New York Topic: Rwandachief of mission: Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013) chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW,  Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 email address and website: info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/ Topic: Saint Barthelemynone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevischief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Thelma Patricia PHILLIP-BROWNE (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Saint Luciachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shirnaya V. STEPHEN (since 1 January 2022) chancery: 1629 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 email address and website: embassydc@gosl.gov.lc https://www.embassyofstlucia.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Saint Martinnone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnone (territorial overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineschief of mission: Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017) chancery: 1627 K Street, NW, Suite 1202, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6730 email address and website: mail@embsvg.com http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Samoachief of mission: Ambassador Pa’olelei LUTERU (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 44th Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797 email address and website: samoanymission@outlook.com https://www.un.int/samoa/samoa/embassy-independent-state-samoa-united-states-america consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa) Topic: San Marinochief of mission: Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017) chancery: 327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 Embassy address:      1711 North Street, NW (2nd Floor)       Washington, DC 22036 telephone: [1] (212) 751-1234 [1] (202) 223-24l8 [1] (202) 751-1436 FAX: [1] (212) 751-1436 email address and website: sanmarinoun@gmail.com Topic: Sao Tome and Principechief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo Agostinho das NEVES (since 3 December 2013) chancery: 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 651-8116 FAX: [1] (212) 651-8117 email address and website: rdstppmun@gmail.com Topic: Saudi Arabiachief of mission: Ambassador Princess REEMA bint Bandar Al Saud (since 8 July 2019) chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 FAX: [1] (202) 295-3625 email address and website: info@saudiembassy.net https://www.saudiembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Senegalchief of mission: Ambassador Mansour Elimane KANE (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 2215 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961 email address and website: contact@ambasenegal-us.org http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php consulate(s) general: Houston, New York Topic: Serbiachief of mission: Ambassador Marko DJURIC (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Topic: Seychelleschief of mission: Ambassador Ian MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 email address and website: seychelles@un.int consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Sierra Leonechief of mission: Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr WAI (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793 email address and website: info@embassyofsierraleone.net https://embassyofsierraleone.net/ Topic: Singaporechief of mission: Ambassador Ashok KUMAR Mirpuri (since 30 July 2012) chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/ consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York Topic: Sint Maartennone (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Topic: Slovakiachief of mission: Ambassador Radovan JAVORCIK (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Sloveniachief of mission: Ambassador Tone KAJZER (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601 FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633 email address and website: vwa@gov.si http://www.washington.embassy.si/index.php?id=51&L=1 consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH) Topic: Solomon Islandschief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Janice Mose KEMAKEZA chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192; [1] (212) 599-6193 FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925 email address and website: simun@solomons.com Topic: Somaliachief of mission: Ambassador Ali Sharif AHMED (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 853-9164 email address and website: info@somaliembassydc.net https://somaliembassydc.net/ Topic: South Africachief of mission: Ambassador Nomaindiya MFEKETO (since 8 April 2020) chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607; [1] (202) 387-9854 email address and website: https://www.saembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina) Topic: South Sudanchief of mission: Ambassador Philip Jada NATANA (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 1015 31st Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 600-2238 FAX: [1] (202) 644-9910 email address and website: info.ssdembassy@gmail.com https://www.southsudanembassyusa.org/ Topic: Spainchief of mission: Ambassador Santiago CABANAS Ansorena (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/washington/en/pages/inicio2.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Topic: Sri Lankachief of mission: Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 email address and website: slembassy@slembassyusa.org https://slembassyusa.org/new/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Topic: Sudanchief of mission: Charge D’Affaires Ismat Kamil GABBANI (since 14 January 2022) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406 email address and website: consular@sudanembassy.org https://www.sudanembassy.org/ Topic: Surinamechief of mission: Ambassador Niermala Sakoentala BADRISING (since 21 July 2017) chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 629-4302 FAX: [1] (202) 629-4769 email address and website: amb.vs@gov.sr https://www.surinameembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami Topic: Swedenchief of mission: Ambassador Karin Ulrika OLOFSDOTTER (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 email address and website: ambassaden.washington@gov.se https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Switzerlandchief of mission: Ambassador Jacques PITTELOUD (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007-4105 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston Topic: Syriachief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note – embassy closed in March 2014 chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548 note: Embassy ceased operations and closed on 18 March 2014 Topic: Taiwanchief of mission: none; commercial and cultural relations with its citizens in the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts, represented by HSIAO Bi-khim (since 20 July 2020); office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016; telephone: [1] (202) 895-1800 Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Houston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle Topic: Tajikistanchief of mission: Ambassador Farrukh HAMRALIZODA (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090; [1] (202) 223-2666 FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091 email address and website: tajemus@mfa.tj; tajikistan@verizon.net https://mfa.tj/en/washington Topic: Tanzaniachief of mission: Ambassador Elsie Sia KANZA (since August 2021) chancery: 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 884-1080, [1] (202) 939-6125, [1] (202) 939-6127 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408 email address and website: ubalozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org https://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/ Topic: Thailandchief of mission: Ambassador MANATSAWI Sisodaphon (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 email address and website: https://thaiembdc.org consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Topic: Timor-Lestechief of mission: Ambassador Isilio Antonio De Fatima COELHO DA SILVA (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205 email address and website: info@timorlesteembassy.org http://www.timorlesteembassy.org/ Topic: Togochief of mission: Ambassador Frederic Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190 email address and website: embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/ Topic: Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand) Topic: Tongachief of mission: Ambassador Viliami Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021) chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 email address and website: tongaunmission@aol.com consulate(s) general: San Francisco Topic: Trinidad and Tobagochief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 email address and website: embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Topic: Tunisiachief of mission: Ambassador Hanene Tajouri BESSASSI (since 4 October 2021) chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/ Topic: Turkeychief of mission: Ambassador Hasan MURAT MERCAN (since 20 April 2021) chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700; [1] (202) 612-6701 FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744 email address and website: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr http://washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/Mission consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Topic: Turkmenistanchief of mission: Ambassador Meret ORAZOW (since 14 February 2001) chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-1500 email address and website: turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Tuvaluchief of mission: none; the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017); address: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534; FAX: [1] (212) 808-4975; email: tuvalumission.un@gmail.com Topic: Ugandachief of mission: Ambassador Mull Ssebujja KATENDE (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727 email address and website: washington@mofa.go.ug; info@ugandaembassysus.org; ambauganda@aol.com https://washington.mofa.go.ug/ Topic: Ukrainechief of mission: Ambassador Oksana Serhiyivna MARKAROVA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 349-2963 FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817 email address and website: emb_us@mfa.gov.ua; consul_us@mfa.gov.ua https://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco Topic: United Arab Emirateschief of mission: Ambassador Yusif bin Mani bin Said al-UTAYBA (since 28 July 2008) chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400 FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432 email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New York Topic: United Kingdomchief of mission: Ambassador Karen Elizabeth PIERCE (since 8 April 2020) chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 email address and website: britishembassyenquiries@gmail.com https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Orlando (FL), San Juan (Puerto Rico) Topic: Uruguaychief of mission: Ambassador Andres Augusto DURAN HAREAU (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 email address and website: urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco Topic: Uzbekistanchief of mission: Ambassador Javlon VAHOBOV (since 29 November 2017) chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 email address and website: info.washington@mfa.uz https://www.uzbekistan.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Topic: Vanuatuchief of mission: none; the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy; it is headed by Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 661-4303; FAX: [1] (212) 422-3427; email: vanunmis@aol.com Topic: Venezuelachief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alfredo VECCHIO (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 email address and website: despacho.embveus@mppre.gob.ve Topic: Vietnamchief of mission: Ambassador NGUYEN Quoc Dzung (since February 2022) chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 email address and website: vanphong@vietnamembassy.us http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco consulate(s): New York Topic: Virgin Islandsnone (territory of the US) Topic: Wallis and Futunanone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Yemenchief of mission: ambassador (vacant); note - on 18 December 2020, former Ambassador Ahmad Awadh BIN MUBARAK (since 3 August 2015) was appointed Yemen's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017 email address and website: Information@yemenembassy.org https://www.yemenembassy.org/ Topic: Zambiachief of mission: Ambassador Lazarous KAPAMBWE (since 8 April 2020) chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826 email address and website: info@zambiaembassy.org https://www.zambiaembassy.org/ Topic: Zimbabwechief of mission: Ambassador Tadeous Tafirenyika CHIFAMBA (since 7 July 2021); chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326 email address and website: general@zimembassydc.org https://zimembassydc.org/

20220601

countries-mongolia

Topic: Photos of Mongolia Topic: Introduction Background: The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the period of the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C. The name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan) emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued military campaigns of conquest, taking control of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Following the collapse of the Manchus in 1911, Mongolia declared its independence, achieving it with help from the Soviet Union in 1921. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Following independence and until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the country was a Soviet satellite state, and heavily reliant on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period also was marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China. Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free market economy. Since the country's transition, it has conducted eight presidential and nine legislative elections as of 2021. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) - which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 - has competed for political power with the Democratic Party (DP) and several other smaller parties, including a new party formed by former President ENKHBAYAR, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name until it merged with MPP in 2021. In the 2016 parliamentary elections, the MPP won overwhelming control of the Parliament over the DP, which had overseen a sharp decline in Mongolia’s economy during its control of the Parliament in the preceding years. Mongolians elected a DP member, Khaltmaa BATTULGA, as president in 2017. The June 2020 parliamentary elections left the MPP with continued dominant control of the parliament. Mongolians elected former prime minister and MPP member Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH as president in 2021. Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the period of the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C. The name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan) emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued military campaigns of conquest, taking control of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Following the collapse of the Manchus in 1911, Mongolia declared its independence, achieving it with help from the Soviet Union in 1921. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Following independence and until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the country was a Soviet satellite state, and heavily reliant on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period also was marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China. Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free market economy. Since the country's transition, it has conducted eight presidential and nine legislative elections as of 2021. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) - which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 - has competed for political power with the Democratic Party (DP) and several other smaller parties, including a new party formed by former President ENKHBAYAR, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name until it merged with MPP in 2021. In the 2016 parliamentary elections, the MPP won overwhelming control of the Parliament over the DP, which had overseen a sharp decline in Mongolia’s economy during its control of the Parliament in the preceding years. Mongolians elected a DP member, Khaltmaa BATTULGA, as president in 2017. The June 2020 parliamentary elections left the MPP with continued dominant control of the parliament. Mongolians elected former prime minister and MPP member Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH as president in 2021. Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 1,564,116 sq km land: 1,553,556 sq km water: 10,560 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 8,082 km border countries (2): China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central Elevation: highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m mean elevation: 1,528 m Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron Land use: agricultural land: 73% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 72.6% (2018 est.) forest: 7% (2018 est.) other: 20% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 840 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;  Salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Population distribution: sparsely distributed population throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities Natural hazards: dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia Map description: Mongolia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries – Russia to the north and China to the south.Mongolia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries – Russia to the north and China to the south. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,227,863 (2022 est.) note: Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world (2 people per sq km); twice as many ethnic Mongols (some 6 million) live in Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) in neighboring China Nationality: noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian Ethnic groups: Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, other 4.1% (2020 est.) Languages: Mongolian 90% (official) (Khalkha dialect is predominant), Turkic, Russian (1999) major-language sample(s): Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Buddhist 51.7%, Muslim 3.2%, Shamanist 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 40.6% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.96% (male 435,596/female 418,524) 15-24 years: 14.93% (male 239,495/female 233,459) 25-54 years: 45.29% (male 694,481/female 740,334) 55-64 years: 8.04% (male 115,560/female 139,129) 65 years and over: 4.78% (2020 est.) (male 60,966/female 90,482) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 54.8 youth dependency ratio: 48.1 elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 potential support ratio: 15 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.8 years male: 28.8 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.88% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.84 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: sparsely distributed population throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities Urbanization: urban population: 68.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.645 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.5 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-24 Maternal mortality ratio: 45 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.37 years male: 67.19 years female: 75.76 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 48.1% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.4% of population rural: 64.2% of population total: 87.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population rural: 35.8% of population total: 12.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.8% (2019) Physicians density: 2.86 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 8 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.4% of population rural: 69.9% of population total: 88.8% of population unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population rural: 30.1% of population total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020 est.) <1,000 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.9% (2018) women married by age 18: 12% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.2% male: 99.1% female: 99.2% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.9% male: 16.9% female: 19.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws leads to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation and overgrazing increase soil erosion from wind and rain; water pollution; desertification and mining activities have a deleterious effect on the environment Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.37 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.72 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) Land use: agricultural land: 73% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 72.6% (2018 est.) forest: 7% (2018 est.) other: 20% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 8.62% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.9 million tons (2016 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;  Salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Total water withdrawal: municipal: 45.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 166.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 250.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 34.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic etymology: the name means "Land of the Mongols" in Latin; the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State" Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Ulaanbaatar geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September time zone note: Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC) etymology: the name means "red hero" in Mongolian and honors national hero Damdin Sukhbaatar, leader of the partisan army that with Soviet Red Army help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs Independence: 29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China) National holiday: Naadam (games) holiday (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution), 11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution), 26 November (1924) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992 amendments: proposed by the State Great Hural, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; conducting referenda on proposed amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the State Great Hural; passage of amendments by the State Great Hural requires at least three-quarters majority vote; passage by referendum requires majority participation of qualified voters and a majority of votes; amended 1999, 2000, 2019 Legal system: civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Mongolia; one parent if born within Mongolia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai OYUN-ERDENE (since 27 January 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan ENKHTUVSHIN (since 18 October 2017) cabinet: directly appointed by the prime minister following a constitutional amendment ratified in November 2019; prior to the amendment, the cabinet was nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) elections/appointments: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple majority popular vote for one 6-year term; election last held on 9 June 2021; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural election results: Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH elected president in first round; percent of vote - Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH (Mongolian People's Party) 67.7%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (HUN Coalition) 20.31%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (Democratic Party) 5.99% Legislative branch: description: unicameral State Great Hural or Ulsyn Ikh Khural (76 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; each constituency requires at least 50% voter participation for the poll to be valid; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 24 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - MPP 44.9%, DP 24.5%, Our Coalition 8.1%, independent 8.7%, Right Person Electorate Coalition 5.2%, other 8.5%; seats by party - MPP 62, DP 11, Our Coalition 1, Right Person Electorate Coalition 1; independent 1; composition -  63 men, 13 women; percent of women 17.1%; note - the MPRP, Civil Will-Green Party, and Mongolian Traditionally United Party formed Our Coalition for the 2020 election; the Right Person Electorate Coalition was established in 2020 by the National Labor Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party, and Justice Party Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of the chairman and 8 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president upon recommendation by the General Council of Courts - a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials - to the State Great Hural; appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed from nominations by the State Great Hural - 3 each by the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term subordinate courts: aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP [Tsogtgerel ODON] Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP [Bayanjargal TSOGTGEREL] Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Luvsannamsrai OYUN-ERDENE] Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Tserendorj GANKHUYAG] Mongolian Traditionally United Party or MTUP [Batdelgeriin BATBOLD] National Labor Party or HUN [Togmid Dorhkhand] Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP [Adiya GANBAATAR] Justice Party [Batbayar NASANBILEG] Right Person Electorate Coalition (coalition of the National Labor Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party, and the Justice Party [Badrakhyn NAIDALAA] note - there were 35 total registered parties as of December 2021 International organization participation: ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ulziidelger BATBAYAR (since 8 November 2021) chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mn http://mongolianembassy.us/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael S. KLECHESKI (since 22 February 2019) embassy: Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190 mailing address: 4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC  20521-4410 telephone: [976] 7007-6001 FAX: [976] 7007-6174 email address and website: UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov https://mn.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three, equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity National symbol(s): soyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow National anthem: name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia) lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Foreign direct investment in Mongolia's extractive industries – which are based on extensive deposits of copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten - has transformed Mongolia's landlocked economy from its traditional dependence on herding and agriculture. Exports now account for more than 40% of GDP. Mongolia depends on China for more than 60% of its external trade - China receives some 90% of Mongolia's exports and supplies Mongolia with more than one-third of its imports. Mongolia also relies on Russia for 90% of its energy supplies, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant.   Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction, and natural disasters, as well as strong economic growth, because of market reforms and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the WTO in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.   Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices globally and new gold production. By late 2008, Mongolia was hit by the global financial crisis and Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the IMF reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and it emerged from the crisis with a stronger banking sector and better fiscal management. In October 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mine, among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. However, a dispute with foreign investors developing OT called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign investment. This caused a severe drop in FDI, and a slowing economy, leading to the dismissal of Prime Minister Norovyn ALTANKHUYAG in November 2014. The economy had grown more than 10% per year between 2011 and 2013 - largely on the strength of commodity exports and high government spending - before slowing to 7.8% in 2014, and falling to the 2% level in 2015. Growth rebounded from a brief 1.6% contraction in the third quarter of 2016 to 5.8% during the first three quarters of 2017, largely due to rising commodity prices.   The May 2015 agreement with Rio Tinto to restart the OT mine and the subsequent $4.4 billion finance package signing in December 2015 stemmed the loss of investor confidence. The current government has made restoring investor trust and reviving the economy its top priority, but has failed to invigorate the economy in the face of the large drop-off in foreign direct investment, mounting external debt, and a sizeable budget deficit. Mongolia secured a $5.5 billion financial assistance package from the IMF and a host of international creditors in May 2017, which is expected to improve Mongolia’s long-term fiscal and economic stability as long as Ulaanbaatar can advance the agreement’s difficult contingent reforms, such as consolidating the government’s off-balance sheet liabilities and rehabilitating the Mongolian banking sector.Foreign direct investment in Mongolia's extractive industries – which are based on extensive deposits of copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten - has transformed Mongolia's landlocked economy from its traditional dependence on herding and agriculture. Exports now account for more than 40% of GDP. Mongolia depends on China for more than 60% of its external trade - China receives some 90% of Mongolia's exports and supplies Mongolia with more than one-third of its imports. Mongolia also relies on Russia for 90% of its energy supplies, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction, and natural disasters, as well as strong economic growth, because of market reforms and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the WTO in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices globally and new gold production. By late 2008, Mongolia was hit by the global financial crisis and Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the IMF reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and it emerged from the crisis with a stronger banking sector and better fiscal management. In October 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mine, among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. However, a dispute with foreign investors developing OT called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign investment. This caused a severe drop in FDI, and a slowing economy, leading to the dismissal of Prime Minister Norovyn ALTANKHUYAG in November 2014. The economy had grown more than 10% per year between 2011 and 2013 - largely on the strength of commodity exports and high government spending - before slowing to 7.8% in 2014, and falling to the 2% level in 2015. Growth rebounded from a brief 1.6% contraction in the third quarter of 2016 to 5.8% during the first three quarters of 2017, largely due to rising commodity prices. The May 2015 agreement with Rio Tinto to restart the OT mine and the subsequent $4.4 billion finance package signing in December 2015 stemmed the loss of investor confidence. The current government has made restoring investor trust and reviving the economy its top priority, but has failed to invigorate the economy in the face of the large drop-off in foreign direct investment, mounting external debt, and a sizeable budget deficit. Mongolia secured a $5.5 billion financial assistance package from the IMF and a host of international creditors in May 2017, which is expected to improve Mongolia’s long-term fiscal and economic stability as long as Ulaanbaatar can advance the agreement’s difficult contingent reforms, such as consolidating the government’s off-balance sheet liabilities and rehabilitating the Mongolian banking sector. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $37.6 billion (2020 est.) $39.72 billion (2019 est.) $37.77 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2017 est.) 1.2% (2016 est.) 2.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $11,500 (2020 est.) $12,300 (2019 est.) $11,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $11.14 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.6% (2017 est.) 0.5% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2018) Moody's rating: B3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: B (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 12.1% (2017 est.) industry: 38.2% (2017 est.) services: 49.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 49.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 12.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 59.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -57.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, goat milk, potatoes, mutton, sheep milk, beef, goat meat, horse meat, carrots/turnips Industries: construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing Industrial production growth rate: -1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.241 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31.1% industry: 18.5% services: 50.5% (2016) Unemployment rate: 8% (2017 est.) 7.9% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.9% male: 16.9% female: 19.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 28.4% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.7 (2018 est.) 36.5 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 13.7% highest 10%: 5.7% (2017) Budget: revenues: 2.967 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.681 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 91.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 90% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.155 billion (2017 est.) -$700 million (2016 est.) Exports: $7.65 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.42 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.71 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 81%, Switzerland 9% (2019) Exports - commodities: coal, copper, gold, iron, crude petroleum (2019) Imports: $7.34 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.25 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 31%, Russia 29%, Japan 10%, South Korea 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, aircraft (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.016 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.296 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $29.945 billion (2019 est.) $28.046 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 2,378.1 (2017 est.) 2,140.3 (2016 est.) 2,140.3 (2015 est.) 1,970.3 (2014 est.) 1,817.9 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 91% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 73% (2019) Electricity - production: 5.339 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 5.932 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 51 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 1.446 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.134 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 20,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 14,360 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: (1 January 2017) NA bbl Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 24,190 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 160,153 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4,363,919 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133.1 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: liberalized and competitive telecom market; steady growth in mobile broadband, but fixed-line broadband is still an economical option; installation of a fiber-optic network improved broadband and communication services between major urban centers; compared to other Asian countries, Mongolia's growth in telecom is moderate; mobile broadband rate is growing through competition among operators with reasonable tariffs; launch of 4G LTE services by all major operators; South Korean investment in landline and cellular services; partner in China’s economic corridor project; import of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity of less than 5 per 100; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is roughly 133 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2016) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) Internet country code: .mn Internet users: total: 2,065,324 (2020 est.) percent of population: 63% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 307,166 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 670,360 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.82 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: JU Airports: total: 44 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 1,815 km (2017) broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway Roadways: total: 113,200 km (2017) paved: 10,600 km (2017) unpaved: 102,600 km (2017) Waterways: 580 km (2010) (the only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol) (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers ice free from May to September) Merchant marine: total: 302 by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 7, general cargo 131, oil tanker 64, other 96 (2021) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): General Purpose Troops (Mongolian Army), Air/Air Defense Force, Cyber Security, Special Forces, Civil Engineering, Civil Defense Forces; Border Troops; Internal Security Troops Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs: National Police Agency, General Authority for Border Protection (2021) Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $240 million) 0.7% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $240 million) 0.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $110 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: estimates vary; approximately 9,000 active duty troops (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the MAF are armed with Soviet-era equipment supplemented by deliveries of second-hand Russian weapons (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in army or air forces or police for males only (can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a tax voucher); after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces (2021) Military deployments: 860 South Sudan (UNMISS) (Feb 2022) note(s) - from 2003 to July 2021, some 3,300 Mongolian troops served in Afghanistan, including about 1,300 under the NATO-led mission Resolute Support Mission (2015 to 2021); since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 19,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries Military - note: Mongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021)Mongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 17 (mid-year 2021)

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countries-south-africa

Topic: Photos of South Africa Topic: Introduction Background: Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record are found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa displacing Khoisan speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the settlers of Dutch descent (Afrikaners, also called "Boers" (farmers) at the time) trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and with expanding European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration from Europe. The Anglo-Zulu War (1879) resulted in the incorporation of the Zulu kingdom's territory into the British Empire. Subsequently, the Afrikaner republics were incorporated into the British Empire after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). However, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid – billed as "separate development" of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority and other non-white groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 following the end of apartheid ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care. Jacob ZUMA became president in 2009 and was reelected in 2014, but resigned in February 2018 after numerous corruption scandals and gains by opposition parties in municipal elections in 2016. His successor, Cyril RAMAPHOSA, has made some progress in reigning in corruption, though many challenges persist. In May 2019 national elections, the country’s sixth since the end of apartheid, the ANC won a majority of parliamentary seats, delivering RAMAPHOSA a five-year term.Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record are found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa displacing Khoisan speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the settlers of Dutch descent (Afrikaners, also called "Boers" (farmers) at the time) trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and with expanding European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration from Europe. The Anglo-Zulu War (1879) resulted in the incorporation of the Zulu kingdom's territory into the British Empire. Subsequently, the Afrikaner republics were incorporated into the British Empire after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). However, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid – billed as "separate development" of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority and other non-white groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule.The first multi-racial elections in 1994 following the end of apartheid ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care. Jacob ZUMA became president in 2009 and was reelected in 2014, but resigned in February 2018 after numerous corruption scandals and gains by opposition parties in municipal elections in 2016. His successor, Cyril RAMAPHOSA, has made some progress in reigning in corruption, though many challenges persist. In May 2019 national elections, the country’s sixth since the end of apartheid, the ANC won a majority of parliamentary seats, delivering RAMAPHOSA a five-year term.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,219,090 sq km land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,244 km border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km; Lesotho 1,106 km; Mozambique 496 km; Namibia 1,005 km; Eswatini 438 km; Zimbabwe 230 km Coastline: 2,798 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Elevation: highest point: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,034 m Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas Land use: agricultural land: 79.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2018 est.) forest: 7.6% (2018 est.) other: 13% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 16,700 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpopo river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Major aquifers: Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin Population distribution: the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: prolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcanoprolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano Geography - note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini Map description: South Africa map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans.South Africa map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. Topic: People and Society Population: 57,516,665 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African Ethnic groups: Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.) note: colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years Languages: isiZulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes Khoi, Nama, and San languages) 2%; note - data represent language spoken most often at home (2018 est.) major-language sample(s): Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) Religions: Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.) Demographic profile: South Africa’s youthful population is gradually aging, as the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) has declined dramatically from about 6 children per woman in the 1960s to roughly 2.2 in 2014. This pattern is similar to fertility trends in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and sets South Africa apart from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, where the average TFR remains higher than other regions of the world. Today, South Africa’s decreasing number of reproductive age women is having fewer children, as women increase their educational attainment, workforce participation, and use of family planning methods; delay marriage; and opt for smaller families.As the proportion of working-age South Africans has grown relative to children and the elderly, South Africa has been unable to achieve a demographic dividend because persistent high unemployment and the prevalence of HIV/AIDs have created a larger-than-normal dependent population. HIV/AIDS was also responsible for South Africa’s average life expectancy plunging to less than 43 years in 2008; it has rebounded to 63 years as of 2017. HIV/AIDS continues to be a serious public health threat, although awareness-raising campaigns and the wider availability of anti-retroviral drugs is stabilizing the number of new cases, enabling infected individuals to live longer, healthier lives, and reducing mother-child transmissions.Migration to South Africa began in the second half of the 17th century when traders from the Dutch East India Company settled in the Cape and started using slaves from South and southeast Asia (mainly from India but also from present-day Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia) and southeast Africa (Madagascar and Mozambique) as farm laborers and, to a lesser extent, as domestic servants. The Indian subcontinent remained the Cape Colony’s main source of slaves in the early 18th century, while slaves were increasingly obtained from southeast Africa in the latter part of the 18th century and into the 19th century under British rule.After slavery was completely abolished in the British Empire in 1838, South Africa’s colonists turned to temporary African migrants and indentured labor through agreements with India and later China, countries that were anxious to export workers to alleviate domestic poverty and overpopulation. Of the more than 150,000 indentured Indian laborers hired to work in Natal’s sugar plantations between 1860 and 1911, most exercised the right as British subjects to remain permanently (a small number of Indian immigrants came freely as merchants). Because of growing resentment toward Indian workers, the 63,000 indentured Chinese workers who mined gold in Transvaal between 1904 and 1911 were under more restrictive contracts and generally were forced to return to their homeland.In the late 19th century and nearly the entire 20th century, South Africa’s then British colonies’ and Dutch states’ enforced selective immigration policies that welcomed "assimilable" white Europeans as permanent residents but excluded or restricted other immigrants. Following the Union of South Africa’s passage of a law in 1913 prohibiting Asian and other non-white immigrants and its elimination of the indenture system in 1917, temporary African contract laborers from neighboring countries became the dominant source of labor in the burgeoning mining industries. Others worked in agriculture and smaller numbers in manufacturing, domestic service, transportation, and construction. Throughout the 20th century, at least 40% of South Africa’s miners were foreigners; the numbers peaked at over 80% in the late 1960s. Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana, and Eswatini were the primary sources of miners, and Malawi and Zimbabwe were periodic suppliers.Under apartheid, a "two gates" migration policy focused on policing and deporting illegal migrants rather than on managing migration to meet South Africa’s development needs. The exclusionary 1991 Aliens Control Act limited labor recruitment to the highly skilled as defined by the ruling white minority, while bilateral labor agreements provided exemptions that enabled the influential mining industry and, to a lesser extent, commercial farms, to hire temporary, low-paid workers from neighboring states. Illegal African migrants were often tacitly allowed to work for low pay in other sectors but were always under threat of deportation.The abolishment of apartheid in 1994 led to the development of a new inclusive national identity and the strengthening of the country’s restrictive immigration policy. Despite South Africa’s protectionist approach to immigration, the downsizing and closing of mines, and rising unemployment, migrants from across the continent believed that the country held work opportunities. Fewer African labor migrants were issued temporary work permits and, instead, increasingly entered South Africa with visitors’ permits or came illegally, which drove growth in cross-border trade and the informal job market. A new wave of Asian immigrants has also arrived over the last two decades, many operating small retail businesses.In the post-apartheid period, increasing numbers of highly skilled white workers emigrated, citing dissatisfaction with the political situation, crime, poor services, and a reduced quality of life. The 2002 Immigration Act and later amendments were intended to facilitate the temporary migration of skilled foreign labor to fill labor shortages, but instead the legislation continues to create regulatory obstacles. Although the education system has improved and brain drain has slowed in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, South Africa continues to face skills shortages in several key sectors, such as health care and technology.South Africa’s stability and economic growth has acted as a magnet for refugees and asylum seekers from nearby countries, despite the prevalence of discrimination and xenophobic violence. Refugees have included an estimated 350,000 Mozambicans during its 1980s civil war and, more recently, several thousand Somalis, Congolese, and Ethiopians. Nearly all of the tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who have applied for asylum in South Africa have been categorized as economic migrants and denied refuge.South Africa’s youthful population is gradually aging, as the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) has declined dramatically from about 6 children per woman in the 1960s to roughly 2.2 in 2014. This pattern is similar to fertility trends in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and sets South Africa apart from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, where the average TFR remains higher than other regions of the world. Today, South Africa’s decreasing number of reproductive age women is having fewer children, as women increase their educational attainment, workforce participation, and use of family planning methods; delay marriage; and opt for smaller families.As the proportion of working-age South Africans has grown relative to children and the elderly, South Africa has been unable to achieve a demographic dividend because persistent high unemployment and the prevalence of HIV/AIDs have created a larger-than-normal dependent population. HIV/AIDS was also responsible for South Africa’s average life expectancy plunging to less than 43 years in 2008; it has rebounded to 63 years as of 2017. HIV/AIDS continues to be a serious public health threat, although awareness-raising campaigns and the wider availability of anti-retroviral drugs is stabilizing the number of new cases, enabling infected individuals to live longer, healthier lives, and reducing mother-child transmissions.Migration to South Africa began in the second half of the 17th century when traders from the Dutch East India Company settled in the Cape and started using slaves from South and southeast Asia (mainly from India but also from present-day Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia) and southeast Africa (Madagascar and Mozambique) as farm laborers and, to a lesser extent, as domestic servants. The Indian subcontinent remained the Cape Colony’s main source of slaves in the early 18th century, while slaves were increasingly obtained from southeast Africa in the latter part of the 18th century and into the 19th century under British rule.After slavery was completely abolished in the British Empire in 1838, South Africa’s colonists turned to temporary African migrants and indentured labor through agreements with India and later China, countries that were anxious to export workers to alleviate domestic poverty and overpopulation. Of the more than 150,000 indentured Indian laborers hired to work in Natal’s sugar plantations between 1860 and 1911, most exercised the right as British subjects to remain permanently (a small number of Indian immigrants came freely as merchants). Because of growing resentment toward Indian workers, the 63,000 indentured Chinese workers who mined gold in Transvaal between 1904 and 1911 were under more restrictive contracts and generally were forced to return to their homeland.In the late 19th century and nearly the entire 20th century, South Africa’s then British colonies’ and Dutch states’ enforced selective immigration policies that welcomed "assimilable" white Europeans as permanent residents but excluded or restricted other immigrants. Following the Union of South Africa’s passage of a law in 1913 prohibiting Asian and other non-white immigrants and its elimination of the indenture system in 1917, temporary African contract laborers from neighboring countries became the dominant source of labor in the burgeoning mining industries. Others worked in agriculture and smaller numbers in manufacturing, domestic service, transportation, and construction. Throughout the 20th century, at least 40% of South Africa’s miners were foreigners; the numbers peaked at over 80% in the late 1960s. Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana, and Eswatini were the primary sources of miners, and Malawi and Zimbabwe were periodic suppliers.Under apartheid, a "two gates" migration policy focused on policing and deporting illegal migrants rather than on managing migration to meet South Africa’s development needs. The exclusionary 1991 Aliens Control Act limited labor recruitment to the highly skilled as defined by the ruling white minority, while bilateral labor agreements provided exemptions that enabled the influential mining industry and, to a lesser extent, commercial farms, to hire temporary, low-paid workers from neighboring states. Illegal African migrants were often tacitly allowed to work for low pay in other sectors but were always under threat of deportation.The abolishment of apartheid in 1994 led to the development of a new inclusive national identity and the strengthening of the country’s restrictive immigration policy. Despite South Africa’s protectionist approach to immigration, the downsizing and closing of mines, and rising unemployment, migrants from across the continent believed that the country held work opportunities. Fewer African labor migrants were issued temporary work permits and, instead, increasingly entered South Africa with visitors’ permits or came illegally, which drove growth in cross-border trade and the informal job market. A new wave of Asian immigrants has also arrived over the last two decades, many operating small retail businesses.In the post-apartheid period, increasing numbers of highly skilled white workers emigrated, citing dissatisfaction with the political situation, crime, poor services, and a reduced quality of life. The 2002 Immigration Act and later amendments were intended to facilitate the temporary migration of skilled foreign labor to fill labor shortages, but instead the legislation continues to create regulatory obstacles. Although the education system has improved and brain drain has slowed in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, South Africa continues to face skills shortages in several key sectors, such as health care and technology.South Africa’s stability and economic growth has acted as a magnet for refugees and asylum seekers from nearby countries, despite the prevalence of discrimination and xenophobic violence. Refugees have included an estimated 350,000 Mozambicans during its 1980s civil war and, more recently, several thousand Somalis, Congolese, and Ethiopians. Nearly all of the tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who have applied for asylum in South Africa have been categorized as economic migrants and denied refuge. Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.94% (male 7,894,742/female 7,883,266) 15-24 years: 16.8% (male 4,680,587/female 4,804,337) 25-54 years: 42.37% (male 12,099,441/female 11,825,193) 55-64 years: 6.8% (male 1,782,902/female 2,056,988) 65 years and over: 6.09% (2020 est.) (male 1,443,956/female 1,992,205) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.2 youth dependency ratio: 43.8 elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 potential support ratio: 11.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 28 years male: 27.9 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.93% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 18.56 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 68.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 10.110 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.801 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.199 million Durban, 2.74 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.281 million Port Elizabeth, 909,000 West Rand (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 119 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 25.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.32 years male: 63.99 years female: 66.68 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.6% (2016) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 90.3% of population total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 9.7% of population total: 3.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.1% (2019) Physicians density: 0.91 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.6% of population rural: 86.4% of population total: 93.2% of population unimproved: urban: 3.4% of population rural: 13.6% of population total: 6.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 19.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 7.8 million (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 83,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 30 March 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,715,390 cases of COVID-19 or 6,264.49 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 99,976 cumulative deaths or a rate of 168.56 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 34.8% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.5% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016) women married by age 18: 3.6% (2016) men married by age 18: 0.6% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 6.8% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 95.5% female: 94.5% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 59.4% male: 55.4% female: 64.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; disruption of fragile ecosystem has resulted in significant floral extinctions Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 23.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 476.64 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 55.89 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights Land use: agricultural land: 79.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2018 est.) forest: 7.6% (2018 est.) other: 13% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 2.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout South Africa; as of 30 March 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,715,390 cases of COVID-19 or 6,264.49 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 99,976 cumulative deaths or a rate of 168.56 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 34.8% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 18,457,232 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,168,025 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2011 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpopo river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Major aquifers: Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 3.89 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 11.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 51.35 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Pretoria is named in honor of Andries PRETORIUS, the father of voortrekker (pioneer) leader Marthinus PRETORIUS; Cape Town reflects its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein is a combination of the Dutch words "bloem" (flower) and "fontein" (fountain) meaning "fountain of flowers" Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape Independence: 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule) National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government residency requirement for naturalization: 1 year Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); Deputy President David MABUZA (26 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Jacob ZUMA resigned the presidency on 14 February 2018  head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); deputy president David MABUZA (26 February 2018 cabinet:  Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024) election results: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10-member delegations appointed by each of the 9 provincial legislatures to serve 5-year terms; note - the Council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) National Assembly (400 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: National Council of Provinces and National Assembly - last held on 8 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 29, DA 13, EFF 9, FF+ 2, IFP 1; note - 36 appointed seats not filled National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 57.5%, DA 20.8%, EFF 10.8%, IFP 3.8%, FF+ 2.4%, other 4.7%; seats by party - ANC 230, DA 84, EFF 44, IFP 14, FF+ 10, other 18; composition - men 237, women 163, percent of women 40.8% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes other judges and judicial executives, members of parliament, practicing lawyers and advocates, a teacher of law, and several members designated by the president of South Africa; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70 subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts Political parties and leaders: African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE] African Independent Congress or AIC [Mandla GALO] African National Congress or ANC [Cyril RAMAPHOSA] African People's Convention or APC [Themba GODI] Agang SA [Mike TSHISHONGA] Congress of the People or COPE [Mosiuoa LEKOTA] Democratic Alliance or DA [John STEENHUISEN] Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF [Julius Sello MALEMA] Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter GROENEWALD] GOOD [Patricia de LILLE] Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI] National Freedom Party or NFP [Zanele kaMAGWAZA-MSIBI] Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC [Luthanado MBINDA] United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP [Isaac Sipho MFUNDISI] United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nomaindiya MFEKETO (since 8 April 2020) chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607; [1] (202) 387-9854 email address and website: https://www.saembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Todd P. HASKELL (since March 2021) embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria mailing address: 9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC  20521-9300 telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299 email address and website: ACSJohannesburg@state.gov https://za.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg Flag description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era note: the South African flag is one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Sudan's National symbol(s): springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white National anthem: name: National Anthem of South Africa lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers note: adopted 1994; a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English (i.e., the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages); music incorporates the melody used in the Tanzanian and Zambian anthems National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 10 (5 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c), iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n), Robben Island (c), Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m), Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c), Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n), Vredefort Dome (n), Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c), Khomani Cultural Landscape (c), Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world.   Economic growth has decelerated in recent years, slowing to an estimated 0.7% in 2017. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is roughly 27% of the workforce, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. Eskom, the state-run power company, is building three new power stations and is installing new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability but has been plagued with accusations of mismanagement and corruption and faces an increasingly high debt burden.   South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation while empowering a broader economic base; however, the country faces structural constraints that also limit economic growth, such as skills shortages, declining global competitiveness, and frequent work stoppages due to strike action. The government faces growing pressure from urban constituencies to improve the delivery of basic services to low-income areas, to increase job growth, and to provide university level-education at affordable prices. Political infighting among South Africa’s ruling party and the volatility of the rand risks economic growth. International investors are concerned about the country’s long-term economic stability; in late 2016, most major international credit ratings agencies downgraded South Africa’s international debt to junk bond status.South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world. Economic growth has decelerated in recent years, slowing to an estimated 0.7% in 2017. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is roughly 27% of the workforce, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. Eskom, the state-run power company, is building three new power stations and is installing new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability but has been plagued with accusations of mismanagement and corruption and faces an increasingly high debt burden. South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation while empowering a broader economic base; however, the country faces structural constraints that also limit economic growth, such as skills shortages, declining global competitiveness, and frequent work stoppages due to strike action. The government faces growing pressure from urban constituencies to improve the delivery of basic services to low-income areas, to increase job growth, and to provide university level-education at affordable prices. Political infighting among South Africa’s ruling party and the volatility of the rand risks economic growth. International investors are concerned about the country’s long-term economic stability; in late 2016, most major international credit ratings agencies downgraded South Africa’s international debt to junk bond status. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $680.04 billion (2020 est.) $730.91 billion (2019 est.) $729.8 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.06% (2019 est.) 0.7% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $11,500 (2020 est.) $12,500 (2019 est.) $12,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $350.032 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (2019 est.) 4.6% (2018 est.) 5.2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB- (2020) Moody's rating: Ba2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.) industry: 29.7% (2017 est.) services: 67.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 59.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 29.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, maize, milk, potatoes, grapes, poultry, oranges, wheat, soybeans, beef Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 14.687 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 23.5% services: 71.9% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 28.53% (2019 est.) 27.09% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 59.4% male: 55.4% female: 64.1% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 55.5% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 63 (2014 est.) 63.4 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 51.3% (2011 est.) Budget: revenues: 92.86 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 108.3 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 53% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$10.626 billion (2019 est.) -$13.31 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $93.01 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $104.85 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $110.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 15%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, United States 6%, India 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, platinum, cars, iron products, coal, manganese, diamonds  (2019) Imports: $77.86 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $103.12 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $108.91 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 18%, Germany 11%, United States 6%, India 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, gold, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $50.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $47.23 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $179.871 billion (2019 est.) $173.714 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 14.9575 (2020 est.) 14.64 (2019 est.) 14.05125 (2018 est.) 12.7581 (2014 est.) 10.8469 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 94% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 95% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 92% (2019) Electricity - production: 234.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 207.1 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 16.55 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 10.56 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 50.02 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 85% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 10% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1,600 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 404,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 15 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 487,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 621,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 105,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 195,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 906.1 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 5.069 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 4.162 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,098,802 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 96,972,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165.6 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: one of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent; investment by operators and municipal providers to improve network capability focused on fiber and LTE to extend connectivity; increase in Internet use for e-commerce, e-government, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and FttP to 90% of the premises; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications market; 5G in Capetown with additional auction and tests; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular nearly 162 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria (2020) international: country code - 27; landing points for the WACS, ACE, SAFE, SAT-3, Equiano, SABR, SAEx1, SAEx2, IOX Cable System, METISS, EASSy, and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Asia, South America, Indian Ocean Islands, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsone of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent; investment by operators and municipal providers to improve network capability focused on fiber and LTE to extend connectivity; increase in Internet use for e-commerce, e-government, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and FttP to 90% of the premises; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications market; 5G in Capetown with additional auction and tests; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China Broadcast media: the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international channels; well-developed mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network, state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas Internet country code: .za Internet users: total: 41,516,083 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,303,057 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 17 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 243 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 23,921,748 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 716.25 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZS Airports: total: 407 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 130 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 46 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 277 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 178 under 914 m: 79 (2021) Pipelines: 94 km condensate, 1293 km gas, 992 km oil, 1460 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 20,986 km (2014) standard gauge: 80 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified) narrow gauge: 19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified) other: (2014) 1,150 km (passenger rail, gauge unspecified, 1,115.5 km electrified) Roadways: total: 750,000 km (2016) paved: 158,124 km (2016) unpaved: 591,876 km (2016) Merchant marine: total: 105 by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 95 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,769,869) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Mossel Bay Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services; South African Police Service (includes Special Task Force for counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and hostage rescue operations) (2021) Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020) 1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $4.84 billion) 1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.86 billion) 1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $5.04 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is comprised of approximately 75,000 personnel (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force; 8,000 Military Health Service; 10,000 other, including administrative, logistics, military police); 180,000 South African Police Service (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SANDF's inventory consists of a mix of domestically-produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly-produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US-origin weapons systems; since 2010, Sweden is the largest supplier of weapons to the SANDF (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2021) note - in 2019, women comprised about 30% of the SANDF Military deployments: 930 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,500 Mozambique (part of a Southern African Development Community force to help quell an insurgency) (2022) note - in 2021, South Africa sent a contingent of about 1,500 troops to Mozambique as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) force to help quell an insurgency; in Military - note: the SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the guerrilla and militia forces of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands as of 2022, the SANDF was one of Africa’s most capable militaries; it participated regularly in African and UN peacekeeping missions and had the ability to independently deploy throughout Africa; over the past decade, however, its operational readiness and modernization programs have been hampered by funding shortfallsthe SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the guerrilla and militia forces of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelandsas of 2022, the SANDF was one of Africa’s most capable militaries; it participated regularly in African and UN peacekeeping missions and had the ability to independently deploy throughout Africa; over the past decade, however, its operational readiness and modernization programs have been hampered by funding shortfalls Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange RiverSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 23,054 (Somalia), 15,629 (Ethiopia) (mid-year 2021); 56,735 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) IDPs: 5,000 (2020) Illicit drugs: leading regional importer of chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs especially synthetic drugs

20220601

field-current-account-balance-country-comparison

20220601

countries-belgium-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Belgium due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in Belgium due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 3 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [32] (2) 811-4500; US Embassy Brussels, Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Régent, B-1000 Brussels; https://be.usembassy.gov/; uscitizenBrussels@state.gov Telephone Code: 32 Local Emergency Phone: 112 (cell)/ 101 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; mild winters, cool summers, rainy, humid, cloudy Currency (Code): Euro (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: Dutch, French, German Major Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant and other Christian 2.5%, Muslim 5%, Jewish 0.4%, Buddhist 0.3%, atheist 9.2%, none 32.6% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Brussels (includes Grote Markt (Grand Place) and Saint-Cyr House); Brugge (includes Market Square and Basilica of the Holy Blood); Antwerp; Ghent; Waterloo Major Sports: Soccer, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, badminton Cultural Practices: Cleanliness is a source of pride in Belgium, where people can be seen washing the pavement in front of their house or sweeping the street. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping in restaurants is not expected because a 10-15% service charge is generally applied to a bill. Tips are not expected in taxis, but feel free to let your driver keep the change as a gratuity.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-laos

Topic: Photos of Laos Topic: Introduction Background: Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century, when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013. In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in December 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Area - comparative: about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: total: 5,274 km border countries (5): Burma 238 km; Cambodia 555 km; China 475 km; Thailand 1,845 km; Vietnam 2,161 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Elevation: highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m lowest point: Mekong River 70 m mean elevation: 710 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 67.9% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 3,100 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Population distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia Natural hazards: floods, droughts Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand Map description: Laos map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Laos map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 7,749,595 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Ethnic groups: Lao 53.2%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 9.2%, Phouthay 3.4%, Tai 3.1%, Makong 2.5%, Katong 2.2%, Lue 2%, Akha 1.8%, other 11.6% (2015 est.) note: the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200 Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages major-language sample(s): ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.) Demographic profile: Laos is a predominantly rural country with a youthful population – almost 55% of the population is under the age of 25.  Its progress on health and development issues has been uneven geographically, among ethnic groups, and socioeconomically.  Laos has made headway in poverty reduction, with the poverty rate almost halving from 46% in 1992/93 to 22% in 2012/13.  Nevertheless, pronounced rural-urban disparities persist, and income inequality is rising.  Poverty most affects populations in rural and highland areas, particularly ethnic minority groups.  The total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased markedly from around 6 births per woman on average in 1990 to approximately 2.8 in 2016, but it is still one of the highest in Southeast Asia.  TFR is higher in rural and remote areas, among ethnic minority groups, the less-educated, and the poor; it is lower in urban areas and among the more educated and those with higher incomes.  Although Laos’ mortality rates have improved substantially over the last few decades, the maternal mortality rate and childhood malnutrition remain at high levels.  As fertility and mortality rates continue to decline, the proportion of Laos’ working-age population will increase, and its share of dependents will shrink.  The age structure shift will provide Laos with the potential to realize a demographic dividend during the next few decades, if it can improve educational access and quality and gainfully employ its growing working-age population in productive sectors.  Currently, Laos primary school enrollment is nearly universal, but the drop-out rate remains problematic.  Secondary school enrollment has also increased but remains low, especially for girls.  Laos has historically been a country of emigration and internal displacement due to conflict and a weak economy. The Laos civil war (1953 – 1975) mainly caused internal displacement (numbering in the hundreds of thousands).  Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, indigenous people in remote, war-struck areas were resettled and more than 300,000 people fled to Thailand to escape the communist regime that took power.  The majority of those who sought refuge in Thailand ultimately were resettled in the US (mainly Hmong who fought with US forces), and lesser numbers went to France, Canada, and Australia.  The Laos Government carried out resettlement programs between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s to relocate ethnic minority groups from the rural northern highlands to development areas in the lowlands ostensibly to alleviate poverty, make basic services more accessible, eliminate slash-and-burn agriculture and opium production, integrate ethnic minorities, and control rebel groups (including Hmong insurgents).  For many, however, resettlement has exacerbated poverty, led to the loss of livelihoods, and increased food insecurity and mortality rates.  As the resettlement programs started to wane in the second half of the 1990s, migration from the northern highlands to urban centers – chiefly the capital Vientiane – to pursue better jobs in the growing manufacturing and service sectors became the main type of relocation.  Migration of villagers from the south seeking work in neighboring Thailand also increased.  Thailand is the main international migration destination for Laotians because of the greater availability of jobs and higher pay than at home; nearly a million Laotian migrants were estimated to live in Thailand as of 2015.Laos is a predominantly rural country with a youthful population – almost 55% of the population is under the age of 25.  Its progress on health and development issues has been uneven geographically, among ethnic groups, and socioeconomically.  Laos has made headway in poverty reduction, with the poverty rate almost halving from 46% in 1992/93 to 22% in 2012/13.  Nevertheless, pronounced rural-urban disparities persist, and income inequality is rising.  Poverty most affects populations in rural and highland areas, particularly ethnic minority groups. The total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased markedly from around 6 births per woman on average in 1990 to approximately 2.8 in 2016, but it is still one of the highest in Southeast Asia.  TFR is higher in rural and remote areas, among ethnic minority groups, the less-educated, and the poor; it is lower in urban areas and among the more educated and those with higher incomes.  Although Laos’ mortality rates have improved substantially over the last few decades, the maternal mortality rate and childhood malnutrition remain at high levels.  As fertility and mortality rates continue to decline, the proportion of Laos’ working-age population will increase, and its share of dependents will shrink.  The age structure shift will provide Laos with the potential to realize a demographic dividend during the next few decades, if it can improve educational access and quality and gainfully employ its growing working-age population in productive sectors.  Currently, Laos primary school enrollment is nearly universal, but the drop-out rate remains problematic.  Secondary school enrollment has also increased but remains low, especially for girls. Laos has historically been a country of emigration and internal displacement due to conflict and a weak economy. The Laos civil war (1953 – 1975) mainly caused internal displacement (numbering in the hundreds of thousands).  Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, indigenous people in remote, war-struck areas were resettled and more than 300,000 people fled to Thailand to escape the communist regime that took power.  The majority of those who sought refuge in Thailand ultimately were resettled in the US (mainly Hmong who fought with US forces), and lesser numbers went to France, Canada, and Australia. The Laos Government carried out resettlement programs between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s to relocate ethnic minority groups from the rural northern highlands to development areas in the lowlands ostensibly to alleviate poverty, make basic services more accessible, eliminate slash-and-burn agriculture and opium production, integrate ethnic minorities, and control rebel groups (including Hmong insurgents).  For many, however, resettlement has exacerbated poverty, led to the loss of livelihoods, and increased food insecurity and mortality rates.  As the resettlement programs started to wane in the second half of the 1990s, migration from the northern highlands to urban centers – chiefly the capital Vientiane – to pursue better jobs in the growing manufacturing and service sectors became the main type of relocation.  Migration of villagers from the south seeking work in neighboring Thailand also increased.  Thailand is the main international migration destination for Laotians because of the greater availability of jobs and higher pay than at home; nearly a million Laotian migrants were estimated to live in Thailand as of 2015. Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.25% (male 1,177,297/female 1,149,727) 15-24 years: 20.6% (male 763,757/female 770,497) 25-54 years: 38.29% (male 1,407,823/female 1,443,774) 55-64 years: 5.73% (male 206,977/female 219,833) 65 years and over: 4.13% (2020 est.) (male 139,665/female 168,046) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.8 youth dependency ratio: 50.1 elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 potential support ratio: 15 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 24 years male: 23.7 years female: 24.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.34% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 20.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.37 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia Urbanization: urban population: 37.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 706,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 185 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 37.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 41.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.15 years male: 66.49 years female: 69.88 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.35 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.1% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.1% of population rural: 84.1% of population total: 88.8% of population unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population rural: 15.9% of population total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.6% (2019) Physicians density: 0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 72% of population total: 82.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 28% of population total: 17.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 15,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.1% (2017) women married by age 18: 32.7% (2017) men married by age 18: 10.8% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2014) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.7% male: 90% female: 79.4% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2% male: 20.8% female: 15.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 24.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 17.76 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 9 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 67.9% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 37.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.48% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 351,900 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 35,190 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 7.02 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 333.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: Mueang Lao (unofficial) etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people]" Government type: communist state Capital: name: Vientiane (Viangchan) geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood" Administrative divisions: 17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (kampheng nakhon); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence) National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975) Constitution: history: previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended 2003, 2015 Legal system: civil law system similar in form to the French system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Laos dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 22 March 2021); Vice President PANI Yathotou; Vice President BOUNTHONG Chitmani (since 22 March 2021) head of government: Prime Minister PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 22 March 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers CHANSAMON Chan-gnalat, SONXAI Siphandon, KIKEO Khaikhamphithoun (since 22 March 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 March 2021; prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term election results: 2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote: 161-1; PANI Yathotou and BOUNTHONG Chitmani (LPRP) elected vice presidents; National Assembly vote NA; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote: 158-3 2016: BOUNNYANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (164 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 21 February 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 158, independent 6; composition - men 128, women 36, percent of women 21.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges) judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA subordinate courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [THONGLOUN Sisoulit] note: other parties proscribed International organization participation: ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador KHAMPHAN Anlavan (since 21 July 2019) chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-9148; [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 email address and website: embasslao@gmail.com; laoemb@verizon.net https://laoembassy.com/ consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter HAYMOND (since 7 February 2020) embassy: Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane mailing address: 4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC  20521-4350 telephone: [856] 21-48-7000 FAX: [856] 21-48-7040 email address and website: CONSLAO@state.gov https://la.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future National symbol(s): elephant; national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People) lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Town of Luangphrabang, Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements, Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars Topic: Economy Economic overview: The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. Economic growth averaged more than 6% per year in the period 1988-2008, and Laos' growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia, averaging more than 7% per year for most of the last decade.   Nevertheless, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available to 83% of the population. Agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 20% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Recently, the country has faced a persistent current account deficit, falling foreign currency reserves, and growing public debt.   Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong River, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts.   Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among foreign investors and has developed special economic zones replete with generous tax incentives, but a limited labor pool, a small domestic market, and corruption remain impediments to investment. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations.The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. Economic growth averaged more than 6% per year in the period 1988-2008, and Laos' growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia, averaging more than 7% per year for most of the last decade. Nevertheless, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available to 83% of the population. Agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 20% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Recently, the country has faced a persistent current account deficit, falling foreign currency reserves, and growing public debt. Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong River, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among foreign investors and has developed special economic zones replete with generous tax incentives, but a limited labor pool, a small domestic market, and corruption remain impediments to investment. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $56.79 billion (2020 est.) $56.54 billion (2019 est.) $53.62 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 6.9% (2017 est.) 7% (2016 est.) 7.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $7,800 (2020 est.) $7,900 (2019 est.) $7,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $16.97 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (2017 est.) 1.6% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2020) Moody's rating: Caa2 (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 20.9% (2017 est.) industry: 33.2% (2017 est.) services: 45.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 63.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 30.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, roots/tubers nes, cassava, sugar cane, vegetables, bananas, maize, watermelons, coffee, taro Industries: mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.582 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 73.1% industry: 6.1% services: 20.6% (2012 est.) Unemployment rate: 0.7% (2017 est.) 0.7% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2% male: 20.8% female: 15.5% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 18.3% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.4 (2012 est.) 34.6 (2002) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 30.3% (2008) Budget: revenues: 3.099 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.038 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 58.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: -$2.057 billion (2017 est.) -$2.07 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $6.99 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $6.39 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Thailand 36%, China 28%, Vietnam 16% (2019) Exports - commodities: electricity, copper, rubber, gold, flavored water (2019) Imports: $7.52 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Thailand 53%, China 26%, Vietnam 10% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, cattle, iron structures, steel products (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $940.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $14.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $12.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,231.1 (2017 est.) 8,129.1 (2016 est.) 8,129.1 (2015 est.) 8,147.9 (2014 est.) 8,049 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 95% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 98% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019) Electricity - production: 29.74 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 5.471 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 8.469 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 2.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 6.94 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 72% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.491 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4,362,183 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.84 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: reliance on radio network to communicate with remote areas; regulatory reform is below industry standards; government aims to strengthen infrastructure and attract foreign investment; low fixed-broadband penetration; dominance in mobile broadband with 4G and LTE, but low compared to other Asian markets; ASEAN Digital Hub investment provides international capacity; state owns almost all media, except for some entertainment outlets, and has suppressed some news; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China; providers examining m-payment platforms and 5G tests (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 21 per 100 and 61 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible Internet country code: .la Internet users: total: 2,473,689 (2020 est.) percent of population: 34% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 128,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.8 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,251,961 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.53 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RDPL Airports: total: 41 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 22 (2021) Pipelines: 540 km refined products (2013) Roadways: total: 39,586 km (2009) paved: 5,415 km (2009) unpaved: 34,171 km (2009) Waterways: 4,600 km (2012) (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) Merchant marine: total: 1 by type: general cargo 1 (2021) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces Ministry of Public Security (internal security and law enforcement):  local, traffic, immigration, and security police, as well as village police auxiliaries and other armed police units (2021) Military expenditures: 0.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $120 million) 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $110 million) 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $100 million) 0.2% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $95 million) 0.2% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $85 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information is limited and estimates vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2021) Military - note: the LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorismthe LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasonssoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasons Illicit drugs: Bokeo Province part of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious drug production and transit area; remains a poppy cultivator and source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors; estimate of 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018Bokeo Province part of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious drug production and transit area; remains a poppy cultivator and source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors; estimate of 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018

20220601

field-military-service-age-and-obligation

This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service obligation. Topic: Afghanistannot available Topic: Albania19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age in case of general/partial compulsory mobilization; conscription abolished 2010 (2021) note - as of 2020, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel, including 20% of the officers Topic: Algeria18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service (including women); 19-30 years of age for compulsory service (all Algerian men must register at age 17); conscript service obligation reduced from 18 to 12 months in 2014 (2021) note - in 2020, conscripts comprised an estimated 70% of the military Topic: Angola20-45 years of age for compulsory male and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service (registration at age 18 is mandatory); 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; 2-year conscript service obligation; Angolan citizenship required; the Navy (MGA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2021) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both males and females; no conscription (2021) Topic: Argentina18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); conscription suspended in 1995; Argentinians 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 (2021) note - as of 2017, women made up over 17% of the active duty military Topic: Armenia18-27 years of age for voluntary (men and women) or compulsory (men only) military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, which can be served as an officer upon deferment for university studies if enrolled in officer-producing program; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel; citizens aged 27 to 50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared; males under the age 36 years, who have not previously served as contract servicemen and are registered in the reserve, as well as females, regardless of whether they are registered in the reserve can be enrolled in contractual military service as privates (2021) note - as of 2021, conscripts comprised about half of the military's active personnel; as of 2018, women made up about 13% of the active duty military Topic: Australia17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (abolished 1973); women allowed to serve in all roles, including combat arms since 2013 (2021) note - in 2019-2020, women comprised about 19% of the ADF Topic: Austriaregistration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service (6 months), or optionally, alternative civil/community service (9 months); males 18 to 50 years old in the militia or inactive reserve are subject to compulsory service; in a January 2012 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Azerbaijanmen age 18-35 years for compulsory military service; service obligation 18 months (non-university graduate) or 12 months (university graduates); 17 years of age for voluntary service (men and women); 17-year-olds are considered to be on active service at cadet military schools (2021) note - as of 2018, women made up an estimated 3% of the active duty military Topic: Bahamas, The18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Bahrain18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2021) Topic: Bangladesh16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required; officers: 17-21 years of age, Bangladeshi nationality, and 12th grade education required (2021) Topic: Barbadosvoluntary service only (men and women); 17 years, 9 months to 17 years, 11 months with letter of consent from a parent or guardian, or be in the age range of 18-25 years at the start of recruit training; citizens of Barbados by descent or naturalization (2021) Topic: Belarus18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service, depending on academic qualifications; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2021) note - conscripts can be assigned to the military, as well as the Ministry of Interior as internal or border troops; as of 2020, conscripts comprised an estimated 40% of the military Topic: Belgium18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1995 (2021) note - in 2020, women comprised about 9% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Belize18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1; initial service obligation 12 years (2021) Topic: Benin18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2021) Topic: Bermudafemales and males who are Commonwealth citizens and 18-45 years of age for voluntary enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment; service is for a minimum period of three years and two months from the date of enlistment; service can be extended only by volunteering or an executive order from the Governor; annual training commitment is about 30 days a year, which includes a two-week camp, weekends, and drill nights (2021) Topic: Bhutan18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period; in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles (2021) Topic: Boliviacompulsory for all men between the ages of 18 and 22; men can volunteer from the age of 16, women from 18; service is for one year; Search and Rescue service can be substituted for citizens who have reached the age of compulsory military service; duration of this service is 2 years (2021) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 35 or after 15 years of service for E-1 through E-4, mandatory retirement at age 50 and 30 years of service for E-5 through E-9, mandatory retirement at age 55 and 30 years of service for all officers; conscription abolished in 2005 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Botswana18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) Topic: Brazil18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s, when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2021) note - in 2020, women comprised approximately 9% of the Brazilian military Topic: Brunei17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve; recruits from the army, navy, and air force all undergo 43-week initial training (2021) Topic: Bulgaria18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in 2007; service obligation 6-9 months (2021) note - in 2021, women comprised about 17% of the Bulgarian military's full-time personnel Topic: Burkina Faso18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2021) Topic: Burma18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency (2021) Topic: Burundi18 years of age for voluntary military service (2021) Topic: Cabo Verde18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 2-years conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2021) Topic: Cambodia18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (conscription only selectively enforced since 1993); women may volunteer (2021) note - in 2018, women made up an estimated 6% of the active duty military Topic: Cameroon18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years (2021) Topic: Canada17 years of age for voluntary male and female military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for Reserve and Military College applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years (2021) note(s) - Canada opened up all military occupations to women in 2001; in 2020, women comprised about 16% of the CAF Topic: Central African Republic18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Chad20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age 21 (2021) Topic: Chile18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; selective compulsory service (there are usually enough volunteers to make compulsory service unnecessary); service obligation is a minimum of 12 months for Army and 22 months for Navy and Air Force (2021) note - as of 2021, women comprised approximately 18% of the armed forces Topic: China18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service (not needed), with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2021) Topic: Colombia18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; 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 (2021) note - in 2020, conscripts reportedly comprised about 50% of the Colombian military's active force with approximately 60-90,000 conscripts brought into the military annually Topic: Comoros18 years of age for 2-year voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the18-45 years of age for voluntary (men and women) and compulsory (men only) military service; unclear how much conscription is used (2021) Topic: Congo, Republic of the18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the armed forces (2021) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; conscription is not enforced; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2021) Topic: Croatia18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Cuba17-28 years of age for compulsory (men) and volunteer (men and women) military service; 2-year service obligation for men (2021) Topic: CyprusCypriot National Guard (CNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 14-month service obligation (2021) Topic: Czechia18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished 2004 (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Denmark18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months depending on specialization; former conscripts are assigned to mobilization units; women eligible to volunteer for military service; in addition to full time employment, the Danish Military offers reserve contracts in all three branches (2021) note(s) - women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; as of 2019, they made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel; conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid work Topic: Djibouti18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2021) Topic: Dominican Republic17-21 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2021) note - as of 2021, women made up approximately 20% of the active duty military Topic: Ecuador18 years of age for selective conscript military service, although conscription was suspended in 2008; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Ecuadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation; females have been allowed to serve in all branches since 2012 (2021) note - in 2017, women made up an estimated 3% of the military Topic: Egyptvoluntary enlistment possible from age 16 (men and women); 18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation - 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education (2021) note - as of 2020, conscripts were estimated to comprise over half of the military, as well as a considerable portion of the Central Security Force Topic: El Salvador18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2021) note - as of 2016, women made up about 6% of the active duty military Topic: Equatorial Guinea18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 2-year service obligation; women hold only administrative positions in the Navy (2021) Topic: Eritrea18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service (18-27 for female conscription); 18-month conscript service obligation, which includes 4-6 months of military training and one‐year of military or other national service (military service is most common); note - in practice, military service reportedly is often extended indefinitely (2021) note - as of 2020, women reportedly made up as much as 30% of the Eritrean military Topic: Estoniamen 18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer and as of 2018, women could serve in any branch of the military (2021) note(s) - conscripts comprise about half (approximately 3,000-3,300) of the Estonian military's 6,500 active personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force, which does not have conscripts; in 2020, women comprised about 10% of the full-time professional military force Topic: Eswatini18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Ethiopia18 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2021) note - in November 2021, the Ethiopian Government issued a nationwide state of emergency that enabled officials to order military-age citizens to undergo training and accept military duty in support of the Tigray conflict Topic: Fiji18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55 (2021) Topic: Finlandat age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard (length of service depends on the type of duty), and women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2021) note(s) - the military trains approximately 21,000 (20,000 Army) conscripts each year; since 2017, between 1,000 and 1,700 women have volunteered for military service annually; as of 2019, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: France18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2001); 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts (2021) note(s) - men between the ages of 17.5 and 39.5 years of age, of any nationality, may join the French Foreign Legion; those volunteers selected for service sign 5-year contracts; in 2019, women comprised approximately approximately 16% of the uniformed armed forces (21% including civilians)  Topic: Gabon20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Gambia, The18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2021) Topic: Georgia18-27 years of age for voluntary active duty military service; conscription abolished in 2016, but reinstated in 2017 for men 18 to 27 years of age; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2021) note(s) - approximately 6-7,000 individuals are called up annually for conscription for service; approximately 25% enter the Defense Forces, while the remainder serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs or as prison guards in the Ministry of Corrections; as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Germany17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); conscription ended July 2011; service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years; women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001 (2021) note - in 2021, women accounted for about 12% of the German military Topic: Ghana18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2021) Topic: Greece19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month obligation for all services (note - as an exception, the duration of the full military service is 9 instead of 12 months if conscripts, after the initial training, serve the entire remaining time in certain areas of the eastern borders, in Cyprus, or in certain military units); 18 years of age for volunteers; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2021) note(s) - approximately 40-50% of the Greek military is comprised of conscripts; as of 2019, women comprised approximately 19% of the full-time military personnel Topic: Guatemalaall male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible for military service; in practice, most of the force is volunteer, however, a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 1 to 2 years; women may volunteer (2021) note - as of 2017, women made up an estimated 5-10% of the active military Topic: GuineaVoluntary and selective conscripted service, 9-24 mos (2021) Topic: Guinea-Bissau18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2021) Topic: Guyana18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps: 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be Roman Catholic, a single male, and a Swiss citizen, with a secondary education; service is for 26 months (2021) Topic: Honduras18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2017, women made up over 4% of the active duty military Topic: Hungary18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005); 6-month service obligation (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised approximately 20% of Hungary's full-time military personnel Topic: India16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as Air Force pilots, and under consideration for Army and Navy combat roles (currently can fly naval reconnaissance aircraft) (2021) Topic: Indonesia18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized (males, age 18), but not utilized; 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers) (2021) Topic: Iran18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18-24 months, depending on the location of service (soldiers serving in places of high security risk and deprived areas serve shorter terms); women exempt from military service (2021) note - as of 2019, approximately 80% of Artesh ground forces personnel were conscripts, while Navy and Air/Air Defense Force personnel were primarily volunteers; conscripts reportedly comprised more than 50 percent of the IRGC Topic: Iraq18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2003) (2021) note - in late 2021, the Iraqi Government approved a draft conscription law for the Council of Representatives to debate Topic: Ireland18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Defence Forces (18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-26 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 12-year service (5 active, 7 reserves); Irish citizen, European Economic Area citizenship, or refugee status (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Israel18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; Jews and Druze can be conscripted; Christians, Circassians, and Muslims may volunteer; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript liability 48 months for officers, 32 months for other ranks, 24 for women;  conscript service obligation - 32 months for enlisted men and about 24 months for enlisted women (varies based on military occupation), 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9-year service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), age 24 (women) (2021) note(s) - women have served in the Israeli military since its establishment in 1948; as of 2021, women made up about 35% of IDF personnel; more than 90% of military specialties, including combat specialties, were open to women and more than 3,000 women were serving in combat units; the IDF's first mixed-gender infantry unit, the Caracal Battalion, was established in 2004; as of 2021, conscripts comprised about 70% of the IDF ground forces Topic: Italy18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 1-year service obligation; conscription abolished 2004 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Jamaicano conscription; 18-23 for voluntary military service (17 with parental consent; 18-28 for the reserves); since 2017, the JDF's standard mode of recruitment is to enroll recruits ages 18-23 through the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC); in the JNSC, soldiers receive basic military, vocational, and life skills training; upon completion of 1-year of service, soldiers can continue on with the JDF or seek other opportunities with law enforcement (2021) Topic: Japan18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (maximum enlistment age 32); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Jordan17 years of age for voluntary male military service (women can volunteer to serve in noncombat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps and RJAF); initial service term 2 years, with option to reenlist for 18 years; conscription abolished in 1991; however, in 2020, Jordan announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service for jobless men aged between 25 and 29 with 12 months of service, made up of 3 months of military training and 9 months of professional and technical training; in 2019, announced a voluntary 4-month National Military Service program for men and women aged between 18-25 years who have been unemployed for at least 6 months; service would include 1 month for military training with the remaining 3 months dedicated to vocational training in the sectors of construction and tourism (2021) note - most women serve in the medical service; outside the medical service, women comprised about 1.5% of the military as of 2019; the Jordanian Government intended to raise this to 3% Topic: Kazakhstanall men 18-27 are required to serve in the military for at least one year (2021) Topic: Kenyano conscription; 18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2021) Topic: Korea, North17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (reportedly reduced in 2021 to 7-8 years for men and 5 years for women) (2021) note(s) - the bulk of the KPA is made up of conscripts; as many as 20 percent of North Korean males between the ages of 16 and 54 are in the military at a given time and possibly up to 30 percent of males between the ages of 18 and 27, not counting the reserves or paramilitary units Topic: Korea, South18-28 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum conscript service obligation varies by service- 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service  (2021) note(s) - women, in service since 1950, are able to serve in all branches, including as officers, and in 2020 comprised about 7.5% of the active duty military; in 2021, about 330,000 of the military's active personnel were conscripts; South Korea intends to reduce the length of military service to 18 – 22 months by 2022 Topic: Kosovoservice is voluntary; must be over the age of 18 and a citizen of Kosovo; upper age for enlisting is 30 for officers, 25 for other ranks, although these may be waived for recruits with key skills considered essential for the KSF (2021) Topic: Kuwait17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Kuwait reintroduced one-year mandatory service for men aged 18-35 in May 2017 after having suspended conscription in 2001; service is divided in two phases – four months for training and eight months for military service; women were allowed to volunteer in 2021 (2021)   Topic: Kyrgyzstan18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 1-year service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2021) Topic: Laos18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2021) Topic: Latvia18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007) (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Lebanon17-25 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women comprised about 5% of the active duty military Topic: Lesotho18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women can serve as commissioned officers (2021) Topic: Liberia18-35 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women made up about .4% of the active military Topic: Libyanot available Topic: Lithuania19-26 years of age for conscripted military service (males); 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service (male and female) (2021) note(s) - Lithuania conscripts up to 4,000 males each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery system; as of 2019, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Luxembourg18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 1969); Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: MadagascarMadagascar has an all-volunteer military; 18-25 years of age for males; service obligation 18 months; women are permitted to serve in all branches (2021) Topic: Malawi18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2021) Topic: Malaysia17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; women serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces; no conscription (2021) note - in 2020, the Malaysian Armed Forces announced a goal of having 10% of the active military comprised of women Topic: Maldives18-28 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2021) Topic: Mali18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2021) Topic: Malta18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) Topic: Mauritania18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Mauritiusservice is voluntary (2021) Topic: Mexico18 years of age for compulsory military service for males (selection for service determined by lottery); conscript service obligation is 12 months; those selected serve on Saturdays in a Batallón del Servicio Militar Nacional (National Military Service Battalion) composed entirely of one-year Servicio Militar Nacional (SMN) conscripts; conscripts remain in reserve status until the age of 40; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; cadets enrolled in military schools from the age of 15 are considered members of the armed forces; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2021) note - as of 2018, women comprised about 9% of the active duty military Topic: Moldova18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 1-year service obligation (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 20% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Mongolia18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in army or air forces or police for males only (can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a tax voucher); after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces (2021) Topic: Montenegro18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Morocco19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service (reintroduced in 2019); both sexes are obligated to military service (2021) Topic: Mozambiqueregistration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2021) Topic: Namibia18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2018, women comprised more than 20% of the active military Topic: Nepal18 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women comprised about 5% of the active duty military Topic: Netherlands17 years of age for an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997 (2021) note - in 2019, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: New Zealand17 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2021) note - New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; in 2019, women accounted for about 18% of the uniformed full-time personnel Topic: Nicaragua18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; tour of duty 18-36 months; requires Nicaraguan nationality and 6th-grade education (2021) Topic: Nigerhas conscription, although it is reportedly not always enforced; 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2021) Topic: Nigeria18-26 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) Topic: North Macedonia18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Norway19-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 19-month service obligation; conscripts first serve 12 months from 19-28, and then up to 4-5 refresher training periods until age 35, 44, 55, or 60 depending on rank and function (2021) note(s) - Norway conscripts about 8,000 individuals annually; Norway was the first NATO country to allow females to serve in all combat arms branches of the military (1985); it also has an all-female special operations unit known as Jegertroppen (The Hunter Troop), which was established in 2014; as of 2019, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Oman18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (women have been allowed to serve since 2011); no conscription (2021) Topic: Pakistan16 (or 17 depending on service)-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; women serve in all three armed forces; reserve obligation to age 45 for enlisted men, age 50 for officers (2021) Topic: Papua New Guinea16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (2021) Topic: Paraguay18 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (conscripts also serve in the National Police); volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2021) note - as of 2021, women made up about 6% of the active military Topic: Peru18-50 years of age for male and 18-45 years of age for female voluntary military service (12 months); no conscription (abolished in 1999) (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 10% of the active duty military Topic: Philippines18-23 years of age (officers 21-29; 21-26 for women officers) for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women made up about 6% of the active military; women were allowed to enter the Philippine Military Academy and train as combat soldiers in 1993 Topic: Poland18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; 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; women serve in the military on the same terms as men (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Portugal18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service; no compulsory military service (abolished 2004), but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1992, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; contract service lasts for an initial period from two to six years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 12% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Qatarconscription for males aged 18-35 introduced in 2013; compulsory service times range from 4-12 months, depending on the cadets educational and professional circumstances; since 2018, women have been permitted to serve in the armed forces, including as uniformed officers and pilots (2021) note - as of 2020, the military incorporated about 2,000 conscripts annually Topic: Romaniaconscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2021) Topic: Russia18-27 years of age for compulsory (men only) or voluntary (men and women) military service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; one-year service obligation (Russia offers the option of serving on a two-year contract instead of completing a one-year conscription period); reserve obligation for non-officers to age 50; enrollment in military schools from the age of 16, cadets classified as members of the armed forces (2021) note(s) - as of 2021, conscripts reportedly comprised about 30% of the Russian military's active duty personnel; in April of 2019, the Russian Government pledged its intent to end conscription as part of a decade-long effort to shift from a large, conscript-based military to a smaller, more professional force; as of 2020, women made up about 5% of the active duty military Topic: Rwanda18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription; Rwandan citizenship is required; enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career (2021) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis18 years of age for voluntary military service (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2021) Topic: San Marino18 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 service in the military (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2021) Topic: Saudi Arabia17-40 for men; no conscription; as of 2021, women (aged 18-40) were allowed to serve in the Army, Air Defense, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, medical services, and internal security forces up to the rank of non-commissioned officer (2021) Topic: Senegal18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); 20 years of age for selective conscript service; 2-year service obligation; women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2021) Topic: Serbia18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2011 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Seychelles18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service (including women); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2021) Topic: Sierra Leone18-29 for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve; no conscription (2021) Topic: Singapore18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 1/2 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers); women are not conscripted, but they are allowed to volunteer for all services and branches, including combat arms (2021) note(s) - under the Enlistment Act, all male Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to enter National Service (NS) upon attaining the age of 18; most NS conscripts serve in the SAF, but some go into the Police Force or Civil Defense Force; as of 2020, conscripts comprised over half of the defense establishment; as of 2017, women made up about 7% of the active force Topic: Slovakia18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2004; women are eligible to serve (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up around 12% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Slovenia18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); conscription abolished in 2003 (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised about 15% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Somalia18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscription is authorized, but not currently utilized (2021) Topic: South Africa18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2021) note - in 2019, women comprised about 30% of the SANDF Topic: South Sudan18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; 12-24 months service (2021) note - in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military Topic: Spain18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription (abolished 2001), but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency (2021) note - as of 2019, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Sri Lanka18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) Topic: Sudan18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory or voluntary military service; 1-2 year service obligation (2021) note - implementation of conscription is reportedly uneven Topic: Suriname18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Topic: Sweden18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both female and male (age 18), and requires 9-12 months of service (2021) note(s) - Sweden conscripts about 5,500 men and women each year; as of 2019, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Switzerland18-30 years of age generally for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male has to serve at least 245 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by six 19-day intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2021) note - conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service Topic: Syria18-42 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2021) note - the SAF is largely comprised of conscripts Topic: Taiwanstarting with those born in 1994, males 18-36 years of age may volunteer for military service or must complete 4 months of compulsory military training (or substitute civil service in some cases); men born before December 1993 are required to complete compulsory service for 1 year (military or civil); men are subject to training recalls up to four times for periods not to exceed 20 days for 8 years after discharge; women may enlist, but are restricted to noncombat roles in most cases; as part of its transition to an all-volunteer military in December 2018, the last cohort of one-year military conscripts completed their service obligations (2021) note - as of 2018, women made up about 14% of the active duty military Topic: Tajikistan18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation; in August 2021, the Tajik Government began allowing men to pay a fee in order to avoid conscription (2021) Topic: Tanzania18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-year commitment (2-year contracts afterwards); selective conscription for 2 years of public service (2021) Topic: Thailand18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); 21 years of age for compulsory military service (men only); males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation varies by educational qualifications (2021) note(s) - information varies, but conscripts reportedly comprise as much as 50% of the RTARF; around 100,000 males are drafted each year; as of 2020, women comprised about 8% of active military personnel Topic: Timor-Leste18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-month service obligation (2021) Topic: Togo18 years of age for military service; 2-year service obligation; no conscription; women have been able to serve since 2007 (2021) Topic: Tongamen and women, 18-25, may volunteer; no conscription (2021) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women; some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2017, women comprised about 14% of the active military Topic: Tunisiamen 20-23 years of age for compulsory service, 1-year service obligation; individuals engaged in higher education or vocational training programs prior to their military drafting are allowed to delay service until they have completed their programs; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; women may volunteer (2021) note(s) - as of 2021, approximately 20-25,000 active military personnel were conscripts; women have been allowed in the service since 1975 as volunteers only, although as recently as 2018, the Tunisian Government has discussed the possibility of conscripting women; as of 2018, women constituted less than 7% of the military and served in all three services Topic: TurkeyPresident Erdoğan on 25 June 2019 signed a new law cutting the men’s mandatory military service period in half, as well as making paid military service permanent; with the new system, the period of conscription was reduced from 12 months to six months for privates and non-commissioned soldiers (the service term for reserve officers chosen among university or college graduates will remain 12 months); after completing six months of service, if a conscripted soldier wants to and is suitable for extending his military service, he may do so for an additional six months in return for a monthly salary; under the new law, all male Turkish citizens over the age of 20 will be required to undergo a one month military training period, but they can obtain an exemption from the remaining five months of their mandatory service by paying 31,000 Turkish Liras (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about .3% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: Turkmenistan18-30 years of age for compulsory male military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2.5 years for the Navy); 20 years of age for voluntary service (including females); males may enroll in military schools from age 15 (2021) Topic: Uganda18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty (men and women); 9-year service obligation (2021) Topic: Ukraineconscription abolished in 2012, but reintroduced in 2014; 20-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2021) note(s) - the Ukrainian military has a mix of conscripts (14,000 conscripted in 2021) and professional soldiers on contracts; by law, conscripts cannot serve on the frontlines, but have the opportunity to sign short or long-term contracts upon the expiration of their terms of service; women can volunteer and have served in the Ukrainian armed forces since 1993; as of 2021, women comprised approximately 15-20% of the military; in late 2021, the Ukrainian Government began requiring women between 18 and 60 who are fit for military service and work in a broad range of professions to register with Ukraine's armed forces   Topic: United Arab Emirates18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men (compulsory service initiated in 2014); 17 years of age for male volunteers with parental approval; males can volunteer up to age 40; 24-month general service obligation, 16 months for secondary school graduates; women can volunteer to serve for 9 months regardless of education (2021) note - compulsory service may be completed in the uniformed military, the Ministry of Interior, the State Security Service, or other institutions designated by the military leadership Topic: United Kingdomslight variations by service, but generally 16-36 years of age for enlisted (with parental consent under 18) and 18-29 for officers; minimum length of service 4 years; women serve in military services including ground combat roles; conscription abolished in 1963 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel Topic: United States18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; no conscription  (currently inactive, but males aged 18-25 must register with Selective Service in case conscription is reinstated in the future); maximum enlistment age 34 (Army), 39 (Air Force), 39 (Navy), 28 (Marines), 31 (Coast Guard); 8-year service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard); all military occupations and positions open to women (2021) note - in 2019, women comprised about 18% of the total US military Topic: Uruguay18-30 years of age (18-22 years of age for Navy) for male or female voluntary military service; up to 40 years of age for specialists; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2021) note - as of 2017, women comprised about 19% of the active military Topic: Uzbekistan18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript service obligation for males (conscripts have the option of paying for a shorter service of one month while remaining in the reserves until the age of 27); Uzbek citizens who have completed their service terms in the armed forces have privileges in employment and admission to higher educational institutions (2021) Topic: Venezuela18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; all citizens of military service age (18-50 years old) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training, although “forcible recruitment” is forbidden (2021) note - as of 2017, women made up more than 20% of the active duty military Topic: Vietnam18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (females eligible for conscription, but in practice only males are drafted); conscription typically takes place twice annually and service obligation is 2 years (Army, Air Defense) and 3 years (Navy and Air Force) (2021) Topic: West Banknot available Topic: Yemen18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2001; 2-year service obligation (note - limited information since the start of the civil war) (2021) Topic: Zambia18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 with parental consent); no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2021) Topic: Zimbabwe18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel); no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2021)

20220601

countries-portugal

Topic: Photos of Portugal Topic: Introduction Background: Following its heyday as 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 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.Following its heyday as 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 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 91,470 sq km water: 620 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,224 km border countries (1): Spain 1,224 km Coastline: 1,793 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: 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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m 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: 39.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.) forest: 37.8% (2018 est.) other: 22.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 5,400 sq km (2012) 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 earthquakesvolcanism: 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 TerceiraAzores subject to severe earthquakesvolcanism: 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 Map description: Portugal map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding Spain and the North Atlantic Ocean.Portugal map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding Spain and the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 10,242,081 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese Ethnic groups: Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal’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: Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim) 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3% (2011 est.) note: data represent population 15 years of age and older Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.58% (male 716,102/female 682,582) 15-24 years: 10.94% (male 580,074/female 547,122) 25-54 years: 41.49% (male 2,109,693/female 2,164,745) 55-64 years: 13.08% (male 615,925/female 731,334) 65 years and over: 20.92% (2020 est.) (male 860,198/female 1,294,899) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.8 youth dependency ratio: 20.3 elderly dependency ratio: 35.5 potential support ratio: 2.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 44.6 years male: 42.7 years female: 46.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.2% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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: 67.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.986 million LISBON (capital), 1.320 million Porto (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.9 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.5 years male: 78.37 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 73.9% (2014) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.7% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.3% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.5% (2019) Physicians density: 5.12 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 42,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2015/16) Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 97.4% female: 95.1% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 22.6% male: 21% female: 24.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas Environment - international 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 7.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 48.74 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.93 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south Land use: agricultural land: 39.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.) forest: 37.8% (2018 est.) other: 22.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 67.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.71 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 764,433 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.2% (2014 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 914.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.497 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 8.767 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 77.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal etymology: name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale" meaning "Port of Cale"; Cale was an ancient Celtic town and port in present-day northern Portugal Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Lisbon geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1) etymology: Lisbon is one of Europe's oldest cities (the second oldest capital city after Athens) and the origin of the name is lost in time; it may have been founded as an ancient Celtic settlement that subsequently maintained close commercial relations with the Phoenicians (beginning about 1200 B.C.); the name of the settlement may have been derived from the pre-Roman appellation for the Tagus River that runs through the city, Lisso or Lucio; the Romans named the city "Olisippo" when they took it from the Carthaginians in 205 B.C.; under the Visigoths the city name became "Ulixbona," under the Arabs it was "al-Ushbuna"; the medieval version of "Lissabona" became today's Lisboa 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 Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed) National holiday: Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976 amendments: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members; amended several times, last in 2005 (2021) Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal dual citizenship recognized: yes 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) head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis Santos da COSTA (since 24 November 2015) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 January 2021 (next to be held in January 2026); following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: 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) 12.97%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.32%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 3.95%, other 6.16% note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; 226 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote and 4 members - 2 each in 2 constituencies representing Portuguese living abroad - directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 30 January 2022 (next to be held in January 2026); note - early elections were called after parliament was dissolved on 3 November 2021 because of the 27 October 2021 rejection of the government's budget election results: percent of vote by party - PS 42.5%, PSD 28.4%, Enough 7.4%, IL 5%, BE 4.5%, CDU 4.4%, other 7.8%; seats by party - PS 120, PSD 72, Enough 12, IL 8, CDU 6, BE 5, other 3; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges) 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 subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alliance (2022 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP [Assuncao CRISTAS] Ecologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA] Enough (Chega) [Andre VENTURA] Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or IL [Joao COTRIM DE FIGUEIREDO] Madeira First (2022 electoral alliance in Madeira, includes PSD, CDS-PP) People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN [Andre SILVA] People's Monarchist Party or PPM [Gonçalo DA CAMARA PEREIRA] Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (original name Partido Popular Democratico or PPD) [Rui RIO] Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS [Antonio COSTA] The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco [Catarina MARTINS] Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP and PEV) 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, MINUSMA, 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, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Domingos Teixeira de Abreu FEZAS VITAL (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400; [1] (202) 332-3007 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726; [1] (202) 387-2768 email address and website: info.washington@mne.pt; sconsular.washington@mne.pt https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kristin M. KANE (since January 2021) embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa mailing address: 5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC  20521-5320 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109 email address and website: conslisbon@state.gov https://pt.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores) Flag description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation National symbol(s): armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky and representing the Republic); national colors: red, green National anthem: name: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese) lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL note: adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the "insult" that resulted from the event National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural) 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) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community - the EU's predecessor - in 1986. Over the following two decades, successive governments privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country joined the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU members.   The economy grew by more than the EU average for much of the 1990s, but the rate of growth slowed in 2001-08. After the global financial crisis in 2008, Portugal’s economy contracted in 2009 and fell into recession from 2011 to 2013, as the government implemented spending cuts and tax increases to comply with conditions of an EU-IMF financial rescue package, signed in May 2011. Portugal successfully exited its EU-IMF program in May 2014, and its economic recovery gained traction in 2015 because of strong exports and a rebound in private consumption. GDP growth accelerated in 2016, and probably reached 2.5 % in 2017. Unemployment remained high, at 9.7% in 2017, but has improved steadily since peaking at 18% in 2013.   The center-left minority Socialist government has unwound some unpopular austerity measures while managing to remain within most EU fiscal targets. The budget deficit fell from 11.2% of GDP in 2010 to 1.8% in 2017, the country’s lowest since democracy was restored in 1974, and surpassing the EU and IMF projections of 3%. Portugal exited the EU’s excessive deficit procedure in mid-2017.Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community - the EU's predecessor - in 1986. Over the following two decades, successive governments privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country joined the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU members. The economy grew by more than the EU average for much of the 1990s, but the rate of growth slowed in 2001-08. After the global financial crisis in 2008, Portugal’s economy contracted in 2009 and fell into recession from 2011 to 2013, as the government implemented spending cuts and tax increases to comply with conditions of an EU-IMF financial rescue package, signed in May 2011. Portugal successfully exited its EU-IMF program in May 2014, and its economic recovery gained traction in 2015 because of strong exports and a rebound in private consumption. GDP growth accelerated in 2016, and probably reached 2.5 % in 2017. Unemployment remained high, at 9.7% in 2017, but has improved steadily since peaking at 18% in 2013. The center-left minority Socialist government has unwound some unpopular austerity measures while managing to remain within most EU fiscal targets. The budget deficit fell from 11.2% of GDP in 2010 to 1.8% in 2017, the country’s lowest since democracy was restored in 1974, and surpassing the EU and IMF projections of 3%. Portugal exited the EU’s excessive deficit procedure in mid-2017. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $331.64 billion (2020 est.) $358.78 billion (2019 est.) $350.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.24% (2019 est.) 2.85% (2018 est.) 3.51% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $32,200 (2020 est.) $34,900 (2019 est.) $34,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $237.698 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2007) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.2% (2017 est.) industry: 22.1% (2017 est.) services: 75.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 65.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -42.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, potatoes, pork, apples, oranges, poultry 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: 3.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.717 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8.6% industry: 23.9% services: 67.5% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.55% (2019 est.) 7.05% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 22.6% male: 21% female: 24.4% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 17.2% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.8 (2017 est.) 34 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.9% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 93.55 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 100 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 125.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 129.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 42.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$203 million (2019 est.) $988 million (2018 est.) Exports: $85.28 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $104.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $105.76 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Spain 23%, France 13%, Germany 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United States 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, leather footwear, paper products, tires (2019) Imports: $89.31 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $103.05 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $103.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Spain 29%, Germany 13%, France 9%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, aircraft, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, natural gas (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $26.11 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $19.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $462.431 billion (2019 est.) $483.206 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 56.9 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 46.94 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 9.701 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.616 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 20.56 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 41% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 285,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 323,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 247,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 143,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 78,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 6.258 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 6.541 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,212,507 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 11,909,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116.46 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base; mobile market dominated by one operator with room for competition; 3G infrastructure is universal, with investment directed toward expanding provision of 90% LTE coverage in rural areas and 5G technologies; cable sector shifting to wireless, with access to 66% of population; developments in m-commerce; operator assessing installation of submarine cable between islands and mainland; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU (2020) domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations; fixed-line roughly 51 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 116 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 351; landing points for the Ella Link, BUGIO, EIG, SAT-3/WASC, SeaMeWe-3, Equino, MainOne, Tat TGN-Western Europe, WACS, ACE, Atlantis2 and Columbus-III submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP), the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; overall, roughly 40 domestic TV stations; viewers have widespread access to international broadcasters with more than half of all 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 some 300 regional and local commercial radio stations Internet country code: .pt Internet users: total: 8,031,723 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,160,795 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 168 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,367,956 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 454.21 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CR, CS Airports: total: 64 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2021) Pipelines: 1344 km gas, 11 km oil, 188 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 3,075 km (2014) narrow gauge: 108.1 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge broad gauge: 2,439 km (2014) 1.668-m gauge (1,633.4 km electrified) other: 528 km (2014) (gauge unspecified) Roadways: total: 82,900 km (2008) paved: 71,294 km (2008) (includes 2,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,606 km (2008) Waterways: 210 km (2011) (on Douro River from Porto) Merchant marine: total: 726 by type: bulk carrier 86, container ship 267, general cargo 137, oil tanker 27, other 209 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines container port(s) (TEUs): Sines (1,420,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Sines Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Portuguese Armed Forces: Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP); Portuguese National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2021) note - the GNR is a national gendarmerie force comprised of military personnel with law enforcement, internal security, civil defense, disaster response, and coast guard duties; it is responsible to the Minister of Internal Administration and to the Minister of National Defense; in the event of war or crisis, it may be placed under the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020) 1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $4.31 billion) 1.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.06 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.62 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Portuguese Armed Forces have approximately 27,000 active duty personnel (14,000 Army; 7,000 Navy, inc about 1,000 marines; 6,000 Air Force); 24,500 National Republican Guard (military personnel) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Portuguese Armed Forces inventory includes mostly European and US-origin weapons systems along with a smaller mix of domestically-produced equipment; since 2010, Germany and the US are the leading suppliers of armaments to Portugal; Portugal's defense industry is primarily focused on shipbuilding (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service; no compulsory military service (abolished 2004), but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1992, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; contract service lasts for an initial period from two to six years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 12% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA/EUTM); up to 120 Lithuania (2022) note - in 2021, Portugal deployed about 80 troops to Mozambique to assist with the EU training mission Military - note: Portugal is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of BadajozPortugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 45 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin  a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin 

20220601

countries-eritrea-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Eritrea due to COVID-19, travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, and landmines. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [291] (1) 120004; US Embassy Asmara, 179 Alaa Street, Asmara, Eritrea; https://er.usembassy.gov/; consularasmara@state.gov Telephone Code: 291 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands Currency (Code): Nakfa (ERN) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, L Major Languages: Trigrinya, Arabic, English, Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages Major Religions: Sunni Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Asmara (includes St. Mariam Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Kulafah Al Rashidin Mosque); Dahlak Marine National Park Major Sports: Soccer, cycling, volleyball Cultural Practices: Unlike in western countries where raised eyebrows indicate puzzlement, in Eretria they signal affirmation or approval. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping up to 10% of the bill in restaurants is appreciated, but not always expected; this amount may sometimes be included as a service charge. Tipping taxi drivers is uncommon.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-cote-divoire

Topic: Photos of Cote d'Ivoire Topic: Introduction Background: Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities - some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom - originally founded in the 17th century - tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969.  Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties with France. The export and production of cocoa and foreign investment drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. In December 1999, a military coup overthrew the government. In late 2000, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. In September 2002, Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French forces. In 2015, OUATTARA won a second term. In October 2020, OUATTARA won a controversial third presidential term, despite a two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution, in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition did participate peacefully in March 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in March 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s June 2021 return to Abidjan. GBAGBO has publicly met with President OUATTARA since his return in June 2021 as a demonstration of political reconciliation. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2025.  Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities - some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom - originally founded in the 17th century - tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969.  Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties with France. The export and production of cocoa and foreign investment drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. In December 1999, a military coup overthrew the government. In late 2000, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. In September 2002, Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French forces. In 2015, OUATTARA won a second term. In October 2020, OUATTARA won a controversial third presidential term, despite a two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution, in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition did participate peacefully in March 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in March 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s June 2021 return to Abidjan. GBAGBO has publicly met with President OUATTARA since his return in June 2021 as a demonstration of political reconciliation. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2025. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 322,463 sq km land: 318,003 sq km water: 4,460 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico Land boundaries: total: 3,458 km border countries (5): Burkina Faso 545 km; Ghana 720 km; Guinea 816 km; Liberia 778 km; Mali 599 km Coastline: 515 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest Elevation: highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m mean elevation: 250 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 14.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 32.7% (2018 est.) other: 2.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 730 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Lagune Aby - 780 sq km Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible Geography - note: most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated Map description: Cote d’Ivoire map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.Cote d’Ivoire map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea. Topic: People and Society Population: 28,713,423 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Ivoirian(s) adjective: Ivoirian Ethnic groups: Akan 28.9%, Voltaique or Gur 16.1%, Northern Mande 14.5%, Kru 8.5%, Southern Mande 6.9%, unspecified 0.9%, non-Ivoirian 24.2% (2014 est.) Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.) note: the majority of foreign migrant workers are Muslim (72.7%) and Christian (17.7%) Demographic profile: Cote d’Ivoire’s population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future because almost 60% of the populace is younger than 25, the total fertility rate is holding steady at about 3.5 children per woman, and contraceptive use is under 20%. The country will need to improve education, health care, and gender equality in order to turn its large and growing youth cohort into human capital. Even prior to 2010 unrest that shuttered schools for months, access to education was poor, especially for women. As of 2015, only 53% of men and 33% of women were literate. The lack of educational attainment contributes to Cote d’Ivoire’s high rates of unskilled labor, adolescent pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS prevalence.Following its independence in 1960, Cote d’Ivoire’s stability and the blossoming of its labor-intensive cocoa and coffee industries in the southwest made it an attractive destination for migrants from other parts of the country and its neighbors, particularly Burkina Faso. The HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY administration continued the French colonial policy of encouraging labor immigration by offering liberal land ownership laws. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998.Ongoing economic decline since the 1980s and the power struggle after HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY’s death in 1993 ushered in the politics of "Ivoirite," institutionalizing an Ivoirian identity that further marginalized northern Ivoirians and scapegoated immigrants. The hostile Muslim north-Christian south divide snowballed into a 2002 civil war, pushing tens of thousands of foreign migrants, Liberian refugees, and Ivoirians to flee to war-torn Liberia or other regional countries and more than a million people to be internally displaced. Subsequently, violence following the contested 2010 presidential election prompted some 250,000 people to seek refuge in Liberia and other neighboring countries and again internally displaced as many as a million people. By July 2012, the majority had returned home, but ongoing inter-communal tension and armed conflict continue to force people from their homes.Cote d’Ivoire’s population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future because almost 60% of the populace is younger than 25, the total fertility rate is holding steady at about 3.5 children per woman, and contraceptive use is under 20%. The country will need to improve education, health care, and gender equality in order to turn its large and growing youth cohort into human capital. Even prior to 2010 unrest that shuttered schools for months, access to education was poor, especially for women. As of 2015, only 53% of men and 33% of women were literate. The lack of educational attainment contributes to Cote d’Ivoire’s high rates of unskilled labor, adolescent pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS prevalence.Following its independence in 1960, Cote d’Ivoire’s stability and the blossoming of its labor-intensive cocoa and coffee industries in the southwest made it an attractive destination for migrants from other parts of the country and its neighbors, particularly Burkina Faso. The HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY administration continued the French colonial policy of encouraging labor immigration by offering liberal land ownership laws. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998.Ongoing economic decline since the 1980s and the power struggle after HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY’s death in 1993 ushered in the politics of "Ivoirite," institutionalizing an Ivoirian identity that further marginalized northern Ivoirians and scapegoated immigrants. The hostile Muslim north-Christian south divide snowballed into a 2002 civil war, pushing tens of thousands of foreign migrants, Liberian refugees, and Ivoirians to flee to war-torn Liberia or other regional countries and more than a million people to be internally displaced. Subsequently, violence following the contested 2010 presidential election prompted some 250,000 people to seek refuge in Liberia and other neighboring countries and again internally displaced as many as a million people. By July 2012, the majority had returned home, but ongoing inter-communal tension and armed conflict continue to force people from their homes. Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.53% (male 5,311,971/female 5,276,219) 15-24 years: 20.21% (male 2,774,374/female 2,779,012) 25-54 years: 34.88% (male 4,866,957/female 4,719,286) 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 494,000/female 476,060) 65 years and over: 2.85% (2020 est.) (male 349,822/female 433,385) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 79.8 youth dependency ratio: 74.6 elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 potential support ratio: 19.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 20.3 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.19% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 28.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 52.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 231,000 YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) (2018), 5.516 million ABIDJAN (seat of government) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 617 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 55.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.26 years male: 60.07 years female: 64.52 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 23.3% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 89.9% of population rural: 69.1% of population total: 79.8% of population unimproved: urban: 10.1% of population rural: 30.9% of population total: 20.2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.3% (2019) Physicians density: 0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 77.8% of population rural: 35% of population total: 57.1% of population unimproved: urban: 22.2% of population rural: 65% of population total: 42.9% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 380,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.8% (2016) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7% (2016) women married by age 18: 27% (2016) men married by age 18: 3.5% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 93.1% female: 86.7% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.5% male: 4.7% female: 6.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage, and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 23.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.3 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) Land use: agricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 14.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 32.7% (2018 est.) other: 2.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 52.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.04% of GDP (2016 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,440,814 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 133,224 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2005 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Lagune Aby - 780 sq km Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 242 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 84.14 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast etymology: name reflects the intense ivory trade that took place in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries note: pronounced coat-div-whar Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Yamoussoukro (legislative capital), Abidjan (administrative capital); note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative capital as well as the officially designated economic capital; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 16 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Yamoussoukro is named after Queen YAMOUSSOU, who ruled in the village of N'Gokro in 1929 at the time of French colonization; the village was renamed Yamoussoukro, the suffix "-kro" meaning "town" in the native Baoule language; Abidjan's name supposedly comes from a misunderstanding; tradition states that an old man carrying branches met a European explorer who asked for the name of the nearest village; the man, not understanding and terrified by this unexpected encounter, fled shouting "min-chan m’bidjan," which in the Ebrie language means: "I return from cutting leaves"; the explorer, thinking that his question had been answered, recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan; a different version has the first colonists asking native women the name of the place and getting a similar response Administrative divisions: 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallee du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 August (1960) Constitution: history: previous 1960, 2000; latest draft completed 24 September 2016, approved by the National Assembly 11 October 2016, approved by referendum 30 October 2016, promulgated 8 November 2016 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of drafts or proposals requires an absolute majority vote by the parliamentary membership; passage of amendments affecting presidential elections, presidential term of office and vacancies, and amendment procedures requires approval by absolute majority in a referendum; passage of other proposals by the president requires at least four-fifths majority vote by Parliament; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of the state and its republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2020 Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cote d'Ivoire dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010); Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet KONE (since 19 April 2022); note - Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet KONE was appointed by President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA before a Congressional meeting on 19 April 2022 head of government: Prime Minister Patrick ACHI (since 19 April 2022); note - Prime Minister ACHI resigned on 13 April 2022 and was reappointed by President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA before a Congressional meeting on 19 April 2022 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single renewable 5-year term ; election last held on 31 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); vice president elected on same ballot as president; prime minister appointed by the president; note – because President OUATTARA promulgated the new constitution during his second term, he has claimed that the clock is reset on term limits, allowing him to run for up to two additional terms election results: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 94.3%, Kouadio Konan BERTIN (PDCI-RDA) 2.0%, other 3.7% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Senat (99 seats; 66 members indirectly elected by the National Assembly and members of municipal, autonomous districts, and regional councils, and 33 members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly (255 seats - 254 for 2021-2026 term; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - first ever held on 25 March 2018 (next to be held on 31 March 2023) National Assembly - last held on 6 March 2021 (next to be held on 31 March 2026) election results: Senate - percent by party NA; seats by party - RHDP 50, independent 16; composition - men 80, women 19, percent of women 19.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - RHDP 49.2%, PDCI-RRA-EDS 16.5%, DPIC 6%, TTB 2.1%  IPF 2%  seats by party - RHDP, 137, PDCI-RRA-EDS 50, DPIC 23, EDS 8, TTB 8, IPF 2, independent 26; composition - men 218, women 36, percent of women 14.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 15.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, a 7-member body consisting of the national president (chairman), 3 "bench" judges, and 3 public prosecutors; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts Political parties and leaders: African Peoples' Party-Cote d'Ivoire or PPA-CI[Laurent GBAGBO] Pan-African Congress for People's Justice and Equalityor COJEP [Charles BLE GOUDE] Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE] Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [former pres. [Pascal Affi N'GUESSAN] Liberty and Democracy for the Republic or LIDER [Mamadou KOULIBALY] Movement of the Future Forces or MFA [Innocent Augustin ANAKY KOBENA] Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP [Alassane OUATTARA]  Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Henriette DIABATE] Together for Democrary and Sovereignty [Georges Armand OUEGNIN] Together to Build (UDPCI, FPI,and allies) [Toikeuse MABRI] Together to Build (UDPCI, FPI,and allies) [Toikeuse MABRI] Union for Cote d'Ivoire or UPCI [Gnamien KONAN] Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI [Albert Toikeusse MABRI] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou HAIDARA (since 28 March 2018) chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444 email address and website: info@ambacidc.org https://ambaciusa.org/# Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard K. BELL (since 10 October 2019) embassy: B.P. 730 Abidjan Cidex 03 mailing address: 2010 Abidjan Place, Washington DC  20521-2010 telephone: [225] 27-22-49-40-00 FAX: [225] 27-22-49-43-23 email address and website: AbjAmCit@state.gov https://ci.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north and fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green represents the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France National symbol(s): elephant; national colors: orange, white, green National anthem: name: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan) lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO note: adopted 1960; although the nation's capital city moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro in 1983, the anthem still owes its name to the former capital National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Comoé National Park (n), Historic Grand-Bassam (c), Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (n), Sudanese-style Mosques (c), Taï National Park (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: For the last 5 years Cote d'Ivoire's growth rate has been among the highest in the world. Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly two-thirds of the population. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to climatic conditions. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top export revenue earners, but the country has targeted agricultural processing of cocoa, cashews, mangoes, and other commodities as a high priority. Mining gold and exporting electricity are growing industries outside agriculture.   Following the end of more than a decade of civil conflict in 2011, Cote d’Ivoire has experienced a boom in foreign investment and economic growth. In June 2012, the IMF and the World Bank announced $4.4 billion in debt relief for Cote d'Ivoire under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.For the last 5 years Cote d'Ivoire's growth rate has been among the highest in the world. Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly two-thirds of the population. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to climatic conditions. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top export revenue earners, but the country has targeted agricultural processing of cocoa, cashews, mangoes, and other commodities as a high priority. Mining gold and exporting electricity are growing industries outside agriculture. Following the end of more than a decade of civil conflict in 2011, Cote d’Ivoire has experienced a boom in foreign investment and economic growth. In June 2012, the IMF and the World Bank announced $4.4 billion in debt relief for Cote d'Ivoire under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $136.48 billion (2020 est.) $134.05 billion (2019 est.) $126.19 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.8% (2017 est.) 8.3% (2016 est.) 8.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $5,200 (2020 est.) $5,200 (2019 est.) $5,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $42.498 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.1% (2019 est.) 0.3% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2015) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 20.1% (2017 est.) industry: 26.6% (2017 est.) services: 53.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 30.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -30.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: yams, cassava, cocoa, oil palm fruit, sugar cane, rice, plantains, maize, cashew nuts, rubber Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 8.747 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 68% (2007 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2013 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.5% male: 4.7% female: 6.5% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 39.5% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 41.5 (2015 est.) 36.7 (1995) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 31.8% (2008) Budget: revenues: 7.749 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 9.464 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 47% of GDP (2017 est.) 47% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 19.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.86 billion (2017 est.) -$414 million (2016 est.) Exports: $13.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $13.08 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Netherlands 10%, United States 6%, France 6%, Spain 5%, Malaysia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Germany 5%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cocoa beans, gold, rubber, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2019) Imports: $12.88 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $13.18 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 18%, Nigeria 13%, France 11% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, rice, frozen fish, refined petroleum, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.257 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.935 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $13.07 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $11.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 594.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 76% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 51% (2019) Electricity - production: 9.73 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 6.245 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 872 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 19 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.914 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 60% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 40% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 52,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 26,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 62,350 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 100 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 69,360 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 51,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 31,450 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,405 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 264,073 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 40,095,246 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Côte d'Ivoire telecom systems continue to benefit from strong economic growth; fixed-line, Internet, and broadband sectors remain underdeveloped; mobile sector is strong; progress in national backbone network and connection to submarine cable that will increase Internet bandwidth; country is poised to develop broadband market and digital economy; government further tightened SIM card registration rules (2020) domestic: 1 per 100 fixed-line teledensity; with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market, mobile subscriptions have increased to 152 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE, MainOne, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: state-controlled Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirieinne (RTI) is made up of 2 radios stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Frequence2) and 2 television stations (RTI1 and RTI2), with nationwide coverage, broadcasts mainly in French; after 2011 post-electoral crisis, President OUATTARA's administration reopened RTI Bouake', the broadcaster's office in Cote d'Ivoire's 2nd largest city, where facilities were destroyed during the 2002 rebellion; Cote d'Ivoire is also home to 178 proximity radios stations, 16 religious radios stations, 5 commercial radios stations, and 5 international radios stations, according to the Haute Autorite' de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA); govt now runs radio UNOCIFM, a radio station previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in Dec 2016, the govt announced 4 companies had been granted licenses to operate -Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI, out of the 4 companies only one has started operating (2019) Internet country code: .ci Internet users: total: 9,496,179 (2020 est.) percent of population: 36% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 260,097 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.99 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 779,482 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5.8 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TU Airports: total: 27 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 101 km condensate, 256 km gas, 118 km oil, 5 km oil/gas/water, 7 km water (2013) Railways: total: 660 km (2008) narrow gauge: 660 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso Roadways: total: 81,996 km (2007) paved: 6,502 km (2007) unpaved: 75,494 km (2007) note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable Waterways: 980 km (2011) (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) Merchant marine: total: 25 by type: oil tanker 2, other 23 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Abidjan, San-Pedro oil terminal(s): Espoir Offshore Terminal Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Forces Armees de Cote d'Ivoire, FACI; aka Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, FRCI): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale), Cote Air Force (Force Aerienne Cote), Special Forces (Forces Speciale); National Gendarmerie (under the Ministry of Defense); Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: National Police; Coordination Center for Operational Decisions (a mix of police, gendarmerie, and FACI personnel for assisting police in providing security in some large cities) (2022) Military expenditures: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $710 million) 1.2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $780 million) 1.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $720 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active troops (23,000 Army, including about 2,000 Special Forces; 1,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force); est. 5-10,000 Gendarmerie (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the FACI consists mostly of older or second-hand equipment, typically of French or Soviet-era origin; Cote d'Ivoire was under a partial UN arms embargo from 2004 to 2016; since 2016, it has received limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from a variety of countries (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; conscription is not enforced; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2021) Military deployments: 860 Mali (MINUSMA) (2022) Military - note: the military has mutinied several times since the late 1990s, most recently in 2017, and has had a large role in the country’s political turmoil; as of 2022, the FACI was focused on internal security and the growing threat posed by Islamic militants associated with the al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group operating across the border in Burkina Faso; AQIM militants conducted significant attacks in the country in 2016 and 2020; Côte d’Ivoire since 2016 has stepped up border security and completed building a joint counter-terrorism training center with France near Abidjan in 2020 the UN maintained a 9,000-strong peacekeeping force in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) from 2004 until 2017 Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea" Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: disputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghanadisputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 308,000 (post-election conflict in 2010-11, as well as civil war from 2002-04; land disputes; most pronounced in western and southwestern regions) (2019) stateless persons: 952,969 (mid-year 2021); note - many Ivoirians lack documentation proving their nationality, which prevent them from accessing education and healthcare; birth on Ivorian soil does not automatically result in citizenship; disputes over citizenship and the associated rights of the large population descended from migrants from neighboring countries is an ongoing source of tension and contributed to the country's 2002 civil war; some observers believe the government's mass naturalizations of thousands of people over the last couple of years is intended to boost its electoral support base; the government in October 2013 acceded to international conventions on statelessness and in August 2013 reformed its nationality law, key steps to clarify the nationality of thousands of residents; since the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration to eradicate statelessness in West Africa in February 2015, 6,400 people have received nationality papers; in September 2020, Cote d'Ivoire adopted Africa's first statelessness determination procedure to regularize the status of stateless people Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

20220601

field-fiscal-year

This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY). Topic: Afghanistan21 December - 20 December Topic: Albaniacalendar year Topic: Algeriacalendar year Topic: American Samoa1 October - 30 September Topic: Andorracalendar year Topic: Angolacalendar year Topic: Anguilla1 April - 31 March Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1 April - 31 March Topic: Argentinacalendar year Topic: Armeniacalendar year Topic: Arubacalendar year Topic: Australia1 July - 30 June Topic: Austriacalendar year Topic: Azerbaijancalendar year Topic: Bahamas, The1 July - 30 June Topic: Bahraincalendar year Topic: Bangladesh1 July - 30 June Topic: Barbados1 April - 31 March Topic: Belaruscalendar year Topic: Belgiumcalendar year Topic: Belize1 April - 31 March Topic: Benincalendar year Topic: Bermuda1 April - 31 March Topic: Bhutan1 July - 30 June Topic: Boliviacalendar year Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinacalendar year Topic: Botswana1 April - 31 March Topic: Brazilcalendar year Topic: British Virgin Islands1 April - 31 March Topic: Brunei1 April - 31 March Topic: Bulgariacalendar year Topic: Burkina Fasocalendar year Topic: Burma1 April - 31 March Topic: Burundicalendar year Topic: Cabo Verdecalendar year Topic: Cambodiacalendar year Topic: Cameroon1 July - 30 June Topic: Canada1 April - 31 March Topic: Cayman Islands1 April - 31 March Topic: Central African Republiccalendar year Topic: Chadcalendar year Topic: Chilecalendar year Topic: Chinacalendar year Topic: Christmas Island1 July - 30 June Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands1 July - 30 June Topic: Colombiacalendar year Topic: Comoroscalendar year Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecalendar year Topic: Congo, Republic of thecalendar year Topic: Cook Islands1 April - 31 March Topic: Costa Ricacalendar year Topic: Cote d'Ivoirecalendar year Topic: Croatiacalendar year Topic: Cubacalendar year Topic: Cypruscalendar year Topic: Czechiacalendar year Topic: Denmarkcalendar year Topic: Djibouticalendar year Topic: Dominica1 July - 30 June Topic: Dominican Republiccalendar year Topic: Ecuadorcalendar year Topic: Egypt1 July - 30 June Topic: El Salvadorcalendar year Topic: Equatorial Guineacalendar year Topic: Eritreacalendar year Topic: Estoniacalendar year Topic: Eswatini1 April - 31 March Topic: Ethiopia8 July - 7 July Topic: European UnionNA Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)1 April - 31 March Topic: Faroe Islandscalendar year Topic: Fijicalendar year Topic: Finlandcalendar year Topic: Francecalendar year Topic: French Polynesiacalendar year Topic: Gaboncalendar year Topic: Gambia, Thecalendar year Topic: Gaza Stripcalendar year Topic: Georgiacalendar year Topic: Germanycalendar year Topic: Ghanacalendar year Topic: Gibraltar1 July - 30 June Topic: Greececalendar year Topic: Greenlandcalendar year Topic: Grenadacalendar year Topic: Guam1 October - 30 September Topic: Guatemalacalendar year Topic: Guernseycalendar year Topic: Guineacalendar year Topic: Guinea-Bissaucalendar year Topic: Guyanacalendar year Topic: Haiti1 October - 30 September Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)calendar year Topic: Hondurascalendar year Topic: Hong Kong1 April - 31 March Topic: Hungarycalendar year Topic: Icelandcalendar year Topic: India1 April - 31 March Topic: Indonesiacalendar year Topic: Iran21 March - 20 March Topic: Iraqcalendar year Topic: Irelandcalendar year Topic: Isle of Man1 April - 31 March Topic: Israelcalendar year Topic: Italycalendar year Topic: Jamaica1 April - 31 March Topic: Japan1 April - 31 March Topic: Jersey1 April - 31 March Topic: Jordancalendar year Topic: Kazakhstancalendar year Topic: Kenya1 July - 30 June Topic: KiribatiNA Topic: Korea, Northcalendar year Topic: Korea, Southcalendar year Topic: Kuwait1 April - 31 March Topic: Kyrgyzstancalendar year Topic: Laos1 October - 30 September Topic: Latviacalendar year Topic: Lebanoncalendar year Topic: Lesotho1 April - 31 March Topic: Liberiacalendar year Topic: Libyacalendar year Topic: Liechtensteincalendar year Topic: Lithuaniacalendar year Topic: Luxembourgcalendar year Topic: Macaucalendar year Topic: Madagascarcalendar year Topic: Malawi1 July - 30 June Topic: Malaysiacalendar year Topic: Maldivescalendar year Topic: Malicalendar year Topic: Maltacalendar year Topic: Marshall Islands1 October - 30 September Topic: Mauritaniacalendar year Topic: Mauritius1 July - 30 June Topic: Mexicocalendar year Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of1 October - 30 September Topic: Moldovacalendar year Topic: Monacocalendar year Topic: Mongoliacalendar year Topic: Montenegrocalendar year Topic: Montserrat1 April - 31 March Topic: Moroccocalendar year Topic: Mozambiquecalendar year Topic: Namibia1 April - 31 March Topic: Nauru1 July - 30 June Topic: Nepal16 July - 15 July Topic: Netherlandscalendar year Topic: New Caledoniacalendar year Topic: New Zealand1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes Topic: Nicaraguacalendar year Topic: Nigercalendar year Topic: Nigeriacalendar year Topic: Niue1 April - 31 March Topic: Norfolk Island1 July - 30 June Topic: North Macedoniacalendar year Topic: Northern Mariana Islands1 October - 30 September Topic: Norwaycalendar year Topic: Omancalendar year Topic: Pakistan1 July - 30 June Topic: Palau1 October - 30 September Topic: Panamacalendar year Topic: Papua New Guineacalendar year Topic: Paraguaycalendar year Topic: Perucalendar year Topic: Philippinescalendar year Topic: Pitcairn Islands1 April - 31 March Topic: Polandcalendar year Topic: Portugalcalendar year Topic: Puerto Rico1 July - 30 June Topic: Qatar1 April - 31 March Topic: Romaniacalendar year Topic: Russiacalendar year Topic: Rwandacalendar year Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha1 April - 31 March Topic: Saint Kitts and Neviscalendar year Topic: Saint Lucia1 April - 31 March Topic: Saint Pierre and Miqueloncalendar year Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinescalendar year Topic: SamoaJune 1 - May 31 Topic: San Marinocalendar year Topic: Sao Tome and Principecalendar year Topic: Saudi Arabiacalendar year Topic: Senegalcalendar year Topic: Seychellescalendar year Topic: Sierra Leonecalendar year Topic: Singapore1 April - 31 March Topic: Slovakiacalendar year Topic: Sloveniacalendar year Topic: Solomon Islandscalendar year Topic: SomaliaNA Topic: South Africa1 April - 31 March Topic: Spaincalendar year Topic: Sri Lankacalendar year Topic: Sudancalendar year Topic: Surinamecalendar year Topic: Swedencalendar year Topic: Switzerlandcalendar year Topic: Syriacalendar year Topic: Taiwancalendar year Topic: Tajikistancalendar year Topic: Tanzania1 July - 30 June Topic: Thailand1 October - 30 September Topic: Timor-Lestecalendar year Topic: Togocalendar year Topic: Tokelau1 April - 31 March Topic: Tonga1 July - 30 June Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1 October - 30 September Topic: Tunisiacalendar year Topic: Turkeycalendar year Topic: Turkmenistancalendar year Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandscalendar year Topic: Tuvalucalendar year Topic: Uganda1 July - 30 June Topic: Ukrainecalendar year Topic: United Arab Emiratescalendar year Topic: United Kingdom6 April - 5 April Topic: United States1 October - 30 September Topic: Uruguaycalendar year Topic: Uzbekistancalendar year Topic: Vanuatucalendar year Topic: Venezuelacalendar year Topic: Vietnamcalendar year Topic: Virgin Islands1 October - 30 September Topic: Wallis and Futunacalendar year Topic: West Bankcalendar year Topic: Yemencalendar year Topic: Zambiacalendar year Topic: Zimbabwecalendar year

20220601

countries-montserrat

Topic: Photos of Montserrat Topic: Introduction Background: English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in 2013.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 102 sq km land: 102 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland Elevation: highest point: Soufriere Hills volcano pre-eruption height was 915 m; current lava dome is subject to periodic build up and collapse; estimated dome height was 1,050 m in 2015 lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: agricultural land: 30% (2018 est.) arable land: 20% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10% (2018 est.) forest: 25% (2018 est.) other: 45% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity Natural hazards: volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southvolcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Geography - note: the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages Map description: Montserrat map showing some of the major features of this UK island territory in the Caribbean Sea.Montserrat map showing some of the major features of this UK island territory in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,414 (2022 est.) note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian Ethnic groups: African/Black 86.2%, mixed 4.8%, Hispanic/Spanish 3%, Caucasian/White 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.6%, other 1.8% (2018 est.) Languages: English Religions: Protestant 71.4% (includes Anglican 17.7%, Pentecostal/Full Gospel 16.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 15%, Methodist 13.9%, Church of God 6.7%, other Protestant 2%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Rastafarian 1.4%, Hindu 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Muslim 0.4%, other/not stated 5.1%, none 7.9% (2018 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.87% (male 442/female 417) 15-24 years: 19.67% (male 556/female 509) 25-54 years: 47.09% (male 1,217/female 1,313) 55-64 years: 10.47% (male 258/female 309) 65 years and over: 7.15% (2022 est.) (male 209/female 178) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 34.8 years male: 34.1 years female: 35.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity Urbanization: urban population: 9.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 10.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.7 years male: 76.66 years female: 74.7 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.32 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 98.1% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 1.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 9.1% of GDP (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation Land use: agricultural land: 30% (2018 est.) arable land: 20% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10% (2018 est.) forest: 25% (2018 est.) other: 45% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 9.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat etymology: island named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain Government type: parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Capital: name: Plymouth; note - Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, the de facto capital, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was originally named after Plymouth, England; de jure, Plymouth remains the capital city of Montserrat; it is therefore the only ghost town that serves as the capital of a political entity Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926) Constitution: history: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010) amendments: amended 2011, 2020 Legal system: English common law Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew PEARCE (since 1 February 2018) head of government: Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019); note - effective with The Constitution Order 2010, effective October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly (11 seats; 9 members directly elected in a single constituency by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds to serve 5-year terms and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and financial secretary) elections: last held on 18 November 2019 (next scheduled for 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 42.7%, PDM 29.9%, other 17.1%; seats by party - MCAP 5, PDM 3, independent 1 Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 1 assigned to Montserrat; Montserrat is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: magistrate's court Political parties and leaders: Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Easton Taylor FARRELL] People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Donaldson ROMERO] International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness National anthem: note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airport and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops.   Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management. Montserrat is tied to the EU through the UK. Although the UK is leaving the EU, Montserrat’s aid will not be affected as Montserrat maintains a direct agreement with the EU regarding aid.Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airport and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management. Montserrat is tied to the EU through the UK. Although the UK is leaving the EU, Montserrat’s aid will not be affected as Montserrat maintains a direct agreement with the EU regarding aid. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $167.4 million (2011 est.) $155.9 million (2010 est.) $162.7 million (2009 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 7.4% (2011 est.) -4.2% (2010 est.) Real GDP per capita: $34,000 (2011 est.) $31,100 (2010 est.) $32,300 (2009 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $167.4 million (2011 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (2017 est.) -0.2% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.9% (2017 est.) industry: 7.8% (2017 est.) services: 90.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 90.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 29.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -88.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances Industrial production growth rate: -21% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4,521 (2012) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.7% services: 85.9% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.6% (2017 est.) 6% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 66.67 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 47.04 million (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$15.4 million (2017 est.) -$12.2 million (2016 est.) Exports: $4.4 million (2017 est.) $5.2 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Antigua and Barbuda 19%, United States 18%, France 17%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 9%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: sand, iron products, seats, medical instruments, fish (2019) Imports: $39.44 million (2017 est.) $36.1 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 70%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, oranges, electric motors, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $47.58 million (31 December 2017 est.) $51.47 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997) Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2017 est.) 2.7 (2016 est.) 2.7 (2015 est.) 2.7 (2014 est.) 2.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity - production: 24 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 22.32 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 5,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 400 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 406 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100.7 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized; high dependency on tourism and offshore financial services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 101 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the ECFS optic submarine cable with links to 14 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007) Internet country code: .ms Internet users: total: 2,744 (2019 est.) percent of population: 55% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,700 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2018 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-M Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the islandnote: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Little Bay, Plymouth Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defence Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

20220601

field-current-account-balance

This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Topic: Afghanistan$1.014 billion (2017 est.) $1.409 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Albania-$908 million (2017 est.) -$899 million (2016 est.) Topic: Algeria-$22.1 billion (2017 est.) -$26.47 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Angola-$1.254 billion (2017 est.) -$4.834 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Anguilla-$23.2 million (2017 est.) -$25.3 million (2016 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda-$112 million (2017 est.) $2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Argentina-$3.997 billion (2019 est.) -$27.049 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Armenia-$328 million (2017 est.) -$238 million (2016 est.) Topic: Aruba$22 million (2017 est.) $133 million (2016 est.) Topic: Australia$8.146 billion (2019 est.) -$29.777 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Austria$12.667 billion (2019 est.) $5.989 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan$1.685 billion (2017 est.) -$1.363 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The-$1.909 billion (2017 est.) -$868 million (2016 est.) Topic: Bahrain-$1.6 billion (2017 est.) -$1.493 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Bangladesh-$5.322 billion (2017 est.) $1.391 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Barbados-$189 million (2017 est.) -$206 million (2016 est.) Topic: Belarus-$931 million (2017 est.) -$1.669 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Belgium$1.843 billion (2019 est.) -$4.135 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Belize-$143 million (2017 est.) -$163 million (2016 est.) Topic: Benin-$1.024 billion (2017 est.) -$808 million (2016 est.) Topic: Bermuda$818.6 million (2017 est.) $763 million (2016 est.) Topic: Bhutan-$547 million (2017 est.) -$621 million (2016 est.) Topic: Bolivia-$2.375 billion (2017 est.) -$1.932 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina-$873 million (2017 est.) -$821 million (2016 est.) Topic: Botswana$2.146 billion (2017 est.) $2.147 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Brazil-$50.927 billion (2019 est.) -$41.54 billion (2018 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islands$362.6 million (2011 est.) $279.8 million (2010 est.) Topic: Brunei$2.021 billion (2017 est.) $1.47 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Bulgaria$2.06 billion (2019 est.) $611 million (2018 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso-$1.019 billion (2017 est.) -$820 million (2016 est.) Topic: Burma$240 million (2019 est.) -$2.398 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Burundi-$418 million (2017 est.) -$411 million (2016 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde-$109 million (2017 est.) -$40 million (2016 est.) Topic: Cambodia-$1.871 billion (2017 est.) -$1.731 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Cameroon-$932 million (2017 est.) -$1.034 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Canada-$35.425 billion (2019 est.) -$42.862 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands-$492.6 million (2017 est.) -$493.5 million (2016 est.) Topic: Central African Republic-$163 million (2017 est.) -$97 million (2016 est.) Topic: Chad-$558 million (2017 est.) -$926 million (2016 est.) Topic: Chile-$10.933 billion (2019 est.) -$10.601 billion (2018 est.) Topic: China$141.335 billion (2019 est.) $25.499 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Colombia-$13.748 billion (2019 est.) -$13.118 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Comoros-$27 million (2017 est.) -$45 million (2016 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the-$200 million (2017 est.) -$1.215 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the-$1.128 billion (2017 est.) -$5.735 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Cook Islands$26.67 million (2005) Topic: Costa Rica-$1.692 billion (2017 est.) -$1.326 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire-$1.86 billion (2017 est.) -$414 million (2016 est.) Topic: Croatia$1.597 billion (2019 est.) $1 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Cuba$985.4 million (2017 est.) $2.008 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Curacao-$400 million (2011 est.) -$600 million (2010 est.) Topic: Cyprus-$1.578 billion (2019 est.) -$958 million (2018 est.) Topic: Czechia-$678 million (2019 est.) $1.259 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Denmark$30.935 billion (2019 est.) $24.821 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Djibouti-$280 million (2017 est.) -$178 million (2016 est.) Topic: Dominica-$70 million (2017 est.) $5 million (2016 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic-$165 million (2017 est.) -$815 million (2016 est.) Topic: Ecuador-$53 million (2019 est.) -$1.328 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Egypt-$8.915 billion (2019 est.) -$7.682 billion (2018 est.) Topic: El Salvador-$501 million (2017 est.) -$500 million (2016 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea-$738 million (2017 est.) -$1.457 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Eritrea-$137 million (2017 est.) -$105 million (2016 est.) Topic: Estonia$616 million (2019 est.) $280 million (2018 est.) Topic: Eswatini$604 million (2017 est.) $642 million (2016 est.) Topic: Ethiopia-$6.551 billion (2017 est.) -$6.574 billion (2016 est.) Topic: European Union$404.9 billion (2017 est.) $359.7 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Fiji-$277 million (2017 est.) -$131 million (2016 est.) Topic: Finland-$603 million (2019 est.) -$4.908 billion (2018 est.) Topic: France-$18.102 billion (2019 est.) -$16.02 billion (2018 est.) Topic: French Polynesia$207.7 million (2014 est.) $158.8 million (2013 est.) Topic: Gabon-$725 million (2017 est.) -$1.389 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Gambia, The-$194 million (2017 est.) -$85 million (2016 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip-$1.444 billion (2017 est.) -$1.348 billion (2016 est.) note: excludes the West Bank Topic: Georgia-$1.348 billion (2017 est.) -$1.84 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Germany$280.238 billion (2019 est.) $297.434 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Ghana-$2.131 billion (2017 est.) -$2.86 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Greece-$3.114 billion (2019 est.) -$6.245 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Grenada-$77 million (2017 est.) -$34 million (2016 est.) Topic: Guatemala$1.134 billion (2017 est.) $1.023 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Guinea-$705 million (2017 est.) -$2.705 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau-$27 million (2017 est.) $16 million (2016 est.) Topic: Guyana-$237 million (2017 est.) $13 million (2016 est.) Topic: Haiti-$348 million (2017 est.) -$83 million (2016 est.) Topic: Honduras-$380 million (2017 est.) -$587 million (2016 est.) Topic: Hong Kong$22.469 billion (2019 est.) $13.516 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Hungary-$392 million (2019 est.) $510 million (2018 est.) Topic: Iceland$1.496 billion (2019 est.) $814 million (2018 est.) Topic: India-$29.748 billion (2019 est.) -$65.939 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Indonesia-$30.359 billion (2019 est.) -$30.633 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Iran$9.491 billion (2017 est.) $16.28 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Iraq$4.344 billion (2017 est.) -$13.38 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Ireland-$44.954 billion (2019 est.) $24.154 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Israel$20.642 billion (2020 est.) $13.411 billion (2019 est.) $7.888 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Italy$59.517 billion (2019 est.) $51.735 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Jamaica-$298 million (2019 est.) -$288 million (2018 est.) Topic: Japan$185.644 billion (2019 est.) $177.08 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Jordan-$1.222 billion (2019 est.) -$2.964 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan-$7.206 billion (2019 est.) -$138 million (2018 est.) Topic: Kenya-$57.594 billion (2019 est.) -$56.194 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Kiribati$18 million (2017 est.) $35 million (2016 est.) Topic: Korea, South$59.971 billion (2019 est.) $77.467 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Kosovo-$467 million (2017 est.) -$533 million (2016 est.) Topic: Kuwait$7.127 billion (2017 est.) -$5.056 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan-$306 million (2017 est.) -$792 million (2016 est.) Topic: Laos-$2.057 billion (2017 est.) -$2.07 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Latvia-$222 million (2019 est.) -$99 million (2018 est.) Topic: Lebanon-$12.37 billion (2017 est.) -$11.18 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Lesotho-$102 million (2017 est.) -$201 million (2016 est.) Topic: Liberia-$627 million (2017 est.) -$464 million (2016 est.) Topic: Libya$2.574 billion (2017 est.) -$4.575 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Lithuania$1.817 billion (2019 est.) $131 million (2018 est.) Topic: Luxembourg$3.254 billion (2019 est.) $3.296 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Macau$16.75 billion (2017 est.) $12.22 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Madagascar-$35 million (2017 est.) $57 million (2016 est.) Topic: Malawi-$591 million (2017 est.) -$744 million (2016 est.) Topic: Malaysia$12.295 billion (2019 est.) $8.027 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Maldives-$876 million (2017 est.) -$1.033 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Mali-$886 million (2017 est.) -$1.015 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Malta$1.561 billion (2019 est.) $1.55 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands-$1 million (2017 est.) $15 million (2016 est.) Topic: Mauritania-$711 million (2017 est.) -$707 million (2016 est.) Topic: Mauritius-$875 million (2017 est.) -$531 million (2016 est.) Topic: Mexico-$4.351 billion (2019 est.) -$25.415 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of$12 million (2017 est.) $11 million (2016 est.) Topic: Moldova-$602 million (2017 est.) -$268 million (2016 est.) Topic: Mongolia-$1.155 billion (2017 est.) -$700 million (2016 est.) Topic: Montenegro-$780 million (2017 est.) -$710 million (2016 est.) Topic: Montserrat-$15.4 million (2017 est.) -$12.2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Morocco-$5.075 billion (2019 est.) -$6.758 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Mozambique-$3.025 billion (2019 est.) -$4.499 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Namibia-$216 million (2019 est.) -$465 million (2018 est.) Topic: Nauru$5 million (2017 est.) $2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Nepal-$93 million (2017 est.) $1.339 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Netherlands$90.207 billion (2019 est.) $98.981 billion (2018 est.) Topic: New Caledonia-$1.469 billion (2014 est.) -$1.861 billion (2013 est.) Topic: New Zealand-$6.962 billion (2019 est.) -$8.742 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Nicaragua-$694 million (2017 est.) -$989 million (2016 est.) Topic: Niger-$1.16 billion (2017 est.) -$1.181 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Nigeria$10.38 billion (2017 est.) $2.714 billion (2016 est.) Topic: North Macedonia-$151 million (2017 est.) -$293 million (2016 est.) Topic: Norway$16.656 billion (2019 est.) $31.111 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Oman-$10.76 billion (2017 est.) -$12.32 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Pakistan-$7.143 billion (2019 est.) -$19.482 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Palau-$53 million (2017 est.) -$36 million (2016 est.) Topic: Panama-$3.036 billion (2017 est.) -$3.16 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea$4.859 billion (2017 est.) $4.569 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Paraguay-$298 million (2017 est.) $416 million (2016 est.) Topic: Peru-$3.531 billion (2019 est.) -$3.821 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Philippines-$3.386 billion (2019 est.) -$8.877 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Poland$2.92 billion (2019 est.) -$7.52 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Portugal-$203 million (2019 est.) $988 million (2018 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico$0 (2017 est.) $0 (2016 est.) Topic: Qatar$6.426 billion (2017 est.) -$8.27 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Romania-$11.389 billion (2019 est.) -$10.78 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Russia$65.311 billion (2019 est.) $115.68 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Rwanda-$622 million (2017 est.) -$1.336 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis-$97 million (2017 est.) -$102 million (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia$21 million (2017 est.) -$31 million (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-$116 million (2017 est.) -$122 million (2016 est.) Topic: Samoa-$19 million (2017 est.) -$37 million (2016 est.) Topic: San Marino$0 (2017 est.) $0 (2016 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe-$32 million (2017 est.) -$23 million (2016 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia$15.23 billion (2017 est.) -$23.87 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Senegal-$1.547 billion (2017 est.) -$769 million (2016 est.) Topic: Serbia-$2.354 billion (2017 est.) -$1.189 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Seychelles-$307 million (2017 est.) -$286 million (2016 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone-$407 million (2017 est.) -$88 million (2016 est.) Topic: Singapore$63.109 billion (2019 est.) $64.042 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Slovakia-$3.026 billion (2019 est.) -$2.635 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Slovenia$3.05 billion (2019 est.) $3.17 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands-$54 million (2017 est.) -$49 million (2016 est.) Topic: Somalia-$464 million (2017 est.) -$427 million (2016 est.) Topic: South Africa-$10.626 billion (2019 est.) -$13.31 billion (2018 est.) Topic: South Sudan-$154 million (2017 est.) $39 million (2016 est.) Topic: Spain$29.603 billion (2019 est.) $27.206 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka-$10 million (2019 est.) -$17 million (2018 est.) Topic: Sudan-$4.811 billion (2017 est.) -$4.213 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Suriname-$2 million (2017 est.) -$169 million (2016 est.) Topic: Sweden$22.339 billion (2019 est.) $13.902 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Switzerland$79.937 billion (2019 est.) $63.273 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Syria-$2.123 billion (2017 est.) -$2.077 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Taiwan$65.173 billion (2019 est.) $70.843 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Tajikistan-$35 million (2017 est.) -$362 million (2016 est.) Topic: Tanzania-$1.313 billion (2019 est.) -$1.898 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Thailand$37.033 billion (2019 est.) $28.423 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste-$284 million (2017 est.) -$544 million (2016 est.) Topic: Togo-$383 million (2017 est.) -$416 million (2016 est.) Topic: Tonga-$53 million (2017 est.) -$30 million (2016 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago$2.325 billion (2017 est.) -$653 million (2016 est.) Topic: Tunisia-$4.191 billion (2017 est.) -$3.694 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Turkey$8.561 billion (2019 est.) -$20.745 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan-$4.359 billion (2017 est.) -$7.207 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Tuvalu$2 million (2017 est.) $8 million (2016 est.) Topic: Uganda-$1.212 billion (2017 est.) -$707 million (2016 est.) Topic: Ukraine-$4.124 billion (2019 est.) -$6.432 billion (2018 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates$26.47 billion (2017 est.) $13.23 billion (2016 est.) Topic: United Kingdom-$121.921 billion (2019 est.) -$104.927 billion (2018 est.) Topic: United States-$480.225 billion (2019 est.) -$449.694 billion (2018 est.) Topic: Uruguay$879 million (2017 est.) $410 million (2016 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan$1.713 billion (2017 est.) $384 million (2016 est.) Topic: Vanuatu-$13 million (2017 est.) -$37 million (2016 est.) Topic: Venezuela$4.277 billion (2017 est.) -$3.87 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Vietnam$12.478 billion (2019 est.) $5.769 billion (2018 est.) Topic: West Bank-$1.444 billion (2017 est.) -$1.348 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Yemen-$1.236 billion (2017 est.) -$1.868 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Zambia-$1.006 billion (2017 est.) -$934 million (2016 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe-$716 million (2017 est.) -$553 million (2016 est.)

20220601

field-hiv-aids-deaths

This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year. Topic: Afghanistan(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Algeria(2020 est.) <200 Topic: American SamoaNA Topic: AndorraNA Topic: Angola16,000 (2020 est.) Topic: AnguillaNA Topic: Antigua and Barbuda(2018) <100 Topic: Argentina1,400 (2020 est.) Topic: Armenia(2020 est.) <100 Topic: ArubaNA Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Austria(2017 est.) <100 Topic: Azerbaijan(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Bahamas, The(2018) <200 Topic: Bahrain(2017 est.) <100 Topic: Bangladesh(2018 est.) <1000 Topic: Barbados(2019 est.) <100 Topic: Belarus(2020 est.) <200 note: estimate does not include children Topic: BelgiumNA Topic: Belize(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Benin2,000 (2020 est.) Topic: BermudaNA Topic: Bhutan(2020) <100 Topic: Bolivia(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina(2018) <100 Topic: Botswana5,100 (2020 est.) Topic: Bouvet IslandNA Topic: Brazil13,000 (2020 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA Topic: BruneiNA Topic: Bulgaria(2019 est.) <100 Topic: Burkina Faso3,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Burma7,700 (2019 est.) Topic: Burundi1,700 (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Cambodia1,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroon14,000 (2020 est.) Topic: CanadaNA Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic3,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Chad3,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Chile(2018) <1000 Topic: ChinaNA Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Clipperton IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia3,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Comoros(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the17,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the6,100 (2020 est.) Topic: Cook IslandsNA Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Cote d'Ivoire13,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Croatia(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Cuba(2020 est.) <500 Topic: CuracaoNA Topic: Cyprus(2017 est.) <100 Topic: Czechia(2018 est.) <100 Topic: Denmark(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Dominica(2018) <100 Topic: Dominican Republic1,900 (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuador(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Egypt(2020 est.) <500 Topic: El Salvador(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Equatorial Guinea2,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Eritrea(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Estonia(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Eswatini2,400 (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopia13,000 (2020 est.) Topic: European Unionnote - see individual entries of member states Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe IslandsNA Topic: Fiji(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Finland(2018) <100 Topic: France(2019 est.) <500 Topic: French PolynesiaNA Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Gambia, The1,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza StripNA Topic: Georgia(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Germany(2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Ghana13,000 (2020 est.) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: Greece(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: GreenlandNA Topic: Grenada(2018) <100 Topic: GuamNA Topic: Guatemala(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea3,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau1,500 (2020 est.) Topic: Guyana(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Haiti2,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Hong KongNA Topic: Hungary(2018 est.) <100 Topic: Iceland(2020) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: India69,000 (2017 est.) Topic: Indonesia24,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Iran3,200 (2020 est.) Topic: IraqNA Topic: Ireland(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Isle of ManNA Topic: Israel(2018) <100 Topic: Italy(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Jamaica(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Kazakhstan(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Kenya29,000 (2020 est.) Topic: KiribatiNA Topic: Korea, NorthNA Topic: Korea, SouthNA Topic: KosovoNA Topic: Kuwait(2018 est.) <100 Topic: Kyrgyzstan(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Laos(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Latvia(2019 est.) <100 Topic: Lebanon(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Lesotho4,700 (2020 est.) Topic: Liberia1,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Libya(2020) <100 Topic: LiechtensteinNA Topic: Lithuania(2019 est.) <100 Topic: Luxembourg(2018 est.) <100 Topic: MacauNA Topic: Madagascar1,800 (2020 est.) Topic: Malawi12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysia2,000 (2020 est.) Topic: MaldivesNA Topic: Mali4,600 (2020 est.) Topic: Malta(2016 est.) <100 Topic: Marshall IslandsNA Topic: Mauritania(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Mauritius(2020) <1000 Topic: Mexico4,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA Topic: Moldova(2020 est.) <500 Topic: MonacoNA Topic: Mongolia(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Montenegro(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: MontserratNA Topic: Morocco(2020 est.) <500 note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique38,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Namibia3,000 (2020 est.) Topic: NauruNA Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Netherlands(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: New CaledoniaNA Topic: New Zealand(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Nicaragua(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Niger1,100 (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeria49,000 (2020 est.) Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedonia300 (2018 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA Topic: Norway(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Oman(2019) <100 Topic: Pakistan8,200 (2020 est.) Topic: PalauNA Topic: Panama(2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Papua New Guinea(2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Peru(2020 est.) <1000 Topic: Philippines1,600 (2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: PolandNA Topic: Portugal(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Puerto RicoNA Topic: Qatar(2020 est.) <100 Topic: Romania(2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: RussiaNA Topic: Rwanda2,500 (2020 est.) Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis(2018) <100 Topic: Saint Lucia(2018) <100 Topic: Saint MartinNA Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines(2018) <100 Topic: SamoaNA Topic: San MarinoNA Topic: Sao Tome and Principe(2020) <100 Topic: Saudi Arabia(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Senegal1,100 (2020 est.) Topic: Serbia(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: SeychellesNA Topic: Sierra Leone3,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Singapore(2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Sint MaartenNA Topic: Slovakia(2018 est.) <100 Topic: Slovenia(2018 est.) <100 Topic: Solomon IslandsNA Topic: Somalia(2020 est.) <500 Topic: South Africa83,000 (2020 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South Sudan8,900 (2020 est.) Topic: Spain(2020) <1,000 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Sudan2,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Suriname(2020 est.) <200 Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: SwedenNA Topic: Switzerland(2020) <200 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Syria(2020) <100 Topic: TaiwanNA Topic: Tajikistan(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Tanzania32,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Thailand12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste(2020) <100 Topic: Togo3,000 (2020 est.) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: TongaNA Topic: Trinidad and Tobago(2020 est.) <200 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Tunisia(2020 est.) <200 Topic: TurkeyNA Topic: TurkmenistanNA Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA Topic: TuvaluNA Topic: Uganda22,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Ukraine3,100 (2020 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates100 (2020) <100 Topic: United KingdomNA Topic: United StatesNA Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Uzbekistan(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: VanuatuNA Topic: Venezuela4,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Vietnam3,800 (2020 est.) Topic: Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA Topic: West BankNA Topic: World680,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Yemen(2020 est.) <500 Topic: Zambia24,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe22,000 (2020 est.)

20220601

countries-burkina-faso

Topic: Photos of Burkina Faso Topic: Introduction Background: Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The area achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. The last successful coup occurred in 1987 when Blaise COMPAORE deposed the former president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In October 2014, COMPAORE resigned following protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition period organizing presidential and legislative elections. In November 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president; he was reelected in November 2020. Terrorist groups - including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State - began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By late 2021, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced 1.4 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.  Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado Land boundaries: total: 3,611 km border countries (6): Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desertthree climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert Terrain: Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast.  Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019) Elevation: highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m mean elevation: 297 m Natural resources: gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt Land use: agricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 550 sq km (2016) Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Population distribution: Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: recurring droughts Geography - note: landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas Map description: Burkina Faso map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Burkina Faso map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 21,935,389 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe Ethnic groups: Mossi 52%, Fulani 8.4%, Gurma 7%, Bobo 4.9%, Gurunsi 4.6%, Senufo 4.5%, Bissa 3.7%, Lobi 2.4%, Dagara 2.4%, Tuareg/Bella 1.9%, Dioula 0.8%, unspecified/no answer 0.3%, other 7.2% (2010 est.) Languages: French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population Religions: Muslim 63.2%, Roman Catholic 24.6%, Protestant 6.9%, traditional/animist 4.2%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2017-18 est.) Demographic profile: Burkina Faso has a young age structure – the result of declining mortality combined with steady high fertility – and continues to experience rapid population growth, which is putting increasing pressure on the country’s limited arable land. More than 65% of the population is under the age of 25, and the population is growing at 3% annually. Mortality rates, especially those of infants and children, have decreased because of improved health care, hygiene, and sanitation, but women continue to have an average of almost 6 children. Even if fertility were substantially reduced, today’s large cohort entering their reproductive years would sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future. Only about a third of the population is literate and unemployment is widespread, dampening the economic prospects of Burkina Faso’s large working-age population. Migration has traditionally been a way of life for Burkinabe, with seasonal migration being replaced by stints of up to two years abroad. Cote d’Ivoire remains the top destination, although it has experienced periods of internal conflict. Under French colonization, Burkina Faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in Cote d’Ivoire. Burkinabe also migrated to Ghana, Mali, and Senegal for work between the world wars. Burkina Faso attracts migrants from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the Burkinabe. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, Burkina Faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,500 Malians as of May 2017. (2018)Burkina Faso has a young age structure – the result of declining mortality combined with steady high fertility – and continues to experience rapid population growth, which is putting increasing pressure on the country’s limited arable land. More than 65% of the population is under the age of 25, and the population is growing at 3% annually. Mortality rates, especially those of infants and children, have decreased because of improved health care, hygiene, and sanitation, but women continue to have an average of almost 6 children. Even if fertility were substantially reduced, today’s large cohort entering their reproductive years would sustain high population growth for the foreseeable future. Only about a third of the population is literate and unemployment is widespread, dampening the economic prospects of Burkina Faso’s large working-age population.Migration has traditionally been a way of life for Burkinabe, with seasonal migration being replaced by stints of up to two years abroad. Cote d’Ivoire remains the top destination, although it has experienced periods of internal conflict. Under French colonization, Burkina Faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in Cote d’Ivoire. Burkinabe also migrated to Ghana, Mali, and Senegal for work between the world wars. Burkina Faso attracts migrants from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the Burkinabe. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, Burkina Faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,500 Malians as of May 2017. Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.58% (male 4,606,350/female 4,473,951) 15-24 years: 20.33% (male 2,121,012/female 2,114,213) 25-54 years: 29.36% (male 2,850,621/female 3,265,926) 55-64 years: 3.57% (male 321,417/female 423,016) 65 years and over: 3.16% (2020 est.) (male 284,838/female 374,057) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 87.9 youth dependency ratio: 83.4 elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 potential support ratio: 22.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 17.9 years male: 17 years female: 18.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.53% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 33.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map (2019)Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 31.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.056 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.074 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2010 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Maternal mortality ratio: 320 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 49.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.44 years male: 61.63 years female: 65.31 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 30.1% (2020) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 94.7% of population rural: 71.3% of population total: 78.5% of population unimproved: urban: 5.3% of population rural: 28.7% of population total: 21.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.5% (2019) Physicians density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 90.8% of population rural: 37.7% of population total: 54% of population unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population rural: 62.3% of population total: 46% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 97,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,300 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Burkina Faso is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.4% (2019) Education expenditures: 5.8% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.3% male: 49.2% female: 31% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.6% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019) Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 36.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 12.85 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desertthree climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert Land use: agricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 31.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 4.54% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Burkina Faso is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity in the north - in the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 2.6 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity; domestic cereal production in 2021 was estimated at a below-average level due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict, further aggravating conditions; in Centre-Nord and Sahel regions, insecurity continues to cause population displacements, further deteriorating the food security situation; a coup d’état on January 2022 is an additional factor that could increase civil insecurity and further stress food insecurity conditions (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,575,251 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 309,030 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12% (2005 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 375.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 21.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 420.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 13.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta etymology: name translates as "Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Ouagadougou geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," meaning "where people get honor and respect" Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed amendments: proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended; on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring transitional President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA from being an electoral candidate after the transition. Legal system: civil law based on the French model and customary law; in mid-2019, the National Assembly amended the penal code International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: transitional President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA (since 2 February 2022); note - on 24 January 2022, a military junta led by DAMIBA, leader of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, took power and ousted President Roch Marc Christian KABORE head of government: Prime Minister Albert OUEDRAOGO (since 3 March 2022); note - transitional President Lt. Col. DAMIBA appointed OUEDRAOGO Prime Minister on 3 March 2022; the position had been vacant since 24 January 2022 when the military ousted former Prime Minister Lassina ZERBO (2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second); last held on 22 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly; note - on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring transitional President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA from being an electoral candidate after the transition. election results: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC)12.5%, other 14.1% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; 111 members directly elected in 13 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 26 members elected in a nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; all member serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 22 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - MPP 34.6%, CDP 13.3%, UPC 10.2%, NTD 5.6%, other 36.3%; seats by party - MPP 56, CDP 20, NTD 13, UPC 12, other 26; composition as of October 2021 - men 119, women 8, percent of women 6.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judges have no term limits; Council of State judge appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso upon the proposal of the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA [Gilbert Noel OUEDRAOGO] African People’s Movement or MAP [Victorien TOUGOUMA] Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Eddie KOMBOIGO] Le Faso Autrement [Ablasse OUEDRAOGO] New Alliance of the Faso or NAFA [Mahamoudou DICKO] New Time for Democracy or NTD [Vincent DABILGOU] Organization for Democracy and Work or ODT [Anatole BONKOUNGOU] Party for Development and Change or PDC [Aziz SEREME] Party for Democracy and Progress-Socialist Party or PDP-PS [Drabo TORO] Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba [Philippe OUEDRAOGO] Party for National Renaissance or PAREN [Michel BERE] People's Movement for Progress or MPP [Simon COMPAORE] Rally for Democracy and Socialism or RDS [Francois OUEDRAOGO] Rally for the Development of Burkina or RDB [Celestin Saidou COMPAORE] Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Adama SERE] Soleil d’Avenir [Abdoulaye SOMA] Union for a New Burkina or UBN [Diemdioda DICKO] Union for Progress and Change or UPC [Zephirin DIABRE] Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-MS [Benewende Stanislas SANKARA] Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY] Youth Alliance for the Republic and Independence or AJIR [Adama KANAZOE] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Boulmonli Leonard LOMBO (since 15 April 2022) chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882 email address and website: contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra E. CLARK (since 25 September 2020) embassy: Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou mailing address: 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC  20521-2440 telephone: (226) 25-49-53-00 FAX: (226) 25-49-56-23 email address and website: ouagaACS@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance, and yellow represents the country's mineral wealth note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia National symbol(s): white stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green National anthem: name: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory) lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA note: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night); written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of Loropéni (c), Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites (c), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. Irregular patterns of rainfall, poor soil, and the lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure contribute to the economy’s vulnerability to external shocks. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base.   Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports - gold has accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues. Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depends largely on production levels and global prices for the two commodities. The country has seen an upswing in gold exploration, production, and exports.   In 2016, the government adopted a new development strategy, set forth in the 2016-2020 National Plan for Economic and Social Development, that aims to reduce poverty, build human capital, and to satisfy basic needs. A new three-year IMF program (2018-2020), approved in 2018, will allow the government to reduce the budget deficit and preserve critical spending on social services and priority public investments.   While the end of the political crisis has allowed Burkina Faso’s economy to resume positive growth, the country’s fragile security situation could put these gains at risk. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges.Burkina Faso is a poor, landlocked country that depends on adequate rainfall. Irregular patterns of rainfall, poor soil, and the lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure contribute to the economy’s vulnerability to external shocks. About 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and cotton is the main cash crop. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Cotton and gold are Burkina Faso’s key exports - gold has accounted for about three-quarters of the country’s total export revenues. Burkina Faso’s economic growth and revenue depends largely on production levels and global prices for the two commodities. The country has seen an upswing in gold exploration, production, and exports. In 2016, the government adopted a new development strategy, set forth in the 2016-2020 National Plan for Economic and Social Development, that aims to reduce poverty, build human capital, and to satisfy basic needs. A new three-year IMF program (2018-2020), approved in 2018, will allow the government to reduce the budget deficit and preserve critical spending on social services and priority public investments. While the end of the political crisis has allowed Burkina Faso’s economy to resume positive growth, the country’s fragile security situation could put these gains at risk. Political insecurity in neighboring Mali, unreliable energy supplies, and poor transportation links pose long-term challenges. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $45.16 billion (2020 est.) $44.27 billion (2019 est.) $41.88 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 6.4% (2017 est.) 5.9% (2016 est.) 3.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,200 (2020 est.) $2,200 (2019 est.) $2,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $14.271 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.2% (2019 est.) 1.9% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: B (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 31% (2017 est.) industry: 23.9% (2017 est.) services: 44.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 56.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 23.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sorghum, maize, millet, cotton, cow peas, sugar cane, groundnuts, rice, sesame seed, vegetables Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold Industrial production growth rate: 10.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 8.501 million (2016 est.) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: 77% (2004) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.6% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2019) Population below poverty line: 41.4% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.3 (2014 est.) 48.2 (1994) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 32.2% (2009 est.) Budget: revenues: 2.666 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.655 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -7.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 38.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 21.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.019 billion (2017 est.) -$820 million (2016 est.) Exports: $4.47 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 59%, India 21% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, zinc, cashews, sesame seeds (2019) Imports: $5.02 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.17 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.3 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 15%, China 9%, Ghana 8%, France 8%, India 6%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, delivery trucks, packaged medicines, electricity, aircraft (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $49 million (31 December 2017 est.) $50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $3.056 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.88 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 22% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 69% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 2% (2019) Electricity - production: 990 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 1.551 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 630 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 342,400 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 80% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 23,580 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 75,039 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22,117,218 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Burkina Faso’s telecom services are some of the most expensive in the world, hindered by regulatory procedures, insufficient mobile spectrum, poor fixed-line networks; mobile telephony but below African average; Internet is provided by mobile operators; Internet penetration is low and expensive, despite improved international bandwidth via fiber links through submarine cables to adjacent countries; increased telecom tax; government infrastructure project largely completed; parliament launched inquiry on mobile network infrastructure coverage, pricing of services, and quality of service; government began computer subsidy program for university students; government progressed with large project to provide metropolitan fiber-optic infrastructure (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage nearly 106 per 100, with multiple providers there is competition and the hope for growth from a low base; Internet penetration is 16% (2020) international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: since the official inauguration of Terrestrial Digital Television (TNT) in December 2017, Burkina Faso now has 14 digital TV channels among which 2 are state-owned; there are more than 140 radio stations (commercial, religious, community) available throughout the country including a national and regional state-owned network; the state-owned Radio Burkina and the private Radio Omega are among the most widespread stations and both include broadcasts in French and local languages (2019) Internet country code: .bf Internet users: total: 4,598,721 (2020 est.) percent of population: 22% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 13,979 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 151,531 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 100,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XT Airports: total: 23 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Railways: total: 622 km (2014) narrow gauge: 622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire Roadways: total: 15,304 km (2014) paved: 3,642 km (2014) unpaved: 11,662 km (2014) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF): Army of Burkina Faso (L’Armee de Terre, LAT), Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie; Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) (2022) note(s) - the National Gendarmerie officially reports to the Ministry of Defense, but usually operates in support of the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Justice; Gendarmerie troops are typically integrated with Army forces in anti-terrorism operations; the VDP is a civilian defense force established in 2019 to act as auxiliaries to the military in the fight against militants Military expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $450 million) 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $370 million) 1.4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $260 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12,000 personnel (7,000 Army; 500 Air Force; 4,500 National Gendarmerie) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FABF has a mix of foreign-supplied weapons; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of mostly donated second-hand equipment from a variety of countries (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles (2021) Military deployments: 650 (plus about 170 police) Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2022) note - Burkina Faso is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; the G5 force is backed by the UN, US, and France; G5 troops periodically conduct joint operations with French forces deployed to the Sahel under Operation Barkhane; in early 2020, G5 Sahel military chiefs of staff agreed to allow defense forces from each of the states to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries Military - note: including the most recent in January 2022, the military has conducted 7 coups since 1960; as of 2022, the military was also actively engaged in combat operations with terrorist groups linked to al-Qa'ida and ISIS, particularly in the northern and eastern regions; in the north, the designated terrorist groups Ansarul Islam and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have exploited ethnic tensions and perceptions of state neglect, as well as grievances over corruption, patronage politics, social stratification, and land disputes; the east is reportedly a stronghold of the Islamic State-Greater Sahara (ISGS) (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISGS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: adding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors; demarcation is currently underway with Mali; the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualau/Kourouadding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors; demarcation is currently underway with Mali; the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualau/Kourou Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 24,756 (Mali) (2022) IDPs: 1,850,293 (2022)1,850,293 (2022)

20220601

countries-niue

Topic: Photos of Niue Topic: Introduction Background: Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900 and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. There was continued contact with both Samoa and Tonga, and customs from those islands heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide kingship system in the early 1700s. These kings, or patu-iki, were elected by Niueans. In 1774, British explorer James COOK abandoned attempts to land on the island after several unsuccessful tries, and he named it Savage Island because of the warlike appearance of the Niueans. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts between Niueans and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. In 1889, King FATAAIKI and other chiefs asked the UK for protectorate status, a request that was repeated in 1895. The UK finally agreed in 1900 and King TOGIA-PULU-TOAKI formally ceded Niue that year. In 1901, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue’s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations, but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Economic opportunities in Niue are sparse. The population has trended downwards over recent decades, with substantial emigration to New Zealand. In 2004, a cyclone destroyed much of the southern part of the capital, Alofi, and left about 15% of the population homeless. Many chose not to rebuild and instead moved to New Zealand (2,400 km to the southwest), where approximately 90% of all ethnic Niueans live.Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900 and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. There was continued contact with both Samoa and Tonga, and customs from those islands heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide kingship system in the early 1700s. These kings, or patu-iki, were elected by Niueans. In 1774, British explorer James COOK abandoned attempts to land on the island after several unsuccessful tries, and he named it Savage Island because of the warlike appearance of the Niueans. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts between Niueans and helped establish the first parliament in 1849.In 1889, King FATAAIKI and other chiefs asked the UK for protectorate status, a request that was repeated in 1895. The UK finally agreed in 1900 and King TOGIA-PULU-TOAKI formally ceded Niue that year. In 1901, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue’s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations, but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs.Economic opportunities in Niue are sparse. The population has trended downwards over recent decades, with substantial emigration to New Zealand. In 2004, a cyclone destroyed much of the southern part of the capital, Alofi, and left about 15% of the population homeless. Many chose not to rebuild and instead moved to New Zealand (2,400 km to the southwest), where approximately 90% of all ethnic Niueans live.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 64 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau Elevation: highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: agricultural land: 19.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.) forest: 71.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island Natural hazards: tropical cyclones Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands; the only major break in the surrounding coral reef occurs in the central western part of the coast Map description: Niue map showing some population centers on this island in the South Pacific Ocean.Niue map showing some population centers on this island in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,000 (July 2022 est.) note: because of the island's limited economic and educational opportunities, Niueans have emigrated for decades - primarily to New Zealand, but also to Australia and other Pacific island states; Niue's population peaked in 1966 at 5,194, but by 2005 had fallen to 1,508; since then it has rebounded slightly; as of 2013, 23,883 people of Niuean ancestry lived in New Zealand - with more than 20% Niue-born; this means that there are about 15 times as many persons of Niuean ancestry living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean Ethnic groups: Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.) note: data represent the resident population Languages: Niuean (official) 46% (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.) Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 61.7%, Church of Jesus Christ 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Jehovah's Witness 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.2%, none 8.9% (2017 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Population growth rate: -0.03% (2021 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: (2021 est.) NA Population distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island Urbanization: urban population: 47.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: NA Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Total fertility rate: (2021 est.) NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.3% (2019) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 95.5% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 4.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 50% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 19.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.) forest: 71.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 47.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue former: Savage Island etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut" note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee Government type: parliamentary democracy Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue Capital: name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order Independence: 19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand) National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) Constitution: history: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974) amendments: proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority votes in a referendum; passage of amendments to a number of sections, including Niue’s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended 1992, 2007; note - in early 2021, the constitution review committee of the Assembly requested suggestions from the public about changes to the constitution Legal system: English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Helen TUNNAH (since July 2020) head of government: Premier Dalton TAGELAGI (since 10 June 2020) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the premier elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 10 June 2020 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Dalton TAGELAGI elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 13, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 7; Toke TALAGI lost his seat in election Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly or Fono Ekepule (20 seats; 14 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 directly elected from the National Register or "common roll" by majority vote; members serve 3-year terms) elections: last held on 30 May 2020 (next to be held on 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20 Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal judge selection and term of office: Niue chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the premier; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the chief justice and the minister of justice; judges serve until age 68 subordinate courts: High Court note: Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program, which is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Independents or AI Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand National symbol(s): yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow National anthem: name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven) lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA note: adopted 1974 Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue.   Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half.   The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses.The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $10.01 million (2003 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 6.2% (2003 est.) Real GDP per capita: $5,800 (2003 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $10.01 million (2003) (2003) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2005) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 23.5% (2003) industry: 26.9% (2003) services: 49.5% (2003) Agricultural products: coconuts, taro, fruit, sweet potatoes, tropical fruit, yams, vegetables, lemons, limes, bananas Industries: handicrafts, food processing Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 663 (2001) Labor force - by occupation: note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Boardnote: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board Unemployment rate: 12% (2001) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 15.07 million (FY04/05) expenditures: 16.33 million (FY04/05) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Exports: $201,400 (2004 est.) Exports - partners: Indonesia 92%, South Korea 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: tanker ships, fruit juice, thermostats, textiles, measurement devices/appliances (2019) Imports: $9.038 million (2004 est.) Imports - partners: New Zealand 43%, United Kingdom 30%, Japan 22% (2019) Imports - commodities: hydraulic engines, ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastics (2019) Debt - external: $418,000 (2002 est.) Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.416 (2017 est.) 1.4279 (2016 est.) 1.4279 (2015) 1.4279 (2014 est.) 1.2039 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity - production: 3 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.79 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 2,300 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 50 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 54 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2018 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing due to mobile services (2020) domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages on island; fixed teledensity at nearly 62 per 100 (2018) international: country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands; expansion of satellite services (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 government-owned TV station with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2019) Internet country code: .nu Internet users: total: 1,292 (2019 est.) percent of population: 80% (2019 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 234 km (2017) paved: 210 km (2017) unpaved: 24 km Merchant marine: total: 69 by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 2, general cargo 25, oil tanker 7, other 32 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Alofi Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

countries-namibia

Topic: Photos of Namibia Topic: Introduction Background: Various ethnic groups occupied south western Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory.  In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. Namibia gained independence in 1990.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 824,292 sq km land: 823,290 sq km water: 1,002 sq km Area - comparative: almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska Land boundaries: total: 4,220 km border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km Coastline: 1,572 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east Elevation: highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,141 m Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore Land use: agricultural land: 47.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 44% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 80 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought Geography - note: the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip; Namib-Naukluft National Park (49,768 sq km), is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world Map description: Namibia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.Namibia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,727,409 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian Ethnic groups: Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana .5% Languages: Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.) note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages Religions: Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.) Demographic profile: Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread. Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.68% (male 473,937/female 464,453) 15-24 years: 20.27% (male 267,106/female 265,882) 25-54 years: 35.47% (male 449,132/female 483,811) 55-64 years: 4.68% (male 54,589/female 68,619) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2020 est.) (male 43,596/female 58,948) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.9 youth dependency ratio: 61.8 elderly dependency ratio: 6 potential support ratio: 16.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 21.8 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.82% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 25.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 54% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 461,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 195 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 29.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.47 years male: 64.46 years female: 68.53 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 56.1% (2013) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.9% of population rural: 83.2% of population total: 91.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population rural: 16.8% of population total: 8.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.5% (2019) Physicians density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 70.6% of population rural: 23.6% of population total: 48.1% of population unimproved: urban: 29.4% of population rural: 76.4% of population total: 51.9% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 11.6% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 210,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.2% (2013) Education expenditures: 9.4% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.5% male: 91.6% female: 91.4% (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38% male: 37.5% female: 38.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 4.23 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.4 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic Land use: agricultural land: 47.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 44% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 54% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.47% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 750,000 people are projected to face "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between December 2021 and March 2022, as a result of localized areas that suffered from poor harvests in 2021 and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily through income and job losses that constrained households’ access to food (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 256,729 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 11,553 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2005 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 73 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 14 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 39.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Windhoek geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April etymology: may derive from the Afrikaans word "wind-hoek" meaning "windy corner" Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990) Constitution: history: adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990 amendments: initiated by the Cabinet; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed; amended 1998, 2010, 2014 Legal system: mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (Independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 2.7%, Apius AUCHAB (UDF) 2.7%, Esther MUINJANGUE (NUDO) 1.5%, other 2% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: National Council (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed list, proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 25 November 2020 (next to be held on 25 November 2025) National Assembly - last held on 27 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 28, LPM 6,IPC 2, PDM 2, UDF 2, NUDO 1,  independent 1; composition - men 36, women 6, percent of women 16.6% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 65.5%, PDM 16.6%, LPM 4.7%, NUDO 1.9%, APP 1.8%, UDF 1.8%, RP 1.8%, NEFF 1.7%, RDP 1.1%, CDV .7%, SWANU .6%, other 1.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 63, PDM 16, LPM 4, NUDO 2, APP 2, UDF 2, RP 2, NEFF 2, RDP 1, CDV 1, SWANU 1; composition - NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts Political parties and leaders: All People's Party or APP [Vacant] Christian Democratic Voice or CDV [Gothard KANDUME] Landless People's Movement or LPM [Bernadus SWARTBOOI] National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Estes MUINJANGUE] Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF [Epafras MUKWIILONGO] Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly DTA) [McHenry VENAANI] Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mike KAVEKOTORA] Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE] South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Tangeni IIYAMBO] South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB] United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB] United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret Natalie MENSAH-WILLIAMS (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 email address and website: info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jessica LONG (since 2 July 2021) embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC  20521-2540 telephone: [264] (061) 295-8500 FAX: [264] (061) 295-8603 email address and website: ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://na.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources National symbol(s): oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow National anthem: name: Namibia, Land of the Brave lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB note: adopted 1991 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c), Namib Sand Sea (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors.   Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought.   Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018.   A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors. Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018. A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $22.6 billion (2020 est.) $24.56 billion (2019 est.) $24.71 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -1.56% (2019 est.) 1.13% (2018 est.) -1.02% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $8,900 (2020 est.) $9,800 (2019 est.) $10,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $12.372 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (2019 est.) 4.2% (2018 est.) 6.1% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB (2019) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.7% (2016 est.) industry: 26.3% (2016 est.) services: 67% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 36.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -47.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: roots/tubers nes, milk, maize, onions, beef, grapes, fruit, pulses nes, vegetables, millet Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) Industrial production growth rate: -0.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 956,800 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31% industry: 14% services: 54% (2013 est.) note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture Unemployment rate: 34% (2016 est.) 28.1% (2014 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38% male: 37.5% female: 38.5% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: 17.4% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 59.1 (2015 est.) 70.7 (2003) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 42% (2010) Budget: revenues: 4.268 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 5 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 41.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 32.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$216 million (2019 est.) -$465 million (2018 est.) Exports: $3.56 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.56 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 27%, South Africa 18%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: copper, diamonds, uranium, thorium, gold, radioactive chemicals, fish (2019) Imports: $4.54 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $6.33 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: South Africa 47%, Zambia 16% (2019) Imports - commodities: copper, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, diamonds, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $7.969 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.904 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - 13.67 (2017 est.) 14.7096 (2016 est.) 14.7096 (2015 est.) 12.7589 (2014 est.) 10.8526 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 57% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 78% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 36% (2019) Electricity - production: 1.403 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 88 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 3.073 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 535,500 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 80 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 26,270 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 62.29 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 140,370 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,594,382 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102.1 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good competition in mobile market and investment in LTE government program to provide 95% of population with broadband by 2024; 5G delayed due to public concerns of privacy and security; high prices for international bandwidth due to lack of submarine cables, yet improved by diversification of satellite access (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 102 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 264; landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available Internet country code: .na Internet users: total: 1,041,776 (2020 est.) percent of population: 41% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 71,063 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 602,893 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 26.29 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5 Airports: total: 112 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 93 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 52 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Railways: total: 2,628 km (2014) narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge Roadways: total: 48,875 km (2018) paved: 7,893 km (2018) unpaved: 40,982 km (2018) Merchant marine: total: 14 by type: general cargo 1, other 13 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force Ministry of Safety and Security: Namibian Police Force (includes a paramilitary Special Field Force responsible for protecting borders and government installations) (2021) Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $620 million) 3.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $640 million) 3.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $670 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 12,500 personnel (11,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Namibian Defense Force consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; China is the leading supplier of weapons to Namibia since 2010 (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2018, women comprised more than 20% of the active military Military - note: the Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDFthe Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Namibia-Angola: None identifiedconcerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Namibia-Angola: None identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,819 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)

20220601

countries-burundi-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Burundi due to COVID-19. Reconsider travel to Burundi due to crime, health, and political violence. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [257] 22-207-000; US Embassy in Bujumbura, B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura, Burundi; https://bi.usembassy.gov/; BujumburaC@state.gov Telephone Code: 257 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17°C but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and 2 dry seasons (June to August and December to January) Currency (Code): Burundian francs (BIF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: Kirundi, French, Swahili, English Major Religions: Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Muslim 2.5% Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Bujumbura; Kigwena Natural Reserve; Gitega; Gishora; Mount Heha; Saga Beach; Chutes De La Kerera Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, track and field Cultural Practices: Dress is taken seriously, and therefore jeans, t- shirts, and running shoes are considered very casual and are only acceptable for outdoor activities and on weekends. Tipping Guidelines: A 10% tip at restaurants is customary. Porters should be tipped a few francs. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected, but if the ride was pleasant you should round up. Tipping bartenders is not common.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

field-national-symbols

A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one. Topic: Afghanistanlion; national colors: red, green, black Topic: Albaniablack double-headed eagle; national colors: red, black Topic: Algeriafive-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red Topic: American Samoaa fue (coconut fiber fly whisk; representing wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff; representing authority); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Andorrared cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red Topic: AngolaPalanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow Topic: Anguilladolphin Topic: Antigua and Barbudafallow deer; national colors: red, white, blue, black, yellow Topic: ArgentinaSun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: sky blue, white Topic: ArmeniaMount Ararat, eagle, lion; national colors: red, blue, orange Topic: ArubaHooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white Topic: AustraliaCommonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree (Acacia pycnantha Benth), kangaroo, emu; national colors: green, gold Topic: Austriaeagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white Topic: Azerbaijanflames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green Topic: Bahamas, Theblue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black Topic: Bahraina red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white Topic: BangladeshBengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red Topic: BarbadosNeptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black Topic: Belarusno clearly defined current national symbol, the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional Belarusian symbol; national colors: green, red, white Topic: Belgiumgolden rampant lion; national colors: red, black, yellow Topic: BelizeBaird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, Black Orchid; national colors: red, blue Topic: Beninleopard; national colors: green, yellow, red Topic: Bermudared lion Topic: Bhutanthunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow Topic: Boliviallama, Andean condor, two national flowers: the cantuta and the patuju; national colors: red, yellow, green Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinagolden lily; national colors: blue, yellow, white Topic: Botswanazebra; national colors: blue, white, black Topic: BrazilSouthern Cross constellation; national colors: green, yellow, blue Topic: British Virgin Islandszenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue Topic: Bruneiroyal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black Topic: Bulgarialion; national colors: white, green, red Topic: Burkina Fasowhite stallion; national colors: red, yellow, green Topic: Burmachinthe (mythical lion); national colors: yellow, green, red, white Topic: Burundilion; national colors: red, white, green Topic: Cabo Verdeten, five-pointed, yellow stars; national colors: blue, white, red, yellow Topic: CambodiaAngkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox); national colors: red, blue Topic: Cameroonlion; national colors: green, red, yellow Topic: Canadamaple leaf, beaver; national colors: red, white Topic: Cayman Islandsgreen sea turtle Topic: Central African Republicelephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red Topic: Chadgoat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red Topic: Chilehuemul (mountain deer), Andean condor; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Chinadragon, giant panda; national colors: red, yellow Topic: Christmas Islandgolden bosun bird Topic: ColombiaAndean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red Topic: Comorosfour five-pointed stars and crescent moon; national colors: green, white Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theleopard; national colors: sky blue, red, yellow Topic: Congo, Republic of thelion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red Topic: Cook Islandsa circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white Topic: Costa Ricayiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red Topic: Cote d'Ivoireelephant; national colors: orange, white, green Topic: Croatiared-white checkerboard; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Cubaroyal palm; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Curacaolaraha (citrus tree); national colors: blue, yellow, white Topic: CyprusCypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove; national colors: blue, white Topic: Czechiasilver (or white), double-tailed, rampant lion; national colors: white, red, blue Topic: Denmarklion, mute swan; national colors: red, white Topic: Djiboutired star; national colors: light blue, green, white, red Topic: DominicaSisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red Topic: Dominican Republicpalmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: EcuadorAndean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red Topic: Egyptgolden eagle, white lotus; national colors: red, white, black Topic: El Salvadorturquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white Topic: Equatorial Guineasilk cotton tree; national colors: green, white, red, blue Topic: Eritreacamel; national colors: green, red, blue Topic: Estoniabarn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white Topic: Eswatinilion, elephant; national colors: blue, yellow, red Topic: EthiopiaAbyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by current government); national colors: green, yellow, red Topic: European Uniona circle of 12, five-pointed, golden yellow stars on a blue field; union colors: blue, yellow Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)ram Topic: Faroe Islandsram; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: FijiFijian canoe; national color: light blue Topic: Finlandlion; national colors: blue, white Topic: FranceGallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification); national colors: blue, white, red Topic: French Polynesiaoutrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: red, white Topic: Gabonblack panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue Topic: Gambia, Thelion; national colors: red, blue, green, white Topic: GeorgiaSaint George, lion; national colors: red, white Topic: Germanyeagle; national colors: black, red, yellow Topic: Ghanablack star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black Topic: GibraltarBarbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow Topic: GreeceGreek cross (white cross on blue field, arms equal length); national colors: blue, white Topic: Greenlandpolar bear; national colors: red, white Topic: GrenadaGrenada dove, bougainvillea flower; national colors: red, yellow, green Topic: Guamcoconut tree; national colors: deep blue, red Topic: Guatemalaquetzal (bird); national colors: blue, white Topic: GuernseyGuernsey cow, donkey; national colors: red, white, yellow Topic: Guineaelephant; national colors: red, yellow, green Topic: Guinea-Bissaublack star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black Topic: GuyanaCanje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white Topic: HaitiHispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)crossed keys beneath a papal tiara; national colors: yellow, white Topic: Hondurasscarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, white Topic: Hong Kongorchid tree flower; national colors: red, white Topic: HungaryHoly Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen); national colors: red, white, green Topic: Icelandgyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red Topic: Indiathe Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; Bengal tiger; lotus flower; national colors: saffron, white, green Topic: Indonesiagaruda (mythical bird); national colors: red, white Topic: Iranlion; national colors: green, white, red Topic: Iraqgolden eagle; national colors: red, white, black Topic: Irelandharp, shamrock (trefoil); national colors: blue, green Topic: Isle of Mantriskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white Topic: IsraelStar of David (Magen David), menorah (seven-branched lampstand); national colors: blue, white Topic: Italywhite, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia); national colors: red, white, green Topic: Jamaicagreen-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black Topic: Japanred sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white Topic: JerseyJersey cow; national colors: red, white Topic: Jordaneagle; national colors: black, white, green, red Topic: Kazakhstangolden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow Topic: Kenyalion; national colors: black, red, green, white Topic: Kiribatifrigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow Topic: Korea, Northred star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Korea, Southtaegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon), Siberian tiger; national colors: red, white, blue, black Topic: Kosovosix, five-pointed, white stars; national colors: blue, gold, white Topic: Kuwaitgolden falcon; national colors: green, white, red, black Topic: Kyrgyzstanwhite falcon; national colors: red, yellow Topic: Laoselephant; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Latviawhite wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white Topic: Lebanoncedar tree; national colors: red, white, green Topic: Lesothomokorotio (Basotho hat); national colors: blue, white, green, black Topic: Liberiawhite star; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Libyastar and crescent, hawk; national colors: red, black, green Topic: Liechtensteinprincely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red Topic: Lithuaniamounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red Topic: Luxembourgred, rampant lion; national colors: red, white, light blue Topic: Macaulotus blossom; national colors: green, white, yellow Topic: Madagascartraveller's palm, zebu; national colors: red, green, white Topic: Malawilion; national colors: black, red, green Topic: Malaysiatiger, hibiscus; national colors: gold, black Topic: Maldivescoconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white Topic: MaliGreat Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red Topic: MaltaMaltese eight-pointed cross; national colors: red, white Topic: Marshall Islandsa 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange Topic: Mauritaniafive-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon; national colors: green, yellow Topic: Mauritiusdodo bird, Trochetia Boutoniana flower; national colors: red, blue, yellow, green Topic: Mexicogolden eagle; national colors: green, white, red Topic: Micronesia, Federated States offour, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower; national colors: light blue, white Topic: Moldovaaurochs (a type of wild cattle); national colors: blue, yellow, red Topic: Monacored and white lozenges (diamond shapes); national colors: red, white Topic: Mongoliasoyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow Topic: Montenegrodouble-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold Topic: Moroccopentacle symbol, lion; national colors: red, green Topic: Mozambiquenational colors: green, black, yellow, white, red Topic: Namibiaoryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow Topic: Naurufrigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white Topic: Nepalrhododendron blossom; national color: red Topic: Netherlandslion, tulip; national color: orange Topic: New Caledoniafleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, red Topic: New ZealandSouthern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre) Topic: Nicaraguaturquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white Topic: Nigerzebu; national colors: orange, white, green Topic: Nigeriaeagle; national colors: green, white Topic: Niueyellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow Topic: Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island pine Topic: North Macedoniaeight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow Topic: Northern Mariana Islandslatte stone; national colors: blue, white Topic: Norwaylion; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Omankhanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green Topic: Pakistanfive-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine; national colors: green, white Topic: Palaubai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow Topic: Panamaharpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red Topic: Papua New Guineabird of paradise; national colors: red, black Topic: Paraguaylion; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Peruvicuna (a camelid related to the llama); national colors: red, white Topic: Philippinesthree stars and sun, Philippine eagle; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow Topic: Polandwhite crowned eagle; national colors: white, red Topic: Portugalarmillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky and representing the Republic); national colors: red, green Topic: Puerto RicoPuerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Qatara maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white Topic: Romaniagolden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red Topic: Russiabear, double-headed eagle; national colors: white, blue, red Topic: Rwandatraditional woven basket with peaked lid; national colors: blue, yellow, green Topic: Saint Barthelemypelican Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaSaint Helena plover (bird) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisbrown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white Topic: Saint Luciatwin pitons (volcanic peaks), Saint Lucia parrot; national colors: cerulean blue, gold, black, white Topic: Saint Martinbrown pelican Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon16th-century sailing ship Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent parrot; national colors: blue, gold, green Topic: SamoaSouthern Cross constellation (five, five-pointed stars); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: San Marinothree peaks each displaying a tower; national colors: white, blue Topic: Sao Tome and Principepalm tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black Topic: Saudi Arabiapalm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white Topic: Senegallion; national colors: green, yellow, red Topic: Serbiawhite double-headed eagle; national colors: red, blue, white Topic: Seychellescoco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green Topic: Sierra Leonelion; national colors: green, white, blue Topic: Singaporelion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white Topic: Sint Maartenbrown pelican, yellow sage (flower); national colors: red, white, bluebrown pelican, yellow sage (flower); national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Slovakiadouble-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks; national colors: white, blue, red Topic: SloveniaMount Triglav; national colors: white, blue, red Topic: Solomon Islandsnational colors: blue, yellow, green, white Topic: Somalialeopard; national colors: blue, white Topic: South Africaspringbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white Topic: South SudanAfrican fish eagle; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white Topic: SpainPillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow Topic: Sri Lankalion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow Topic: Sudansecretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green Topic: Surinameroyal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow Topic: Swedenthree crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow Topic: SwitzerlandSwiss cross (white cross on red field, arms equal length); national colors: red, white Topic: Syriahawk; national colors: red, white, black, green Topic: Taiwanwhite, 12-rayed sun on blue field; national colors: blue, white, red Topic: Tajikistancrown surmounted by an arc of seven, five-pointed stars; snow leopard; national colors: red, white, green Topic: TanzaniaUhuru (Freedom) torch, giraffe; national colors: green, yellow, blue, black Topic: Thailandgaruda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: Timor-LesteMount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white Topic: Togolion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white Topic: Tokelautuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors: blue, yellow, white Topic: Tongared cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoscarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black Topic: Tunisiaencircled red crescent moon and five-pointed star; national colors: red, white Topic: Turkeyvertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star; national colors: red, white Topic: TurkmenistanAkhal-Teke horse; national colors: green, white Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsconch shell, Turk's cap cactus Topic: Tuvalumaneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow Topic: Ugandagrey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red Topic: Ukrainetryzub (trident), sunflower; national colors: blue, yellow Topic: United Arab Emiratesgolden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red Topic: United Kingdomlion (Britain in general); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland); national colors: red, white, blue (Britain in general); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales) Topic: United Statesbald eagle; national colors: red, white, blue Topic: UruguaySun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow Topic: Uzbekistankhumo (mythical bird); national colors: blue, white, red, green Topic: Vanuatuboar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red, black, green, yellow Topic: Venezuelatroupial (bird); national colors: yellow, blue, red Topic: Vietnamyellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom; national colors: red, yellow Topic: Wallis and Futunared saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white Topic: Yemengolden eagle; national colors: red, white, black Topic: ZambiaAfrican fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange Topic: ZimbabweZimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white

20220601

oceans-southern-ocean

Topic: Photos of Southern Ocean Topic: 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 which encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which promotes marine plant life, and 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 - 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 oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary oceans by the US Government.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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: 21.960 million sq km note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies 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 Terrain: the Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in area major surface 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 Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastlinethe Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in areamajor surface 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 Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastline Elevation: highest point: sea level lowest point: southern end of the South Sandwich Trench -7,434 m unnamed deep mean depth: -3,270 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m. The upper 200 m (656 ft) of oceans is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth. The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible. The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness. Natural resources: probable large oil and gas fields on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fish 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 Environment - international 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: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the northnote: 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 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 Map description: Southern Ocean map showing the extent of the Ocean – up to 60 degrees south latitude - surrounding Antarctica.Southern Ocean map showing the extent of the Ocean – up to 60 degrees south latitude - surrounding Antarctica. Volume: Ocean volume: 71.8 million cu km Percent of total ocean volume: 5.4% Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: changes to the ocean's physical, chemical, and biological systems have taken place because of climate change, ocean acidification, and commercial exploitation Environment - international 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 northnote: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north Marine fisheries: the Southern Ocean fishery is relatively small with a total catch of 380,771 mt in 2019; 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 (230,258 mt), China (50,381 mt), and South Korea (43,336 mt); Antarctic Krill made up 96% of the total catch in 2019, while other important species include Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish Regional fisheries bodies: Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources 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 Topic: Government Country name: etymology: the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) included the ocean and its definition as the waters south of 60 degrees south in its year 2000 revision, but this has not formally been adopted; the 2000 IHO definition, however, was circulated in a draft edition in 2002 and has acquired de facto usage by many nations and organizations, including the CIA Topic: Economy Economic overview: Fisheries in 2013-14 landed 302,960 metric tons, of which 96% (291,370 tons-the highest reported catch since 1991) was krill and 4% (11,590 tons) Patagonian toothfish (also known as Chilean sea bass), compared to 15,330 tons in 2012-13 (estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which extends slightly beyond the Southern Ocean area). International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. A total of 73,670 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2019-2020 Antarctic summer, 32 percent greater than the 55,489 visitors in 2018-2019. These estimates were provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and do not include passengers on overflights. Nearly all of the tourists were passengers on commercial ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica note: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of the Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private vessels Transportation - note: Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so)Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so)

20220601

countries-jordan-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Jordan due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp. A visa is required, but single-entry visas are available to US citizens upon arrival at Queen Alia International Airport and at most international land border crossings. US Embassy/Consulate: [962] (6) 590-6000; US Embassy in Amman, Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman – Jordan; Amman-ACS@state.gov; https://jo.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 962 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 191; Fire: 193; Police: 192 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April) Currency (Code): Jordanian dinars (JOD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, F, G, J Major Languages: Arabic, English (widely understood among upper and middle classes) Major Religions: Muslim 97.1% (predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.1% (majority Greek Orthodox), Buddhist 0.4%, Hindu 0.1% Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March, ends last Friday in October Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Amman; Petra; Al-Maghtas; Jerash; Dead Sea; Mujib Nature Reserve Major Sports: Soccer, rugby, basketball, handball, volleyball Cultural Practices: Handshakes are very common in Jordan, even in less formal interactions. Don't be surprised if even casual contact includes a handshake. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not expected, but it is always appreciated. Leaving 10% at a restaurant is sufficient. For bellhops and hotel maids, around $2 (USD) per day is considered appropriate.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022

20220601

field-heliports

This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs. Topic: Afghanistan1 (2021) Topic: Algeria4 (2022) Topic: Angola1 (2021) Topic: Antarctica53 (2021) note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared Topic: Argentina2 (2021) Topic: Australia1 (2021) Topic: Austria1 (2021) Topic: Azerbaijan1 (2021) Topic: Bahamas, The1 (2021) Topic: Bahrain1 (2021) Topic: Bangladesh3 (2021) Topic: Belarus1 (2021) Topic: Belgium1 (2021) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina6 (2021) Topic: Brazil13 (2021) Topic: Brunei3 (2021) Topic: Bulgaria1 (2021) Topic: Burma11 (2021) Topic: Burundi1 (2021) Topic: Cambodia1 (2021) Topic: Canada26 (2021) Topic: Chile1 (2021) Topic: China39 (2021) Topic: Colombia3 (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the1 (2021) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire1 (2021) Topic: Croatia1 (2021) Topic: Cyprus9 (2021) Topic: Czechia1 (2021) Topic: Dominican Republic1 (2021) Topic: Ecuador2 (2021) Topic: Egypt7 (2021) Topic: El Salvador2 (2021) Topic: Eritrea1 (2021) Topic: Estonia1 (2021) Topic: European Union(2021) 90 Topic: France1 (2021) Topic: French Polynesia1 (2021) Topic: Gaza Strip1 (2021) Topic: Georgia2 (2021) Topic: Germany23 (2021) Topic: Greece9 (2021) Topic: Guatemala1 (2021) Topic: Hong Kong9 (2021) Topic: Hungary3 (2021) Topic: India45 (2021) Topic: Indonesia76 (2021) Topic: Iran26 (2021) Topic: Iraq16 (2021) Topic: Israel3 (2021) Topic: Italy5 (2021) Topic: Japan16 (2021) Topic: Jordan1 (2021) Topic: Kazakhstan3 (2021) Topic: Korea, North23 (2021) Topic: Korea, South466 (2021) Topic: Kosovo2 (2021) Topic: Kuwait4 (2021) Topic: Latvia1 (2021) Topic: Lebanon1 (2021) Topic: Libya2 (2021) Topic: Luxembourg1 (2021) Topic: Macau2 (2021) Topic: Malaysia4 (2021) Topic: Mali2 (2021) Topic: Malta2 (2021) Topic: Mexico1 (2021) Topic: Monaco1 (2021) Topic: Mongolia1 (2021) Topic: Montenegro1 (2021) Topic: Morocco1 (2021) Topic: Netherlands1 (2021) Topic: New Caledonia8 (2021) Topic: Niger1 (2021) Topic: Nigeria5 (2021) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands1 (2021) Topic: Norway1 (2021) Topic: Oman3 (2021) Topic: Pakistan23 (2021) Topic: Panama3 (2021) Topic: Papua New Guinea2 (2021) Topic: Peru5 (2021) Topic: Philippines2 (2021) Topic: Poland6 (2021) Topic: Qatar1 (2021) Topic: Romania2 (2021) Topic: Russia49 (2021) Topic: Saudi Arabia10 (2021) Topic: Serbia2 (2021) Topic: Seychelles1 (2021) Topic: Sierra Leone2 (2021) Topic: Slovakia1 (2021) Topic: Solomon Islands3 (2021) Topic: South Sudan3 (2021) Topic: Spain13 (2021) Topic: Spratly Islands5 (2021) Topic: Sri Lanka1 (2021) Topic: Sudan7 (2021) Topic: Svalbard1 (2021) Topic: Sweden2 (2021) Topic: Switzerland2 (2021) Topic: Syria6 (2021) Topic: Taiwan31 (2021) Topic: Thailand7 (2021) Topic: Timor-Leste8 (2021) Topic: Turkey20 (2021) Topic: Turkmenistan1 (2021) Topic: Ukraine9 (2021) Topic: United Arab Emirates5 (2021) Topic: United Kingdom9 (2021) Topic: United States5,287 (2021) Topic: Venezuela3 (2021) Topic: Vietnam1 (2021) Topic: West Bank1 (2021) Topic: World6,524 (2021)

20220601

field-airports-with-paved-runways

This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type of aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 29 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2020) Topic: Akrotiri2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Albaniatotal: 3 (2020) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Algeriatotal: 67 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2020) Topic: American Samoatotal: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Angolatotal: 32 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2020) Topic: Anguillatotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2020) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Argentinatotal: 161 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 10 (2017) Topic: Armeniatotal: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Arubatotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Australiatotal: 349 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 914 to 1,523 m: 155 under 914 m: 14 (2017) Topic: Austriatotal: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 13 (2017) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 30 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2017) Topic: Bahraintotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Barbadostotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Belarustotal: 33 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2017) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 26 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 8 (2019) Topic: Belizetotal: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Benintotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Bermudatotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Bhutantotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Boliviatotal: 21 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2017) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Botswanatotal: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Braziltotal: 698 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 179 914 to 1,523 m: 436 (2017) under 914 m: 49 (2017) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorytotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Bruneitotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 57 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 under 914 m: 26 (2017) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Burmatotal: 36 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Burunditotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Cameroontotal: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Canadatotal: 523 over 3,047 m: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 147 914 to 1,523 m: 257 under 914 m: 79 (2017) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Chadtotal: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Chiletotal: 90 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 24 (2017) Topic: Chinatotal: 510 over 3,047 m: 87 2,438 to 3,047 m: 187 1,524 to 2,437 m: 109 914 to 1,523 m: 43 under 914 m: 84 (2019) Topic: Christmas Islandtotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Colombiatotal: 121 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 18 (2017) Topic: Comorostotal: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 16 (2017) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Croatiatotal: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2017) Topic: Cubatotal: 64 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 27 (2017) Topic: Curacaototal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Cyprustotal: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Czechiatotal: 41 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (2017) Topic: Denmarktotal: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Dominicatotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 16 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 104 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 51 (2017) Topic: Egypttotal: 72 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 under 914 m: 6 (2017) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) under 914 m: 2 Topic: Eritreatotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2019) Topic: Estoniatotal: 13 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: European Uniontotal: 1,882 over 3,047 m: 120 2,438 to 3,047 m: 341 1,524 to 2,437 m: 507 914 to 1,523 m: 425 under 914 m: 489 (2017) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Fijitotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Finlandtotal: 74 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 14 (2017) Topic: Francetotal: 294 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 97 914 to 1,523 m: 83 under 914 m: 75 (2017) Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 45 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Gabontotal: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) note - non-operational Topic: Georgiatotal: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Germanytotal: 318 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 60 914 to 1,523 m: 70 under 914 m: 125 (2017) Topic: Ghanatotal: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Gibraltartotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Greecetotal: 68 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 10 (2017) Topic: Greenlandtotal: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2019) Topic: Grenadatotal: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Guamtotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Guernseytotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Guineatotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2019) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Guyanatotal: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 8 (2017) Topic: Haititotal: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2019) Topic: Hondurastotal: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Hungarytotal: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Icelandtotal: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Indiatotal: 253 over 3,047 m: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 59 1,524 to 2,437 m: 76 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 14 (2017) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 186 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 37 (2017) Topic: Irantotal: 140 over 3,047 m: 42 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 7 (2019) Topic: Iraqtotal: 72 over 3,047 m: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2017) Topic: Irelandtotal: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2019) Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Israeltotal: 33 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 8 (2019) Topic: Italytotal: 98 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 11 (2017) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Japantotal: 142 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 25 (2017) Topic: Jerseytotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Jordantotal: 16 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 63 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2017) Topic: Kenyatotal: 16 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 39 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 71 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 23 (2017) Topic: Kosovototal: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Laostotal: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Latviatotal: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (2017) Topic: Lebanontotal: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Lesothototal: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Liberiatotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Libyatotal: 68 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 22 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2017) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Macautotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Madagascartotal: 26 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Malawitotal: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2019) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 39 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 8 (2017) Topic: Maldivestotal: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Malitotal: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Maltatotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Mexicototal: 243 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 80 914 to 1,523 m: 86 under 914 m: 33 (2017) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Moldovatotal: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Montenegrototal: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) under 914 m: 1 Topic: Montserrattotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Moroccototal: 36 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2020) Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Namibiatotal: 19 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Naurutotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Nepaltotal: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 23 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2017) Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 39 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Nigertotal: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 40 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (2017) Topic: Niuetotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Norfolk Islandtotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 6 (2017) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Norwaytotal: 67 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 21 (2017) Topic: Omantotal: 13 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Pakistantotal: 108 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 43 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (2017) Topic: Palautotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Panamatotal: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 30 (2017) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Paracel Islandstotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Perutotal: 59 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Philippinestotal: 89 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 10 (2019) Topic: Polandtotal: 87 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 6 (2017) Topic: Portugaltotal: 43 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 8 (2017) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2017) Topic: Qatartotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Romaniatotal: 26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Russiatotal: 594 over 3,047 m: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 197 1,524 to 2,437 m: 123 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 125 (2017) Topic: Rwandatotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 Ascension Island - Wideawake Field (ASI) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 Saint Helena (HLE); (2019) note - weekly commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia commenced on 14 October 2017 Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Martintotal: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Samoatotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 82 over 3,047 m: 33 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2017) Topic: Senegaltotal: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Serbiatotal: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) Topic: Seychellestotal: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Singaporetotal: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2017) Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) note: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) was severely damaged on 6 September 2017 by hurricane Irma, but resumed commercial operations on 10 October 2017 Topic: Slovakiatotal: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2019) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2020) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Somaliatotal: 8 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2020) Topic: South Africatotal: 130 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 46 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 7 (2020) Topic: South Sudantotal: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2020) Topic: Spaintotal: 102 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 23 (2020) Topic: Spratly Islandstotal: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2020) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2020) Topic: Sudantotal: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2020) Topic: Surinametotal: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2019) Topic: Svalbardtotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Swedentotal: 149 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 37 (2013) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 40 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 17 (2013) Topic: Syriatotal: 29 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2013) Topic: Taiwantotal: 35 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2013) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2013) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2019) Topic: Thailandtotal: 63 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 6 (2013) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) Topic: Togototal: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2019) Topic: Tongatotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) Topic: Turkeytotal: 91 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 4 (2013) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013) Topic: Ugandatotal: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 108 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 28 (2013) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 25 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2013) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 271 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 80 under 914 m: 66 (2013) Topic: United Statestotal: 5,054 over 3,047 m: 189 2,438 to 3,047 m: 235 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,478 914 to 1,523 m: 2,249 under 914 m: 903 (2013) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 - Johnston Atoll; (2016) note - abandoned but usable Topic: Uruguaytotal: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2013) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 33 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2013) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Venezuelatotal: 127 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 17 (2013) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 38 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Wake Islandtotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019) Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) Topic: West Banktotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013) Topic: Yementotal: 17 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) Topic: Zambiatotal: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

20220601

europe

20220601

field-life-expectancy-at-birth

This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures. Topic: Afghanistantotal population: 53.65 years male: 52.1 years female: 55.28 years (2022 est.) Topic: Albaniatotal population: 79.47 years male: 76.8 years female: 82.33 years (2022 est.) Topic: Algeriatotal population: 78.03 years male: 76.57 years female: 79.57 years (2022 est.) Topic: American Samoatotal population: 75.32 years male: 72.83 years female: 77.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Andorratotal population: 83.42 years male: 81.2 years female: 85.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Angolatotal population: 62.11 years male: 60.05 years female: 64.24 years (2022 est.) Topic: Anguillatotal population: 82.2 years male: 79.59 years female: 84.89 years (2022 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal population: 77.8 years male: 75.63 years female: 80.08 years (2022 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal population: 78.31 years male: 75.23 years female: 81.59 years (2022 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal population: 76.13 years male: 72.86 years female: 79.68 years (2022 est.) Topic: Arubatotal population: 78.01 years male: 74.93 years female: 81.15 years (2022 est.) Topic: Australiatotal population: 83.09 years male: 80.93 years female: 85.36 years (2022 est.) Topic: Austriatotal population: 82.27 years male: 79.64 years female: 85.04 years (2022 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal population: 74.15 years male: 71.08 years female: 77.41 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal population: 76.13 years male: 73.2 years female: 79.14 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal population: 79.9 years male: 77.63 years female: 82.24 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal population: 74.7 years male: 72.52 years female: 76.96 years (2022 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal population: 78.55 years male: 75.79 years female: 81.35 years (2022 est.) Topic: Belarustotal population: 74.28 years male: 68.9 years female: 79.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal population: 81.86 years male: 79.25 years female: 84.59 years (2022 est.) Topic: Belizetotal population: 75.82 years male: 74.23 years female: 77.5 years (2022 est.) Topic: Benintotal population: 62.21 years male: 60.39 years female: 64.14 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bermudatotal population: 82.04 years male: 78.96 years female: 85.28 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bhutantotal population: 72.31 years male: 71.19 years female: 73.49 years (2022 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal population: 72.5 years male: 71.04 years female: 74.02 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal population: 77.98 years male: 75.02 years female: 81.15 years (2022 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal population: 65.64 years male: 63.6 years female: 67.74 years (2022 est.) Topic: Braziltotal population: 75.92 years male: 72.5 years female: 79.5 years (2022 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal population: 79.67 years male: 78.17 years female: 81.25 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal population: 78.38 years male: 76.01 years female: 80.86 years (2022 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal population: 75.57 years male: 72.36 years female: 78.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal population: 63.44 years male: 61.63 years female: 65.31 years (2022 est.) Topic: Burmatotal population: 69.92 years male: 68.27 years female: 71.67 years (2022 est.) Topic: Burunditotal population: 67.42 years male: 65.32 years female: 69.59 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal population: 73.75 years male: 71.41 years female: 76.15 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal population: 70.65 years male: 68.79 years female: 72.59 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal population: 63.27 years male: 61.49 years female: 65.09 years (2022 est.) Topic: Canadatotal population: 83.8 years male: 81.52 years female: 86.21 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal population: 82.04 years male: 79.35 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Central African Republictotal population: 55.52 years male: 54.19 years female: 56.88 years (2022 est.) Topic: Chadtotal population: 59.15 years male: 57.32 years female: 61.06 years (2022 est.) Topic: Chiletotal population: 79.79 years male: 76.8 years female: 82.92 years (2022 est.) Topic: Chinatotal population: 77.72 years male: 75 years female: 80.7 years (2022 est.) Topic: Christmas Islandtotal population: (2017 est.) NA male: NA female: NA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Topic: Colombiatotal population: 74.89 years male: 71.27 years female: 78.69 years (2022 est.) Topic: Comorostotal population: 67.2 years male: 64.93 years female: 69.54 years (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal population: 61.83 years male: 60.03 years female: 63.69 years (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal population: 62.1 years male: 60.65 years female: 63.61 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal population: 77.14 years male: 74.32 years female: 80.11 years (2022 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal population: 79.64 years male: 76.99 years female: 82.43 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal population: 62.26 years male: 60.07 years female: 64.52 years (2022 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal population: 77.22 years male: 74.1 years female: 80.53 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cubatotal population: 79.64 years male: 77.29 years female: 82.14 years (2022 est.) Topic: Curacaototal population: 79.42 years male: 77.09 years female: 81.87 years (2022 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal population: 79.74 years male: 76.93 years female: 82.68 years (2022 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal population: 79.73 years male: 76.8 years female: 82.82 years (2022 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal population: 81.66 years male: 79.74 years female: 83.71 years (2022 est.) Topic: Djiboutitotal population: 65.3 years male: 62.72 years female: 67.96 years (2022 est.) Topic: Dominicatotal population: 78.21 years male: 75.25 years female: 81.31 years (2022 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal population: 72.56 years male: 70.86 years female: 74.33 years (2022 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal population: 78 years male: 75.06 years female: 81.1 years (2022 est.) Topic: Egypttotal population: 74.45 years male: 73.26 years female: 75.72 years (2022 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal population: 75.37 years male: 71.88 years female: 79.04 years (2022 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal population: 63.7 years male: 61.44 years female: 66.03 years (2022 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal population: 66.85 years male: 64.25 years female: 69.53 years (2022 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal population: 77.88 years male: 73.25 years female: 82.73 years (2022 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal population: 59.69 years male: 57.62 years female: 61.81 years (2022 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal population: 68.25 years male: 66.12 years female: 70.44 years (2022 est.) Topic: European Uniontotal population: 77.63 years male: 72.98 years female: 82.51 years (2021 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total population: 77.9 male: 75.6 female: (2017 est.) 79.6 Topic: Faroe Islandstotal population: 81.26 years male: 78.73 years female: 83.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Fijitotal population: 74.27 years male: 71.6 years female: 77.07 years (2022 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal population: 81.76 years male: 78.86 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Francetotal population: 82.59 years male: 79.53 years female: 85.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: French Polynesiatotal population: 78.43 years male: 76.11 years female: 80.86 years (2022 est.) Topic: Gabontotal population: 69.7 years male: 67.98 years female: 71.48 years (2022 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal population: 67.6 years male: 65.83 years female: 69.41 years (2022 est.) Topic: Gaza Striptotal population: 75.4 years male: 73.65 years female: 77.25 years (2022 est.) Topic: Georgiatotal population: 77.5 years male: 73.45 years female: 81.74 years (2022 est.) Topic: Germanytotal population: 81.51 years male: 79.15 years female: 84 years (2022 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal population: 69.37 years male: 67.7 years female: 71.09 years (2022 est.) Topic: Gibraltartotal population: 80.42 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.41 years (2022 est.) Topic: Greecetotal population: 81.49 years male: 78.96 years female: 84.2 years (2022 est.) Topic: Greenlandtotal population: 73.98 years male: 71.28 years female: 76.82 years (2022 est.) Topic: Grenadatotal population: 75.74 years male: 73.13 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guamtotal population: 77.5 years male: 75.07 years female: 80.08 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guatemalatotal population: 72.91 years male: 70.88 years female: 75.04 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guernseytotal population: 83.23 years male: 80.52 years female: 86.07 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guineatotal population: 63.9 years male: 62.04 years female: 65.82 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal population: 63.68 years male: 61.45 years female: 65.99 years (2022 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal population: 71.87 years male: 70.03 years female: 73.8 years (2022 est.) Topic: Haititotal population: 65.95 years male: 63.26 years female: 68.67 years (2022 est.) Topic: Hondurastotal population: 75.17 years male: 71.63 years female: 78.82 years (2022 est.) Topic: Hong Kongtotal population: 83.61 years male: 80.91 years female: 86.46 years (2022 est.) Topic: Hungarytotal population: 77.2 years male: 73.55 years female: 81.06 years (2022 est.) Topic: Icelandtotal population: 83.64 years male: 81.41 years female: 85.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Indiatotal population: 67.22 years male: 65.46 years female: 69.16 years (2022 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal population: 73.08 years male: 70.86 years female: 75.4 years (2022 est.) Topic: Irantotal population: 75.25 years male: 73.89 years female: 76.67 years (2022 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal population: 73.18 years male: 71.3 years female: 75.15 years (2022 est.) Topic: Irelandtotal population: 81.66 years male: 79.35 years female: 84.1 years (2022 est.) Topic: Isle of Mantotal population: 82.04 years male: 80.23 years female: 84 years (2022 est.) Topic: Israeltotal population: 83.35 years male: 81.45 years female: 85.34 years (2022 est.) Topic: Italytotal population: 82.59 years male: 80.25 years female: 85.08 years (2022 est.) Topic: Jamaicatotal population: 75.75 years male: 73.98 years female: 77.6 years (2022 est.) Topic: Japantotal population: 84.83 years male: 81.92 years female: 87.9 years (2022 est.) Topic: Jerseytotal population: 82.63 years male: 80.13 years female: 85.28 years (2022 est.) Topic: Jordantotal population: 76.01 years male: 74.51 years female: 77.6 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kazakhstantotal population: 72.53 years male: 67.43 years female: 77.31 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kenyatotal population: 69.69 years male: 67.98 years female: 71.43 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kiribatitotal population: 67.9 years male: 65.3 years female: 70.64 years (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, Northtotal population: 71.77 years male: 67.88 years female: 75.88 years (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal population: 82.97 years male: 79.88 years female: 86.24 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kosovototal population: 71.12 years male: 68.83 years female: 73.58 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kuwaittotal population: 79.13 years male: 77.67 years female: 80.65 years (2022 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal population: 72.35 years male: 68.27 years female: 76.71 years (2022 est.) Topic: Laostotal population: 68.15 years male: 66.49 years female: 69.88 years (2022 est.) Topic: Latviatotal population: 75.91 years male: 71.47 years female: 80.56 years (2022 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal population: 78.76 years male: 77.36 years female: 80.23 years (2022 est.) Topic: Lesothototal population: 59.57 years male: 57.57 years female: 61.64 years (2022 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal population: 65.45 years male: 63.19 years female: 67.78 years (2022 est.) Topic: Libyatotal population: 77.18 years male: 74.94 years female: 79.53 years (2022 est.) Topic: Liechtensteintotal population: 82.56 years male: 80.33 years female: 85.38 years (2022 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal population: 75.78 years male: 70.42 years female: 81.44 years (2022 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal population: 82.98 years male: 80.52 years female: 85.58 years (2022 est.) Topic: Macautotal population: 84.98 years male: 82.09 years female: 88.02 years (2022 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal population: 68.17 years male: 66.8 years female: 69.57 years (2022 est.) Topic: Malawitotal population: 72.44 years male: 69.33 years female: 75.59 years (2022 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal population: 76.13 years male: 74.5 years female: 77.87 years (2022 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal population: 76.94 years male: 74.57 years female: 79.42 years (2022 est.) Topic: Malitotal population: 62.41 years male: 60.19 years female: 64.7 years (2022 est.) Topic: Maltatotal population: 83.2 years male: 81.11 years female: 85.38 years (2022 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal population: 74.65 years male: 72.4 years female: 77.01 years (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal population: 65.22 years male: 62.77 years female: 67.75 years (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal population: 74.86 years male: 72.04 years female: 77.88 years (2022 est.) Topic: Mexicototal population: 72.32 years male: 68.93 years female: 75.88 years (2022 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal population: 74.44 years male: 72.34 years female: 76.66 years (2022 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal population: 72.44 years male: 68.6 years female: 76.52 years (2022 est.) Topic: Monacototal population: 89.52 years male: 85.7 years female: 93.49 years (2022 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal population: 71.37 years male: 67.19 years female: 75.76 years (2022 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal population: 77.75 years male: 75.32 years female: 80.27 years (2022 est.) Topic: Montserrattotal population: 75.7 years male: 76.66 years female: 74.7 years (2022 est.) Topic: Moroccototal population: 73.68 years male: 71.98 years female: 75.46 years (2022 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquetotal population: 57.1 years male: 55.76 years female: 58.49 years (2022 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal population: 66.47 years male: 64.46 years female: 68.53 years (2022 est.) Topic: Naurutotal population: 67.93 years male: 64.38 years female: 71.62 years (2022 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal population: 72.4 years male: 71.66 years female: 73.17 years (2022 est.) Topic: Netherlandstotal population: 82.16 years male: 79.93 years female: 84.49 years (2022 est.) Topic: New Caledoniatotal population: 78.83 years male: 74.93 years female: 82.92 years (2022 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal population: 82.54 years male: 80.78 years female: 84.39 years (2022 est.) Topic: Nicaraguatotal population: 74.78 years male: 72.56 years female: 77.11 years (2022 est.) Topic: Nigertotal population: 60.09 years male: 58.55 years female: 61.68 years (2022 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal population: 61.33 years male: 59.51 years female: 63.27 years (2022 est.) Topic: Niuetotal population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Topic: Norfolk Islandtotal population: (2017 est.) NA male: NA female: NA Topic: North Macedoniatotal population: 76.84 years male: 74.73 years female: 79.08 years (2022 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal population: 76.58 years male: 74.48 years female: 79.03 years (2022 est.) Topic: Norwaytotal population: 82.55 years male: 80.42 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Omantotal population: 76.9 years male: 74.96 years female: 78.93 years (2022 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal population: 69.67 years male: 67.62 years female: 71.82 years (2022 est.) Topic: Palautotal population: 74.64 years male: 71.48 years female: 78 years (2022 est.) Topic: Panamatotal population: 77.62 years male: 74.76 years female: 80.66 years (2022 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal population: 69.43 years male: 67.76 years female: 71.19 years (2022 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal population: 78.37 years male: 75.72 years female: 81.15 years (2022 est.) Topic: Perutotal population: 68.94 years male: 65.38 years female: 72.67 years (2022 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal population: 70.14 years male: 66.6 years female: 73.86 years (2022 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islandstotal population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Topic: Polandtotal population: 78.76 years male: 75.02 years female: 82.73 years (2022 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal population: 81.5 years male: 78.37 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricototal population: 81.68 years male: 78.47 years female: 85.08 years (2022 est.) Topic: Qatartotal population: 79.81 years male: 77.7 years female: 81.96 years (2022 est.) Topic: Romaniatotal population: 75.75 years male: 72.3 years female: 79.4 years (2022 est.) Topic: Russiatotal population: 72.44 years male: 66.92 years female: 78.3 years (2022 est.) Topic: Rwandatotal population: 65.85 years male: 63.89 years female: 67.86 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal population: 80.58 years male: 77.48 years female: 83.81 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal population: 80.48 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.51 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal population: 77.08 years male: 74.63 years female: 79.58 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Luciatotal population: 78.95 years male: 76.21 years female: 81.84 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Martintotal population: 80.58 years male: 77.48 years female: 83.81 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal population: 81.41 years male: 79.05 years female: 83.9 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal population: 76.68 years male: 74.63 years female: 78.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Samoatotal population: 75.19 years male: 72.28 years female: 78.25 years (2022 est.) Topic: San Marinototal population: 83.86 years male: 81.3 years female: 86.65 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal population: 67.06 years male: 65.44 years female: 68.72 years (2022 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal population: 76.65 years male: 75.07 years female: 78.32 years (2022 est.) Topic: Senegaltotal population: 69.96 years male: 68.23 years female: 71.77 years (2022 est.) Topic: Serbiatotal population: 74.17 years male: 71.5 years female: 77 years (2022 est.) Topic: Seychellestotal population: 76.1 years male: 71.67 years female: 80.66 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal population: 58.76 years male: 57.16 years female: 60.41 years (2022 est.) Topic: Singaporetotal population: 86.35 years male: 83.65 years female: 89.2 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sint Maartentotal population: 79.26 years male: 76.91 years female: 81.73 years (2022 est.) Topic: Slovakiatotal population: 78.31 years male: 74.83 years female: 82.04 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sloveniatotal population: 81.82 years male: 78.96 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal population: 76.7 years male: 74.05 years female: 79.49 years (2022 est.) Topic: Somaliatotal population: 55.72 years male: 53.39 years female: 58.12 years (2022 est.) Topic: South Africatotal population: 65.32 years male: 63.99 years female: 66.68 years (2022 est.) Topic: South Sudantotal population: 59.16 years male: 57.43 years female: 60.97 years (2022 est.) Topic: Spaintotal population: 82.55 years male: 79.84 years female: 85.4 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sri Lankatotal population: 78 years male: 74.57 years female: 81.56 years (2022 est.) Topic: Sudantotal population: 67.12 years male: 64.89 years female: 69.46 years (2022 est.) Topic: Surinametotal population: 72.42 years male: 68.81 years female: 76.27 years (2022 est.) Topic: Svalbardtotal population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Topic: Swedentotal population: 82.7 years male: 80.94 years female: 84.58 years (2022 est.) Topic: Switzerlandtotal population: 83.23 years male: 80.91 years female: 85.67 years (2022 est.) Topic: Syriatotal population: 74.28 years male: 72.82 years female: 75.84 years (2022 est.) Topic: Taiwantotal population: 81.16 years male: 78.17 years female: 84.34 years (2022 est.) Topic: Tajikistantotal population: 69.36 years male: 66.2 years female: 72.69 years (2022 est.) Topic: Tanzaniatotal population: 70.19 years male: 68.42 years female: 72.02 years (2022 est.) Topic: Thailandtotal population: 77.66 years male: 74.65 years female: 80.83 years (2022 est.) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal population: 69.92 years male: 68.25 years female: 71.7 years (2022 est.) Topic: Togototal population: 71.36 years male: 68.76 years female: 74.03 years (2022 est.) Topic: Tokelautotal population: NA male: NA female: (2021 est.) NA Topic: Tongatotal population: 77.53 years male: 75.89 years female: 79.23 years (2022 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal population: 75.94 years male: 74.02 years female: 77.93 years (2022 est.) Topic: Tunisiatotal population: 76.82 years male: 75.14 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.) Topic: Turkeytotal population: 76.21 years male: 73.84 years female: 78.7 years (2022 est.) Topic: Turkmenistantotal population: 71.83 years male: 68.8 years female: 75 years (2022 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal population: 80.82 years male: 78.07 years female: 83.71 years (2022 est.) Topic: Tuvalutotal population: 68.38 years male: 65.96 years female: 70.92 years (2022 est.) Topic: Ugandatotal population: 68.96 years male: 66.71 years female: 71.27 years (2022 est.) Topic: Ukrainetotal population: 73.45 years male: 68.8 years female: 78.39 years (2022 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal population: 79.56 years male: 78.21 years female: 80.99 years (2022 est.) Topic: United Kingdomtotal population: 81.94 years male: 79.95 years female: 84.04 years (2022 est.) Topic: United Statestotal population: 80.59 years male: 78.36 years female: 82.79 years (2022 est.) Topic: Uruguaytotal population: 78.43 years male: 75.32 years female: 81.64 years (2022 est.) Topic: Uzbekistantotal population: 75.29 years male: 72.27 years female: 78.5 years (2022 est.) Topic: Vanuatutotal population: 75.14 years male: 73.45 years female: 76.91 years (2022 est.) Topic: Venezuelatotal population: 73.29 years male: 70.12 years female: 76.62 years (2022 est.) Topic: Vietnamtotal population: 75.52 years male: 72.95 years female: 78.37 years (2022 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal population: 80.27 years male: 77.08 years female: 83.65 years (2022 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal population: 80.67 years male: 77.68 years female: 83.81 years (2022 est.) Topic: West Banktotal population: 76.38 years male: 74.29 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.) Topic: Worldtotal population: 70.5 years male: 68.4 years female: 72.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Yementotal population: 67.51 years male: 65.19 years female: 69.94 years (2022 est.) Topic: Zambiatotal population: 66.26 years male: 64.52 years female: 68.06 years (2022 est.) Topic: Zimbabwetotal population: 63.32 years male: 61.18 years (2022 est.) female: 65.52 years (2022 est.)

20220601

countries-dominica

Topic: Photos of Dominica Topic: Introduction Background: Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which colonized the island in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833 and in 1835 the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became part first of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967 Dominica became an associated state of the UK, and formally took responsibility for its internal affairs. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. On 18 September 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 751 sq km land: 751 sq km water: NEGL Area - comparative: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 148 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Elevation: highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 24% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.7% (2018 est.) forest: 59.2% (2018 est.) other: 6.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: population is mosly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer monthsvolcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it lies in the middle of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain and both are popular tourist destinationsflash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer monthsvolcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it lies in the middle of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain and both are popular tourist destinations Geography - note: known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world Map description: Dominica map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea.Dominica map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 74,629 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Ethnic groups: African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) Languages: English (official), French patois Religions: Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 6.1%, Baptist 5.2%, Christian Union Church 3.9%, Methodist 2.6%, Gospel Mission 2.1%, other Protestant 3.1%), Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 4.3%, none 9.4%, unspecified 1.4% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.41% (male 8,135/female 7,760) 15-24 years: 13.15% (male 5,017/female 4,746) 25-54 years: 42.79% (male 16,133/female 15,637) 55-64 years: 10.53% (male 4,089/female 3,731) 65 years and over: 12.12% (2020 est.) (male 4,128/female 4,867) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 34.9 years male: 34.4 years female: 35.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.05% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.91 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.11 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is mosly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.21 years male: 75.25 years female: 81.31 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95.7% of population unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population Current Health Expenditure: 5.5% (2019) Physicians density: 1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 3.8 beds/1,000 population HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2018) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <500 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2020) People - note: 3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water shortages a continuing concern; pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone by agricultural and industrial chemicals, and untreated sewage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Land use: agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 24% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.7% (2018 est.) forest: 59.2% (2018 est.) other: 6.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 13,176 tons (2013 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 19 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 200 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica etymology: the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ("Domingo" in Latin), 3 November 1493 Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Roseau geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is French for "reed"; the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter Independence: 3 November 1978 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978) Constitution: history: previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978 amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms, the government structure, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by three fourths of the Assembly membership in the final reading of the amendment bill, approval by simple majority in a referendum, and assent of the president; amended several times, last in 2015 Legal system: common law based on the English model International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Charles A. SAVARIN (since 2 October 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president nominated by the prime minister and leader of the opposition party and elected by the House of Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 1 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 21 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 senators appointed by the president - 5 on the advice of the prime minister, and 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, plus 2 ex-officio members - the house speaker and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 6 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but technically it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 59.0%, UWP 41.0%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3; composition - men 21, women 11, percent of women 34.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Dominica; note - in 2015, Dominica acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Kent VITAL] Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT] Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Lennox LINTON] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, Commonwealth of Nations, ECCU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith-Anne ROLLE (since 16 December 2021) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791 email address and website: mail.embdomdc@gmail.com consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica Flag description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou parrot, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the triple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellow color denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands for social justice National symbol(s): Sisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red National anthem: name: Isle of Beauty lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN note: adopted 1967 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Dominican economy was dependent on agriculture - primarily bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism, as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. However, Hurricane Maria, which passed through the island in September 2017, destroyed much of the country’s agricultural sector and caused damage to all of the country’s transportation and physical infrastructure. Before Hurricane Maria, the government had attempted to foster an offshore financial industry and planned to sign agreements with the private sector to develop geothermal energy resources. At a time when government finances are fragile, the government’s focus has been to get the country back in shape to service cruise ships. The economy contracted in 2015 and recovered to positive growth in 2016 due to a recovery of agriculture and tourism. Dominica suffers from high debt levels, which increased from 67% of GDP in 2010 to 77% in 2016. Dominica is one of five countries in the East Caribbean that have citizenship by investment programs whereby foreigners can obtain passports for a fee and revenue from this contribute to government budgets. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $710 million (2020 est.) $850 million (2019 est.) $830 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -4.7% (2017 est.) 2.6% (2016 est.) -3.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $9,900 (2020 est.) $11,900 (2019 est.) $11,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $557 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (2017 est.) 0% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 22.3% (2017 est.) industry: 12.6% (2017 est.) services: 65.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 60.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -62.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: bananas, yams, grapefruit, taro, milk, coconuts, oranges, yautia, plantains, sugar cane note: forest and fishery potential not exploited Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Industrial production growth rate: -13% (2017 est.) Labor force: 25,000 (2000 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 32% services: 28% (2002 est.) Unemployment rate: 23% (2000 est.) Population below poverty line: 29% (2009 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 227.8 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 260.4 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 82.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 71.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 40.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: -$70 million (2017 est.) $5 million (2016 est.) Exports: $160 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $43.7 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Saudi Arabia 47%, Qatar 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: medical instruments, pharmaceuticals, low-voltage protection equipment, tropical fruits, bandages (2019) Imports: $430 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $188.4 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 57%, Nigeria 11%, China 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, recreational boats, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $212.3 million (31 December 2017 est.) $221.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $280.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $314.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2017 est.) 2.7 (2016 est.) 2.7 (2015 est.) 2.7 (2014 est.) 2.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 111.4 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 103.6 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 27,800 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 72% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,300 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,237 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 76,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: fully automatic network; there are multiple competing operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections continue to decline slowly with only two active operators providing about 4 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 105 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: no terrestrial TV service available; subscription cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming plus channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately owned radio broadcasts on about 15 stations (2019) Internet country code: .dm Internet users: total: 50,266 (2019 est.) percent of population: 70% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 16,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J7 Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,512 km (2018) paved: 762 km (2018) unpaved: 750 km (2018) Merchant marine: total: 93 by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 19, other 44 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) under the Ministry of Justice, Immigration, and National Security (2022) Military - note: Dominica has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean SeaDominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

20220601

field-life-expectancy-at-birth-country-comparison

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field-population

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Topic: Afghanistan38,346,720 (2022 est.) Topic: Akrotiri(2020) approximately 18,195 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 11,000 Cypriots and 7,195 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents Topic: Albania3,095,344 (2022 est.) Topic: Algeria44,178,884 (2022 est.) Topic: American Samoa45,443 (2022 est.) Topic: Andorra85,560 (2022 est.) Topic: Angola34,795,287 (2022 est.) Topic: Anguilla18,741 (2022 est.) Topic: Antarcticano indigenous inhabitants, but there are both year-round and summer-only staffed research stations note: 54 countries have signed the 1959 Antarctic Treaty; 30 of those operate through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty); the population engaging in and supporting science or managing and protecting the Antarctic region varies from approximately 5,000 in summer to 1,100 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel, including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research, are present in the waters of the treaty region as of 2017, peak summer (December-February) maximum capacity in scientific stations - 4,877 total; Argentina 601, Australia 243, Belarus 12, Belgium 40, Brazil 66, Bulgaria 22, Chile 433, China 166, Czechia 20, Ecuador 34, Finland 17, France 90, France and Italy jointly 80, Germany 104, India 113, Italy 120, Japan 130, South Korea 130, Netherlands 10, NZ 86, Norway 70, Peru 30, Poland 40, Russia 335, South Africa 80, Spain 98, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 196, US 1,399, Uruguay 68 (2017) winter (June-August) maximum capacity in scientific station - 1,036 total; Argentina 221, Australia 52, Brazil 15, Chile 114, China 32, France 24, France and Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 48, Japan 40, Netherlands 10, South Korea 25, NZ 11, Norway 7, Poland 16, Russia 125, South Africa 15, Ukraine 12, UK 44, US 215, Uruguay 8 (2017) research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south latitude) by National Antarctic Programs year-round stations - approximately 40 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 6, China 2, France 1, France and Italy jointly 1, Germany 1, India 2, Japan 1, Netherlands 1, South Korea 2, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 5, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 2 (2017) a range of seasonal-only (summer) stations, camps, and refuges - Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czechia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, and Uruguay (2017) in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research Topic: Antigua and Barbuda100,335 (2022 est.) Topic: Argentina46,245,668 (2022 est.) Topic: Armenia3,000,756 (2022 est.) Topic: Aruba122,320 (2022 est.) Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islands(July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only Topic: Australia26,141,369 (2022 est.) Topic: Austria8,913,088 (2022 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan10,353,296 (2022 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The355,608 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Bahrain1,540,558 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up approximately 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Bangladesh165,650,475 (2022 est.) Topic: Barbados302,674 (2022 est.) Topic: Belarus9,413,505 (2022 est.) Topic: Belgium11,847,338 (2022 est.) Topic: Belize412,387 (2022 est.) Topic: Benin13,754,688 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Bermuda72,337 (2022 est.) Topic: Bhutan867,775 (2022 est.) Topic: Bolivia12,054,379 (2022 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina3,816,459 (2022 est.) Topic: Botswana2,384,246 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Bouvet Islanduninhabited Topic: Brazil217,240,060 (2022 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryno indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; approximately 3,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (2018) Topic: British Virgin Islands38,632 (2022 est.) Topic: Brunei478,054 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up approximately 26% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Bulgaria6,873,253 (2022 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso21,935,389 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Burma57,526,449 (2022 est.) Topic: Burundi12,696,478 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Cabo Verde596,707 (2022 est.) Topic: Cambodia16,713,015 (2022 est.) Topic: Cameroon29,321,637 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Canada38,232,593 (2022 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands64,309 (2022 est.) note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman Topic: Central African Republic5,454,533 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Chad17,963,211 (2022 est.) Topic: Chile18,430,408 (2022 est.) Topic: China1,410,539,758 (2022 est.) Topic: Christmas Island2,205 (2016 est.) Topic: Clipperton Islanduninhabited Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands596 (July 2014 est.) Topic: Colombia49,059,221 (2022 est.) Topic: Comoros876,437 (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the108,407,721 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Congo, Republic of the5,546,307 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Cook Islands8,128 (2022 est.) note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016 Topic: Coral Sea Islands(July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of four at the meteorological station on Willis Island Topic: Costa Rica5,204,411 (2022 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire28,713,423 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Croatia4,188,853 (2022 est.) Topic: Cuba11,008,112 (2022 est.) Topic: Curacao152,379 (2022 est.) Topic: Cyprus1,295,102 (2022 est.) Topic: Czechia10,705,384 (2022 est.) Topic: Denmark5,920,767 (2022 est.) Topic: Dhekeliaapproximately 15,500 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents Topic: Djibouti957,273 (2022 est.) Topic: Dominica74,629 (2022 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic10,694,700 (2022 est.) Topic: Ecuador17,289,554 (2022 est.) Topic: Egypt107,770,524 (2022 est.) Topic: El Salvador6,568,745 (2022 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea1,679,172 (2022 est.) Topic: Eritrea6,209,262 (2022 est.) Topic: Estonia1,211,524 (2022 est.) Topic: Eswatini1,121,761 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Ethiopia113,656,596 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: European Union(July 2021 est.) 450,131,902 rank by population: Germany - 79,903,481;  France - 68,084,217;  Italy - 62,390,364;  Spain - 47,260,584;  Poland - 38,185,913;  Romania - 21,230,362;  Netherlands - 17,337,403;  Belgium - 11,778,842;  Czechia - 10,702,596;  Greece - 10,569,703;  Portugal - 10,263,850;  Sweden - 10,261,767;  Hungary - 9,728,337;  Austria - 8,884,864;  Bulgaria - 6,919,180;  Denmark - 5,894,687;  Finland - 5,587,442;  Slovakia - 5,436,066;  Ireland - 5,224,884;  Croatia - 4,208,973;  Lithuania - 2,711,566;  Slovenia - 2,102,106;  Latvia - 1,862,687;  Cyprus - 1,281,506;  Estonia - 1,220,042;  Luxembourg - 639,589;  Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)3,198 (2016 est.) note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2016 census Topic: Faroe Islands52,269 (2022 est.) Topic: Fiji943,737 (2022 est.) Topic: Finland5,601,547 (2022 est.) Topic: France68,305,148 (2022 est.) note: the above figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 Topic: French Polynesia299,356 (2022 est.) Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsno indigenous inhabitants Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but has a meteorological station Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays Iles Crozet: uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, except for visits by scientists Topic: Gabon2,340,613 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Gambia, The2,413,403 (2022 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip1,997,328 (2022 est.) Topic: Georgia4,935,518 (2022 est.) Topic: Germany84,316,622 (2022 est.) Topic: Ghana33,107,275 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Gibraltar29,573 (2022 est.) Topic: Greece10,533,871 (2022 est.) Topic: Greenland57,792 (2022 est.) Topic: Grenada113,949 (2022 est.) Topic: Guam169,086 (2022 est.) Topic: Guatemala17,703,190 (2022 est.) Topic: Guernsey67,491 (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea13,237,832 (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau2,026,778 (2022 est.) Topic: Guyana789,683 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Haiti11,334,637 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsuninhabited Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)1,000 (2019 est.) Topic: Honduras9,459,440 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Hong Kong7,276,588 (2022 est.) Topic: Hungary9,699,577 (2022 est.) Topic: Iceland357,603 (2022 est.) Topic: India1,389,637,446 (2022 est.) Topic: Indonesia277,329,163 (2022 est.) Topic: Iran86,758,304 (2022 est.) Topic: Iraq40,462,701 (2022 est.) Topic: Ireland5,275,004 (2022 est.) Topic: Isle of Man91,382 (2022 est.) Topic: Israel8,914,885 (2022 est.) (includes populations of the Golan Heights or Golan Sub-District and also East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) note: approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2019); following the March 2019 US recognition of the Golan Heights as being part of Israel, The World Factbook no longer includes Israeli settler population of the Golan Heights (estimated at 23,400 in 2019) in its overall Israeli settler total Topic: Italy61,095,551 (2022 est.) Topic: Jamaica2,818,596 (2022 est.) Topic: Jan Mayenno indigenous inhabitants note: military personnel operate the the weather and coastal services radio station Topic: Japan124,214,766 (2022 est.) Topic: Jersey102,146 (2022 est.) Topic: Jordan10,998,531 (2022 est.) note: increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees Topic: Kazakhstan19,398,331 (2022 est.) Topic: Kenya55,864,655 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Kiribati114,189 (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, North25,955,138 (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, South51,844,834 (2022 est.) Topic: Kosovo1,952,701 (2022 est.) Topic: Kuwait3,068,155 (2022 est.) note: Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 4,420,110 for 2019, with non-Kuwaitis accounting for nearly 70% of the population Topic: Kyrgyzstan6,071,750 (2022 est.) Topic: Laos7,749,595 (2022 est.) Topic: Latvia1,842,226 (2022 est.) Topic: Lebanon5,296,814 (2022 est.) Topic: Lesotho2,193,970 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Liberia5,358,483 (2022 est.) Topic: Libya7,137,931 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Liechtenstein39,711 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Lithuania2,683,546 (2022 est.) Topic: Luxembourg650,364 (2022 est.) Topic: Macau635,293 (2022 est.) Topic: Madagascar28,172,462 (2022 est.) Topic: Malawi20,794,353 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Malaysia33,871,431 (2022 est.) Topic: Maldives390,164 (2022 est.) Topic: Mali20,741,769 (2022 est.) Topic: Malta464,186 (2022 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands79,906 (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritania4,161,925 (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritius1,308,222 (2022 est.) Topic: Mexico129,150,971 (2022 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of101,009 (2022 est.) Topic: Moldova3,287,326 (2022 est.) Topic: Monaco31,400 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up almost 68% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Mongolia3,227,863 (2022 est.) note: Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world (2 people per sq km); twice as many ethnic Mongols (some 6 million) live in Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) in neighboring China Topic: Montenegro604,966 (2022 est.) Topic: Montserrat5,414 (2022 est.) note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned Topic: Morocco36,738,229 (2022 est.) note: includes Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique31,693,239 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Namibia2,727,409 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Nauru9,811 (2022 est.) Topic: Navassa Islanduninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island Topic: Nepal30,666,598 (2022 est.) Topic: Netherlands17,400,824 (2022 est.) Topic: New Caledonia297,160 (2022 est.) Topic: New Zealand5,053,004 (2022 est.) Topic: Nicaragua6,301,880 (2022 est.) Topic: Niger24,484,587 (2022 est.) Topic: Nigeria225,082,083 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Niue2,000 (July 2022 est.) note: because of the island's limited economic and educational opportunities, Niueans have emigrated for decades - primarily to New Zealand, but also to Australia and other Pacific island states; Niue's population peaked in 1966 at 5,194, but by 2005 had fallen to 1,508; since then it has rebounded slightly; as of 2013, 23,883 people of Niuean ancestry lived in New Zealand - with more than 20% Niue-born; this means that there are about 15 times as many persons of Niuean ancestry living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world Topic: Norfolk Island1,748 (2016 est.) Topic: North Macedonia2,130,936 (2022 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands51,475 (2022 est.) Topic: Norway5,553,840 (2022 est.) Topic: Oman3,764,348 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up approximately 46% of the total population (2019) Topic: Pakistan242,923,845 (2022 est.) note: results of Pakistan's 2017 national census estimate the country's total population to be 207,684,626 Topic: Palau21,695 (2022 est.) Topic: Panama4,337,768 (2022 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea9,593,498 (2022 est.) Topic: Paracel Islands1,440 (July 2014 est.) note: Chinese activity has increased in recent years, particularly on Woody Island, where the population exceeds 1,000; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands Topic: Paraguay7,356,409 (2022 est.) Topic: Peru32,275,736 (2022 est.) Topic: Philippines114,597,229 (2022 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islands50 (2021 est.) Topic: Poland38,093,101 (2022 est.) Topic: Portugal10,242,081 (2022 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico3,098,423 (2022 est.) Topic: Qatar2,508,182 (2022 est.) Topic: Romania18,519,899 (2022 est.) Topic: Russia142,021,981 (2022 est.) Topic: Rwanda13,173,730 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Saint Barthelemy7,103 (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha7,925 (2022 est.) note: Saint Helena's Statistical Office estimated the resident population to be 4,439 in 2021; only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited, none of the other nearby islands/islets are Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis54,488 (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia167,122 (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Martin32,792 (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon5,257 (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines100,969 (2022 est.) Topic: Samoa206,179 (2022 est.) Topic: San Marino34,682 (2022 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe217,164 (2022 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia35,354,380 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up 38.3% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Topic: Senegal17,923,036 (2022 est.) Topic: Serbia6,739,471 (2022 est.) note: does not include the population of Kosovo Topic: Seychelles97,017 (2022 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone8,692,606 (2022 est.) Topic: Singapore5,921,231 (2022 est.) Topic: Sint Maarten45,126 (2022 est.) Topic: Slovakia5,431,252 (2022 est.) Topic: Slovenia2,101,208 (2022 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands702,694 (2022 est.) Topic: Somalia12,386,248 (2022 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare Topic: South Africa57,516,665 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands(July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001, replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited Topic: South Sudan11,544,905 (2022 est.) Topic: Spain47,163,418 (2022 est.) Topic: Spratly Islands(July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states Topic: Sri Lanka23,187,516 (2022 est.) Topic: Sudan47,958,856 (2022 est.) Topic: Suriname632,638 (2022 est.) Topic: Svalbard2,926 (January 2021 est.) Topic: Sweden10,483,647 (2022 est.) Topic: Switzerland8,508,698 (2022 est.) Topic: Syria21,563,800 (2022 est.) note: approximately 22,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2018) Topic: Taiwan23,580,712 (2022 est.) Topic: Tajikistan9,119,347 (2022 est.) Topic: Tanzania63,852,892 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Thailand69,648,117 (2022 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste1,445,006 (2022 est.) Topic: Togo8,492,333 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Tokelau1,647 (2019 est.) Topic: Tonga105,517 (2022 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1,405,646 (2022 est.) Topic: Tunisia11,896,972 (2022 est.) Topic: Turkey83,047,706 (2022 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan5,636,011 (2022 est.) note: some sources suggest Turkmenistan's population could be as much as 1 to 2 million people lower than available estimates because of large-scale emigration during the last 10 years Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands58,286 (2022 est.) Topic: Tuvalu11,544 (2022 est.) Topic: Uganda46,205,893 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Ukraine43,528,136 (2022 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates9,915,803 (2022 est.) note: the UN estimated the country's total population was 10,082,000 as of 2022; immigrants make up 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data (2020) Topic: United Kingdom67,791,400 (2022 est.) United Kingdom constituent countries by percentage of total population: England 84.3% Scotland 8.1% Wales 4.7% Northern Ireland 2.8% Topic: United States337,341,954 (2022 est.) note: the US Census Bureau's 2020 census results show the US population as 331,449,281 as of 1 April 2020 Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesno indigenous inhabitants note: public entry is only by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service Jarvis Island: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; currently unoccupied Johnston Atoll: in previous years, an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel were present; as of May 2005, all US Government personnel had left the island Midway Islands: approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll Palmyra Atoll: four to 20 Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife staff, and researchers Topic: Uruguay3,407,213 (2022 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan31,104,937 (2022 est.) Topic: Vanuatu308,043 (2022 est.) Topic: Venezuela29,789,730 (2022 est.) Topic: Vietnam103,808,319 (2022 est.) Topic: Virgin Islands105,413 (2022 est.) Topic: Wake Island(2018 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 100 military personnel and civilian contractors maintain and operate the airfield and communications facilities Topic: Wallis and Futuna15,891 (2022 est.) Topic: West Bank3,000,021 (2022 est.) note: approximately 432,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank (2019); approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2019) Topic: World7,772,850,805 (July 2021 est.) top ten most populous countries (in millions): China 1397.89; India 1339.33; United States 334.99; Indonesia 275.12; Pakistan 238.18; Nigeria 219.47; Brazil 213.45; Bangladesh 164.1; Russia 142.32; Japan 124.69 ten least populous countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 1,000; Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,321; Montserrat 5,387; Saint Barthelemy 7,116; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan de Cunha 7,915; Cook Islands 8,327; Nauru 9,770; Tuvalu 11,448; Wallis and Futuna 15,851; Anguilla 18,403 ten most densely populated countries (population per sq km): Macau 22,514; Monaco 15,611; Singapore 8,273; Hong Kong 6,769; Gaza Strip 5,436; Gibraltar 4,216; Bahrain 2,009; Malta 1,458; Bermuda 1,335; Maldives 1,311 ten least densely populated countries (population per sq km): Greenland .027; Falkland Islands .26; Mongolia 2.1; Namibia 3.3; Australia 3.4; Iceland 3.5; Suriname 3.9; Mauritania 4; Libya 4; Guyana 4 Topic: Yemen30,984,689 (2022 est.) Topic: Zambia19,642,123 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Topic: Zimbabwe15,121,004 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

20220601

countries-mexico

Topic: Photos of Mexico Topic: Introduction Background: The site of several advanced Amerindian civilizations - including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec - Mexico was conquered and colonized by Spain 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 the 1910 Mexican Revolution 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 PENA NIETO regained the presidency for the PRI in 2012. Left-leaning anti-establishment politician and former mayor of Mexico City (2000-05) Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR, from the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), became president in December 2018. The global financial crisis in late 2008 caused a massive economic downturn in Mexico the following year. Growth rebounded to about 5% in 2010, but then averaged roughly half that for the rest of the decade. Notwithstanding this challenge, Mexico is currently the largest goods trading partner of the US – with $614.5 billion in two-way goods trade during 2019. US exports of goods and services to Mexico supported 1.2 million jobs in the US in 2015 (the latest data available) according to estimates from the Department of Commerce. Mexico's GDP contracted by 8.2% in 2020 due to pandemic-induced closures, its lowest level since the Great Depression, but Mexico’s economy rebounded in 2021 when it grew by 4.8%, driven largely by increased remittances, despite supply chain and pandemic-related challenges. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, or T-MEC by its Spanish acronym) entered into force on 1 July 2020 and replaced its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico amended its constitution on 1 May 2019 to facilitate the implementation of the labor components of USMCA. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, high underemployment, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities 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.The site of several advanced Amerindian civilizations - including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec - Mexico was conquered and colonized by Spain 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 the 1910 Mexican Revolution 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 PENA NIETO regained the presidency for the PRI in 2012. Left-leaning anti-establishment politician and former mayor of Mexico City (2000-05) Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR, from the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), became president in December 2018. The global financial crisis in late 2008 caused a massive economic downturn in Mexico the following year. Growth rebounded to about 5% in 2010, but then averaged roughly half that for the rest of the decade. Notwithstanding this challenge, Mexico is currently the largest goods trading partner of the US – with $614.5 billion in two-way goods trade during 2019. US exports of goods and services to Mexico supported 1.2 million jobs in the US in 2015 (the latest data available) according to estimates from the Department of Commerce. Mexico's GDP contracted by 8.2% in 2020 due to pandemic-induced closures, its lowest level since the Great Depression, but Mexico’s economy rebounded in 2021 when it grew by 4.8%, driven largely by increased remittances, despite supply chain and pandemic-related challenges.The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, or T-MEC by its Spanish acronym) entered into force on 1 July 2020 and replaced its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico amended its constitution on 1 May 2019 to facilitate the implementation of the labor components of USMCA.Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, high underemployment, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities 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.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, 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 land: 1,943,945 sq km water: 20,430 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 4,389 km border countries (3): Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km Coastline: 9,330 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: 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 lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m mean elevation: 1,111 m Natural resources: petroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber Land use: agricultural land: 54.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 33.3% (2018 est.) other: 11.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 65,000 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 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 Mexico) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 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, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coastsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for causing 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"tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coastsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for causing 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, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 2: some of the world's most important food crops were first domesticated in Mexico; the "Three Sisters" companion plants - winter squash, maize (corn), and climbing beans - served as the main agricultural crops for various North American Indian groups; all three apparently originated in Mexico but then were widely disseminated through much of North America; avocado, amaranth, and chili peppers also emanate from Mexico, as does vanilla, the world's most popular aroma and flavor spice; although cherry tomatoes originated in Ecuador, their domestication in Mexico transformed them into the larger modern tomato note 3: 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 4: the prominent Yucatan Peninsula that divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; just on the northern coast of Yucatan, near the town of Chicxulub (pronounce cheek-sha-loob), lie the remnants of a massive crater (some 150 km in diameter and extending well out into the Gulf of Mexico); formed by an asteroid or comet when it struck the earth 66 million years ago, the impact is now widely accepted as initiating a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of all the earth's plant and animal species - including the non-avian dinosaursnote 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 2: some of the world's most important food crops were first domesticated in Mexico; the "Three Sisters" companion plants - winter squash, maize (corn), and climbing beans - served as the main agricultural crops for various North American Indian groups; all three apparently originated in Mexico but then were widely disseminated through much of North America; avocado, amaranth, and chili peppers also emanate from Mexico, as does vanilla, the world's most popular aroma and flavor spice; although cherry tomatoes originated in Ecuador, their domestication in Mexico transformed them into the larger modern tomato note 3: 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 4: the prominent Yucatan Peninsula that divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; just on the northern coast of Yucatan, near the town of Chicxulub (pronounce cheek-sha-loob), lie the remnants of a massive crater (some 150 km in diameter and extending well out into the Gulf of Mexico); formed by an asteroid or comet when it struck the earth 66 million years ago, the impact is now widely accepted as initiating a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of all the earth's plant and animal species - including the non-avian dinosaurs Map description: Mexico map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and bodies of water.Mexico map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and bodies of water. Topic: People and Society Population: 129,150,971 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican Ethnic groups: Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 62%, predominantly Amerindian 21%, Amerindian 7%, other 10% (mostly European) (2012 est.) note: Mexico does not collect census data on ethnicity Languages: Spanish only 93.8%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.4%, indigenous only 0.6%, unspecified 0.2%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2020 est.) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant/evangelical Christian 11.2%, other 0.002%, unaffiliated (includes atheism) 10.6% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.01% (male 17,111,199/female 16,349,767) 15-24 years: 16.97% (male 11,069,260/female 10,762,784) 25-54 years: 41.06% (male 25,604,223/female 27,223,720) 55-64 years: 8.29% (male 4,879,048/female 5,784,176) 65 years and over: 7.67% (2020 est.) (male 4,373,807/female 5,491,581) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.3 youth dependency ratio: 38.8 elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 potential support ratio: 8.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.3 years male: 28.2 years female: 30.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.51% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 22.085 million MEXICO CITY (capital), 5.340 million Guadalajara, 5.037 million Monterrey, 3.295 million Puebla, 2.576 million Toluca de Lerdo, 2.221 million Tijuana (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.3 years (2008 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 33 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.32 years male: 68.93 years female: 75.88 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 73.1% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98.3% of population total: 99.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1.7% of population total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019) Physicians density: 2.38 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 96.4% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 3.6% of population total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 340,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,300 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Mexico; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Mexico has reported a total of 5,651,553 cases of COVID-19 or 4,383.33 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 322,761 cumulative deaths or a rate of 250.33 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 65.70% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.7% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 3.6% (2018) women married by age 18: 20.7% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male: 96.1% female: 94.5% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.1% male: 7.8% female: 8.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural freshwater resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 20.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 486.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 135.77 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: varies from tropical to desert Land use: agricultural land: 54.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 33.3% (2018 est.) other: 11.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Mexico; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Mexico has reported a total of 5,651,553 cases of COVID-19 or 4,383.33 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 322,761 cumulative deaths or a rate of 250.33 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 65.70% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 53.1 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2.655 million tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2013 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 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 Mexico) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: (Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km) Major aquifers: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer Total water withdrawal: municipal: 14.23 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 6.814 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 66.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 461.888 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico former: Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire etymology: named after the capital city, whose name stems from the Mexica, the largest and most powerful branch of the Aztecs; the meaning of the name is uncertain Government type: federal presidential republic Capital: name: Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Mexico has four time zones etymology: named after the Mexica, the largest and most powerful branch of the Aztecs; the meaning of the name is uncertain 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, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas Independence: 16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810) Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved 5 February 1917 amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: not specified residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR (since 1 December 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR (since 1 December 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of attorney general, the head of the Bank of Mexico, and senior treasury officials require consent of the Senate elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 1 July 2018 (next to be held in July 2024) election results: 2018: Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR elected president; percent of vote - Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR (MORENA) 53.2%, Ricardo ANAYA (PAN) 22.3%, Jose Antonio MEADE Kuribrena (PRI) 16.4%, Jaime RODRIGUEZ Calderon 5.2% (independent), other 2.9% 2012: Enrique PENA NIETO elected president; percent of vote - Enrique PENA NIETO (PRI) 38.2%, Andres Manuel LOPEZ OBRADOR (PRD) 31.6%, Josefina Eugenia VAZQUEZ Mota (PAN) 25.4%, other 4.8% Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of: Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 32 directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 200 directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 1 July 2018 (next to be held in July 2024) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 June 2021 (next to be held in July 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MORENA 58, PAN 22, PRI 14, PRD 9, MC 7, PT 7, PES 5, PVEM 5, PNA/PANAL 1; composition (as of July 2018) - men 65, women 63, percent of women 49.2% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MORENA 197, PAN 111, PRI 69, PVEM 44, PT 38, MC 25, PRD 16; composition - men 250, women 250, percent of women 50%; note - overall percent of women in National Congress 49.8% note: as of the 2018 election, senators will be eligible for a second term and deputies up to 4 consecutive terms Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion (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) 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 subordinate courts: federal level includes circuit, collegiate, and unitary courts; state and district level courts Note: in April 2021, the Mexican congress passed a judicial reform which changed 7 articles of the constitution and preceded a new Organic Law on the Judicial Branch of the Federation Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Movement (Movimiento Ciudadano) or MC [Clemente CASTANEDA Hoeflich] Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) or PRI [Claudia RUIZ Massieu] Labor Party (Partido del Trabajo) or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez] Mexican Green Ecological Party (Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico) or PVEM [Karen CASTREJON Trujillo] Movement for National Regeneration (Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional) or MORENA [Mario DELGADO Carillo] National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [Antonio CORTES Mendoza] Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Jesus ZAMBRANO Grijalva] Together We Make History (Juntos Hacemos Historia) - alliance that includes MORENA, PT, PVEM This Is For Mexico (Va Por Mexico) – alliance that includes PAN, PRI, and PRDCitizen's Movement (Movimiento Ciudadano) or MC [Clemente CASTANEDA Hoeflich] Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) or PRI [Claudia RUIZ Massieu] Labor Party (Partido del Trabajo) or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez] Mexican Green Ecological Party (Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico) or PVEM [Karen CASTREJON Trujillo] Movement for National Regeneration (Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional) or MORENA [Mario DELGADO Carillo] National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [Antonio CORTES Mendoza] Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Jesus ZAMBRANO Grijalva] Together We Make History (Juntos Hacemos Historia) - alliance that includes MORENA, PT, PVEM This Is For Mexico (Va Por Mexico) – alliance that includes PAN, PRI, and PRD International organization participation: APEC, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, 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), UNWTO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barragan (since 20 April 2021) chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698 email address and website: mexembussa@sre.gob.mx https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/ 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) 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), 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 Ken SALAZAR (since 14 September 2021) embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, CDMX mailing address: 8700 Mexico City Place, Washington DC  20521-8700 telephone: (011) [52]-55-5080-2000 FAX: (011) 52-55-5080-2005 email address and website: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov https://mx.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band; green signifies hope, joy, and love; white represents peace and honesty; red stands for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor; the coat of arms is derived from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settle at a location where they would see an eagle on a cactus eating a snake; the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico City note: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lighter shades of green and red, and does not display anything in its white band National symbol(s): golden eagle; national colors: green, white, red National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico) lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA note: adopted 1943, in use since 1854; also known as "Mexicanos, al grito de Guerra" (Mexicans, to the War Cry); according to tradition, Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA, an accomplished poet, was uninterested in submitting lyrics to a national anthem contest; his fiancee locked him in a room and refused to release him until the lyrics were completed National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 35 (27 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed) 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) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Mexico's $2.4 trillion economy – 11th largest in the world - has become increasingly oriented toward manufacturing since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force in 1994. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal.   Mexico has become the US' second-largest export market and third-largest source of imports. In 2017, two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $623 billion. Mexico has free trade agreements with 46 countries, putting more than 90% of its trade under free trade agreements. In 2012, Mexico formed the Pacific Alliance with Peru, Colombia, and Chile.   Mexico's current government, led by President Enrique PENA NIETO, has emphasized economic reforms, passing and implementing sweeping energy, financial, fiscal, and telecommunications reform legislation, among others, with the long-term aim to improve competitiveness and economic growth across the Mexican economy. Since 2015, Mexico has held public auctions of oil and gas exploration and development rights and for long-term electric power generation contracts. Mexico has also issued permits for private sector import, distribution, and retail sales of refined petroleum products in an effort to attract private investment into the energy sector and boost production.   Since 2013, Mexico’s economic growth has averaged 2% annually, falling short of private-sector expectations that President PENA NIETO’s sweeping reforms would bolster economic prospects. Growth is predicted to remain below potential given falling oil production, weak oil prices, structural issues such as low productivity, high inequality, a large informal sector employing over half of the workforce, weak rule of law, and corruption. Mexico’s economy remains vulnerable to uncertainty surrounding the future of NAFTA — because the United States is its top trading partner and the two countries share integrated supply chains — and to potential shifts in domestic policies following the inauguration of a new a president in December 2018.Mexico's $2.4 trillion economy – 11th largest in the world - has become increasingly oriented toward manufacturing since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force in 1994. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Mexico has become the US' second-largest export market and third-largest source of imports. In 2017, two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $623 billion. Mexico has free trade agreements with 46 countries, putting more than 90% of its trade under free trade agreements. In 2012, Mexico formed the Pacific Alliance with Peru, Colombia, and Chile. Mexico's current government, led by President Enrique PENA NIETO, has emphasized economic reforms, passing and implementing sweeping energy, financial, fiscal, and telecommunications reform legislation, among others, with the long-term aim to improve competitiveness and economic growth across the Mexican economy. Since 2015, Mexico has held public auctions of oil and gas exploration and development rights and for long-term electric power generation contracts. Mexico has also issued permits for private sector import, distribution, and retail sales of refined petroleum products in an effort to attract private investment into the energy sector and boost production. Since 2013, Mexico’s economic growth has averaged 2% annually, falling short of private-sector expectations that President PENA NIETO’s sweeping reforms would bolster economic prospects. Growth is predicted to remain below potential given falling oil production, weak oil prices, structural issues such as low productivity, high inequality, a large informal sector employing over half of the workforce, weak rule of law, and corruption. Mexico’s economy remains vulnerable to uncertainty surrounding the future of NAFTA — because the United States is its top trading partner and the two countries share integrated supply chains — and to potential shifts in domestic policies following the inauguration of a new a president in December 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,306,320,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,513,410,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,514,780,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -0.3% (2019 est.) 2.19% (2018 est.) 2.34% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,900 (2020 est.) $19,700 (2019 est.) $19,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1,269,956,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (2019 est.) 4.9% (2018 est.) 6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2020) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.9% (2017 est.) services: 64.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 67% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 37.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -39.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, maize, milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, poultry, wheat, green chillies/peppers, eggs Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 50.914 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13.4% industry: 24.1% services: 61.9% (2011) Unemployment rate: 3.49% (2019 est.) 3.33% (2018 est.) note: underemployment may be as high as 25% Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.1% male: 7.8% female: 8.7% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 41.9% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.8 (2018 est.) 48.3 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 40% (2014) Budget: revenues: 261.4 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 273.8 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 54.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 56.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 22.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$4.351 billion (2019 est.) -$25.415 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $434.93 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $492.73 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $480.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 75% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, computers, delivery trucks, crude petroleum, insulated wiring (2019) Imports: $410.66 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $495.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $505.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 54%, China 14% (2019) Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, office machinery/parts, telephones (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $175.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $178.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) note: Mexico also maintains access to an $88 million Flexible Credit Line with the IMF Debt - external: $456.713 billion (2019 est.) $448.268 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 19.8 (2020 est.) 19.22824 (2019 est.) 20.21674 (2018 est.) 15.848 (2014 est.) 13.292 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 302.7 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 258.7 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 7.308 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 3.532 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 72.56 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 71% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 17% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1.852 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 1.214 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 6.63 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 844,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.984 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 155,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 867,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 31.57 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 81.61 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 36.81 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 50.12 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 279.8 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 24,500,456 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 120,481,969 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93.45 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: with a large population and relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, (86 lines for mobile broadband for every 100 habitants in June 2021) Mexico’s telecom sector has potential for growth; adequate telephone service for business and government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-line subscribers (24.6 million fixed line subscribers and 125 million mobile line subscribers in June 2021); relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, potential for growth and international investment; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable; 5G development slow in part due to high costs (AT&T announced 5G rollout in some sections of Mexico City in December 2021 and Telcel announced a plan to launch 5G network in 18 cities in February 2022); IXP in Mexico City; exporter of computers and broadcasting equipment to USA and importer of same from China (2021) domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 65 lines per every 100 households; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 99 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations (2021) international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the ARCOS-1 and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the U.S.; Pan-American Crossing (PAC) submarine cable system provides access to Panama, California, U.S., and Costa Rica; Lazaro Cardenas-Manzanillo Santiago submarines cable system (LCMSSCS) provides access to Michoacan, Guerrero, and Colima, Mexico; AMX-1 submarine cable system with access to Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Gulf of California Cable submarine cable systems that connects La Paz, Baja California Sur and Topolobambo, Sinaloa; and Aurora submarine cable system provides access to Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S. satellite earth stations - 124 (36 Intelsat, 1 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 9 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: telecom reform in 2013 enabled the creation of new broadcast television channels after decades of a quasi-monopoly; Mexico has 885 TV stations and 1,841 radio stations and most are privately owned; the Televisa group once had a virtual monopoly in TV broadcasting, but new broadcasting groups and foreign satellite and cable operators are now available; in 2016, Mexico became the first country in Latin America to complete the transition from analog to digital transmissions, allowing for better image and audio quality and a wider selection of programming from networks (2022) Internet country code: .mx Internet users: total: 92,831,582 (2020 est.) percent of population: 72% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 21,936,131 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 16 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 370 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 64,569,640 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,090,380,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XA Airports: total: 1,714 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 243 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 80 914 to 1,523 m: 86 under 914 m: 33 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,471 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 281 under 914 m: 1,146 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 17,210 km natural gas (2022), 9,757 km oil (2017), 10,237 km refined products (2020) Railways: total: 23,389 km (2017) standard gauge: 23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified) Roadways: total: 817,966 km (2017) paved: 175,526 km (2017) (includes 10,845 km of expressways) unpaved: 529,358 km (2017) Waterways: 2,900 km (2012) (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with ports on the country's east coast) Merchant marine: total: 671 by type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 31, other 624 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Veracruz oil terminal(s): Cayo Arcas terminal, Dos Bocas terminal cruise port(s): Cancun, Cozumel, Ensenada container port(s) (TEUs): Lazaro Cardenas (1,318,732), Manzanillo (3,069,189), Veracruz (1,144,156) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Altamira, Ensenada Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, SEDENA): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM); 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 Public Security and Civilian Protection (Secretaria de Seguridad y Proteccion Ciudadana): National Guard (Guardia Nacional) (2022) note - the National Guard was formed in 2019 and consists of personnel from the former Federal Police (disbanded in December 2019) and military police units of the Army and Navy; while the Guard is part of the civilian-led Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection, the Secretariat of National Defense has day-to-day operational control; in addition, the armed forces provide the commanders and the training; the Guard, along with state and municipal police are responsible for enforcing the law and maintaining order; the military also actively supports police operations Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2019) (approximately $13.4 billion) 0.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $12.5 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 218,000 armed forces personnel (160,000 Army; 8,000 Air Force; 50,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines); approximately 110,000 National Guard (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Mexican military inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported equipment from a variety of mostly Western suppliers; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of military hardware to Mexico; Mexico's defense industry produces naval vessels and light armored vehicles, as well as small arms and other miscellaneous equipment (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service for males (selection for service determined by lottery); conscript service obligation is 12 months; those selected serve on Saturdays in a Batallón del Servicio Militar Nacional (National Military Service Battalion) composed entirely of one-year Servicio Militar Nacional (SMN) conscripts; conscripts remain in reserve status until the age of 40; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; cadets enrolled in military schools from the age of 15 are considered members of the armed forces; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2022) note - as of early 2022, women comprised about 15% of the active duty military Military - note: 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’ role in law enforcement activities in support of civilian authorities through 2024; as of 2022, Mexican military operations were heavily focused on internal security duties, particularly in countering drug cartels and organized crime groups, as well as border control and immigration enforcement; the armed forces also administer most of the country's land and sea ports and customs services, and it built and runs approximately 2,700 branches of a state-owned development bank; in addition, President LOPEZ OBRADOR has placed the military in charge of a growing number of infrastructure projects, such as building a new airport for Mexico City and sections of a train line in the country’s southeast (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treatyabundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 22,254 (Honduras), 10,662 (El Salvador) (mid-year 2021); 82,976 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) IDPs: 357,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region; drug cartel violence and government's military response since 2007; violence between and within indigenous groups) (2020) stateless persons: 13 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: major source and transit country for heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and illicit synthetic drugs including fentanyl and counterfeit pills destined for the United States; main transit country for cocaine from South America, a transit route and destination for fentanyl and associated precursors originating from Chinamajor source and transit country for heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and illicit synthetic drugs including fentanyl and counterfeit pills destined for the United States; main transit country for cocaine from South America, a transit route and destination for fentanyl and associated precursors originating from China

20220601

countries-monaco

Topic: Photos of Monaco Topic: Introduction Background: The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 2 sq km land: 2 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 6 km border countries (1): France 6 km Coastline: 4.1 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky Elevation: highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km Natural hazards: none Geography - note: second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban Map description: Monaco map identifies some of the major sites of the microstate surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea.Monaco map identifies some of the major sites of the microstate surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 31,400 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up almost 68% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan Ethnic groups: Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10% Age structure: 0-14 years: 9.41% (male 1,497/female 1,415) 15-24 years: 9.52% (male 1,538/female 1,406) 25-54 years: 30.46% (male 4,779/female 4,644) 55-64 years: 15.47% (male 2,370/female 2,417) 65 years and over: 35.15% (2020 est.) (male 4,817/female 6,057) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 55.4 years male: 53.7 years female: 57 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.6% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 6.66 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.7 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 10.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 1.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 89.52 years male: 85.7 years female: 93.49 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 1.5% (2019) Physicians density: 7.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7% male: 25.7% female: 27.9% (2016 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: no serious issues; actively monitors pollution levels in air and water Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,484 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation" Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Monaco geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco Independence: 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI) National holiday: National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857) Constitution: history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962 amendments: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members; amended 2002 Legal system: civil law system influenced by French legal tradition International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Pierre DARTOUT (since 1 September 2020) cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 8 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 11 February 2018 (next to be held on 28 February 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - Priorite Monaco 57.7%, Horizon Monaco 26.1%, Union Monegasque 16.2%; seats by party - Priorite Monaco 21, Horizon Monaco 2, Union Monegasque 1; composition - men 16, women 8, percent of women 33.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance Political parties and leaders: Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION] Priorite Monaco [Stephane VALERI] Union Monegasque [Jean-Francois ROBILLON] International organization participation: CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013) chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530 FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656 email address and website: info@monacodc.org https://monacodc.org/index.html consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red National symbol(s): red and white lozenges (diamond shapes); national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco) lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions Topic: Economy Economic overview: Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.   The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion.   Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain.Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $7.672 billion (2015 est.) $7.279 billion (2014 est.) $6.79 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2015 est.) 7.2% (2014 est.) 9.6% (2013 est.) Real GDP per capita: $115,700 (2015 est.) $109,200 (2014 est.) $101,900 (2013 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $6.006 billion (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2010) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2013) industry: 14% (2013) services: 86% (2013) Agricultural products: none Industries: banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (2015) Labor force: 52,000 (2014 est.) note: includes all foreign workers Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0% industry: 16.1% services: 83.9% (2012 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (2012) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7% male: 25.7% female: 27.9% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 896.3 million (2011 est.) expenditures: 953.6 million (2011 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1% (of GDP) (2011 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: $964.6 million (2017 est.) $1.115 billion (2011) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France Exports - partners: Italy 19%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 9%, Switzerland 9%, Spain 8%, United States 6%, Belgium 5% (2019)Italy 19%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 9%, Switzerland 9%, Spain 8%, United States 6%, Belgium 5% Exports - commodities: jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, plastic products (2019) Imports: $1.371 billion (2017 est.) $1.162 billion (2011 est.) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France Imports - partners: Italy 34%, Switzerland 16%, Germany 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: jewelry, recreational boats, cars and vehicle parts, watches, general wares (2019) Debt - external:  NA NA Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 43,706 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,485 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90.43 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers; competitive mobile telephony market; 4G LTE widely available (2020) domestic: fixed-line a little over 111 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 90 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 377; landing points for the EIG and Italy-Monaco submarine cables connecting Monaco to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco Internet country code: .mc Internet users: total: 37,798 (2019 est.) percent of population: 97% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 20,877 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3A Heliports: 1 (2021) Railways: note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service;  the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Hercules Port Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Palace Guard)), Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco (Fire and Emergency), Police Department Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

countries-montenegro-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Montenegro due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: +382 (0)20 410 500; US Embassy Podgorica, Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro; PodgoricaACS@state.gov; https://me.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 382 Local Emergency Phone: 94 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Serbian, Montenegrin, Bosnian, Albanian, Serbo-Croat Major Religions: Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Sveti Stefan; Budva Old Town; Kotor (includes San Giovanni Fortress); Durmitor National Park (includes Tara Canyon, Black Lake); Stecci Medieval Tombstones; Podgorica Major Sports: Soccer, water polo, basketball, football, volleyball Cultural Practices: Conversations in Montenegro may involve more physical touching than those in America, with light touches and taps on the shoulder being common. Tipping Guidelines: Service charges are generally not included in restaurants and hotel bills, so a tip of 10% is appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but a small gratuity is appropriate.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

field-environment-international-agreements

This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name. Topic: Afghanistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Albaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Algeriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Andorraparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Angolaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Antigua and Barbudaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Argentinaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Armeniaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Topic: Australiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Austriaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection Topic: Azerbaijanparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Bahamas, Theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Bahrainparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Bangladeshparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Barbadosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Belarusparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Belgiumparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Belizeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Beninparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Bhutanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Boliviaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Botswanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Brazilparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol Topic: Bruneiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Bulgariaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Burkina Fasoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Burmaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Burundiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Cabo Verdeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Cambodiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Cameroonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Canadaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Central African Republicparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Chadparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention Topic: Chileparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Chinaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Colombiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Comorosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Congo, Republic of theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Cook Islandsparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Costa Ricaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Cote d'Ivoireparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Croatiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Cubaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Cyprusparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Czechiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Denmarkparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection Topic: Djiboutiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Dominicaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Dominican Republicparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Ecuadorparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Egyptparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: El Salvadorparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Equatorial Guineaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Eritreaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement Topic: Estoniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Eswatiniparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Ethiopiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Topic: European Unionparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Topic: Fijiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Finlandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Franceparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Gabonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Gambia, Theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Georgiaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Germanyparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Ghanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Greeceparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Topic: Grenadaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Guatemalaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Guineaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Guinea-Bissauparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Guyanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Haitiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification Topic: Hondurasparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Hungaryparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection Topic: Icelandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Indiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Indonesiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Iranparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Iraqparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification Topic: Irelandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Israelparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Italyparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol Topic: Jamaicaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Japanparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Jordanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Kazakhstanparty to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Kenyaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Kiribatiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Korea, Northparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Law of the Sea Topic: Korea, Southparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Kuwaitparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention Topic: Kyrgyzstanparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Laosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Latviaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Lebanonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Lesothoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Liberiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Libyaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea Topic: Liechtensteinparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea Topic: Lithuaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Luxembourgparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Madagascarparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Malawiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Malaysiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Maldivesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Maliparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Maltaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Marshall Islandsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Mauritaniaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Mauritiusparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Mexicoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Moldovaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol Topic: Monacoparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Mongoliaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Montenegroparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Moroccoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Mozambiqueparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Namibiaparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Nauruparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Nepalparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Netherlandsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: New Zealandparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Nicaraguaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Nigerparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Nigeriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006 Topic: Niueparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: North Macedoniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Norwayparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Omanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Pakistanparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Palauparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Panamaparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Papua New Guineaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Paraguayparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006 Topic: Peruparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Philippinesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Polandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Topic: Portugalparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Qatarparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Romaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Russiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 Topic: Rwandaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Saint Luciaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Samoaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: San Marinoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution Topic: Sao Tome and Principeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Saudi Arabiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Senegalparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Serbiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Seychellesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Sierra Leoneparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Singaporeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Slovakiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection Topic: Sloveniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Solomon Islandsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Somaliaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Topic: South Africaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: South Sudanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Southern Oceanthe Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing) note: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the northnote: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north Topic: Spainparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Sri Lankaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Sudanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Surinameparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Swedenparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Switzerlandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Syriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Tajikistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Tanzaniaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Thailandparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Timor-Lesteparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Togoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Tongaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Tunisiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Topic: Turkeyparty to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification Topic: Turkmenistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Tuvaluparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Ugandaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Topic: Ukraineparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Topic: United Arab Emiratesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Topic: United Kingdomparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: United Statesparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Protocol Topic: Uruguayparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation Topic: Uzbekistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Vanuatuparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Venezuelaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Vietnamparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Yemenparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Topic: Zambiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Topic: Zimbabweparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

20220601

countries-japan

Topic: Photos of Japan Topic: Introduction Background: In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains an economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. Prime Minister Shinzo ABE was reelected to office in December 2012, and has since embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing. In November 2019, ABE became Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister.In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains an economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. Prime Minister Shinzo ABE was reelected to office in December 2012, and has since embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing. In November 2019, ABE became Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 377,915 sq km land: 364,485 sq km water: 13,430 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto) Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 29,751 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous Elevation: highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m mean elevation: 438 m Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish; note - with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil Land use: agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 68.5% (2018 est.) other: 19% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 24,690 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km Population distribution: all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain) Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoonsvolcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note"many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoonsvolcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Geography - note: note 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest and most populous), Shikoku, and Kyushu (the "Home Islands") - and 6,848 smaller islands and islets note 2: Japan annually records the most earthquakes in the world; it is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest and most populous), Shikoku, and Kyushu (the "Home Islands") - and 6,848 smaller islands and isletsnote 2: Japan annually records the most earthquakes in the world; it is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire Map description: Japan map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of surrounding countries.Japan map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 124,214,766 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese Ethnic groups: Japanese 97.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Korean 0.4%, other 1.1% (includes Vietnamese, Filipino, and Brazilian) (2017 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil Languages: Japanese major-language sample(s): 必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Shintoism 69%, Buddhism 66.7%, Christianity 1.5%, other 6.2% (2018 est.) note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.49% (male 8,047,183/female 7,623,767) 15-24 years: 9.47% (male 6,254,352/female 5,635,377) 25-54 years: 36.8% (male 22,867,385/female 23,317,140) 55-64 years: 12.06% (male 7,564,067/female 7,570,732) 65 years and over: 29.18% (2020 est.) (male 16,034,973/female 20,592,496) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 69 youth dependency ratio: 21 elderly dependency ratio: 48 potential support ratio: 2.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 48.6 years male: 47.2 years female: 50 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.39% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 6.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 11.59 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain) Urbanization: urban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 37.274 million TOKYO (capital), 19.060 million Osaka, 9.572 million Nagoya, 5.503 million Kitakyushu-Fukuoka, 2.935 million Shizuoka-Hamamatsu, 2.669 million Sapporo (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.7 years (2018 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 84.83 years male: 81.92 years female: 87.9 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 39.8% (2015) note: percent of women aged 20-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.1% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 10.7% (2019) Physicians density: 2.41 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 13 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 30,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: clusters of cases of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Japan; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Japan has reported a total of 6,452,108 cases of COVID-19 or 5,101.43 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 27,913 cumulative deaths or a rate of 22.07 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 81.29% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 4.6% male: 5% female: 4.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing issue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1,135.89 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 29.99 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Land use: agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 68.5% (2018 est.) other: 19% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: clusters of cases of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Japan; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Japan has reported a total of 6,452,108 cases of COVID-19 or 5,101.43 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 27,913 cumulative deaths or a rate of 22.07 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 81.29% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 43.981 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,155,069 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 15.41 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 11.61 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 54.43 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 430 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun" Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Tokyo geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" in Japanese, the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868 Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi Independence: 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy) National holiday: Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor Constitution: history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 amendments: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947 Legal system: civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019); note - succeeds his father who abdicated on 30 April 2019 head of government: Prime Minister Fumio KISHIDA (since 4 October 2021 ) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister election results: Fumio KISHIDA relected prime minister on 10 November 2021 by the lower house with 297 votes against 108 for Yukio EDANO and in the upper houese 141 for KISHIDA and 60 for EDANO  Legislative branch: description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of: House of Councillors or Sangi-in (245 seats, currently 242; 146 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 96 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years); note - the number of seats increases to 248 at the July 2022 election for renewal of half the membership House of Representatives or Shugi-in (465 seats; 289 members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote and 176 directly elected in multi-seat districts by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: House of Councillors - last held on 21 July 2019 (next to be held in July 2022) House of Representatives - last held on 31 October 2021 (next to be held by October 2025) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 55, DP 32, Komeito 14, JCP 6, Osaka Ishin no Kai (Initiatives from Osaka) 7, PLPTYF 1, SDP 1, independent 5; composition - men 186, women 56, percent of women 21.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 261, CDP 96, Ishin 41, Komeito 32, DPFP 11, JCP 10, Reiwa 3, SDP 1, independent 10; composition - men 420, women 45, percent of women 9.7%; note - total Diet percent of women 14.7% note: the Diet in June 2017 redrew Japan's electoral district boundaries and reduced from 475 to 465 seats in the House of Representatives; the amended electoral law, which cuts 6 seats in single-seat districts and 4 in multi-seat districts, was reportedly intended to reduce voting disparities between densely and sparsely populated voting districts Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho) Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP [Yukio EDANO] Democratic Party for the People Japan or DPFP [Yuichiro TAMAKI] Group of Reformists [Sakihito OZAWA] Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII] Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin [Ichiro MATSUI] Party of Hope or Kibo no To [Yuichiro TAMAKI] Komeito [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI] Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Yoshihide SUGA] Liberal Party [Ichiro OZAWA] (formerly People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends or PLPTYF)New Renaissance Party [Hiroyuki ARAI] Party for Japanese Kokoro or PJK [Masashi NAKANO] Reiwa Shinsengumi [Taro YAMAMOTO] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tadatomo YOSHIDA] The Assembly to Energize Japan and the Independents [Kota MATSUDA] International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador TOMITA Koji (since 17 February 2021) (2018) chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 email address and website: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rahm EMANUEL (since 25 March 2022) embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: 9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC  20521-9800 telephone: (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3224-5856 email address and website: TokyoACS@state.gov https://jp.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya Flag description: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center National symbol(s): red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor's Reign) lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 25 (20 cultural, 5 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Over the past 70 years, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (slightly less than 1% of GDP) have helped Japan develop an advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-World War II economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have significantly eroded under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.   Measured on a purchasing power parity basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2017 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. For three postwar decades, overall real economic growth was impressive - averaging 10% in the 1960s, 5% in the 1970s, and 4% in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the aftereffects of inefficient investment and the collapse of an asset price bubble in the late 1980s, which resulted in several years of economic stagnation as firms sought to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession four times since 2008.   Japan enjoyed an uptick in growth since 2013, supported by Prime Minister Shinzo ABE’s "Three Arrows" economic revitalization agenda - dubbed "Abenomics" - of monetary easing, "flexible" fiscal policy, and structural reform. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making modest progress in ending deflation, but demographic decline – a low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population – poses a major long-term challenge for the economy. The government currently faces the quandary of balancing its efforts to stimulate growth and institute economic reforms with the need to address its sizable public debt, which stands at 235% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate. However, the first such increase, in April 2014, led to a sharp contraction, so Prime Minister ABE has twice postponed the next increase, which is now scheduled for October 2019. Structural reforms to unlock productivity are seen as central to strengthening the economy in the long-run.   Scarce in critical natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported energy and raw materials. After the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than before on imported fossil fuels. However, ABE’s government is seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards and is emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source. In August 2015, Japan successfully restarted one nuclear reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, and several other reactors around the country have since resumed operations; however, opposition from local governments has delayed several more restarts that remain pending. Reforms of the electricity and gas sectors, including full liberalization of Japan’s energy market in April 2016 and gas market in April 2017, constitute an important part of Prime Minister Abe’s economic program.   Under the Abe Administration, Japan’s government sought to open the country’s economy to greater foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses, including by joining 11 trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December 2016, but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January 2017. In November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2017, and is likely seek to ratify both agreements in the Diet this year.Over the past 70 years, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (slightly less than 1% of GDP) have helped Japan develop an advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-World War II economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have significantly eroded under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. Measured on a purchasing power parity basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2017 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. For three postwar decades, overall real economic growth was impressive - averaging 10% in the 1960s, 5% in the 1970s, and 4% in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the aftereffects of inefficient investment and the collapse of an asset price bubble in the late 1980s, which resulted in several years of economic stagnation as firms sought to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession four times since 2008. Japan enjoyed an uptick in growth since 2013, supported by Prime Minister Shinzo ABE’s "Three Arrows" economic revitalization agenda - dubbed "Abenomics" - of monetary easing, "flexible" fiscal policy, and structural reform. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making modest progress in ending deflation, but demographic decline – a low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population – poses a major long-term challenge for the economy. The government currently faces the quandary of balancing its efforts to stimulate growth and institute economic reforms with the need to address its sizable public debt, which stands at 235% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate. However, the first such increase, in April 2014, led to a sharp contraction, so Prime Minister ABE has twice postponed the next increase, which is now scheduled for October 2019. Structural reforms to unlock productivity are seen as central to strengthening the economy in the long-run. Scarce in critical natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported energy and raw materials. After the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than before on imported fossil fuels. However, ABE’s government is seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards and is emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source. In August 2015, Japan successfully restarted one nuclear reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, and several other reactors around the country have since resumed operations; however, opposition from local governments has delayed several more restarts that remain pending. Reforms of the electricity and gas sectors, including full liberalization of Japan’s energy market in April 2016 and gas market in April 2017, constitute an important part of Prime Minister Abe’s economic program. Under the Abe Administration, Japan’s government sought to open the country’s economy to greater foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses, including by joining 11 trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December 2016, but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January 2017. In November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2017, and is likely seek to ratify both agreements in the Diet this year. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $5,224,850,000,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5,210,770,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5,180,326,000,000 (2017 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 0.7% (2019 est.) 0.29% (2018 est.) 2.19% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $41,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $41,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $40,859 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $5,078,679,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) 0.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2015) Moody's rating: A1 (2014) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.) industry: 30.1% (2017 est.) services: 68.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 55.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 17.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -16.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, milk, sugar beet, vegetables, eggs, poultry, potatoes, cabbages, onions, pork Industries: among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 66.54 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 26.2% services: 70.9% (February 2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.36% (2019 est.) 2.44% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 4.6% male: 5% female: 4.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 16.1% (2013 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.9 (2013 est.) 24.9 (1993) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 24.8% (2008) Budget: revenues: 1.714 trillion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.885 trillion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 237.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 235.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 35.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $185.644 billion (2019 est.) $177.08 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $793.32 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $904.63 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $929.83 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 19%, China 18%, South Korea 6%, Taiwan 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, personal appliances, ships (2019) Imports: $799.52 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $913.25 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $928.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 23%, United States 11%, Australia 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.264 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.233 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $4,254,271,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,944,898,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: yen (JPY) per US dollar - 104.205 (2020 est.) 108.605 (2019 est.) 112.7 (2018 est.) 121.02 (2014 est.) 97.44 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 989.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 943.7 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 295.9 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 71% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 3,200 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 3.208 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 44.12 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 3.467 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3.894 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 370,900 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1.1 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 3.058 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 127.2 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 169.9 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 116.6 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 61,978,594 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 195,054,893 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: excellent domestic and international service; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband penetration; in last decade, government policies supported delivery of fiber-optic broadband to over 90% of households; one of Japan's largest e-commerce companies planning to build its own nationwide stand-alone 5G mobile network; government to implement a telecom tax to pay for rural 5G network; fixed broadband subscriptions grow as DSL is phased out; major importer of integrated circuits from China (2020) domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind; 49 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 6 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2019) Internet country code: .jp Internet users: total: 113,252,419 (2020 est.) percent of population: 90% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 44,000,791 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 22 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 673 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 126,387,527 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,420,660,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: JA Airports: total: 175 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 142 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 25 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Heliports: 16 (2021) Pipelines: 4456 km gas, 174 km oil, 104 km oil/gas/water (2013) Railways: total: 27,311 km (2015) standard gauge: 4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified) narrow gauge: 124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified) dual gauge: 132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified) 22.207 km 1.067-m gauge (15,430 km electrified) 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) Roadways: total: 1,218,772 km (2015) paved: 992,835 km (2015) (includes 8,428 km of expressways) unpaved: 225,937 km (2015) Waterways: 1,770 km (2010) (seagoing vessels use inland seas) Merchant marine: total: 5,201 by type: bulk carrier 148, container ship 45, general cargo 1,900, oil tanker 666, other 2,442 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,871,642), Nagoya (2,844,004), Osaka (2,456,028), Tokyo (4,510,000), Yokohama (2,990,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi Okinawa - Nakagusuku Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF; includes aviation), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF; includes naval aviation), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF); Japan Coast Guard (Ministry of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism) (2021) Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020) 0.9% of GDP (2019) (approximately $53.4 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2018) (approximately $53.5 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $52.6 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) is comprised of approximately 244,000 active personnel (150,000 Ground; 45,000 Maritime; 45,000 Air; 4,000 Joint Forces); 14,000 Coast Guard (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically-produced equipment; Japan has a robust defense industry and is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; the majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically-produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (maximum enlistment age 32); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: approximately 180 Djibouti (2022) Military - note: Japan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954 in addition to having one of the region’s largest and best equipped militaries, Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large part of the US security role in Asia; as of 2021, nearly 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsJapan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954in addition to having one of the region’s largest and best equipped militaries, Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large part of the US security role in Asia; as of 2021, nearly 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwanthe sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 707 (mid-year 2021)

20220601

countries-antigua-and-barbuda

Topic: Photos of Antigua and Barbuda Topic: Introduction Background: The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N, 61 48 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 443 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 153 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas Elevation: highest point: Mount Obama 402 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism Land use: agricultural land: 20.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 60.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1.3 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts Geography - note: Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor Map description: Antigua and Barbuda map showing the two islands situated in the Caribbean Sea.Antigua and Barbuda map showing the two islands situated in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 100,335 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan Ethnic groups: African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by ethnic group Languages: English (official), Antiguan creole Religions: Protestant 68.3% (Anglican 17.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.4%, Pentecostal 12.2%, Moravian 8.3%, Methodist 5.6%, Wesleyan Holiness 4.5%, Church of God 4.1%, Baptist 3.6%), Roman Catholic 8.2%, other 12.2%, unspecified 5.5%, none 5.9% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.52% (male 11,243/female 10,871) 15-24 years: 16.15% (male 7,891/female 7,961) 25-54 years: 41.68% (male 18,757/female 22,167) 55-64 years: 10.74% (male 4,693/female 5,848) 65 years and over: 8.91% (2020 est.) (male 3,736/female 5,012) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.3 youth dependency ratio: 31.8 elderly dependency ratio: 13.6 potential support ratio: 7.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.7 years male: 30.7 years female: 34.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.15% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.16 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington Urbanization: urban population: 24.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.8 years male: 75.63 years female: 80.08 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.4% (2019) Physicians density: 2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: total: 91.7% of population unimproved: total: 8.1% of population (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.1% (2018) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <1,000 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 99% male: 98.4% female: 99.4% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2012) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural freshwater resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 17.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.56 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.22 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation Land use: agricultural land: 20.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 60.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 24.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 30,585 tons (2012 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 7.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 52 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda etymology: "antiguo" is Spanish for "ancient" or "old"; the island was discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and, according to tradition, named by him after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville; "barbuda" is Spanish for "bearded" and the adjective may refer to the alleged beards of the indigenous people or to the island's bearded fig trees Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Saint John's geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Saint John the Apostle Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip Independence: 1 November 1981 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981) Constitution: history: several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981) amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, power, and authority of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership of both houses, approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent to by the governor general; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by both houses; amended 2009, 2011, 2018 Legal system: common law based on the English model International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) House of Representatives (18 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last appointed on 26 March 2018 (next NA) House of Representatives - last held on 21 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023) election results: Senate -  composition - men 8, women 9, percent of women 52.9% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - ABLP 59.4%, UPP 37.2%, BPM 1.4%, other 1.9% ; seats by party - ABLP 15, UPP 1, BPM 1; composition - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 assigned to Antigua and Barbuda judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party or ABLP [Gaston BROWNE] Antigua Barbuda True Labor Party or ABTLP [Sharlene SAMUEL] Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Trevor WALKER] Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Joanne MASSIAH] Go Green for Life [Owen GEORGE] United Progressive Party or UPP [Harold LOVELL] (a coalition of ACLM, PLM, UNDP) International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015) chancery: 3234 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 email address and website: embantbar@aol.com consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda; [1] (246) 227-4000 Flag description: red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era, black represents the African heritage of most of the population, blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V" stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand National symbol(s): fallow deer; national colors: red, white, blue, black, yellow National anthem: name: Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee lyrics/music: Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS note: adopted 1967; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Naval Dockyard  Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tourism continues to dominate Antigua and Barbuda's economy, accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components.   Like other countries in the region, Antigua's economy was severely hit by effects of the global economic recession in 2009. The country suffered from the collapse of its largest private sector employer, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009 and 2011. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels. Barbuda suffered significant damages after hurricanes Irma and Maria passed through the Caribbean in 2017.   Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on tourist arrivals from the US, Canada, and Europe and could be disrupted by potential damage from natural disasters. The new government, elected in 2014 and led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, continues to face significant fiscal challenges. The government places some hope in a new Citizenship by Investment Program, to both reduce public debt levels and spur growth, and a resolution of a WTO dispute with the US.Tourism continues to dominate Antigua and Barbuda's economy, accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Like other countries in the region, Antigua's economy was severely hit by effects of the global economic recession in 2009. The country suffered from the collapse of its largest private sector employer, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009 and 2011. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels. Barbuda suffered significant damages after hurricanes Irma and Maria passed through the Caribbean in 2017. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on tourist arrivals from the US, Canada, and Europe and could be disrupted by potential damage from natural disasters. The new government, elected in 2014 and led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, continues to face significant fiscal challenges. The government places some hope in a new Citizenship by Investment Program, to both reduce public debt levels and spur growth, and a resolution of a WTO dispute with the US. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.76 billion (2020 est.) $2.09 billion (2019 est.) $2.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.8% (2017 est.) 5.3% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $18,000 (2020 est.) $21,500 (2019 est.) $21,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.524 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2017 est.) -0.5% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 20.8% (2017 est.) services: 77.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 53.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 73.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -66.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: tropical fruit, milk, mangoes/guavas, melons, tomatoes, pineapples, lemons, limes, eggplants, onions Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 30,000 (1991) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7% industry: 11% services: 82% (1983 est.) Unemployment rate: 11% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 298.2 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 334 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 86.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 86.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$112 million (2017 est.) $2 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.15 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $56.5 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Poland 37%, Suriname 33%, United Arab Emirates 8% (2019) Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, precious/semi-precious metal scraps, rice, corn (2019) Imports: $1.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $503.4 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 39%, Poland 16%, China 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, precious/semi-precious metals, recreational boats (2019) Debt - external: $441.2 million (31 December 2012) $458 million (June 2010) Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2017 est.) 2.7 (2016 est.) 2.7 (2015 est.) 2.7 (2014 est.) 2.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 331 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 307.8 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 124,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 91 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,065 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 27,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 184,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 188 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good automatic telephone system with fiber-optic lines; telecom sector contributes heavily to GDP; numerous mobile network competitors licensed, but small and local; govt. to spend EC80 million in 2019 to improve state-owned telecom market competitiveness; legislative amendments extend jurisdiction of its telecom regulator in Barbuda to include mobile services (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 193 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-268; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) Broadcast media: state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 15 radio stations, some broadcasting on multiple frequencies Internet country code: .ag Internet users: total: 73,807 (2019 est.) percent of population: 76% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 8,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 580,174 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 290,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V2 Airports: total: 3 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,170 km (2011) paved: 386 km (2011) unpaved: 784 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 677 by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 123, general cargo 473, oil tanker 2, other 55 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Saint John's Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Coast Guard and the Antigua and Barbuda Regiment (2022) Military expenditures: not available Military and security service personnel strengths: the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF) has approximately 200 active personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ABDF's equipment inventory is limited to small arms, light weapons, and soft-skin vehicles; the Coast Guard maintains ex-US patrol vessels and some smaller boats (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both males and females; no conscription (2021) Military - note: has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, 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 (2022)has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, 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 Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

20220601

field-major-watersheds-area-sq-km

This entry lists the major watersheds or catchment areas of major rivers in a country in terms of their area in sq km. Most of the watersheds listed have an area of at least 500,000 sq km, although some smaller but significant watersheds are also included.  Most watersheds ultimately drain to some portion of the World Ocean. However, some watersheds, known as endorheic basins, drain internally with no external flow to the ocean. An example of an endorheic basin is the Caspian Sea, the World’s largest lake. Given the size of the largest watersheds, they frequently occur across more than one country. Topic: AfghanistanIndian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km) Topic: AlbaniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: AlgeriaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: AngolaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) Topic: ArgentinaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km) Topic: AustraliaIndian Ocean drainage: (Great Australian Bight) Murray-Darling (1,050,116 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Eyre (1,212,198 sq km) Topic: AustriaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: BangladeshIndian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km) Topic: BelarusAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Topic: BelgiumAtlantic Ocean drainage: Seine 78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Topic: BeninAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: BoliviaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km) Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: BotswanaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) Topic: BrazilAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km) Topic: BulgariaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: Burkina FasoAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: BurmaIndian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Topic: BurundiAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: CambodiaPacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Topic: CameroonAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: CanadaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Mississippi* (Gulf of Mexico) (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) Arctic Ocean drainage: Mackenzie (1,706,388 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) note - watersheds shared with the US shown with * Topic: Central African RepublicAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: ChadAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: ChinaPacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km) Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km) Topic: ColombiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Topic: Congo, Republic of theAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Topic: Cote d'IvoireAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: CroatiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: CzechiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: EcuadorAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km) Topic: EgyptAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: EthiopiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: FranceAtlantic Ocean drainage: Loire (115,282 sq km), Seine 78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) Topic: GabonAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Topic: GermanyAtlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: GhanaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: GuineaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) Topic: GuyanaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km) Topic: HungaryAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: IndiaIndian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km) Topic: IranIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: IraqIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: ItalyAtlantic 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) Topic: JordanIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: KazakhstanInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km) Topic: KenyaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: KosovoAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: KuwaitIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: KyrgyzstanInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Topic: LaosPacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Topic: LesothoAtlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Topic: LibyaInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: LiechtensteinAtlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Topic: LuxembourgAtlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Topic: MalawiAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Topic: MaliAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: MauritaniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) Topic: MexicoAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Gulf of Mexico) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: (Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km) Topic: MoldovaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: MontenegroAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: MozambiqueIndian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Topic: NamibiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) Topic: NepalIndian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Topic: NetherlandsAtlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Topic: NigerAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: NigeriaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: North MacedoniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: PakistanIndian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km) Topic: ParaguayAtlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km) Topic: PeruAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km) Topic: PolandAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: RomaniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: RussiaArctic Ocean drainage: Kolyma (679,934 sq km), Lena (2,306,743 sq km), Ob (2,972,493 sq km), Pechora (289,532 sq km), Yenisei (2,554,388 sq km) Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Caspian Sea basin) Volga (1,410,951 sq km) Topic: RwandaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: Saudi ArabiaIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: SenegalAtlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km) Topic: SerbiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: Sierra LeoneAtlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Topic: SlovakiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: SloveniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: South AfricaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Topic: South SudanAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: SudanAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Topic: SurinameAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km) Topic: SwitzerlandAtlantic 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) Topic: SyriaIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: TajikistanInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Topic: TanzaniaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Topic: ThailandIndian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Topic: TogoAtlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Topic: TurkeyIndian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Topic: TurkmenistanInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km) Topic: UgandaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Topic: UkraineAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km) Topic: United StatesAtlantic Ocean drainage: (Gulf of Mexico) 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) 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) note - watersheds shared with Canada shown with * Topic: UzbekistanInternal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Topic: VenezuelaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km) Topic: VietnamPacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Topic: Worldsummary statement: a watershed is a drainage basin on an area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water; oceans ultimately take in the drainage from 83% of all land area; the remaining 17% of the land drains into internal (endorheic) basins, e.g., the Caspian Sea; The World Factbook lists 51 different watersheds across 102 countries; of these, 18 are in Asia, 9 in Europe, 9 in Africa, 8 in North and Central America, 5 in South America, and 2 in Australia; all watersheds with an area of at least 500,000 sq km have been included along with a number of smaller, regionally significant watersheds; together, these watersheds represent the surface hydrology water flows that are the World's primary sources of fresh water for individual consumption, industry, and agriculture Topic: ZambiaAtlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Topic: ZimbabweIndian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)

20220601

field-military-expenditures-country-comparison

20220601

countries-guinea

Topic: Photos of Guinea Topic: Introduction Background: Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in December 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people in Conakry, the capital. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. In March 2020, Guinea passed a new constitution in a national referendum that changed presidential term limit rules. CONDE argued that, given this change, he was allowed to run for a third term, which he then won in October 2020. On 5 September 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led special forces troops in a successful military coup, ousting and detaining CONDE and establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD). DOUMBOUYA and the CNRD suspended the constitution and dissolved the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president on 1 October 2021, and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister a week later. BEAVOGUI subsequently formed a largely technocratic cabinet. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed on January 22, 2022. The 81-member CNT is led by Dr. Dansa KOUROUMA and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.   Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century.In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in December 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people in Conakry, the capital. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. In March 2020, Guinea passed a new constitution in a national referendum that changed presidential term limit rules. CONDE argued that, given this change, he was allowed to run for a third term, which he then won in October 2020. On 5 September 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led special forces troops in a successful military coup, ousting and detaining CONDE and establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD). DOUMBOUYA and the CNRD suspended the constitution and dissolved the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president on 1 October 2021, and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister a week later. BEAVOGUI subsequently formed a largely technocratic cabinet. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed on January 22, 2022. The 81-member CNT is led by Dr. Dansa KOUROUMA and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.  Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km Coastline: 320 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior Elevation: highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 950 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambia river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season Geography - note: the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands Map description: Guinea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean.Guinea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 13,237,832 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean Ethnic groups: Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.) Languages: French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language Religions: Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.) Demographic profile: Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot’s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot’s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence. Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.2% (male 2,601,221/female 2,559,918) 15-24 years: 19.32% (male 1,215,654/female 1,204,366) 25-54 years: 30.85% (male 1,933,141/female 1,930,977) 55-64 years: 4.73% (male 287,448/female 305,420) 65 years and over: 3.91% (2020 est.) (male 218,803/female 270,492) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 85.2 youth dependency ratio: 79.7 elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 potential support ratio: 18.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.1 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.76% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 35.67 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 37.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.049 million CONAKRY (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 49.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.9 years male: 62.04 years female: 65.82 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.85 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 10.9% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 76.9% of population total: 85.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 23.1% of population total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4% (2019) Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 90.9% of population rural: 38.7% of population total: 58% of population unimproved: urban: 9.1% of population rural: 61.3% of population total: 42% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,300 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016) note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Guinea is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.3% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 17% (2018) women married by age 18: 46.5% (2018) men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.6% male: 54.4% female: 27.7% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2014) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.1% male: 6.1% female: 7.9% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 37.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016) note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Guinea is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - about 740,000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the upcoming June to August 2022 period (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambia river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name "Cona," a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word "nakiri," which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry Administrative divisions: 7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 2 October (1958) Constitution: history: currently suspended on September 5, 2021 via t coup d’etat. On September 27, 2021 the Transitional Charter was released.  It supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated. previous 1958, 1990, and 2010 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020 Legal system: civil law system based on the French model International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: na Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president head of government: formerly, Prime Minister Mohamed BEAVOGUI (since 6 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government of Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory FOFANA dissolved cabinet: formerly, the Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup on 5 September 2021 in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and legislature dissolved elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, and on 1 October 2021,Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president election results: in the election of 18 October 2020, Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%; note - following the military coup of 5 September 2021, coup leader Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president on 1 October 2021 Legislative branch: description: formerly the People's National Assembly;  note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 22 January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed elections: 81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022 election results: 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president; the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies). judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; members serve single 9-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts Political parties and leaders: Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO] National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE] Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Vacant] Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG (Jacques GBONIMY) Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO] Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE] Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR [Alpha Oumar Taran DIALLO] Modern Guinea [Thierno Yaya DIALLO] Party for Progress and Change or PPC [Aboubacar Biro SOUMAH] Rally for the Republic or RPR [Diabaty DORE] Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP [Edouard Zoutomou KPOGHOMOU] Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Francis HABA] National Union for Prosperity or UNP [Alpha Mady SOUMAH] Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC [Hamidou BARRY] Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG [Mamadou SYLLA] Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG [Amadou Oury BAH] Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT [Makale TRAORE] Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR [Bouya KONATE] Front for the National Alliance or FAN [Makale CAMARA] Alliance for National Renewal or ARN [Pepe Koulemou KOULEMOU] Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG [Talibi Dos CAMARA] Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP [Laye Souleymane DIALLO] Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD [Abdoulaye DIALLO] New Guinea or NG [Mohamed CISSE] Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD [Nene Moussa Maleya CAMARA] Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD [Abraham BOURE] Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD [Elie KAMANO] New Political Generation or NGP [Badra KONE] African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE [Daniel KOLIE] Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES [Ousmane KABA] Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD [Abdoulaye KOUROUMA] Democratic National Movement or MND [Ousmane DORE] New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Abbe SYLLA] Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP [Papa Koly KOUROUMA] New Democratic Forces or NFD [Mouctar DIALLO] Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH] National Front for Development or FND [Alhousseine Makanera KAKE] Unity and Progress Party or PUP [Fode BANGOURA] Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG [Jean Marc TELIANO] Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA [Sekou Koureissy CONDE Guinean Rally for Development or RGD [Abdoul Kabele CAMARA] Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR [Ibrahima Sory CONDE] Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE] Citizen Generation or GECI [Mohamed SOUMAH] Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Mamadou Baadiko BAH] Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG [Siaka BARRY] Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE [Aboubacar SOUMAH] Ruling party Guinea is currently lead by the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, the transition government (Comité national du rassemblement et du développement, CNRD) Opposition parties Ruling party Guinea is currently lead by the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, the transition government (Comité national du rassemblement et du développement, CNRD): Opposition parties : International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires (vacant)     chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/  Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Troy FITRELL (since January 2022)  embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC  20521-2110 telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal National symbol(s): elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green National anthem: name: "Liberte" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA note: adopted 1958 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve Topic: Economy Economic overview: Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth.   Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy.   Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea’s future growth. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability.   Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued to play a prominent role in economic performance.   Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development.Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth. Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy. Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea’s future growth. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability. Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued to play a prominent role in economic performance. Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $35.08 billion (2020 est.) $32.78 billion (2019 est.) $31.03 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 8.2% (2017 est.) 10.5% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,700 (2020 est.) $2,600 (2019 est.) $2,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $13.55 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (2019 est.) 9.8% (2018 est.) 8.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.1% (2017 est.) services: 48.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.558 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76% industry: 24% (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2017 est.) 2.8% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.1% male: 6.1% female: 7.9% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.7 (2012 est.) 40.3 (1994) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2007) Budget: revenues: 1.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.748 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$705 million (2017 est.) -$2.705 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $4.04 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.08 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.733 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: aluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019) Imports: $4.32 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.18 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.317 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 39%, India 8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 9,953 (2020 est.) 9,542.5 (2019 est.) 9,092 (2018 est.) 7,485.5 (2014 est.) 7,014.1 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 46% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 84% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 24% (2019) Electricity - production: 598 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 556.1 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 550,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 0 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 13.795 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Guinea’s mobile subscribership growing through investment of South African telecom operators and Chinese Huawei management; m-transactions supported commerce; broadband still limited and expensive though submarine cable and IXP improved reliability of infrastructure; 4G Wi-Fi in the capital; National Backbone Network will connect regional administrative centers; ECOWAS countries to launch free roaming; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is just over 100 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services  (2022)Government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services  Internet country code: .gn Internet users: total: 3,414,526 (2020 est.) percent of population: 26% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X Airports: total: 16 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Railways: total: 1,086 km (2017) standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 44,301 km (2018) paved: 3,346 km (2018) unpaved: 40,955 km (2018) Waterways: 1,300 km (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) Merchant marine: total: 2 by type: other 2 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2022) note - the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $270 million) 1.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $280 million) 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $260 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: Guinean National Armed Forces are comprised of approximately 12,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 400 Navy; 800 Air Force; 300 BASP; 1,500 Gendarmerie) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of ageing and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2021) Military service age and obligation: Voluntary and selective conscripted service, 9-24 mos (2021) Military deployments: 670 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2022) Military - note: the Army is responsible for external defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities; piracy and natural resource protection in the Gulf of Guinea are key areas of concern for the small Navy, which possesses only a few patrol boats (2022) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea" Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998 Trafficking in persons: current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the majority of trafficking victims are Guinean children; Guinean girls are subjected to domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation, while boys are forced to beg, work as street vendors, shoe shiners, or miners; some Guinean children are forced to mine in Senegal, Mali, and possibly other West African countries; Guinean women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Greece, and Spain, while Chinese and Vietnamese women are reportedly forced into prostitution in Guinea tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however it is making significant efforts to do so; the government  drafted a new anti-trafficking action plan, provided support to eight victims exploited in the Middle East, and incorporated anti-trafficking training into the law enforcement curriculum; however, the government did not overall increase efforts compared to the last rating period; investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes decreased, victim identification was inadequate, and NGO’s providing victim services did not receive government support; for the fourth year, resources for the anti-trafficking committee or the Office for the Protection of Gender, Children and Morals were inadequate; a Quranic teacher was not prosecuted for allegedly forcing child begging; Guinea was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

20220601

field-union-name

This entry, which appears only in the European Union, Government category, provides the full name and abbreviation for the European Union. Topic: European Unionconventional long form: European Union abbreviation: EU

20220601

countries-chad-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Chad due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [235] 2251-5017; US Embassy N’Djamena, B.P. 413, N’Djamena, Chad; https://td.usembassy.gov/; NdjamenaACS@state.gov Telephone Code: 235 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 997; Fire: 998; Police: 999 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical in south, desert in north Currency (Code): Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Central francs (Central African CFA franc, XAF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, E, F Major Languages: French , Arabic, Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects Major Religions: Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Chad National Museum; Zakouma National Park; Lakes of Ounianga; Ennedi Massif Major Sports: Soccer, boxing, wrestling Cultural Practices: All photography requires a government permit. Taking photos of military sites, official buildings, and airports is strictly prohibited, even with a permit. Tipping Guidelines: Service charges are not usually included in restaurants and tips of 10% for waiters are acceptable. Taxi fares should be rounded up if the service is good.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, March 30, 2022

20220601

countries-british-indian-ocean-territory

Topic: Photos of British Indian Ocean Territory Topic: Introduction Background: Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area (MPA) that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention.  Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts.Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area (MPA) that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention.  Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E;note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E Map references: Political Map of the World Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km (44 Diego Garcia) water: 54,340 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands Area - comparative: land area is about one-third the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 698 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not exceed two m in elevation) Elevation: highest point: ocean-side dunes on Diego Garcia 9 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: none; located outside routes of Indian Ocean cyclones Geography - note: note 1: archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean; the island is the site of a joint US-UK military facility note 2: Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island of the BIOT and one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being Gibraltarnote 1: archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean; the island is the site of a joint US-UK military facilitynote 2: Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island of the BIOT and one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being Gibraltar Map description: British Indian Ocean Territory map showing the six island groups and the island of Diego Garcia that make up this UK Territory in the Indian Ocean.British Indian Ocean Territory map showing the six island groups and the island of Diego Garcia that make up this UK Territory in the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; approximately 3,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (2018) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: wastewater discharge into the lagoon on Diego Garcia Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's affiliation and location Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London Legal system: the laws of the UK apply where applicable Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner Ben MERRICK (since August 2017); Administrator Kit PYMAN; note - both reside in the UK and are represented by Commander Steven R. DRYSDALE, RN, commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia (since 19 February 2021) cabinet: NA elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially described, the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago Topic: Economy Economic overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. Some of the natural resources found in this territory include coconuts, fish, and sugarcane. Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available (2018) domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet (2018) international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides direct connectivity to Africa, Asia and near-by Indian Ocean island countries; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2019) Broadcast media: Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 separate frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on the islands Internet country code: .io Communications - note: Diego Garcia hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcianote: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Diego Garcia Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; in November 2016, the UK extended the US lease on Diego Garcia for 20 years; the lease now expires in December 2036 Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources thereinMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein

20220601

field-geographic-coordinates

This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names. Topic: Afghanistan33 00 N, 65 00 E Topic: Akrotiri34 37 N, 32 58 E Topic: Albania41 00 N, 20 00 E Topic: Algeria28 00 N, 3 00 E Topic: American Samoa14 20 S, 170 00 W Topic: Andorra42 30 N, 1 30 E Topic: Angola12 30 S, 18 30 E Topic: Anguilla18 15 N, 63 10 W Topic: Antarctica90 00 S, 0 00 E Topic: Antigua and Barbuda17 03 N, 61 48 W Topic: Arctic Ocean90 00 N, 0 00 E Topic: Argentina34 00 S, 64 00 W Topic: Armenia40 00 N, 45 00 E Topic: Aruba12 30 N, 69 58 W Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islands12 25 S, 123 20 E note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 E Topic: Atlantic Ocean0 00 N, 25 00 W Topic: Australia27 00 S, 133 00 E Topic: Austria47 20 N, 13 20 E Topic: Azerbaijan40 30 N, 47 30 E Topic: Bahamas, The24 15 N, 76 00 W Topic: Bahrain26 00 N, 50 33 E Topic: Bangladesh24 00 N, 90 00 E Topic: Barbados13 10 N, 59 32 W Topic: Belarus53 00 N, 28 00 E Topic: Belgium50 50 N, 4 00 E Topic: Belize17 15 N, 88 45 W Topic: Benin9 30 N, 2 15 E Topic: Bermuda32 20 N, 64 45 W Topic: Bhutan27 30 N, 90 30 E Topic: Bolivia17 00 S, 65 00 W Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina44 00 N, 18 00 E Topic: Botswana22 00 S, 24 00 E Topic: Bouvet Island54 26 S, 3 24 E Topic: Brazil10 00 S, 55 00 W Topic: British Indian Ocean Territory6 00 S, 71 30 E;note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E Topic: British Virgin Islands18 30 N, 64 30 W Topic: Brunei4 30 N, 114 40 E Topic: Bulgaria43 00 N, 25 00 E Topic: Burkina Faso13 00 N, 2 00 W Topic: Burma22 00 N, 98 00 E Topic: Burundi3 30 S, 30 00 E Topic: Cabo Verde16 00 N, 24 00 W Topic: Cambodia13 00 N, 105 00 E Topic: Cameroon6 00 N, 12 00 E Topic: Canada60 00 N, 95 00 W Topic: Cayman Islands19 30 N, 80 30 W Topic: Central African Republic7 00 N, 21 00 E Topic: Chad15 00 N, 19 00 E Topic: Chile30 00 S, 71 00 W Topic: China35 00 N, 105 00 E Topic: Christmas Island10 30 S, 105 40 E Topic: Clipperton Island10 17 N, 109 13 W Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands12 30 S, 96 50 E Topic: Colombia4 00 N, 72 00 W Topic: Comoros12 10 S, 44 15 E Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the0 00 N, 25 00 E Topic: Congo, Republic of the1 00 S, 15 00 E Topic: Cook Islands21 14 S, 159 46 W Topic: Coral Sea Islands18 00 S, 152 00 E Topic: Costa Rica10 00 N, 84 00 W Topic: Cote d'Ivoire8 00 N, 5 00 W Topic: Croatia45 10 N, 15 30 E Topic: Cuba21 30 N, 80 00 W Topic: Curacao12 10 N, 69 00 W12 10 N, 69 00 W Topic: Cyprus35 00 N, 33 00 E Topic: Czechia49 45 N, 15 30 E Topic: Denmark56 00 N, 10 00 E Topic: Dhekelia34 59 N, 33 45 E Topic: Djibouti11 30 N, 43 00 E Topic: Dominica15 25 N, 61 20 W Topic: Dominican Republic19 00 N, 70 40 W Topic: Ecuador2 00 S, 77 30 W Topic: Egypt27 00 N, 30 00 E Topic: El Salvador13 50 N, 88 55 W Topic: Equatorial Guinea2 00 N, 10 00 E Topic: Eritrea15 00 N, 39 00 E Topic: Estonia59 00 N, 26 00 E Topic: Eswatini26 30 S, 31 30 E Topic: Ethiopia8 00 N, 38 00 E Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)51 45 S, 59 00 W Topic: Faroe Islands62 00 N, 7 00 W Topic: Fiji18 00 S, 175 00 E Topic: Finland64 00 N, 26 00 E Topic: Francemetropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E; French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W; Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W; Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W; Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E; Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 Emetropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E; French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W; Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W; Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W; Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E; Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E Topic: French Polynesia15 00 S, 140 00 W Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 EIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E Topic: Gabon1 00 S, 11 45 E Topic: Gambia, The13 28 N, 16 34 W Topic: Gaza Strip31 25 N, 34 20 E Topic: Georgia42 00 N, 43 30 E Topic: Germany51 00 N, 9 00 E Topic: Ghana8 00 N, 2 00 W Topic: Gibraltar36 08 N, 5 21 W Topic: Greece39 00 N, 22 00 E Topic: Greenland72 00 N, 40 00 W Topic: Grenada12 07 N, 61 40 W Topic: Guam13 28 N, 144 47 E Topic: Guatemala15 30 N, 90 15 W Topic: Guernsey49 28 N, 2 35 W Topic: Guinea11 00 N, 10 00 W Topic: Guinea-Bissau12 00 N, 15 00 W Topic: Guyana5 00 N, 59 00 W Topic: Haiti19 00 N, 72 25 W Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islands53 06 S, 72 31 E Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)41 54 N, 12 27 E Topic: Honduras15 00 N, 86 30 W Topic: Hong Kong22 15 N, 114 10 E Topic: Hungary47 00 N, 20 00 E Topic: Iceland65 00 N, 18 00 W Topic: India20 00 N, 77 00 E Topic: Indian Ocean20 00 S, 80 00 E Topic: Indonesia5 00 S, 120 00 E Topic: Iran32 00 N, 53 00 E Topic: Iraq33 00 N, 44 00 E Topic: Ireland53 00 N, 8 00 W Topic: Isle of Man54 15 N, 4 30 W Topic: Israel31 30 N, 34 45 E Topic: Italy42 50 N, 12 50 E Topic: Jamaica18 15 N, 77 30 W Topic: Jan Mayen71 00 N, 8 00 W Topic: Japan36 00 N, 138 00 E Topic: Jersey49 15 N, 2 10 W Topic: Jordan31 00 N, 36 00 E Topic: Kazakhstan48 00 N, 68 00 E Topic: Kenya1 00 N, 38 00 E Topic: Kiribati1 25 N, 173 00 E Topic: Korea, North40 00 N, 127 00 E Topic: Korea, South37 00 N, 127 30 E Topic: Kosovo42 35 N, 21 00 E Topic: Kuwait29 30 N, 45 45 E Topic: Kyrgyzstan41 00 N, 75 00 E Topic: Laos18 00 N, 105 00 E Topic: Latvia57 00 N, 25 00 E Topic: Lebanon33 50 N, 35 50 E Topic: Lesotho29 30 S, 28 30 E Topic: Liberia6 30 N, 9 30 W Topic: Libya25 00 N, 17 00 E Topic: Liechtenstein47 16 N, 9 32 E Topic: Lithuania56 00 N, 24 00 E Topic: Luxembourg49 45 N, 6 10 E Topic: Macau22 10 N, 113 33 E Topic: Madagascar20 00 S, 47 00 E Topic: Malawi13 30 S, 34 00 E Topic: Malaysia2 30 N, 112 30 E Topic: Maldives3 15 N, 73 00 E Topic: Mali17 00 N, 4 00 W Topic: Malta35 50 N, 14 35 E Topic: Marshall Islands9 00 N, 168 00 E Topic: Mauritania20 00 N, 12 00 W Topic: Mauritius20 17 S, 57 33 E Topic: Mexico23 00 N, 102 00 W Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of6 55 N, 158 15 E Topic: Moldova47 00 N, 29 00 E Topic: Monaco43 44 N, 7 24 E Topic: Mongolia46 00 N, 105 00 E Topic: Montenegro42 30 N, 19 18 E Topic: Montserrat16 45 N, 62 12 W Topic: Morocco28 30 N, 10 00 W Topic: Mozambique18 15 S, 35 00 E Topic: Namibia22 00 S, 17 00 E Topic: Nauru0 32 S, 166 55 E Topic: Navassa Island18 25 N, 75 02 W Topic: Nepal28 00 N, 84 00 E Topic: Netherlands52 31 N, 5 46 E Topic: New Caledonia21 30 S, 165 30 E Topic: New Zealand41 00 S, 174 00 E Topic: Nicaragua13 00 N, 85 00 W Topic: Niger16 00 N, 8 00 E Topic: Nigeria10 00 N, 8 00 E Topic: Niue19 02 S, 169 52 W Topic: Norfolk Island29 02 S, 167 57 E Topic: North Macedonia41 50 N, 22 00 E Topic: Northern Mariana Islands15 12 N, 145 45 E Topic: Norway62 00 N, 10 00 E Topic: Oman21 00 N, 57 00 E Topic: Pacific Ocean0 00 N, 160 00 W Topic: Pakistan30 00 N, 70 00 E Topic: Palau7 30 N, 134 30 E Topic: Panama9 00 N, 80 00 W Topic: Papua New Guinea6 00 S, 147 00 E Topic: Paracel Islands16 30 N, 112 00 E Topic: Paraguay23 00 S, 58 00 W Topic: Peru10 00 S, 76 00 W Topic: Philippines13 00 N, 122 00 E Topic: Pitcairn Islands25 04 S, 130 06 W Topic: Poland52 00 N, 20 00 E Topic: Portugal39 30 N, 8 00 W Topic: Puerto Rico18 15 N, 66 30 W Topic: Qatar25 30 N, 51 15 E Topic: Romania46 00 N, 25 00 E Topic: Russia60 00 N, 100 00 E Topic: Rwanda2 00 S, 30 00 E Topic: Saint Barthelemy17 90 N, 62 85 W Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaSaint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 WSaint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis17 20 N, 62 45 W Topic: Saint Lucia13 53 N, 60 58 W Topic: Saint Martin18 05 N, 63 57 W Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon46 50 N, 56 20 W Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines13 15 N, 61 12 W Topic: Samoa13 35 S, 172 20 W Topic: San Marino43 46 N, 12 25 E Topic: Sao Tome and Principe1 00 N, 7 00 E Topic: Saudi Arabia25 00 N, 45 00 E Topic: Senegal14 00 N, 14 00 W Topic: Serbia44 00 N, 21 00 E Topic: Seychelles4 35 S, 55 40 E Topic: Sierra Leone8 30 N, 11 30 W Topic: Singapore1 22 N, 103 48 E Topic: Sint Maarten18 4 N, 63 4 W18 4 N, 63 4 W Topic: Slovakia48 40 N, 19 30 E Topic: Slovenia46 07 N, 14 49 E Topic: Solomon Islands8 00 S, 159 00 E Topic: Somalia10 00 N, 49 00 E Topic: South Africa29 00 S, 24 00 E Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands54 30 S, 37 00 W Topic: South Sudan8 00 N, 30 00 E Topic: Southern Ocean60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude Topic: Spain40 00 N, 4 00 W Topic: Spratly Islands8 38 N, 111 55 E Topic: Sri Lanka7 00 N, 81 00 E Topic: Sudan15 00 N, 30 00 E Topic: Suriname4 00 N, 56 00 W Topic: Svalbard78 00 N, 20 00 E Topic: Sweden62 00 N, 15 00 E Topic: Switzerland47 00 N, 8 00 E Topic: Syria35 00 N, 38 00 E Topic: Taiwan23 30 N, 121 00 E Topic: Tajikistan39 00 N, 71 00 E Topic: Tanzania6 00 S, 35 00 E Topic: Thailand15 00 N, 100 00 E Topic: Timor-Leste8 50 S, 125 55 E Topic: Togo8 00 N, 1 10 E Topic: Tokelau9 00 S, 172 00 W Topic: Tonga20 00 S, 175 00 W Topic: Trinidad and Tobago11 00 N, 61 00 W Topic: Tunisia34 00 N, 9 00 E Topic: Turkey39 00 N, 35 00 E Topic: Turkmenistan40 00 N, 60 00 E Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands21 45 N, 71 35 W Topic: Tuvalu8 00 S, 178 00 E Topic: Uganda1 00 N, 32 00 E Topic: Ukraine49 00 N, 32 00 E Topic: United Arab Emirates24 00 N, 54 00 E Topic: United Kingdom54 00 N, 2 00 W Topic: United States38 00 N, 97 00 W Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W; Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W; Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W; Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W; Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W; Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W; Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 WBaker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W; Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W; Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W; Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W; Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W; Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W; Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W Topic: Uruguay33 00 S, 56 00 W Topic: Uzbekistan41 00 N, 64 00 E Topic: Vanuatu16 00 S, 167 00 E Topic: Venezuela8 00 N, 66 00 W Topic: Vietnam16 10 N, 107 50 E Topic: Virgin Islands18 20 N, 64 50 W Topic: Wake Island19 17 N, 166 39 E Topic: Wallis and Futuna13 18 S, 176 12 W Topic: West Bank32 00 N, 35 15 E Topic: Yemen15 00 N, 48 00 E Topic: Zambia15 00 S, 30 00 E Topic: Zimbabwe20 00 S, 30 00 E

20220601

field-telecommunication-systems

This entry includes a brief general assessment of a country's telecommunications system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: 2G - is short for second-generation cellular network. After 2G was launched, the previous mobile wireless network systems were retroactively dubbed 1G. While radio signals on 1G networks are analog, radio signals on 2G networks are digital. Both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the devices) to the rest of the mobile system. 3G - is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is the upgrade for 2.5G and 2.5G GPRS networks, for faster data transfer.  This increased speed is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls, and mobile TV. 4G - is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology, succeeding 3G. The first-release Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard was commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden in 2009, and has since been deployed throughout most parts of the world. Applications, include enhanced mobile web access, IP telephony, high-definition mobile TV, and video conferencing. 5G - is the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019; it is the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cellphones. Like its predecessors, 5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a cell are connected to the Internet and telephone network by radio waves through a local antenna in the cell. The main advantage of the new networks is that they will have greater bandwidth, allowing higher download speeds, eventually up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s). Due to the increased bandwidth, the expectation is that the new networks will not just serve cellphones like existing cellular networks, but also be used as general Internet service providers for laptops and desktop computers, competing with existing ISPs such as cable Internet. Existing 4G cellphones will not be able to use the new networks, which will require new 5G-enabled wireless devices. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a type of digital subscriber line (DSL) that allows faster data transmission via copper service phone lines to a home or business. ADSL provides an “always on” connection and higher speeds than dial-up Internet can provide. In ADSL, bandwidth and bit rate (i.e., speed) are asymmetric, meaning greater toward the customer (downstream) than the reverse (upstream). AngoSat 2 - geostationary communications satellite for ground communication and broadcasting infrastructure in Angola, operated by Angosat and built by the Russian company ISS Reshetnev. Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange. Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other. Coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies. DSL - Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over telephone lines. e-services - Electronic services rely on information and communication technologies (ICT); the three main components of e-services are the service provider, service receiver (or customer), and the channel for delivery, generally the Internet. E-services have expanded to e-health, e-commerce, e-fleet, and e-government, among other services. E-services are also linked to the development of IoT and smart city technology. ECOWAS telecommunications - Economic Community of West African States regional telecommunications development program, focused on broadband infrastructure, landing of submarine cables, and the establishment of a single liberalized telecoms market. Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris). Fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light. FTTX - Fiber to the x (FTTX) is a generic term for any broadband network architecture using optical fiber to provide all or part of the local loop used for last mile telecommunications. As fiber optic cables are able to carry much more data than copper cables, especially over long distances, copper telephone networks built in the 20th century are being replaced by fiber. FTTX is a general term for several configurations of fiber deployment, broadly organized into two groups: FTTN and FTTP /H/B. Fiber to the node (FTTN), also referred to as Fiber to the neighborhood, delivers fiber to within 300m (1,000 ft) of a customer’s premises. Fiber to the premises (FTTP) can be further categorized as fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the building/business (FTTB). FTTN (and FTTC, fiber to the curb (to less than 300m (1,000 ft of a customer’s premises)) are seen as interim steps toward full FTTP. Galileo - Chartered in 2016, Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) created by the European Union through the European Space Agency (ESA), and operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Headquartered in Prague, Czechia, it has two ground operations centers: one in Fucino, Italy, and the other in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The project is named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and aims to provide an independent high-precision positioning system. Galileo provides a global search and rescue (SAR) function as part of the MEOSAR system. GPON - stands for Gigabyte Passive Optical Networks, which are networks that rely on optical cables to deliver information from a single feeding fiber from a provider - to multiple destinations - via the use of splitters.  GPONs are currently the leading form of Passive Optical Networks (PON) and offer up to a 1:64 ratio on a single fiber. As opposed to a standard copper wire in most networks, GPONs are 95% more energy efficient. GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982. HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range. HSPA - High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), that extends and improves the performance of existing 3G mobile telecommunication networks using the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) protocols. A further improved 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard, Evolved High Speed Packet Access (also known as HSPA+), was released late in 2008 with subsequent worldwide adoption beginning in 2010. The newer standard allows bit-rates to reach as high as 337 Mbit/s in the downlink and 34 Mbit/s in the uplink. However, these speeds are rarely achieved in practice. ICT -  Information and communications technology (ICT) encompasses the capture, storage, retrieval, processing, display, representation, presentation, organization, management, security, transfer, and interchange of data and information; includes all categories of ubiquitous technology used for the gathering, storing, transmitting, retrieving, or processing of information. Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global mobile services. It provides telephone and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals that communicate with ground stations through 13 geostationary telecommunications satellites. Inmarsat’s network provides communications services to a range of governments, aid agencies, media outlets, and businesses (especially in the shipping, airline, and mining industries) with a need to communicate in remote regions or where there is no reliable terrestrial network. Intelsat - Intelsat Corporation (formerly International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, INTEL-SAT, INTELSAT) is a communications satellite services provider. Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia. IP - Internet Protocol is a communications protocol for computers connected to a network, especially the Internet, specifying the format for addresses and units of transmitted data; data traversing the Internet is divided into smaller pieces, called packets. IoT - the Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical, and digital machines provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. Iridium - the Iridium satellite constellation provides L band (long wavelength band) voice and data information coverage to satellite phones, pagers, and integrated transceivers over the entire surface of the earth. Iridium Communications owns and operates the constellation, additionally selling equipment and access to its services. ITU - the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a United Nations specialized agency that is responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies. Founded in 1865, the ITU is the oldest global international organization. The ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards. The ITU is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks. IXP - an Internet exchange point (IXP) is a physical location through which Internet infrastructure companies such as Internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery networks (CDNs) connect with each other. Kacific 1 - Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) is a satellite operator providing high-speed broadband Internet service for the South East Asia and Pacific Islands regions. Its first Ka-band HTS satellite, Kacific1, was designed and built by Boeing and launched into geostationary orbit in December 2019. Landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground. LTE - Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals Based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies, it increases communication capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network improvements. LTE Advanced - (aka LTE A) is a mobile communication standard and a major enhancement of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. It was submitted as a candidate 4G in late 2009 as meeting the requirements of the IMT-Advanced standard, and was standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in March 2011 as 3GPP Release 10. LTE-TDD & LTE-FDD - There are two major differences between LTE-TDD and LTE-FDD: how data is uploaded and downloaded, and what frequency spectra the networks are deployed in. While LTE-FDD uses paired frequencies to upload and download data, LTE-TDD uses a single frequency, alternating between uploading and downloading data through time. The ratio between uploads and downloads on a LTE-TDD network can be changed dynamically, depending on whether more data needs to be sent or received. LTE-TDD and LTE-FDD also operate on different frequency bands, with LTE-TDD working better at higher frequencies, and LTE-FDD working better at lower frequencies. M-commerce - short for mobile commerce, m-commerce is the use of wireless handheld devices like cellphones and tablets to conduct commercial transactions online, including the purchase and sale of products, online banking, and paying bills. MNO - a mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company, or mobile network carrier, is a provider of wireless communications services that owns or controls all the elements necessary to sell and deliver services to an end user including radio spectrum allocation, wireless network infrastructure, back haul infrastructure, billing, customer care, provisioning computer systems, and marketing and repair organizations. MNP - mobile number portability MVNO - a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers. A MVNO enters into a business agreement with a mobile network operator (MNO) to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently. Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network. Microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path. NB-IoT - narrowband Internet of Things is a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) radio technology. NB-IoT improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity, and spectrum efficiency. NGN - The next-generation network is the evolution and migration of fixed and mobile network infrastructures from distinct, proprietary networks to converged networks on an IP. One network transports all information and services (voice, data, and media) by encapsulating these into IP packets, similar to those used on the Internet.  The result is unrestricted, consistent and ubiquitous access for users to different service providers. NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; NMT is a first generation (1G) mobile cellular phone system based on analog technology that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). NMT-450 analog networks have been replaced with digital networks using the same cellular frequencies.  Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network. PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT) was a satellite service provider. Radio telephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets. Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system. Satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna, and receiving and transmitting equipment required for communicating with satellites. Satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels). SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range. Shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances. SIM card - subscriber identity/identification module card, is a small, removable integrated circuit used in a mobile phone to store data unique to the user, such as an identification number, passwords, phone numbers, and messages.  Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere. Spectrum - spectrum management is the allocation and regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum into radio frequency (RF) bands, a procedure normally carried out by governments in most countries. Because radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization. A spectrum auction is a process whereby a government uses an auction system to sell the rights to transmit signals over specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and to assign scarce spectrum resources. Submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water. TE North - A submarine cable linking Egypt with France, with a branching unit to Cyprus, developed by Alcatel-Lucent. Telecommunication (telecom) - is the exchange of signs, signals, messages, words, images and sounds, or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems (i.e., via the use of technology). Telecommunication occurs through a transmission medium, such as over physical media, for example, over electrical cable, or via electromagnetic radiation through space such as radio or light. Teledensity - (telephone density) is the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area. It varies widely between nations and also between urban and rural areas within a country. Telephone density correlates closely with the per capita GDP of an area, and is also used as an indicator of the purchasing power of the middle class of a country or specific region. Telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network. Telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission. Telephony - is the field of technology involving the development, application, and deployment of telecommunication services for the purpose of electronic transmission of voice, fax, or data, between distant parties. The history of telephony is intimately linked to the invention and development of the telephone. Telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges. Trans-Caspian cable - Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic (TCFO) submarine cable; a project between AzerTelecom in Azerbaijan, KazTransCom of Kazakhstan, and Turkmentelekom in Turkmenistan for the construction of a fiber-optic cable in the Caspian Sea. Tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth. Powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals. Reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances. Trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines. UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range. VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range. VNO - A virtual network operator (VNO) is a management services provider and a network services reseller of other telecommunication service providers. VNOs do not possess a telecom network infrastructure; however, they provide telecom services by acquiring the required capacity from other telecom carriers. These network providers are classified as virtual because they offer network services to clients without possessing the actual network. VNOs usually lease bandwidth at agreed wholesale rates from different telecom providers and then offer solutions to their direct customers. VOD - or video on demand is a video media distribution system that allows users to access video entertainment without a traditional video entertainment device and without the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. Voice over Internet Protocol - VoIP, also called IP telephony, refers to the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service specifically refer to the provisioning of communications services (voice, fax, text-messaging, voice-messaging) over the public Internet, rather than via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), also known as plain old telephone service (POTS). VSAT - a VSAT (very-small-aperture terminal) is a two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3.8 meters. The majority of VSAT antennas range from 75 cm to 1.2 m. Data rates, generally, range from 4 kbit/s up to 16 Mbit/s. WACS - the West Africa Cable System is a submarine communications cable linking South Africa with the UK along the west coast of Africa and Europe; constructed by Alcatel-Lucent. The cable consists of four fiber pairs and is 14,530 Km in length with 14 landing points – 12 along the western coast of Africa and 2 in Europe – with termination in London, UK. WiMAX - stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access; it is a family of wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards, which provide multiple physical layer (PHY) and Media Access Control (MAC) options.2G - is short for second-generation cellular network. After 2G was launched, the previous mobile wireless network systems were retroactively dubbed 1G. While radio signals on 1G networks are analog, radio signals on 2G networks are digital. Both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the devices) to the rest of the mobile system. 3G - is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is the upgrade for 2.5G and 2.5G GPRS networks, for faster data transfer.  This increased speed is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls, and mobile TV. 4G - is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology, succeeding 3G. The first-release Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard was commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden in 2009, and has since been deployed throughout most parts of the world. Applications, include enhanced mobile web access, IP telephony, high-definition mobile TV, and video conferencing. 5G - is the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019; it is the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cellphones. Like its predecessors, 5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a cell are connected to the Internet and telephone network by radio waves through a local antenna in the cell. The main advantage of the new networks is that they will have greater bandwidth, allowing higher download speeds, eventually up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s). Due to the increased bandwidth, the expectation is that the new networks will not just serve cellphones like existing cellular networks, but also be used as general Internet service providers for laptops and desktop computers, competing with existing ISPs such as cable Internet. Existing 4G cellphones will not be able to use the new networks, which will require new 5G-enabled wireless devices. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a type of digital subscriber line (DSL) that allows faster data transmission via copper service phone lines to a home or business. ADSL provides an “always on” connection and higher speeds than dial-up Internet can provide. In ADSL, bandwidth and bit rate (i.e., speed) are asymmetric, meaning greater toward the customer (downstream) than the reverse (upstream). AngoSat 2 - geostationary communications satellite for ground communication and broadcasting infrastructure in Angola, operated by Angosat and built by the Russian company ISS Reshetnev. Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange. Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other. Coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies. DSL - Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over telephone lines. e-services - Electronic services rely on information and communication technologies (ICT); the three main components of e-services are the service provider, service receiver (or customer), and the channel for delivery, generally the Internet. E-services have expanded to e-health, e-commerce, e-fleet, and e-government, among other services. E-services are also linked to the development of IoT and smart city technology. ECOWAS telecommunications - Economic Community of West African States regional telecommunications development program, focused on broadband infrastructure, landing of submarine cables, and the establishment of a single liberalized telecoms market. Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris). Fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light. FTTX - Fiber to the x (FTTX) is a generic term for any broadband network architecture using optical fiber to provide all or part of the local loop used for last mile telecommunications. As fiber optic cables are able to carry much more data than copper cables, especially over long distances, copper telephone networks built in the 20th century are being replaced by fiber. FTTX is a general term for several configurations of fiber deployment, broadly organized into two groups: FTTN and FTTP /H/B. Fiber to the node (FTTN), also referred to as Fiber to the neighborhood, delivers fiber to within 300m (1,000 ft) of a customer’s premises. Fiber to the premises (FTTP) can be further categorized as fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the building/business (FTTB). FTTN (and FTTC, fiber to the curb (to less than 300m (1,000 ft of a customer’s premises)) are seen as interim steps toward full FTTP. Galileo - Chartered in 2016, Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) created by the European Union through the European Space Agency (ESA), and operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Headquartered in Prague, Czechia, it has two ground operations centers: one in Fucino, Italy, and the other in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The project is named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and aims to provide an independent high-precision positioning system. Galileo provides a global search and rescue (SAR) function as part of the MEOSAR system. GPON - stands for Gigabyte Passive Optical Networks, which are networks that rely on optical cables to deliver information from a single feeding fiber from a provider - to multiple destinations - via the use of splitters.  GPONs are currently the leading form of Passive Optical Networks (PON) and offer up to a 1:64 ratio on a single fiber. As opposed to a standard copper wire in most networks, GPONs are 95% more energy efficient. GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982. HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range. HSPA - High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), that extends and improves the performance of existing 3G mobile telecommunication networks using the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) protocols. A further improved 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard, Evolved High Speed Packet Access (also known as HSPA+), was released late in 2008 with subsequent worldwide adoption beginning in 2010. The newer standard allows bit-rates to reach as high as 337 Mbit/s in the downlink and 34 Mbit/s in the uplink. However, these speeds are rarely achieved in practice. ICT -  Information and communications technology (ICT) encompasses the capture, storage, retrieval, processing, display, representation, presentation, organization, management, security, transfer, and interchange of data and information; includes all categories of ubiquitous technology used for the gathering, storing, transmitting, retrieving, or processing of information. Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global mobile services. It provides telephone and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals that communicate with ground stations through 13 geostationary telecommunications satellites. Inmarsat’s network provides communications services to a range of governments, aid agencies, media outlets, and businesses (especially in the shipping, airline, and mining industries) with a need to communicate in remote regions or where there is no reliable terrestrial network. Intelsat - Intelsat Corporation (formerly International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, INTEL-SAT, INTELSAT) is a communications satellite services provider. Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia. IP - Internet Protocol is a communications protocol for computers connected to a network, especially the Internet, specifying the format for addresses and units of transmitted data; data traversing the Internet is divided into smaller pieces, called packets. IoT - the Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical, and digital machines provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. Iridium - the Iridium satellite constellation provides L band (long wavelength band) voice and data information coverage to satellite phones, pagers, and integrated transceivers over the entire surface of the earth. Iridium Communications owns and operates the constellation, additionally selling equipment and access to its services. ITU - the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a United Nations specialized agency that is responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies. Founded in 1865, the ITU is the oldest global international organization. The ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards. The ITU is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, latest-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks. IXP - an Internet exchange point (IXP) is a physical location through which Internet infrastructure companies such as Internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery networks (CDNs) connect with each other. Kacific 1 - Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) is a satellite operator providing high-speed broadband Internet service for the South East Asia and Pacific Islands regions. Its first Ka-band HTS satellite, Kacific1, was designed and built by Boeing and launched into geostationary orbit in December 2019. Landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground. LTE - Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals Based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies, it increases communication capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network improvements. LTE Advanced - (aka LTE A) is a mobile communication standard and a major enhancement of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. It was submitted as a candidate 4G in late 2009 as meeting the requirements of the IMT-Advanced standard, and was standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in March 2011 as 3GPP Release 10. LTE-TDD & LTE-FDD - There are two major differences between LTE-TDD and LTE-FDD: how data is uploaded and downloaded, and what frequency spectra the networks are deployed in. While LTE-FDD uses paired frequencies to upload and download data, LTE-TDD uses a single frequency, alternating between uploading and downloading data through time. The ratio between uploads and downloads on a LTE-TDD network can be changed dynamically, depending on whether more data needs to be sent or received. LTE-TDD and LTE-FDD also operate on different frequency bands, with LTE-TDD working better at higher frequencies, and LTE-FDD working better at lower frequencies. M-commerce - short for mobile commerce, m-commerce is the use of wireless handheld devices like cellphones and tablets to conduct commercial transactions online, including the purchase and sale of products, online banking, and paying bills. MNO - a mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company, or mobile network carrier, is a provider of wireless communications services that owns or controls all the elements necessary to sell and deliver services to an end user including radio spectrum allocation, wireless network infrastructure, back haul infrastructure, billing, customer care, provisioning computer systems, and marketing and repair organizations. MNP - mobile number portability MVNO - a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers. A MVNO enters into a business agreement with a mobile network operator (MNO) to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently. Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network. Microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path. NB-IoT - narrowband Internet of Things is a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) radio technology. NB-IoT improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity, and spectrum efficiency. NGN - The next-generation network is the evolution and migration of fixed and mobile network infrastructures from distinct, proprietary networks to converged networks on an IP. One network transports all information and services (voice, data, and media) by encapsulating these into IP packets, similar to those used on the Internet.  The result is unrestricted, consistent and ubiquitous access for users to different service providers. NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; NMT is a first generation (1G) mobile cellular phone system based on analog technology that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). NMT-450 analog networks have been replaced with digital networks using the same cellular frequencies.  Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network. PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT) was a satellite service provider. Radio telephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets. Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system. Satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna, and receiving and transmitting equipment required for communicating with satellites. Satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels). SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range. Shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances. SIM card - subscriber identity/identification module card, is a small, removable integrated circuit used in a mobile phone to store data unique to the user, such as an identification number, passwords, phone numbers, and messages.  Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere. Spectrum - spectrum management is the allocation and regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum into radio frequency (RF) bands, a procedure normally carried out by governments in most countries. Because radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization. A spectrum auction is a process whereby a government uses an auction system to sell the rights to transmit signals over specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and to assign scarce spectrum resources. Submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water. TE North - A submarine cable linking Egypt with France, with a branching unit to Cyprus, developed by Alcatel-Lucent. Telecommunication (telecom) - is the exchange of signs, signals, messages, words, images and sounds, or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems (i.e., via the use of technology). Telecommunication occurs through a transmission medium, such as over physical media, for example, over electrical cable, or via electromagnetic radiation through space such as radio or light. Teledensity - (telephone density) is the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area. It varies widely between nations and also between urban and rural areas within a country. Telephone density correlates closely with the per capita GDP of an area, and is also used as an indicator of the purchasing power of the middle class of a country or specific region. Telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network. Telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission. Telephony - is the field of technology involving the development, application, and deployment of telecommunication services for the purpose of electronic transmission of voice, fax, or data, between distant parties. The history of telephony is intimately linked to the invention and development of the telephone. Telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges. Trans-Caspian cable - Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic (TCFO) submarine cable; a project between AzerTelecom in Azerbaijan, KazTransCom of Kazakhstan, and Turkmentelekom in Turkmenistan for the construction of a fiber-optic cable in the Caspian Sea. Tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth. Powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals. Reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances. Trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines. UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range. VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range. VNO - A virtual network operator (VNO) is a management services provider and a network services reseller of other telecommunication service providers. VNOs do not possess a telecom network infrastructure; however, they provide telecom services by acquiring the required capacity from other telecom carriers. These network providers are classified as virtual because they offer network services to clients without possessing the actual network. VNOs usually lease bandwidth at agreed wholesale rates from different telecom providers and then offer solutions to their direct customers. VOD - or video on demand is a video media distribution system that allows users to access video entertainment without a traditional video entertainment device and without the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. Voice over Internet Protocol - VoIP, also called IP telephony, refers to the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. The terms Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service specifically refer to the provisioning of communications services (voice, fax, text-messaging, voice-messaging) over the public Internet, rather than via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), also known as plain old telephone service (POTS). VSAT - a VSAT (very-small-aperture terminal) is a two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3.8 meters. The majority of VSAT antennas range from 75 cm to 1.2 m. Data rates, generally, range from 4 kbit/s up to 16 Mbit/s. WACS - the West Africa Cable System is a submarine communications cable linking South Africa with the UK along the west coast of Africa and Europe; constructed by Alcatel-Lucent. The cable consists of four fiber pairs and is 14,530 Km in length with 14 landing points – 12 along the western coast of Africa and 2 in Europe – with termination in London, UK. WiMAX - stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access; it is a family of wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards, which provide multiple physical layer (PHY) and Media Access Control (MAC) options. Topic: Afghanistangeneral assessment: before 15 August 2021, Afghanistan had successfully rebuilt infrastructure to create a functional telecom sector that covered nearly all of the population; due to mountainous geography, Afghanistan relies on its mobile network; mobile broadband penetration growing, but is still low compared to other countries in Asia; operator launched LTE in Kabul; World Bank and other donors support development of a nationwide fiber backbone; terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the ‘Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project’ to connect to China is nearing completion; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2021) domestic: before 15 August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2021) international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019) Topic: Albaniageneral assessment: Albania’s small telecom market has improved through signatory status of EU accession plan; EU financial aid will build infrastructure and enhance cooperation; operator committed €100 million to upgrade fixed-line infrastructure, supporting broadband services nationally; consistent with the region, fixed-line telephony use and penetration is declining as subscribers prefer mobile solutions; mobile sector is supported through LTE networks; operators have invested in 5G, including the intention to create a corridor with Kosovo; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2021) domestic: fixed-line approximately 8 per 100, teledensity continues to decline due to heavy use of mobile-cellular telephone services; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective, 91 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 355; submarine cables for the Adria 1 and Italy-Albania provide connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Algeriageneral assessment: Algeria has a steadily developing telecom infrastructure through sound regulatory measures and government policies aimed at providing Internet connections across the country, including underserved areas; mobile penetration and LTE services are growing steadily; in common with other markets in the region, mobile connections account for the vast majority of Internet accesses; well served by satellite and submarine cable connections; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of slightly less than 11 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was approximately 104 telephones per 100 persons in 2020 (2020) international: country code - 213; ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca; ORVAL is a submarine cable to Spain; landing points for the TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/SeaMeWe-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; Algeria part of the 4,500 Km terrestrial Trans Sahara Backbone network which connects to other fiber networks in the region; Alcomstat-1 satellite offering  telemedicine network (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: American Samoageneral assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; one of the most complete and modern telecommunications systems in the South Pacific Islands; all inhabited islands have telephone connectivity domestic: nearly 18 per 100 fixed-line teledensity, domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station (2018) international: country code - 1-684; landing points for the ASH, Southern Cross NEXT and Hawaiki  providing connectivity to New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, and SAS connecting American Samoa with Samoa; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Andorrageneral assessment: modern automatic telephone system; broadband Internet and LTE mobile lines for both consumer and enterprise customers available (2019) domestic: about 51 per 100 fixed-line, 114 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Angolageneral assessment: Angola’s telecom sector shows consistent recovery following political stability, encouraging foreign investment; while the government opened the telecom sector to new competitors, there has been slow progress in LTE network development; only a small proportion of the country is covered by the 3G network infrastructure; Internet and mobile phone penetration remains low, hindered by high costs and poor infrastructure that limits access, especially in rural areas; upgrading telecom will support e-commerce, and rural access to education and health care; AngoSat-2 satellite expected to be ready in 2021; government aims to connect an additional 160,000 people to free Wi-Fi; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: only about one fixed-line per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 45 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 244; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29, Angosat-2 satellite expected by 2021 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Anguillageneral assessment: modern internal telephone system with fiber-optic trunk lines; telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized; major growth sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 42 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 182 per 100 persons (2018) international: country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments but the contribution to the sector has been insufficient to offset steep falls in other areas of the market Topic: Antarcticageneral assessment: local systems at some research stations (2019) domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number of locations (2019) international: country code - none allocated; via satellite (including mobile Inmarsat and Iridium systems) to and from all research stations, ships, aircraft, and most field parties Topic: Antigua and Barbudageneral assessment: good automatic telephone system with fiber-optic lines; telecom sector contributes heavily to GDP; numerous mobile network competitors licensed, but small and local; govt. to spend EC80 million in 2019 to improve state-owned telecom market competitiveness; legislative amendments extend jurisdiction of its telecom regulator in Barbuda to include mobile services (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 193 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-268; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Argentinageneral assessment: Argentina has one of the most vigorous mobile markets in Latin America; with additional operators in the market, mobile penetration fell in 2020 as incentives for multiple-SIM card ownership eased; LTE with tests of 5G; government plan to boost fixed broadband coverage nationally and declared TV, cable, and mobile services were essential public services; submarine system linking Sao Paolo and Rio De Janeiro with Buenos Aires is operational; national operator increased investment in Uruguay; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: roughly 16 per 100 fixed-line and 121 per 100 mobile-cellular; microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network (2020) international: country code - 54; landing points for the UNISUR, Bicentenario, Atlantis-2, SAm-1, and SAC, Tannat, Malbec and ARBR submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, South and Central America, and US; satellite earth stations - 112 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Armeniageneral assessment: telecom market struggles to provide an effective national telecom service; country remains dependent on the economic health of  Russian and EU economies; fixed-line penetration falling, driven by growth in mobile and fixed-line broadband; growth of 4G networks and falling prices due to growing competition; fixed broadband is growing but remains low by international comparisons; flat mobile market; strong growth predicted for mobile broadband market; government participating in a project to ensure eventual nationwide 5G network; government approved plans for a new data center built via public-private partnership; communication technologies sectors have attracted foreign investment; top importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: roughly 14 per 100 fixed-line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; reliable fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and in major cities and towns; mobile-cellular coverage available in most rural areas (2020) international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic cable through Georgia and Iran to Europe; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Arubageneral assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system; increased competition through privatization has increased mobile-cellular teledensity; three mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed; MNO (mobile network operator) launched island-wide LTE services; MNP (mobile number portability) introduced (2018) domestic: ongoing changes in regulations and competition improving teledensity; approximately 34 per 100 fixed-line and 135 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018) international: country code - 297; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, and Alonso de Ojeda submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, Puerto Ricco, Jamaica, Guyana, Sint Eustatius & Saba, Suriname, Dominican Republic, BVI, USVI, Haiti, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles,  through Aruba to Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Australiageneral assessment: excellent domestic and international service with comprehensive population coverage through LTE; domestic satellite system; rapid growth of mobile and fixed-wireless broadband services through multi-technology architecture; emphasis on new technologies; diminished fixed-line market due to mobile and mobile broadband; in fixed broadband, shift to fiber networks through infrastructure build out; mobile network operators continue to work towards the launch of 5G; predicted to be one of the top markets driving the growth of 5G and data markets in Asia; fiber backbone to connect with submarine cables; Oman-Australia cable is estimated to be in service by mid-2022; two of Australia's major imports are broadcast equipment and computers from China (2021) domestic: roughly 24 per 100 fixed-line and 108 per 100 mobile-cellular; more subscribers to mobile services than there are people; 90% of all mobile device sales are now smartphones, growth in mobile traffic brisk (2020) international: country code - 61; landing points for more than 20 submarine cables including: the SeaMeWe-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the INDIGO-Central, INDIGO West and ASC, North West Cable System, Australia-Papua New Guinea cable, CSCS, PPC-1, Gondwana-1, SCCN, Hawaiki, TGA, Basslink, Bass Strait-1, Bass Strait-2, JGA-S, with links to other Australian cities, New Zealand and many countries in southeast Asia, US and Europe; the H2 Cable, AJC, Telstra Endeavor, Southern Cross NEXT with links to Japan, Hong Kong, and other Pacific Ocean countries as well as the US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Austriageneral assessment: mature telecom market benefitting from effective competition; government and regulator are focused on improving telecom infrastructure; program to provide a national gigabit service by 2030 based on 5G networks; fixed-line broadband market is dominated by DSL sector, while cable broadband enjoys steady share of connections; fiber penetration remains low pending build out network infrastructure; EU-funded projects develop infrastructure to enable an 'Internet of Services; Vienna is a smart city; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020) domestic: developed and efficient; 42 per 100 fixed-line for households, 174 per 100 for companies; roughly 119 per 100 mobile-cellular; broadband: 138 per 100 on smartphones; roughly 29 per 100 fixed broadband and 107 per 100 mobile broadband (2020) international: country code - 43; earth stations available in the Astra, Intelsat, Eutelsat satellite systems (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Azerbaijangeneral assessment: a landlocked country with historically poor infrastructure; state control of telecom systems; progress with Digital Hub project despite economic contraction in 2020; government launched e-school and e-service programs; risk of delays in infrastructure and launch of new technologies, including 5G due to slow market demand; LTE supports most data traffic while mobile broadband subscribership grows rapidly; fixed-line broadband market has slight upward trend; Internet access is expensive and suffers from outages and intentional government disruption; importer of broadcasting equipment from Russia (2020) domestic: teledensity of some 16 fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity of 102 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan (Nakhchivan) (2020) international: country code - 994; the TAE fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bahamas, Thegeneral assessment: the telecom sector across the Caribbean continues to be a growth area, contributing to the country's overall GDP; totally automatic system; highly developed; operators focus investment on mobile networks; the activation of (mobile number portability) MNP in April 2017, allowing mobile subscribers to port their numbers between competing MNO (mobile network operators) has contributed to the competition and liberalization of the market (2020) domestic: 23 per 100 fixed-line, 109 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-242; landing points for the ARCOS-1, BICS, Bahamas 2-US, and BDSN fiber-optic submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bahraingeneral assessment: Bahrain is one of the most technically advanced and connected countries in the world; NGN for increased mobile and Wi-Fi traffic; mobile infrastructure and fiber-optic Internet allows greater Internet penetration and competitive prices; government provides free Internet in schools and public areas, and national broadband with sole control over network; regulator controlled by monarchy; Internet freedom restricted through blocks; well served by satellite and submarine cable access; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2020) domestic: approximately 16 per 100 fixed-line and 103 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2020) international: country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bangladeshgeneral assessment: Bangladesh’s economic constraints hinder network infrastructure, resulting in the lowest fixed-line penetration rate in South Asia and a very low fixed broadband rate; most consumers utilize mobile broadband for data on LTE networks but rates are still well below that of most other Asian countries; the government approved a modernization project to support investment and prepare for 5G launches; 2020 test of 5G technology in Dhaka; government directive allows IoT for smart buildings and automation industries; government project aims to provide network to services and schools; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 103 telephones per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023; strong local competition (2020) international: country code - 880; landing points for the SeaMeWe-4 and SeaMeWe-5 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Barbadosgeneral assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas and contributors to the overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 45 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 115 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-246; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable with links to 15 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Puerto Ricco; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Belarusgeneral assessment: government owns and administers backbone network and much of telecom market with no independent regulator; government and telecom regulator are concluding three major programs aimed at developing the telecom sector and digital economy to enable 5G services and extension of fiber infrastructure; growing applications for smart cities; developing mobile broadband and data services to rural areas; commercial LTE services extended to 80% of the population; operators provide standalone 5G service and NB-IoT services; international connection through fiber optic and terrestrial link, nascent satellite system; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved, approximately 47 per 100 fixed-line; mobile-cellular teledensity now roughly 124 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 375; Belarus is landlocked and therefore a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations; almost 31,000 base stations in service in 2019 (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Belgiumgeneral assessment: Belgium has a highly developed, technologically advanced telecom system; LTE is nearly universal; ongoing investment in 5G with services to dozens of cities and towns; competition between the DSL and cable platforms with investment in fiber networks; 5G; operators accelerating fiber roll-out program; Brussels Airport collaborating with operator to deploy 5G and IoT solutions; international connections through satellite and submarine cables; importer of broadcast equipment from EU neighbors (2020) domestic: about 31 per 100 fixed-line and 99 per 100 mobile-cellular; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network (2020) international: country code - 32; landing points for Concerto, UK-Belgium, Tangerine, and SeaMeWe-3, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Belizegeneral assessment: Belize’s fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration is lower than average for the region, due to insufficient competition, underinvestment in services, and lax standards; mobile accounts for 90% of all phones; operator aims to provide cheaper prices and customer retention through investment in broadband to over 80% of premises and LTE infrastructure; operator launched safe cities project to fight crime; government distributed tablets to students to promote e-learning; submarine cable to Ambergris Caye enables FttP service in San Pedro; importer of broadcast equipment from the United States (2020) domestic: roughly 5 per 100 fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of 65 per 100 persons; mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 501; landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Beningeneral assessment: Benin’s telecom market is restricted by poor fixed-line infrastructure; low use of fixed-line voice and Internet; mobile networks account for almost all Internet and voice traffic; progress on fiber infrastructure through World Bank and the government investment to extend broadband and develop Smart Government program; monopolized fixed-line Internet services access is limited; ICT development will provide telecom services to 80% of the country, mostly via mobile and DSL infrastructure; Benin Smart City construction has begun; improved international Internet connectivity supports growth of m-commerce and m-banking; submarine cable connectivity from African coast to Europe (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 1 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly, nearing 92 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 229; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC and ACE fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, and most West African countries; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bermudageneral assessment: a good, fully automatic digital telephone system with fiber-optic trunk lines; telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized; telecom sector a growth area across the Caribbean (2020) domestic: the system has a high fixed-line teledensity nearing 35 per 100, coupled with a mobile-cellular teledensity of roughly 103 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-441; landing points for the GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, CBUS, and the CB-1 submarine cables to the Caribbean, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bhutangeneral assessment: Bhutan’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector for voice and data connections due to poor fixed-line infrastructure and topographic issues; investment is focused on mobile infrastructure and an emergency telecom network for natural disasters; extended LTE to 60% of all mobile Internet users; regulator developing 5G plan; international communication through landline and microwave relay; nascent satellite service; importer of broadcast equipment from India  (2021) domestic: approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 97 to 100 mobile cellular; domestic service inadequate, notably in rural areas (2020) international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsBhutan’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector for voice and data connections due to poor fixed-line infrastructure and topographic issues; investment is focused on mobile infrastructure and an emergency telecom network for natural disasters; extended LTE to 60% of all mobile Internet users; regulator developing 5G plan; international communication through landline and microwave relay; nascent satellite service; importer of broadcast equipment from India  Topic: Boliviageneral assessment: with low national GDP and remote landlocked geography, Bolivia’s telecom services are historically expensive and neglected resulting in low penetration; fixed telecom market is provided by non-profit cooperatives focused on improvement of services such as broadband and paid TV services; some operators adopted fixed-wireless technologies and fiber-optic capacity; fixed broadband services migrating from DSL to fiber remain expensive and largely unavailable in many areas; historically relied on satellite services or terrestrial links and inaugurated a new cable running via Peru to the Pacific; operator aims to increase coverage through mobile networks for voice and data access, especially to rural areas; space agency plans to boost satellite-based Internet; in 2020, communications towers in Yapacani were destroyed due to pandemic conspiracy fears; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: 5 per 100 fixed-line, mobile-cellular telephone use expanding rapidly and teledensity stands at 101 per 100 persons; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and other capital cities (2020) international: country code - 591; Bolivia has no direct access to submarine cable networks and must therefore connect to the rest of the world either via satellite or through terrestrial links across neighboring countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentswith low national GDP and remote landlocked geography, Bolivia’s telecom services are historically expensive and neglected resulting in low penetration; fixed telecom market is provided by non-profit cooperatives focused on improvement of services such as broadband and paid TV services; some operators adopted fixed-wireless technologies and fiber-optic capacity; fixed broadband services migrating from DSL to fiber remain expensive and largely unavailable in many areas; historically relied on satellite services or terrestrial links and inaugurated a new cable running via Peru to the Pacific; operator aims to increase coverage through mobile networks for voice and data access, especially to rural areas; space agency plans to boost satellite-based Internet; in 2020, communications towers in Yapacani were destroyed due to pandemic conspiracy fears; importer of broadcasting equipment from China Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinageneral assessment: Bosnia-Herzegovina aims for national LTE coverage through integration with European Union (EU); roaming agreements with EU and Balkan neighbors; fixed-line broadband is underdeveloped, investments in mobile upgrades facilitate broadband connectivity to a greater extent than in Europe; DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity while fiber broadband has a small market presence; operators support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient; LTE services under test licenses; 5G awaits market maturity; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 22 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership stands at 107 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsBosnia-Herzegovina aims for national LTE coverage through integration with European Union (EU); roaming agreements with EU and Balkan neighbors; fixed-line broadband is underdeveloped, investments in mobile upgrades facilitate broadband connectivity to a greater extent than in Europe; DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity while fiber broadband has a small market presence; operators support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient; LTE services under test licenses; 5G awaits market maturity; importer of broadcasting equipment from China Topic: Botswanageneral assessment: due to effective regulatory reform and active competition, Botswana’s telecom market is one of the most liberalized in the region; strategy to drive nationwide ICT penetration is slowed; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; operators developing 3G and LTE; Internet use rising due to lower prices; government has embraced digitalization, e-government and identity programs that require citizens to provide detailed personal information; previously dependent on satellites for international connectivity, country’s new submarine cable landings improved competition and tripled international Internet capacity; importer of broadcast equipment from Hong Kong and China (2020) (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 6 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 162 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsdue to effective regulatory reform and active competition, Botswana’s telecom market is one of the most liberalized in the region; strategy to drive nationwide ICT penetration is slowed; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in Africa; operators developing 3G and LTE; Internet use rising due to lower prices; government has embraced digitalization, e-government and identity programs that require citizens to provide detailed personal information; previously dependent on satellites for international connectivity, country’s new submarine cable landings improved competition and tripled international Internet capacity; importer of broadcast equipment from Hong Kong and China (2020) Topic: Brazilgeneral assessment: Brazil is one of the largest mobile and broadband markets in Latin America with healthy competition and pricing; 5G launched on limited basis; countrywide network spectrum auction held in November 2021; large fixed-line broadband market with focus on fiber; landing point for submarine cables and investment into terrestrial fiber cables to neighboring countries; Internet penetration has increased, access varies along geographic and socio-economic lines; government provides free WiFi in urban public spaces; pioneer in the region for M-commerce; major importer of integrated circuits from South Korea and China, and broadcasting equipment from China   (2021) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at roughly 14 per 100 persons; less-expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major impetus broadening telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 97 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments  Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorygeneral assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available (2018) domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet (2018) international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides direct connectivity to Africa, Asia and near-by Indian Ocean island countries; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2019) Topic: British Virgin Islandsgeneral assessment: good overall telephone service; major expansion sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments, which continue to appeal to operator investment; several operators licensed to provide services within individual markets, most of them are small and localized; telecommunication contributes to overall GDP (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections exceed 24 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 116 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bruneigeneral assessment: Brunei is improving its national telecom network; telecommunications infrastructure and services are of high standard, due to healthy investment in networks and services; relatively mature telecom system compared to other Asian countries; mobile subscription increasing steadily to high penetration; launch of 5G pilot services in April 2021 aimed to increase awareness of the benefits of 5G and boost the mobile broadband sector; access to telecom services via the Kacific-1 satellite (2021) domestic: every service available; nearly 24 per 100 fixed-line, 120 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Bulgariageneral assessment: Bulgaria’s telecoms sector benefited from adaptation of EU regulatory measures and privatization; population is moving to fiber over DSL for broadband connection; investment towards rural areas; migration from fixed-line voice to mobile and VoIP; private networks pursuing upgrades and development of services based on 5G; broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys cross-platform competition; operators deploy NB-IoT platform in several cities and released smart platform for utilities; government launched e-learning platform to help students continue their studies during lockdown (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 12 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 114 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsBulgaria’s telecoms sector benefited from adaptation of EU regulatory measures and privatization; population is moving to fiber over DSL for broadband connection; investment towards rural areas; migration from fixed-line voice to mobile and VoIP; private networks pursuing upgrades and development of services based on 5G; broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys cross-platform competition; operators deploy NB-IoT platform in several cities and released smart platform for utilities; government launched e-learning platform to help students continue their studies during lockdown (2021) Topic: Burkina Fasogeneral assessment: Burkina Faso’s telecom services are some of the most expensive in the world, hindered by regulatory procedures, insufficient mobile spectrum, poor fixed-line networks; mobile telephony but below African average; Internet is provided by mobile operators; Internet penetration is low and expensive, despite improved international bandwidth via fiber links through submarine cables to adjacent countries; increased telecom tax; government infrastructure project largely completed; parliament launched inquiry on mobile network infrastructure coverage, pricing of services, and quality of service; government began computer subsidy program for university students; government progressed with large project to provide metropolitan fiber-optic infrastructure (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage nearly 106 per 100, with multiple providers there is competition and the hope for growth from a low base; Internet penetration is 16% (2020) international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Burmageneral assessment: Burma, one of the least developed telecom markets in Asia, saw growth in mobile and broadband services through foreign competition and roll out of 4G and 5G networks; infrastructure development challenged by flooding, unreliable electricity, inefficient bureaucracy, and corruption; digital divide affects rural areas; fixed broadband remains low due to number of fixed-lines and near saturation of the mobile platform; healthy m-banking platform; tests for NB-IoT; benefit from launch of regional satellite; government utilizes intermittent censorship and shut-down of Internet in political crisis; top importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line is just under 1 per 100, while mobile-cellular is roughly 90 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 95; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, SeaMeWe-5, AAE-1 and Singapore-Myanmar optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and ShinSat (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Burundigeneral assessment: Burundi’s high population density and low telecom penetration rates make it an attractive market for investors; mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE to meet the demand for Internet; mobile subscription remains low; government/World Bank joint project to build a national broadband backbone connecting to submarine cable landings in Kenya and Tanzania; government launched e-health project (2020) domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is about 56 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); the government, supported by the Word Bank, has backed a joint venture with a number of prominent telecoms to build a national fiber backbone network, offering onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cabo Verdegeneral assessment: LTE reaches almost 40% of the population; regulator awards commercial 4G licenses and starts 5G pilot; govt. extends USD 25 million for submarine fiber-optic cable project linking Africa to Portugal and Brazil; major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT) (2020) domestic: a little over 10 per 100 fixed-line teledensity and nearly 98 per 100 mobile-cellular; fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched early in the decade (2020) international: country code - 238; landing points for the Atlantis-2, EllaLink, Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1, 2, 3 and WACS fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Africa, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cambodiageneral assessment: Cambodia’s telecom infrastructure struggles with poor infrastructure and power outages; improvement through competition and foreign investment; fixed-line and fixed/mobile broadband penetration is still low compared to other Asian nations; government and operators preparing for 5G services through Huawei’s infrastructure that will drive mobile broadband through faster speeds; online Internet content subject to government restrictions (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by competition among service providers, is about 130 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 855; landing points for MCT and AAE-1 via submarine cables providing communication to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cameroongeneral assessment: Cameroon’s 3G and LTE services are improving through growing competition and a government program to improve national connectivity and support digital economy; saturated use of transactions through m-commerce; developing broadband sector; improved submarine and terrestrial cable connectivity strengthened international bandwidth and lowered prices; pushing start of fiber link to Congo; fiber rollout continues with new government funding; operators opened new data center in 2020 and developed contracts for satellite broadband; government awarded contract to provide connectivity to universities (2020) domestic: only a little above 3 per 100 persons for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular usage has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of roughly 95 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Canadageneral assessment: Canada has highly developed, technologically advanced telecom services; LTE and broadband are nearly universal; competition between the DSL and cable platforms with investment in fiber networks; regulatory efforts ensure operators have spectrum available to develop 5G services; policy to improve service speeds and enable digital economy and e-services; operator’s 5G network facilitates smart-city vehicle and pedestrian traffic; high value in e-commerce transactions; international connections through submarine, terrestrial, and satellite systems; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: Nearly 37 per 100 fixed-line and 96 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity; domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations (2020) international: country code - 1; landing points for the Nunavut Undersea Fiber Optic Network System, Greenland Connect, Persona, GTT Atlantic, and Express, KetchCan 1 Submarine Fiber Cable system, St Pierre and Miquelon Cable submarine cables providing links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cayman Islandsgeneral assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competition in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2017) domestic: introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions; nearly 55 per 100 fixed-line and 153 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Central African Republicgeneral assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018) domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached nearly 34 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2019) international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Chadgeneral assessment: Chad’s inadequate telecom infrastructure, corruption, and high taxes hinder penetration in fixed, mobile, and Internet sectors; with tax reform, operators are investing in voice and data infrastructure to 3G/4G; government approved telecom infrastructure upgrade; World Bank-funded Central African Backbone (CAB) project; Trans-Saharan Backbone project will link a fiber cable to Nigeria and Algeria (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership base of about 53 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Chilegeneral assessment: Chile’s telecom systems are highly competitive and rapidly evolving; mobile penetration rate is among the highest in South America; deployment of 5G networks expected; fixed broadband penetration is high for region, with fast and inexpensive services; government initiatives provide high-capacity connectivity across the country and increase fixed-line broadband penetration; progress with national satellite system; schools received free broadband as part of the ‘Connectivity for Education 2030’ program; submarine cable project to link Chile with New Zealand and Australia; importer of broadcasting equipment from USA (2020) domestic: number of fixed-line connections have dropped to about 13 per 100 in recent years as mobile-cellular usage continues to increase, reaching 131 telephones per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations (2020) international: country code - 56; landing points for the Pan-Am, Prat, SAm-1, American Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable, FOS Quellon-Chacabuco, Fibra Optical Austral, SAC and Curie submarine cables providing links to the US, Caribbean and to Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Chinageneral assessment: China has the largest Internet market in the world with almost all subscribers accessing Internet through mobile devices; market is driven through government-allied investment; fast-developing data center market; government aims to provide universal and affordable broadband coverage through market competition and private investment in state-controlled enterprises; 3G and LTE subscribers will migrate to 5G aiming for 2 million 5G base stations by the end of 2022; government strengthens IoT policies to boost economic growth; China is pushing development of smart cities beyond Beijing; Beijing residents carry virtual card integrating identity, social security, health, and education documents; government controls gateways to global Internet through censorship, surveillance, and shut-downs; major exporter of broadcasting equipment world-wide (2022) domestic: nearly 13 per 100 fixed line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; a domestic satellite system with several earth stations has been in place since 2018 (2020) international: country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019) Topic: Christmas Islandgeneral assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsgeneral assessment: telephone service is part of the Australian network; an operational local mobile-cellular network available; wireless Internet connectivity available domestic: local area code - 08 international: international code - 61 8; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) Topic: Colombiageneral assessment: Colombia’s telecom infrastructure has improved through a government program of competition to upgrade services based on LTE and 4G, focusing on infrastructure in small urban centers and rural areas; national ICT Plan increased broadband and fiber connectivity; operators are testing 5G through unallocated spectrum pilots and have completed 20k terrestrial cable connecting 80% of the country; benefit due to access to commercial submarine cable (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is 133 per 100 persons; Partners Telecom Colombia's (WOM) market entrance in June 2021 increased competition among cellular service providers and is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations (2021) international: country code - 57; landing points for the SAC, Maya-1, SAIT, ACROS, AMX-1, CFX-1, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, Globe Net, PAN-AM, SAm-1 submarine cable systems providing links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation slowed with 5G auction delayed to 2023; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Comorosgeneral assessment: Qatar launched a special program for the construction of a wireless network to inter connect the 3 islands of the archipelago; telephone service limited to the islands' few towns (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage about 54 per 100 persons; 2 companies provide domestic and international mobile service and wireless data (2020) international: country code - 269; landing point for the EASSy, Comoros Domestic Cable System, Avassa, and FLY-LION3 fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting East Africa with Europe; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thegeneral assessment: due to decades of conflict and poor infrastructure, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s telecom system is one of the least developed in the region; government aims to improve loose regulation through legislation; mobile networks are principal providers of telecom; LTE is geographically limited; investment from China and other foreign donors for fiber backbone; international bandwidth through WACS submarine cable; operator licensed to build landing station for submarine cable and tower upgrade that will provide competition in broadband, fixed, and mobile Internet services; operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2020) domestic: inadequate fixed-line infrastructure with fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriptions over 45 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 243; ACE and WACS submarine cables to West and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Congo, Republic of thegeneral assessment: suffering from economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty; primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; youth are seeking the Internet more than their parents and often gain access through cyber cafes; only the most affluent have Internet access in their homes; operator has plans to upgrade national broadband through fiber link to WACS landing station at Pointe-Noire with connections to Angola and DRC; fiber network project with aims to connect north and south regions; DRC operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2020) domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to nearly 99 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cook Islandsgeneral assessment: demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region; Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, and fax; individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone (2020) domestic: service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; nearly 38 per 100 fixed-line and about 83 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 682; the Manatua submarine cable to surrounding islands of Niue, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Cook Islands, the topography of the South Pacific region has made Internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fiber-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Costa Ricageneral assessment: Costa Rica has broad telecom coverage though geographical distribution of digital service is unequal; recent regulator liberalization spurred expansion in all sectors; broadband market is the most advanced and highest penetration in Central America yet lags behind many South American countries; operators investing in NGN technology; number portability and cheaper broadband costs will increase competition; government aims to subsidize tele-health and e-learning (2018) domestic: roughly 11 per 100 fixed-line and 148 per 100 mobile-cellular; point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available (2020) international: country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cote d'Ivoiregeneral assessment: Côte d'Ivoire telecom systems continue to benefit from strong economic growth; fixed-line, Internet, and broadband sectors remain underdeveloped; mobile sector is strong; progress in national backbone network and connection to submarine cable that will increase Internet bandwidth; country is poised to develop broadband market and digital economy; government further tightened SIM card registration rules (2020) domestic: 1 per 100 fixed-line teledensity; with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market, mobile subscriptions have increased to 152 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE, MainOne, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Croatiageneral assessment: Croatia’s telecom market improved through partnership with the EU in 2013, opening a competitive market in mobile and broadband and conducive regulatory environment; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the Balkans, covering most remote areas; local lines are digital; international operator investment provides relatively high broadband penetration; tests for 5G technologies in 2020 (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity has dropped somewhat to about 32 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions are about 107 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 385;  the ADRIA-1 submarine cable provides connectivity to Albania and Greece; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic project, which consists of 2 fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cubageneral assessment: internet availability has increased substantially over the past few years, but only about 64 percent of Cubans have Internet access, and even fewer Cubans--about 60 percent of the population--have access to cell phone service; in 2021 the Cuban Government passed a decree that strengthened its authority to censor Internet and telephonic communications; state control of the telecom sector hinders development; Cuba has the lowest mobile phone and Internet penetration rates in the region; fixed-line density is also very low; thaw of US-Cuba relations encouraged access to services, such as Wi-Fi hotspots; access to sites is controlled and censored; DSL and Internet are available in Havana, though costs are too high for most Cubans; international investment and agreement to improve Internet access through cost-free and direct connection between networks (2021) domestic: fixed-line density remains low at a little over 13 per 100 inhabitants; mobile-cellular service has expanded to about 59 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Curacaogeneral assessment: fully automatic modern telecommunications system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region continues to be one of the growth areas; given the lack of economic diversity in the region, with a high dependence on tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services the telecom sector contributes greatly to the GDP (2020) domestic: roughly 33 per 100 users for fixed-line and 113 per 100 users for cellular-mobile, majority of the islanders have Internet; market revenue has been affected in recent quarters as a result of competition and regulatory measures on termination rates and roaming tariffs (2019) international: country code - +599, PCCS submarine cable system to US, Caribbean and Central and South America (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Cyprusgeneral assessment: despite the growth of Cyprus's telecom sector, the market is dominated by its state-owned operator; one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the region; DSL remains the dominant access platform as broadband is restricted to a few towns; fixed-line and mobile cable infrastructure available for more than half of premises; fiber infrastructure in development; improved regulations provide confidence for investment in network infrastructure and competing services; operator expanded FttP services and initiated cable connection to France and Egypt; operator signed vendor agreement with international investor, Huawei, to develop 5G; operators extended LTE services and upgraded transmission capacity on TE-North Cable System (2020) domestic: fixed-line about 35 per 100 and about 139 per 100 for mobile-cellular teledensity; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2020) international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Czechiageneral assessment: Czechia has a sophisticated telecom market with a developed telephone and Internet service attracting European investment; mobile sector showing steady growth through regulatory support for competition; licensees expanding reach of 5G and LTE networks; mobile penetration among the highest in the EU; operators extended fiber to an additional 143 rural zones in 2020 and commit to extending fiber to one million premises by 2027; its top import is broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: roughly 12 fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants and mobile telephone usage of about 121 per 100 inhabitants (2020) international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Denmarkgeneral assessment: Denmark has one of the highest broadband penetration rates globally, with near universal availability of superfast connections; progressive regulator encouraged upgrades to cable and DSL infrastructure; fast growing fiber networks with aim for nation-wide build-out; comprehensive LTE with 90% coverage of 5G; operator expands NB-IoT across its LTE network; survey underway for cable connecting Denmark to Norway; upgrades to submarine cable connection to North America; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 16 per 100 and about 123 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 & 6, Skagenfiber West & East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 & 2 & 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 & 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 & 16 & 17 & 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Djiboutigeneral assessment: Djibouti has a poor domestic infrastructure and a monopolized telecom system relying on microwave radio relay; rural areas connected via wireless local loop; mobile coverage limited to Djibouti city; despite challenges, foreign investment lends progress toward improvements; one of the best international fiber cables in the region, the Djibouti Internet Exchange, is a meeting point for cable systems passing between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; national operator managed the Australia West Cable landing and signed an agreement for IP traffic through Paris and Marseille; international operator signed MoU for extension of cable from the Gulf to Djibouti (2020) domestic: about 4 per 100 fixed-line teledensity and nearly 44 per 100 mobile-cellular; Djibouti Telecom (DT) is the sole provider of telecommunications services and utilizes mostly a microwave radio relay network; fiber-optic cable is installed in the capital; rural areas connected via wireless local loop radio systems; mobile cellular coverage is primarily limited to the area in and around Djibouti city (2020) international: country code - 253; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, EASSy, Aden-Djibouti, Africa-1, DARE-1, EIG, MENA, Bridge International, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems providing links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean and 1 Arabsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Dominicageneral assessment: fully automatic network; there are multiple competing operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections continue to decline slowly with only two active operators providing about 4 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 105 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Dominican Republicgeneral assessment: the Dominican Republic’s fixed-line tele-density is well below the Latin American average due to lack of infrastructure; distribution of telephony services is proportionate to income inequalities; small, localized operators provide services; telecom and mobile broadband growing with LTE available to most of the population; government program aims for universal access to broadband services, and development of a national backbone; 5G launch anticipated in 2021 (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 11 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of nearly 83 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Ecuadorgeneral assessment: Ecuador’s remote and mountainous geography lends challenges to tele-density; government-owned provider to improve fixed-line and LTE infrastructure, with emphasis on fiber expansion from urban to rural areas and installation of a 5G network; small telecom market dominated by the non-competitive mobile sector; inadequate fixed-line infrastructure and slowed fixed-line broadband services (2020). (2020) domestic: according to 2021 statistics from the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50 percent of Ecuadorian homes do not have access to fixed internet.  Ecuador’s telecoms regulator, ARCOTEL is currently evaluating and reorganizing the 3.5GHz, 2.5 GHz, 700 MHz and AWS spectrum for future government tenders.  2G/3G technologies have a 91.11 percent of penetration and 4G technologies has 60.74 percent (2021). (2021) international: country code - 593; landing points for the SPSC (Mistral Submarine Cable), Panamerican Cable System (PAN-AM), Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS), America Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable and SAm-1 submarine (SAm-1) cables that provide links to South and Central America, and extending onward to the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) Topic: Egyptgeneral assessment: with a large urbanized population and effective competition, Egypt has one of the largest fixed-line and mobile telecom markets in North Africa; investment has spurred broadband infrastructure and migration to digital economy; operator has ambitions for satellite/smart infrastructure based on 5G and fiber networks; Egypt’s geographical position enabled inexpensive bandwidth through fiber and cable connection to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; rural Internet connections continue to suffer from poor quality and low speeds; government disrupted service during political crises (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 10 per 100, mobile-cellular 93 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 20; landing points for Aletar, Africa-1, FEA, Hawk, IMEWE, and the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4 submarine cable networks linking to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: El Salvadorgeneral assessment: El Salvador’s telecom sector is challenged by low population, poor infrastructure, and unequal income distribution compounded by corruption and criminal influence; liberal regulation promotes mobile penetration in replacement of fixed-line density; operators testing 5G in 2020 (2020) domestic: fixed-line services, roughly 14 per 100, has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition now at 161 subscribers per 100 inhabitants (2019) international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Equatorial Guineageneral assessment: Equatorial Guinea’s climate for operator competition boosted mobile subscribership; broadband services are limited and expensive; submarine cable supported broadband and reliability of infrastructure; government backbone network will connect administrative centers; regional roaming agreement in process (2018) domestic: fixed-line density is less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 45 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Eritreageneral assessment: least developed telecommunications market in Africa, largely due to restrictions of state-owned telecom monopoly; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; cell phone use is limited by government control of SIM card issuance; low penetration of computer use and Internet; market ripe for competition and investment; direct phone service between Eritrea and Ethiopia restored in September 2018; government operator working on roll-out of 3G network (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is just over 20 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 291 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Estoniageneral assessment: greatly improved telecom service through a range of regulatory measures, competition, and foreign investment, leading to high-quality voice, data, and Internet services; one of the most advanced mobile markets and highest broadband penetration rates in Europe; government commits 20 million euro to rural broadband program; operators supporting LTE infrastructure and launch of smart services; 5G services in major cities; government provides Internet to schools and libraries (2020) domestic: just under 23 per 100 for fixed-line subscribership and approximately 145 per 100 for mobile-cellular; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income tax returns online, and online voting - in local and parliamentary elections - has climbed steadily since first being introduced in 2005; a large percent of Estonian households have broadband access (2020) international: country code - 372; landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Eswatinigeneral assessment: earlier government monopoly in telecom market hindered growth; liberalized regulators aided expansion in the telecom sector; lack of fixed-line infrastructure and competition stymies development of DSL and backbone network; 2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE services with coverage to most of the population; landlocked country depends on neighbors for international bandwidth; operator completed terrestrial cable linking Maputo through Eswatini to Johannesburg; importer of broadcasting equipment from South Africa (2019) domestic: Eswatini has 2 mobile-cellular providers; communication infrastructure has a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscriber base; fixed-line stands at nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 94 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay (2019) international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Ethiopiageneral assessment: telecom market challenged by political factionalism and reorganization of ruling party; despite some gains in access, Ethiopia remains one of the least-connected countries in the world; state-owned telecom held a monopoly over services until 2019 when government approved legislation and opened the market to competition and foreign investment; new expansion of LTE services; government reduced tariffs leading to increases in data and voice traffic; government launched mobile app as part of e-government initiative to build smart city; Huawei provides infrastructure to government operator and built data center in Addis Ababa; government disrupted service during political crises; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions at about 1 per 100 while mobile-cellular stands at a little over 37 per 100; the number of mobile telephones is increasing steadily (2019) international: country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; 2 domestic satellites provide the national trunk service; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) (2016) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: European Unionnote - see individual country entries of member states Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)general assessment: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands domestic: fixed-line subscriptions approximately 65 per 100, 163 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries (2015) Topic: Faroe Islandsgeneral assessment: good international and domestic communications; telecommunications network of high standards with excellent coverage throughout most parts of the country and at competitive prices (2020) domestic: roughly 31 per 100 teledensity for fixed-line and nearly 121 per 100 for mobile-cellular; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed (2020) international: country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Fijigeneral assessment: Fiji has a relatively sophisticated communications infrastructure with the highest mobile and Internet penetration in the Pacific Islands; aggressively developing LTE and 5G, though the pandemic negatively affected the economy, largely reliant on tourism; population is spread across more than 100 islands, yet most live on two main islands, with communications based on link by a submarine cable system; cables provide a secure link during natural disasters, protecting telecom connectivity; provider plans to expand fiber infrastructure to remote islands (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 9 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 118 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 679; landing points for the ICN1, SCCN, Southern Cross NEXT, Tonga Cable and Tui-Samoa submarine cable links to US, NZ, Australia and Pacific islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Fallis & Futuna, and American Samoa; satellite earth stations - 2 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Finlandgeneral assessment: Finland’s telecom market is among most progressive in Europe through favorable regulatory action and competitive technological innovation; orientation towards high technology, research, and development with high investment in information and communication sectors; large proportion of population on 5G and most on LTE; high broadband and mobile penetration; fixed-voice density falling; government provided universal 5Mb/s broadband (2020) domestic: fixed-line 4 per 100 subscriptions and nearly 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Francegeneral assessment: one of the largest mobile phone markets in Europe; LTE has universal coverage with extensive 5G; one of the largest broadband subscriber bases in Europe; regional government and telecom companies have invested in higher bandwidth with fiber infrastructure improvements, an investment of more than 20 billion euros; operator investment in developing markets, and on the greater use of artificial intelligence and data; satellite broadband connectivity across France; Paris adopted smart city technology; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: nearly 58 per 100 persons for fixed-line and over 111 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 33; landing points for Circe South, TAT-14, INGRID, FLAG Atlantic-1, Apollo, HUGO, IFC-1, ACE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4, Dunant, Africa-1, AAE-1, Atlas Offshore, Hawk, IMEWE, Med Cable, PEACE Cable, and TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries (2019) overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; landing points for Ella Link, Kanawa, Americas II to South America, Europe, Caribbean and US; Guadeloupe - 590; landing points for GCN, Southern Caribbean Fiber, and ECFS around the Caribbean and US; Martinique - 596; landing points for Americas II, ECFS, and Southern Caribbean Fiber to South America, US and around the Caribbean;  Mayotte - 262; landing points for FLY-LION3 and LION2 to East Africa and East African Islands in Indian Ocean; Reunion - 262; landing points for SAFE, METISS, and LION submarine cables to Asia, South and East Africa, Southeast Asia and nearby Indian Ocean Island countries of Mauritius, and Madagascar (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: French Polynesiageneral assessment: French Polynesia has one of the most advanced telecom infrastructures in the Pacific islands; high penetration of mobile broadband coverage; almost half of mobile connections on 3G, growing subscribership to 4G LTE; universal mobile penetration; host of uplink systems for the Galileo satellite network, creating hub for communications in the region and vastly improving international connectivity; submarine cable connections increase international bandwidth; additional domestic submarine cable will connect remote islands (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 22 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular density is roughly 104 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 689; landing points for the NATITUA, Manatua, and Honotua submarine cables to other French Polynesian Islands, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Gabongeneral assessment: politically stable and oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa; liberalized and competitive market led development of mobile broadband, data service, and tests of 5G; fixed-line sector underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone; sufficient international bandwidth through submarine cable systems; government committed to backbone infrastructure and e-health services; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020) domestic: fixed-line is a little over 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at nearly 139 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Gambia, Thegeneral assessment: state-owned telecom partially privatized but retains a monopoly with fixed-line service; multiple mobile networks provide 2G to almost all citizens and above the African average; high poverty rates continue to limit access to the Internet, especially via fixed-line services in rural areas; weak political support for development of communications infrastructure, including National Broadband Network program; government depends on donors and loans from China and Islamic Development banks; two submarine cables provide international connectivity within African continent and Europe (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 2 per 100 with one dominant company and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 111 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Gaza Stripgeneral assessment: Israel has final say in allocating frequencies in the Gaza Strip and does not permit anything beyond a 2G network (2018) domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services; a slow 2G network allows calls and limited data transmission; fixed-line 9 per 100 and mobile-cellular 76 per 100 (includes West Bank) international: country code 970 or 972 (2018) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Georgiageneral assessment: despite economic challenges, the telecom market is one of Georgia's fastest growth sectors; LTE services cover the majority of citizens; regulators have strategy to introduce 5G; fixed-line telecommunications network has limited coverage outside Tbilisi; multiple mobile-cellular providers provide services to an increasing subscribership throughout the country; broadband subscribers steadily increasing; with investment in infrastructure, customers are moving from copper to fiber networks (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions over 9 per 100, cellular telephone networks cover the entire country; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 128 per 100 persons; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi (2020) international: country code - 995; landing points for the Georgia-Russia, Diamond Link Global, and Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Russia, Romania and Bulgaria; international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Germanygeneral assessment: one of the world's most technologically advanced telecom systems with additional security measures; LTE universally available and 5G service to over 80% of population; mobile market is driven by data, with increased broadband subscribership; regulatory measures aimed at facilitating wholesale network access to provide fiber-based broadband services; government aims to provide smart technology solutions; over 60 cities use smart technology in urban development, many through joint initiative with private sector, utility companies, and universities; importer of broadcast equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; approximately 46 per 100 for fixed-line and 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 49; landing points for SeaMeWe-3, TAT-14, AC-1, CONTACT-3, Fehmarn Balt, C-Lion1, GC1, GlobalConnect-KPN, and Germany-Denmark 2 & 3 - submarine cables to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Ghanageneral assessment: challenged by unreliable electricity and shortage of skilled labor, Ghana seeks to extend telecom services nationally; investment in fiber infrastructure and off-grid solutions provide data coverage to over 23 million people; launch of LTE has improved mobile data services, including m-commerce and banking; moderately competitive Internet market, most through mobile networks; international submarine cables, and terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity  (2020) domestic: fixed-line data about 1 per 100 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a voice subscribership of more than 130 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 233; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, MainOne, ACE, WACS and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South and West Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; GhanaSat-1 nanosatellite launched in 2017 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Gibraltargeneral assessment: Gibraltar’s population is urban based, served by a digital telephone exchange supported by a fiber optic and copper infrastructure; near universal mobile and Internet use (2019) domestic: automatic exchange facilities; over 50 per 100 fixed-line and 120 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) Topic: Greecegeneral assessment: telecom market is susceptible to country’s volatile economy, but renewed confidence has been renewed through foreign and European Commission investment; increasing urban population with well-developed mobile market; growing adoption of IoT technology; steady development of broadband; investment in LTE and launch of 5G; government project for ultra-fast broadband, largely funded by European Commission with focus on underserved areas (2020) domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands; nearly 46 per 100 subscribers for fixed-line and 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia;  tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Greenlandgeneral assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; the fundamental telecommunications infrastructure consists of a digital radio link from Nanortalik in south Greenland to Uummannaq in north Greenland; satellites cover north and east Greenland for domestic and foreign telecommunications; a marine cable connects south and west Greenland to the rest of the world, extending from Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Canada and Iceland (2018) domestic: nearly 13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 109 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Grenadageneral assessment: adequate, island-wide telephone system; lack of local competition, but telecoms are a high contributors to overall GDP; growth sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments (2020) domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links; 29 per 100 for fixed-line and 102 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-473; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and CARCIP submarine cables with links to 13 Caribbean islands extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago including Puerto Rico and Barbados; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guamgeneral assessment: integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers (2020) domestic: three major companies provide both fixed-line and mobile services, as well as access to the Internet; fixed-line subscriptions in 2018 were 42 per 100 and 62 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions in 2004 (2019) international: country code - 1-671; major landing points for Atisa, HANTRU1, HK-G, JGA-N, JGA-S, PIPE-1, SEA-US, SxS, Tata TGN-Pacific, AJC, GOKI, AAG, AJC and Mariana-Guam Cable submarine cables between Asia, Australia, and the US (Guam is a transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guatemalageneral assessment: due to years of underinvestment in infrastructure, has one of the lowest fixed-line tele densities in the region; rural areas rely on mobile services with little access to fixed-line access; mobile tele-density on par with region and is the most developed sector, with near universal phone connections; private investment to bring free Internet to parks; two submarine cables due for completion will support growth in fixed and mobile broadband (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 13 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are concentrating on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity about 114 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 502; landing points for the ARCOS, AMX-1, American Movil-Texius West Coast Cable and the SAm-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that, together, provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guernseygeneral assessment: high performance global connections with quality service; connections to major cities around the world to rival and attract future investment and future needs of islanders and businesses (2018) domestic: fixed-line 54 per 100 and mobile-cellular 114 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guineageneral assessment: Guinea’s mobile subscribership growing through investment of South African telecom operators and Chinese Huawei management; m-transactions supported commerce; broadband still limited and expensive though submarine cable and IXP improved reliability of infrastructure; 4G Wi-Fi in the capital; National Backbone Network will connect regional administrative centers; ECOWAS countries to launch free roaming; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is just over 100 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guinea-Bissaugeneral assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the country's telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is just over 97 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 245; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea-Bissau with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Guyanageneral assessment: revenues gained from newly tapped off-shore oil reserves may provide a boost of Guyana’s infrastructure, including upgrade of aging telecom systems to LTE and fiber broadband; competition in mobile services but monopoly in fixed-line; submarine cable improved broadband availability but service is still slow and expensive; second cable will improve delivery and pricing; government promotes ICT for e-government, e-health, and tele-education, and connection to remote locations (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 18 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 83 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 592; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable to Suriname, and the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Haitigeneral assessment: plagued by political and economic turmoil complicated by natural disasters, Haiti’s telecommunications infrastructure is among the least-developed in the world; it relies on satellite and wireless mobile technology due to poor fixed-line infrastructure; investment boosted broadband availability though customer base is poor and theft of equipment remains problematic; promotion of LTE will enable access to remote areas and e-money services; World Bank grant to provide digital preparation and response for any future crises (2020) domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular telephone services have expanded greatly in the last decade due to low-cost GSM (Global Systems for Mobile) phones and pay-as-you-go plans; mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 61 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 509; landing points for the BDSNi and Fibralink submarine cables to 14 points in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)general assessment: automatic digital exchange (2018) domestic: connected via fiber-optic cable to Telecom Italia network (2018) international: country code - 39; uses Italian system note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated Topic: Hondurasgeneral assessment: among the poorest countries in Central America, Honduras has a neglected telecom sector complicated by political stalemate and geographic challenges; mobile subscribership is growing; DSL and cable Internet available in urban areas but expensive; government proposed ICT master plan to boost e-government and business, including free Internet to households; US based network ready to deploy 5G (2020) domestic: private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a fixed-line teledensity of slightly over 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 70 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 504; landing points for both the ARCOS and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable systems that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsamong the poorest countries in Central America, Honduras has a neglected telecom sector complicated by political stalemate and geographic challenges; mobile subscribership is growing; DSL and cable Internet available in urban areas but expensive; government proposed ICT master plan to boost e-government and business, including free Internet to households; US based network ready to deploy 5G Topic: Hong Konggeneral assessment: excellent domestic and international services; some of the highest peak average broadband speeds and penetration rates in the world; HK government helps subsidize 5G projects and aims to be among earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology; almost all households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity through fiber; high mobile subscribership reflects tourism and multiple-device culture; government has organized the development of smart city and digital economy to encourage social inclusion and economic development, including health care, education, and utilities; US prevented use of Pacific Light submarine cable network due to security issues (2020) domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network; fixed-line is over 52 per 100 and mobile-cellular is nearly 292 subscriptions per 100 (2020) international: country code - 852; landing points for the AAE-1, AAG, APCN-2, APG, ASE, FEA, FNAL, RNAL, H2HE, SeaMeWe-3, SJC and TGN-IA submarine cables that provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Hungarygeneral assessment: Hungary benefits from a well-developed telecom infrastructure, with adoption of 5G and upgrade of fixed networks to 1Gb/s service; fixed-line subscribership fell as subscribers migrated to mobile for voice and data; effective infrastructure-based competition, with an extensive cable network competing against DSL and expanding fiber sector; high mobile penetration and highest fixed broadband penetration rate in Eastern Europe; government supports private partnership in smart agriculture applications; as part of EU, fully liberalized and open to investment; broadcasting equipment is one of the country’s top five imports, plus mobile phones, from China (2020) domestic: competition among mobile-cellular service providers has led to a sharp increase in the use of mobile-cellular phones, and a decrease in the number of fixed-line connections, with just under 31 fixed per 100 persons and 107 mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 (2020) international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 (very small aperture terminal) VSAT system of ground terminals note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Icelandgeneral assessment: small but most progressive telecom market in Europe; telecom infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network; near universal fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s by the end of 2021; operator aims for national 5G coverage by end of 2022; good competition among mobile and broadband markets; investment by operators and government in support of NGN, particularly in rural areas; submarine cable to Ireland; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020) domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market; roughly 31 per 100 for fixed line and nearing 124 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Indiageneral assessment: supported by deregulation, India is one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE; fixed-line/broadband underdeveloped; government investment in national infrastructure; project aims to connect 600,000 villages to broadband networks; expansive foreign investment; imports of integrated circuits and broadcast equipment from China; steps taken towards a 5G auction and tests; submarine cable linking mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; smart cities mission to promote 100 model cities in providing core infrastructure, sustainable environment, and quality of life through economic growth and competition, including focus on social, economic, and institutional pillars (2022) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions stands at roughly 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular at nearly 84 per 100; mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles, each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 (very small aperture terminals) VSAT (2022) international: country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FALCON, FEA, GBICS, MENA, IMEWE, SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia, SAFE, WARF, Bharat Lanka Cable System, IOX, Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Island Cable, SAEx2, Tata TGN-Tata Indicom and i2icn that provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South East Asia, numerous Indian Ocean islands including Australia ; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; Indian Ocean region (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentssupported by deregulation, India is one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE; fixed-line/broadband underdeveloped; government investment in national infrastructure; project aims to connect 600,000 villages to broadband networks; expansive foreign investment; imports of integrated circuits and broadcast equipment from China; steps taken towards a 5G auction and tests; submarine cable linking mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; smart cities mission to promote 100 model cities in providing core infrastructure, sustainable environment, and quality of life through economic growth and competition, including focus on social, economic, and institutional pillars Topic: Indonesiageneral assessment: Indonesia’s telecom sector is based on 3G/LTE mobile infrastructure and inadequate fixed-line capacity; large population and disbursed island geography make upgrades difficult; market is attracting foreign investment, especially in data center and cloud based services; tests of 5G challenged by lack of spectrum; satellite improvements in 2020 (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership roughly 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular 130 per 100 persons; coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership growing rapidly (2020) international: country code - 62; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, DAMAI, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, IGG, JIBA, Link 1, 3, 4,  & 5, PGASCOM, B3J2, Tanjung Pandam-Sungai Kakap Cable System, JAKABARE, JAYABAYA, INDIGO-West, Matrix Cable System, ASC, SJJK, Jaka2LaDeMa, S-U-B Cable System, JBCS, MKCS, BALOK, Palapa Ring East, West and Middle, SMPCS Packet-1 and 2, LTCS, TSCS, SEA-US and Kamal Domestic Submarine Cable System, 35 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Irangeneral assessment: challenged by censorship and international sanctions; large, youthful, tech-savvy demographic with unmet demand; state-owned operators provided special offerings for services during pandemic, driving mobile broadband and deployment of 4G to nearly all of the population; government expanding fiber network and preparing for 5G to grow digital economy and smart city infrastructure; importer of broadcasting and computer equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: approximately 35 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions; investment by Iran's state-owned telecom company has greatly improved and expanded both the fixed-line and mobile cellular networks; a huge percentage of the cell phones in the market have been smuggled into the country (2020) international: country code - 98; landing points for Kuwait-Iran, GBICS & MENA, FALCON, OMRAN/3PEG Cable System, POI and UAE-Iran submarine fiber-optic cable to the Middle East, Africa and India; (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Iraqgeneral assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout the country; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications have slowed due to political unrest; recent efforts create stability and developments in 4G and 5G technologies; operators focus on installations of new fiber-optic cables and growth in mobile broadband subscribers; the most popular plans are pre-paid; operators focused on fixing and replacing networks (2020) domestic: 3G services offered by three major mobile operators; 4G offered by one operator in Iraqi; conflict has destroyed infrastructure in areas; about 10 per 100 for fixed-line and 92 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 964; landing points for FALCON, and GBICS/MENA submarine cables providing connections to the Middle East, Africa and India; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Irelandgeneral assessment: infrastructure projects are underway, including the national plan to deliver fiber-based service of at least 150Mb/s nationally by the end of 2022; operators invested in fiber-based networks to deliver a 1Gb/s service to most premises, and on 5G to cover more than half of population; operator test of satellite broadband; Dublin is a smart city (2020) domestic: increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas; fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular 106 per 100 subscriptions; digital system using cable and microwave radio relay (2020) international: country code - 353; landing point for the AEConnect -1, Celtic-Norse, Havfrue/AEC-2, GTT Express, Celtic, ESAT-1, IFC-1, Solas, Pan European Crossing, ESAT-2, CeltixConnect -1 & 2, GTT Atlantic, Sirius South, Emerald Bridge Fibres and Geo Eirgrid submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, Norway, Isle of Man and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Isle of Mandomestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Israelgeneral assessment: Israel has a highly developed economy with focus on technology products; investment in cyber-security industry and hub for start-ups; near universal broadband delivery to households and mobile penetration; LTE coverage, expanded fiber network with plans for 5G; emergency law allows mobile tracking; importer of broadcast equipment, integrated circuits, and computers from China; submarine cable connectivity to Europe (2020) domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; competition among both fixed-line and mobile cellular providers results in good coverage countrywide; fixed-line nearly 36 per 100 and nearly 132 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 972; landing points for the MedNautilus Submarine System, Tameres North, Jonah and Lev Submarine System, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Italygeneral assessment: well-developed, fully automated telephone, and data services; among highest mobile penetration rates in Europe; benefitted from progressive government programs aimed at developing fiber in broadband sector; leading edge of development with 5G in six cities; fiber network reaches more than half of population; Milan developing smart city technology; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; 32 per 100 for fixed-line and nearly 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 39; landing points for Italy-Monaco, Italy-Libya, Italy-Malta, Italy-Greece-1, Italy-Croatia, BlueMed, Janna, FEA, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, Trapani-Kelibia, Columbus-III, Didon, GO-1, HANNIBAL System, MENA, Bridge International, Malta-Italy Interconnector, Melita1, IMEWE, VMSCS, AAE-1, and OTEGLOBE, submarine cables that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Jamaicageneral assessment: good domestic and international service; mobile sector dominates, accounting for majority of the Internet connections and half of telecom sector revenue; extensive LTE networks providing coverage to most of the island population; regulator encouraging competition with little success due to breach of license; government announced support of national broadband network to aid access to education, hospitals, police, and municipal institutions; operators provided customers with data plans to support educational platforms; US grant to fund New Kingston smart city program (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 15 per 100, cellular-mobile roughly 97 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 1-876 and 1-658; landing points for the ALBA-1, CFX-1, Fibralink, East-West, and Cayman-Jamaican Fiber System submarine cables providing connections to South America, parts of the Caribbean, Central America and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Japangeneral assessment: excellent domestic and international service; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband penetration; in last decade, government policies supported delivery of fiber-optic broadband to over 90% of households; one of Japan's largest e-commerce companies planning to build its own nationwide stand-alone 5G mobile network; government to implement a telecom tax to pay for rural 5G network; fixed broadband subscriptions grow as DSL is phased out; major importer of integrated circuits from China (2020) domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind; 49 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Jerseygeneral assessment: good system with broadband access (2018) domestic: fixed-line 45 per 100 and mobile-cellular 115 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 44; landing points for the INGRID, UK-Channel Islands-8, and Guernsey-Jersey-4, submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Jordangeneral assessment: Jordan is host to a growing number of ICT companies and has emerged as a technology start-up hub for the Middle East; recently focused on telecom solutions to pandemic issues such as e-health and education; progress in the digital financial services; economic goals rely on digital economy, developed mobile sector, and extensive LTE infrastructure; preparation for 5G and e-commerce; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020) domestic: 1995 a telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, the monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; currently fixed-line stands at nearly 4 per 100 persons and multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership over 68 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 962; landing point for the FEA and Taba-Aqaba submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kazakhstangeneral assessment: one of the most progressive telecom sectors in Central Asia; vast 4G network; low fixed-line and fixed-broadband penetration; moderate mobile broadband penetration and high mobile penetration depending on location; mobile market highly competitive and growth is slow due to saturation (2020) domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is approximately 17 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriber base 134 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the TAE fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kenyageneral assessment: through increased competition, Kenya’s telecom market has improved international bandwidth and experienced rapid development in mobile sector, including remote regions; four fiber-optic submarine cables reduced costs and increased service to population; government supported LTE and broadband, promising economic support of free WiFi; mobile operators progress with 5G tests; e-commerce interoperability; importer of broadcasting equipment, video displays, and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 114 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 254; landing point for the EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE1, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems covering East, North and South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat; launched first micro satellites in 2018 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kiribatigeneral assessment: generally good national and international service; wireline service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; recently formed (mobile network operator) MNO is implementing the first phase of improvements with 3G and 4G upgrades on some islands; islands are connected to each other and the rest of the world via satellite; launch of Kacific-1 in December 2019 will improve telecommunication for Kiribati (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular approximately 46 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 686; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable system from Australia, 7 Pacific Ocean island countries to the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Korea, Northgeneral assessment: underdeveloped yet growing market dependent on 3G; nationwide fiber-optic network; some mobile-cellular service beyond Pyongyang; remote areas on manual switchboards; though currently under sanction, dependent on foreign investment (primarily Chinese) for equipment and infrastructure; low broadband penetration; international communication restricted and domestic use monitored by state (2020) domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since; fixed-lines are approximately 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular 15 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Korea, Southgeneral assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband penetration; strong support from government for initiatives; tech-savvy population has catapulted the nation into one of the world's most active telecommunication markets; all mobile operators offer 5G networks; Chinese telecom Huawei partnered with operators including launch of Seoul TechCity; import of integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, and phones from China; government and private partnership on national e-commerce and smart city development (2020) domestic: fixed-line approximately 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 138 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce (2020) international: country code - 82; landing points for EAC-C2C, FEA, SeaMeWe-3, TPE, APCN-2, APG, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, KJCN, NCP, and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kosovogeneral assessment: EU pre-accession process supported progress in the telecom industry with a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encouraging development; two operators dominate the sector; under-developed telecom infrastructure leads to low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 32 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 383 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kuwaitgeneral assessment: the quality of service is excellent; new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open-wire, and fiber-optic cable; a 4G LTE mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait; Internet access is available via 4G LTE connections for fixed and mobile users; high ownership levels of smart phones in Kuwait; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world; exploring 5G opportunities; improvements to fiber-broadband underway (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions are nearly 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular stands at nearly 159 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 965; landing points for the FOG, GBICS, MENA, Kuwait-Iran, and FALCON submarine cables linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Kyrgyzstangeneral assessment: fixed-line declining as 4G LTE mobile is universally available; brief interruptions of service with security as pretext; ICT sector rocked by allegation of corruption in 2020; digital radio-relay stations and fiber-optic links; 5G in development; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and computers from China; Chinese Economic Corridor investment into domestic backbone; World Bank investment into digital infrastructure with aims to provide broadband Internet to 60% of the population; social disparity evident in pandemic as many school children could not attend classes on-line (2020 ) domestic: fixed-line penetration at nearly 5 per 100 persons remains low and concentrated in urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 134 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, 9 members post-Soviet Republics in EU) countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Laosgeneral assessment: reliance on radio network to communicate with remote areas; regulatory reform is below industry standards; government aims to strengthen infrastructure and attract foreign investment; low fixed-broadband penetration; dominance in mobile broadband with 4G and LTE, but low compared to other Asian markets; ASEAN Digital Hub investment provides international capacity; state owns almost all media, except for some entertainment outlets, and has suppressed some news; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China; providers examining m-payment platforms and 5G tests (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 21 per 100 and 61 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Latviageneral assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed-line phones is decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands; EU regulatory policies, and framework provide guidelines for growth; government adopted measures to build a national fiber broadband network, partially funded by European Commission; new competition in mobile markets with extensive LTE-A technologies and 5G service growth; developing sophisticated digital economy with e-commerce and e-government widely available; operator working on cable to Sakhalin in Russia’s Far East (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 109 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber-optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Lebanongeneral assessment: struggling with effects of the economic crisis compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Port of Beirut explosion in 2020; Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure is relatively weak and services are expensive; rural areas are less connected and experience frequent power cuts; state retains a monopoly over the Internet backbone and dominant ownership of the telecom industry; government backed improvements to fixed infrastructure; new landlines and fiber-optic networks provide faster DSL; limited 5G services; three international gateways through submarine cables; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE; UAE investment in tech solutions (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 13 per 100 and nearly 63 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 961; landing points for the IMEWE, BERYTAR AND CADMOS submarine cable links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Lesothogeneral assessment: small market with few business incentives; fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration remains below regional average; introduction of mobile broadband in the country and LTE technology; 5G testing among first in region; landlocked, Lesotho has access to several submarine cables on African coast through neighboring countries yet Internet is expensive; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from South Africa (2020) domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100 subscriptions; mobile-cellular service subscribership nearly 73 per 100 persons; rudimentary system consisting of a modest number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a small radiotelephone communication system (2020) international: country code - 266; Internet accessibility has improved with several submarine fiber optic cables that land on African east and west coasts, but the country's land locked position makes access prices expensive; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Liberiageneral assessment: due to history of civil war and ruin of infrastructure, almost entirely wireless telecom market; good competition for mobile services; high cost and limited bandwidth means Internet access is low; additional investment needed for increased submarine cable access; progress in creating an attractive business-friendly environment is hampered by a weak regulatory environment, corruption, lack of transparency, poor infrastructure, and low private sector capacity; rural areas have little access; fixed-line service is stagnant and extremely limited; operators introducing e-commerce; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approached 57 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Libyageneral assessment: political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecom sector; much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; rival operators fight for control; investment in fiber backbone and upgrades to international cables; limited LTE and 5G service; some satellite broadband; Chinese companies have heavily invested in Libyan infrastructure and now dominate the telecommunications sector; in 2021 Libya signed deals and projects with US firms to upgrade portions of its infrastructure, increasing the diversity of its telecommunications networks (2021) domestic: nearly 24 per 100 fixed-line and over 91 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2019) international: country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik;  microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Liechtensteingeneral assessment: automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined; FttP (fiber to the home) penetration marketed 3rd highest in EU; fiber network reaches 3/4 of the population (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 128 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Lithuaniageneral assessment: Lithuania’s small telecom market is among the most advanced in Europe, with universal access to LTE, extensive fiber footprint, and tests of 5G; operators focus on data speeds; improved international capability and better residential access; high SIM card penetration; increased demand for high-speed Internet for education, entertainment, and shopping during pandemic supporting growth in revenue through fiber lines; importer of broadcast equipment and video displays from neighboring EU countries (2020) domestic: nearly 12 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 174 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Luxembourggeneral assessment: small but highly developed telecom system dominated by state-owned operator; gains in fixed-line and drop in mobile/roving sector during 2020 travel restrictions; government-state operator extended 1GB/s service with aims to make Luxembourg the first fully fiber country in Europe; regulator completed auction for 5G spectrum; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity about 43 per 100 persons; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones virtually saturated with about 142 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 352 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Macaugeneral assessment: Macau’s sophisticated telecom market boasts one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world due to high tourism; liberalized market is managed by independent regulator with effective competition in the mobile market; modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; high mobile subscriber numbers and mobile penetration; offering 4G, LTE services and first phase of 5G network rollout; possible synchronizing with neighboring regions; Macau's smart city project spans areas of transportation, medical services, tourism, and e-government; importer of broadcast and video equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 20 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 329 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Madagascargeneral assessment: penetration rates below African average; competition among mobile service providers has spurred recent growth in the mobile market and reduced consumer costs; 3G and LTE services available; fiber backbone connects major cities with wireless networks upgraded to LTE; government committed to free WiFi hotspots to ensure universal access; telecom service tax raised to 10%; investment in submarine cable to South Africa and Mauritius; importer of broadcasting and video equipment from China (2020) domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 34 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 261; landing points for the EASSy, METISS, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting to numerous Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, and Eastern African countries; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Malawigeneral assessment: Malawi remains one of the world’s least developed countries, with few resources to build efficient fixed-line telecom infrastructure; mobile penetration low compared to region with ample opportunity for growth and competition; some mobile services to rural areas; LTE services are available; national fiber backbone near completion; progress in m-payment methods; prospect of international submarine cables from neighboring countries; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 52 per 100 households (2020) international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Malaysiageneral assessment: one of the most advanced telecom networks in the developing world; strong commitment to developing a technological society; Malaysia is promoting itself as an information tech hub in the Asian region; closing the urban rural divide; 4G and 5G networks with strong competition, mobile dominance over fixed-broadband; government development of five-year fiber and connectivity plan; some of Malaysia’s key exports are integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment to North America and China; importer of integrated circuits from Singapore and China (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 23 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 135 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations (2020) international: country code - 60; landing points for BBG, FEA, SAFE, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, AAE-1, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, BRCS, ACE, AAG, East-West Submarine Cable System, SEAX-1, SKR1M, APCN-2, APG, BtoBe,  BaSICS, and Labuan-Brunei Submarine and MCT submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean); launch of Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Maldivesgeneral assessment: upgrades to telecom infrastructure extended to outer islands; two mobile operators extend LTE coverage; tourism has strengthened the telecom market with investment and accounts for the high mobile penetration rate; launched 5G tests (2020) domestic: fixed-line is at nearly 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscriptions stands at nearly 133 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Maligeneral assessment: Mali’s telecom systems are challenged by recent conflict, geography, areas of low population, poverty, security issues, and high illiteracy; telecom infrastructure is barely adequate in urban areas and not available in most of the country with underinvestment in fixed-line networks; high mobile penetration and potential for mobile broadband service; local plans for IXP; dependent on neighboring countries for international bandwidth and access to submarine cables; there are Chinese investment agreements for infrastructure; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2022) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is over 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to 125 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas (2020) international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation is slow; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Maltageneral assessment: blessed with advantageous topography and tech-savvy consumers, Malta has one of the most advanced telecom systems in Europe, with high penetration of mobile and broadband; expansion of e-commerce; government and regulator measures in 2020 reduced consumer prices and allowed extensive FttP network and investment in LTE and fiber thru 2023; operator delivered fiber network to public schools in 2020; launch of 5G network by 2020; submarine cable to France and Egypt in progress (2020) domestic: fixed-line approximately 59 per 100  persons and mobile-cellular subscribership 143 per 100 persons; automatic system featuring submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands (2020) international: country code - 356; landing points for the Malta-Gozo Cable, VMSCS, GO-1 Mediterranean Cable System, Malta Italy Interconnector, Melita-1, and the Italy-Malta submarine cable connections to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Marshall Islandsgeneral assessment: some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018) domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones; fixed-line roughly 4 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is nearly 28 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Mauritaniageneral assessment: Mauritania’s small population and low economic output limit sustained growth; transparency and tax burdens hinder foreign investment; World Bank and European Investment Bank support regulatory reforms to promote fixed-line broadband, improvement of the national backbone network, and connectivity to international cables; limited system of cable and open-wire lines, mobile-cellular services expanding though monopolies, and little stimulus for competition; 3G penetration high yet little development in LTE; mobile broadband access speeds are low; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular network coverage extends mainly to urban areas with a teledensity of roughly 106 per 100 persons; mostly cable and open-wire lines; a domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals (2020) international: country code - 222; landing point for the ACE submarine cable for connectivity to 19 West African countries and 2 European countries; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean, 2 Arabsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Mauritiusgeneral assessment: Mauritius is successfully pursuing a policy to make telecommunications a pillar of economic growth, and to have a fully digital-based smart infrastructure; the island nation is a pioneer in the telecom sector, with the first market in greater Africa to launch mobile networks and provide 3G, the first in the world to develop a nationwide WiMAX wireless broadband network, and one of the first to launch IPTV; LTE and fiber broadband are nationally available, and the government supports national Wi-Fi; international cable connectivity has improved, increasing bandwidth capacity; submarine cable provides connectivity to South Africa and beyond; major importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity over 37 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular services teledensity roughly 150 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 230; landing points for the SAFE, MARS, IOX Cable System, METISS and LION submarine cable system that provides links to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean Islands of Reunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Mexicogeneral assessment: with a large population and relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, (86 lines for mobile broadband for every 100 habitants in June 2021) Mexico’s telecom sector has potential for growth; adequate telephone service for business and government; improving quality and increasing mobile cellular availability, with mobile subscribers far outnumbering fixed-line subscribers (24.6 million fixed line subscribers and 125 million mobile line subscribers in June 2021); relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, potential for growth and international investment; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable; 5G development slow in part due to high costs (AT&T announced 5G rollout in some sections of Mexico City in December 2021 and Telcel announced a plan to launch 5G network in 18 cities in February 2022); IXP in Mexico City; exporter of computers and broadcasting equipment to USA and importer of same from China (2021) domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 65 lines per every 100 households; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 99 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations (2021) international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the ARCOS-1 and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the U.S.; Pan-American Crossing (PAC) submarine cable system provides access to Panama, California, U.S., and Costa Rica; Lazaro Cardenas-Manzanillo Santiago submarines cable system (LCMSSCS) provides access to Michoacan, Guerrero, and Colima, Mexico; AMX-1 submarine cable system with access to Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Gulf of California Cable submarine cable systems that connects La Paz, Baja California Sur and Topolobambo, Sinaloa; and Aurora submarine cable system provides access to Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S. satellite earth stations - 124 (36 Intelsat, 1 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 9 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofgeneral assessment: adequate system, the demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region (2020) domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone, satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands; fixed line teledensity roughly 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 21 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 691; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Moldovageneral assessment: high unemployment and economic pressures have reduced consumer spending in telecom market; endeavors to join the EU have promoted regulatory issues in line with EU standards; mobile market extended outside of cities and across most of the country; LTE services available; market is competitive, fiber accounts for 62% of all fixed broadband connections and most telecom revenue is from the mobile market; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: competition among mobile telephone providers has spurred subscriptions; little interest in expanding fixed-line service which is roughly 25 per 100; mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 85 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Monacogeneral assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers; competitive mobile telephony market; 4G LTE widely available (2020) domestic: fixed-line a little over 111 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 90 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 377; landing points for the EIG and Italy-Monaco submarine cables connecting Monaco to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Mongoliageneral assessment: liberalized and competitive telecom market; steady growth in mobile broadband, but fixed-line broadband is still an economical option; installation of a fiber-optic network improved broadband and communication services between major urban centers; compared to other Asian countries, Mongolia's growth in telecom is moderate; mobile broadband rate is growing through competition among operators with reasonable tariffs; launch of 4G LTE services by all major operators; South Korean investment in landline and cellular services; partner in China’s economic corridor project; import of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity of less than 5 per 100; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is roughly 133 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2016) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Montenegrogeneral assessment: a small population, with a compact but modern telecommunications system and access to European satellites; fiber network is dominant platform; mobile penetration is high due to tourism; mobile broadband based on LTE even in rural areas; operators testing 5G in 2021; telecom sector in-line with EU norms provides competition, access, and tariff structures (2020) domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers; fixed-line over 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular 172 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Montserratgeneral assessment: telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized; high dependency on tourism and offshore financial services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 101 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the ECFS optic submarine cable with links to 14 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Moroccogeneral assessment: despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment and illiteracy affecting telecom market, particularly in rural areas; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; improvement in LTE reach and capabilities; service providers have all successfully completed 5G proofs of concept and are currently lining up 5G equipment providers for both radio and core technology; regulatory agency expects to conduct the 5G spectrum auction in 2023; mobile Internet accounts for 93% of all Internet connections; World Bank provided funds for Morocco’s digital transformation; government supported digital education during pandemic; submarine cables and satellite provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia; importer of broadcasting equipment, surveillance equipment, scanning equipment, and video displays from China (2022) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is just over 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is nearly 134 per 100 persons; good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat (2020) international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Mozambiquegeneral assessment: one of the first countries in the region to reform telecom market and open it to competition; the mobile segment has shown strong growth; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, 3G, and some fiber broadband available; LTE tests underway; roll out of national fiber backbone and upgrades to infrastructure; submarine cables reduced the cost of bandwidth; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: extremely low fixed-line teledensity contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; operators provide coverage that includes all the main cities and key roads; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and nearly 49 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019) international: country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Namibiageneral assessment: good competition in mobile market and investment in LTE government program to provide 95% of population with broadband by 2024; 5G delayed due to public concerns of privacy and security; high prices for international bandwidth due to lack of submarine cables, yet improved by diversification of satellite access (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 102 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 264; landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Naurugeneral assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018) domestic: fixed-line 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership approximately 95 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Nepalgeneral assessment: poverty, inconsistent electricity, and mountainous topography stymie development of telecom infrastructure; mobile market is developed and has been extended to all districts covering 90% of Nepal; fixed broadband is low due to limited number of fixed-lines and preeminence of the mobile platform; increasing 3G and 4G subscribers; fiber-optic networks developing under private and public funding to meet demand for Internet; government supports digital society, whereby 90% of the population will have access to broadband and free Internet access for students; plans to launch a Nepalese satellite by 2022; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: 3G coverage is available in 20 major cities (2019); disparity between high coverage in cities and coverage available in underdeveloped rural regions; fixed-line less than 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular nearly 131 per 100 persons; fair radiotelephone communication service; 20% of the market share is fixed (wired) broadband, 2% is fixed (wireless) broadband, and 78% is mobile broadband (2019) international: country code - 977; Nepal, China and Tibet connected across borders with underground and all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) fiber-optic cables; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Netherlandsgeneral assessment: highly developed and well maintained; Dutch telecom market is gradually migrating to upgraded platforms; operators repurposing their spectrum and physical assets for LTE and 5G; one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world, with competition between DSL and fiber networks; fixed-line voice market is in decline while VoIP and mobile platforms advance; plans for 3G network shutdown in 2023; operators are concentrating investment on LTE-A and 5G services; operators and banks launch m-payments system; adoption of smart city concepts and technology in major cities; major exporter of broadcasting equipment and computers to Europe, and importer of same from China (2020) domestic: extensive fixed-line, fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with five major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol services; fixed-line nearly 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular at 125 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 31; landing points for Farland North, TAT-14, Circe North, Concerto, Ulysses 2, AC-1, UK-Netherlands 14, and COBRAcable submarine cables which provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: New Caledoniageneral assessment: New Caledonia has a well-developed telecom sector with 3G and LTE network services; one of the highest smart phone adoption rates in the region; telecommunications sector is dominated by government-owned company with a monopoly on fixed and mobile services, Internet, and broadband access; hub for submarine cables that will increase competition and capacity; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from France (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: New Zealandgeneral assessment: excellent domestic and international systems with progress in mobile services; LTE rates some of the fastest in the world; growth in mobile broadband and fiber sectors; roll out of 5G; investment and development of infrastructure enabled network capabilities to propel the digital economy, e-government, and e-commerce across the country; new satellite to improve telecom in the Asia Pacific region; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 136 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Nicaraguageneral assessment: with authoritarian government, weak public institutions, and impoverished citizenry, Nicaragua’s telecom system is dependent on upgrades through foreign investment, primarily from Russia and China; World Bank funded national fiber broadband network and links to Caribbean submarine cables; Chinese-financed projects, including airport, oil pipeline, and roads in process; nearly all installed telecom capacity now uses financed digital technology; lowest fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration in Central America; Internet cafes provide access to Internet and email services; rural areas lack access to most basic telecom infrastructure; LTE service in dozens of towns and cities; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 3 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 90 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 505; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic submarine cable which provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Nigergeneral assessment: difficult economic climate, with lack of fixed telecom infrastructure; mobile services stronger than fixed telecom; low broadband penetration; adopted free mobile roaming with other G5 Sahel countries; World Bank project to facilitate digital progress; government contributes to Trans-Sahara Backbone network, with aims to extend fiber-optic and international capacity; LTE license awarded; government substantially taxes telecom sector (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity at nearly 41 per 100 persons; a rapidly increasing cellular subscribership base; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern Niger; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned (2019) international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Nigeriageneral assessment: one of the larger telecom markets in Africa subject to sporadic access to electricity and vandalism of infrastructure; most Internet connections are via mobile networks; foreign investment presence, particularly from China; market competition with affordable access; LTE technologies available but GSM is dominant; mobile penetration high due to use of multiple SIM cards and phones; government committed to expanding broadband penetration; operators to deploy fiber optic cable in six geopolitical zones and Lagos; operators invested in base stations to deplete network congestion; submarine cable break in 2020 slowed speeds and interrupted connectivity; importer of phones and broadcast equipment from China; Nigeria concluded its first 5G spectrum auction in 2021 and granted licenses to two firms: MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications.  Construction of 5G infrastructure has not yet been completed. (2021) domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership base over 99 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS,  MainOne, Glo-1 & 2, ACE, and Equiano fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Niuegeneral assessment: sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing due to mobile services (2020) domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages on island; fixed teledensity at nearly 62 per 100 (2018) international: country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands; expansion of satellite services (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Norfolk Islandgeneral assessment: adequate, 4G mobile telecommunication network (2020) domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: North Macedoniageneral assessment: EU pre-accession process has led to stronger tele-density with a closer regulatory framework and independent regulators; administrative ties with the EU have led to progress; broadband services are widely available; more customers moving to fiber networks; operators investing in LTE; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China; MOU for 5G with US (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 92 per 100 subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 389 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsgeneral assessment: digital fiber-optic cables and satellites connect the islands to worldwide networks; demand for broadband growing given that mobile services are the source for Internet across region; future launch of 5G (2020) domestic: wide variety of services available including dial-up and broadband Internet, mobile cellular, international private lines, payphones, phone cards, voicemail, and automatic call distribution systems; fixed-line teledensity roughly 39 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-670; landing points for the Atisa and Mariana-Guam submarine cables linking Mariana islands to Guam; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Norwaygeneral assessment: sophisticated telecom market with high broadband and mobile penetration rates and a highly developed digital media sector; synchronized with EC legislation; comprehensive LTE and focus on 5G;  broadband penetration among highest in Europe; operators will migrate all DSL subscribers to fiber by 2023 and close 2G and 3G networks by 2025; regulator assigned spectrum for 5G; operator partners with Huawei for smart agriculture project; Oslo utilizes smart city technology; municipalities access EU-funded public Wi-Fi; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systems; fixed-line over 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 108 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 47; landing points for the Svalbard Undersea Cable System, Polar Circle Cable, Bodo-Rost Cable, NOR5KE Viking, Celtic Norse, Tempnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, Denmark-Norwary6, Havfrue/AEC-2, Skagerrak 4, and the Skagenfiber West & East submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries, Europe and the US; satellite earth stations - Eutelsat, Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Omangeneral assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; domestic satellite system; progressive mobile sector with both 3G and 4G LTE networks and readiness for 5G launch; competition among mobile operators; government program to improve fiber network; important communications hub in the Middle East, with access to numerous submarine cables enabling increased bandwidth; major importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from UAE (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 134 per 100; fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems (2020) international: country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Pakistangeneral assessment: Pakistan’s telecom market transitioned from a regulated state-owned monopoly to a deregulated competitive structure in 2003, now aided by foreign investment; moderate growth over the last six years, supported by a young population and a rising use of mobile services; telecom infrastructure is improving, with investments in mobile-cellular networks, fixed-line subscriptions declining; system consists of microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks; 4G mobile services broadly available; 5G tests ongoing; data centers in major cities; mobile and broadband doing well and dominate over fixed-broadband sector; China-Pakistan Fiber Optic Project became operational in 2020; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has increased; more than 90% of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage; fiber-optic networks are being constructed throughout the country to increase broadband access and broadband penetration in Pakistan is increasing--by the end of 2021, 50% of the population had access to broadband services; fixed-line teledensity is a little over 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 84 per 100 persons (2021) international: country code - 92; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, IMEWE, Orient Express, PEACE Cable, and TW1 submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Palaugeneral assessment: well-developed mobile sector, recently boosted by satellite network capacity upgrades; 3G services available with satellite; lack of telecom regulations; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 41 per 100 and mobile-cellular services roughly 134 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Panamageneral assessment: domestic and international facilities well-developed; steady increase in telecom revenue with effective competition; mobile connections account for 90% of connections; government-funded program to improve Internet infrastructure; connectivity through two submarine cables; launch of LTE services; Chinese company Huawei investment in bandwidth technologies; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line about 14 per 100 and rapid subscribership of mobile-cellular telephone roughly 132 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 507; landing points for the PAN-AM, ARCOS, SAC, AURORA, PCCS, PAC, and the MAYA-1 submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Papua New Guineageneral assessment: telecom services stymied by rugged terrain, high cost of infrastructure, and poverty of citizens; services are minimal with little change in fixed-line tele-density in two decades; progress in mobile platforms with almost 90% coverage on 3G and LTE; GSM available in remote areas; Internet slow and expensive, available to pockets of the population; facilities provide radiotelephone, telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services; launch of satellite and landing of submarine cable will improve most services in the region; government supports training to boost digital transformation; Australia attempted to block Chinese investment in cooperative network; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; fixed-line nearly 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 48 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 675; landing points for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, PNG-LNG, APNG-2, CSCS and the PPC-1 submarine cables to Australia, Guam, PNG and Solomon Islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Paraguaygeneral assessment: limited progress on structural reform and deficient infrastructure of the landlocked country are obstacles to telecom platform; monopolized fixed-line service; effective competition in mobile market, serving 96% of population through LTE; deployment of fiber; South Korean investment in education centers; operator enabled 109 free Internet points across the country and is looking to expand to 430 points in 2022; Inter-American Development Bank loan supports modernization within regulatory framework; dependent on neighboring countries for access to submarine cables; major importer of broadcasting equipment from the USA (2022) domestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers; Internet market also open to competition; fixed-line just over 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 105 per 100 of the population (2020) international: country code - 595; Paraguay's landlocked position means they must depend on neighbors for interconnection with submarine cable networks, making it cost more for broadband services; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Perugeneral assessment: economic impact on telcom services during pandemic due to consumer unemployment; good mobile operator competition with LTE services; fixed-line tele-density remains among lowest in South America, with obstacles to growth including widespread poverty, fixed-to-mobile substitution, expensive telephone services, and geographical inaccessibility in the Andean mountains and Amazon jungles; government investment in underserved areas with fiber backbone; government facilitated virtual learning during pandemic via tablets with Internet connectivity; 3G network and new LTE services expanded providing mobile broadband to rural communities, though low penetration still exists; major importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is nearly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, now nearly 124 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (2019) international: country code - 51; landing points for the SAM-1, IGW, American Movil-Telxius, SAC and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Philippinesgeneral assessment: high unemployment and rural population impede investment in fixed infrastructure; dominance in the mobile segment and rapid development of mobile broadband; investment focused on fiber infrastructure in urban areas with 4G available in most areas; national broadband plan to improve connectivity in rural areas underway; data center and smart city pilot in Manila; submarine cable link and satellite improves telecom for the region; major exporter of integrated circuits to China, and importer of circuits and broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and (very small aperture terminal) VSAT, fiber-optic cable, and satellite for redundant international connectivity; fixed-line nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 155 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 63; landing points for the NDTN, TGN-IA, AAG, PLCN, EAC-02C, DFON, SJC, APCN-2, SeaMeWe, Boracay-Palawan Submarine Cable System, Palawa-Illoilo Cable System, NDTN, SEA-US, SSSFOIP, ASE and JUPITAR submarine cables that together provide connectivity to the US, Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Pitcairn Islandsgeneral assessment: satellite-based phone services; rural connectivity a challenge; 2G services widespread; demand for mobile broadband due to mobile services providing Internet source; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 will improve telecommunications in the region (2020) domestic: local phone service with international connections via Internet (2018) international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 Inmarsat note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Polandgeneral assessment: liberalized telecom market supported by market competition in broadband and mobile sectors ensuring access to cable and fiber infrastructure; rapid extension of LTE networks and development of mobile data service; mobile penetration is above European average; fixed broadband benefits from DSL infrastructure and investment in fiber through EU support; major importer of broadcasting equipment and accessories from Germany (2020) domestic: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; fixed-line roughly 15 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular over 130 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 48; landing points for the Baltica and the Denmark-Poland2 submarine cables connecting Poland, Denmark and Sweden; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Portugalgeneral assessment: Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base; mobile market dominated by one operator with room for competition; 3G infrastructure is universal, with investment directed toward expanding provision of 90% LTE coverage in rural areas and 5G technologies; cable sector shifting to wireless, with access to 66% of population; developments in m-commerce; operator assessing installation of submarine cable between islands and mainland; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU (2020) domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations; fixed-line roughly 51 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular 116 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 351; landing points for the Ella Link, BUGIO, EIG, SAT-3/WASC, SeaMeWe-3, Equino, MainOne, Tat TGN-Western Europe, WACS, ACE, Atlantis2 and Columbus-III submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Puerto Ricogeneral assessment: small telecom market affected by mismanagement and natural disasters; hurricanes in 2017 and earthquake in 2020 caused destruction of telecom infrastructure, leading to market decline; US provided funds to rebuild after some delay; lags behind US in fixed and broadband penetration due to high unemployment and lack of operator investment; multi-national telcoms enable LTE and launch of 5G; growing number of submarine cables helps to reduce costs and supports streaming of international content and cloud services; operator launched connectivity for school children during pandemic (2020) domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services; fixed-line nearly 25 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 122 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-787, 939; landing points for the GTMO-PR, AMX-1, BRUSA, GCN, PCCS, SAm-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas-II, Antillas, ARCOS, SMPR-1, and Taino-Carib submarine cables providing connectivity to the mainland US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Qatargeneral assessment: telecom infrastructure in Qatar demonstrated resilience during the pandemic, following surge in Internet usage; highest fixed-line and mobile penetrations in Middle East with almost 100% LTE coverage; operator deployed 5G across the country with positive subscribership, primarily around Doha; largest user of the Internet in the Middle East; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership nearly 132 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 974; landing points for the Qatar-UAE Submarine Cable System, AAE-1, FOG, GBICS/East North Africa MENA and the FALCON submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; retains full ownership of two commercial satellites, Es'hailSat 1 and 2 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Romaniageneral assessment: Romania’s telecom sector benefits from infrastructure-based competition; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services; fiber sector is one of strongest in Europe; government secured EU funding to extend broadband to rural areas; operators invest in networks’ capacity upgrades; operator testing IoT; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 16 telephones per 100 persons; mobile market served by four mobile network operators; mobile-cellular teledensity over 117 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 40; landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Russiageneral assessment: telecom market is largest in Europe, centered in large cities; competition active in Moscow and St Petersburg; most users access Internet through mobile platforms; fiber broadband sector is growing, supported by government in aim to extend reach to outlying regions; tests of 5G with Moscow adopting smart city technology; government justifies censorship and website blocks under a range of laws and regulations; government program aims to provide 97% of households with fixed broadband by 2024; publicly accessible Internet connections in institutions such as hospitals, libraries, schools, and mass transit available in cities; in rural areas, the availability of public Internet connections remains limited; major importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low-density; nearly 19 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular a bit over 164 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 7; landing points for the Far East Submarine Cable System, HSCS, Sakhalin-Kuril Island Cable, RSCN, BCS North-Phase 2, Kerch Strait Cable and the Georgia-Russian submarine cable system connecting Russia, Japan, Finland, Georgia and Ukraine; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Rwandageneral assessment: telecom market impacted by energy shortages and instability in neighboring states; government investing in smart city infrastructure; growing economy and foreign aid from South Korea help launch telecom sector, despite widespread poverty; expansion of LTE services; competing operators roll out national fiber optic backbone through connection to submarine cables, ending expensive dependence on satellite; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to provincial centers by microwave radio relay, and recently by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone density has increased to nearly 82 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service); international submarine fiber-optic cables on the African east coast has brought international bandwidth and lessened the dependency on satellites note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Barthelemygeneral assessment: fully integrated access; 4G and LTE services (2019) domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems, 3 FM channels, no broadcasting (2018) international: country code - 590; landing points for the SSCS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing voice and data connectivity to numerous Caribbean Islands (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhageneral assessment: capability to communicate worldwide; ADSL- broadband service; LTE coverage of 95% of population, includes voice calls, text messages, mobile data as well as inbound and outbound roaming; Wi-Fi hotspots in Jamestown, 1 ISP, many services are not offered locally but made available for visitors; some sun outages due to the reliance of international telephone and Internet communication relying on single satellite link (2020) domestic: automatic digital network; fixed-line roughly 50 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 67 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island) - 247; landing point for the SaEx1 submarine cable providing connectivity to South Africa, Brazil, Virginia Beach (US) and islands in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisgeneral assessment: good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: interisland links via ECFS; fixed-line teledensity about 33 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 148 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-869; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity for numerous Caribbean Islands (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Luciageneral assessment: an adequate system that is automatically switched; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 102 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-758; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Martingeneral assessment: fully integrated access; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems (2018) international: country code - 590; landing points for the SMPR-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity to numerous Caribbean islands (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelongeneral assessment: adequate (2019) domestic: fixed-line teledensity 76 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesgeneral assessment: adequate island-wide, fully automatic telephone system; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 11 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 87 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-784; landing points for the ECFS, CARCIP and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to US and Caribbean Islands; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Samoageneral assessment: development of infrastructure is hampered by geography of remote islands, vulnerable to devastating storms; telecom sector has been inhibited by lack of international connectivity; most households have at least one mobile phone; businesses in the capital area have access to broadband and Wi-Fi; rural islands have some access to Internet and Wi-Fi; liberalized regulatory infrastructure and competition in the mobile market increased coverage and reduced cost; access to submarine cables improved Internet data rates and reliability; Australian companies countering Chinese companies in the acquisition of Pacific operations; importer of broadcasting equipment from USA (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 64 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 685; landing points for the Tui-Samo, Manatua, SAS, and Southern Cross NEXT submarine cables providing connectivity to Samoa, Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Kiribati, Los Angeles (US), and Tokelau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: San Marinogeneral assessment: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system (2018) domestic: fixed-line a little over 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 114 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sao Tome and Principegeneral assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches; mobile cellular superior choice to landland; dial-up quality low; broadband expensive (2018) domestic: fixed-line roughly 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 79 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Saudi Arabiageneral assessment: one of the most progressive telecom markets in the Middle East; mobile penetration high, with a saturated market; mobile operators competitive and meeting the demand for workers, students and citizens working from home; Huawei partners with operator to provide 5G to dozens of cities; broadband is available with DSL, fiber, and wireless; mobile penetration is high; restrictive monarchy places limits on information and services available online; authorities operate extensive censorship and surveillance systems; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly to roughly 124 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 966; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, EIG, FALCON, FEA, IMEWE, MENA/Gulf Bridge International, SEACOM, SAS-1, -2, GBICS/MENA, and the Tata TGN-Gulf submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Senegalgeneral assessment: universal mobile penetration since 2019; mobile broadband accounts for 97% of Internet access; 3G and LTE services for half of the population; African consortium issued a bond to finance network upgrades and services; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: generally reliable urban system with a fiber-optic network; about two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar; mobile-cellular service is steadily displacing fixed-line service, even in urban areas; fixed-line roughly 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 114 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 221; landing points for the ACE, Atlantis-2, MainOne and SAT-3/WASC submarine cables providing connectivity from South Africa, numerous western African countries, Europe and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Serbiageneral assessment: Serbia's integration with the EU helped regulator reforms and promotion of telecom; EU development loans for broadband to rural areas; pandemic spurred use of mobile data and other services; wireless service is available through multiple providers; national coverage is growing rapidly; best telecom services are centered in urban centers; 4G/LTE mobile network launched; 5G tests ongoing with Ericsson and Huawei (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 120 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 381 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Seychellesgeneral assessment: effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020) domestic: fixed-line a little over 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 187 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sierra Leonegeneral assessment: telecom sector is recovering from the decades of war, yet still constrained by inadequate power and pervasive corruption; recently installed terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure; telephone service improving with the rapid growth of mobile sector; operators increased investment to provide national coverage; LTE available in some parts of the country; construction of 600 km ECOWAS Wide Area Network completed; fiber link to Guinea completed; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 86 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Singaporegeneral assessment: a wealthy city-state, Singapore has a highly developed ICT infrastructure; government supported near universal home broadband penetration and free public access to wireless network; the government's telecommunication regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), issued awards in mid-2020 to telecom operators with the goal of having at least 50% of the city-state covered with a standalone 5G network by the end of 2022; government actively promoting Smart Nation initiative supporting digital innovation; government oversees service providers and controls Internet content; well served by submarine cable and satellite connections; major importer of integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment from China and exporter of same to SE Asian neighboring countries (2021) domestic: excellent domestic facilities; fixed-line roughly 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 144 per 100 teledensity; multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity (2020) international: country code - 65; landing points for INDIGO-West, SeaMeWe -3,-4,-5, SIGMAR, SJC, i2icn, PGASCOM, BSCS, IGG, B3JS, SAEx2, APCN-2, APG, ASC, SEAX-1, ASE, EAC-C2C, Matrix Cable System and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3, Bukit Timah, Seletar, and Sentosa; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2019 ) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sint Maartengeneral assessment: generally adequate facilities; growth sectors include mobile telephone and data segments; effective competition; LTE expansion; tourism and telecom sector contribute greatly to the GDP (2018) domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; 196 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019) international: country code - 1-721; landing points for SMPR-1 and the ECFS submarine cables providing connectivity to the Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Slovakiageneral assessment: a modern telecom system; one operator has near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile- and fixed-broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable, and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; operator launched 1Gb/s cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises in 2019; EU funding for development and improvement of e-government and online services; regulator prepared groundwork for 5G services in 2020 (2020) domestic: four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services; a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 133 per 100 teledensity (2020) international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services; connects to DREAM cable (2017) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sloveniageneral assessment: well-developed telecom infrastructure with sound regulatory intervention; increase in Internet community utilizing e-government, e-commerce, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate retaining customers with bundled products; extensive reach of 5G; FttP to 90% of premises; importer of broadcasting equipment from neighboring Central Europe (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 122 per 100 teledensity (2020) international: country code - 386 (2016) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Solomon Islandsgeneral assessment: Internet penetration has reached 20%; 3G and 4G LTE mobile network expansions, investment in mobile services in the region; otherwise 3G and satellite services for communication and Internet access; increase in broadband subscriptions; the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in 2019 and the Coral Sea Cable System have vastly improved the telecom sector (2020) domestic: fixed-line is just over 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular telephone density is about 71 per 100 persons; domestic cable system to extend to key major islands (2019) international: country code - 677; landing points for the CSCS and ICNS2 submarine cables providing connectivity from Solomon Islands, to PNG, Vanuatu and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Somaliageneral assessment: the public telecom system was almost completely destroyed during years of civil war; private companies offer limited local fixed-line and wireless service in most major cities; early 2020 landing of DARE 1 submarine cables in Mogadishu and Bossaso eased dependence on expensive satellite dependency for Internet access; in 2019, Al Shabaab Islamic militant group forced closure of Internet services in some parts of the country; new telecom regulatory sector in place (2020) domestic: seven networks compete for customers in the mobile sector; some of these mobile-service providers offer fixed-lines and Internet services; fixed-line is 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 51 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 252; landing points for the G2A, DARE1, PEACE, and EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: South Africageneral assessment: one of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent; investment by operators and municipal providers to improve network capability focused on fiber and LTE to extend connectivity; increase in Internet use for e-commerce, e-government, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and FttP to 90% of the premises; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications market; 5G in Capetown with additional auction and tests; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular nearly 162 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria (2020) international: country code - 27; landing points for the WACS, ACE, SAFE, SAT-3, Equiano, SABR, SAEx1, SAEx2, IOX Cable System, METISS, EASSy, and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, Asia, South America, Indian Ocean Islands, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentsone of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent; investment by operators and municipal providers to improve network capability focused on fiber and LTE to extend connectivity; increase in Internet use for e-commerce, e-government, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate and FttP to 90% of the premises; regulatory intervention has improved telecommunications market; 5G in Capetown with additional auction and tests; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China Topic: South Sudangeneral assessment: with little infrastructure and electricity, South Sudan has one of the least developed telecom and Internet systems in the world and one of the lowest mobile penetration rates in Africa; instability, widespread poverty, and low literacy rates contribute to a struggling telecom sector; due to revenue losses, the few carriers in the market have reduced the areas in which they offer service; the government recognizes the positive effects of ICT on development and is providing a range of investment incentives; the international community has provided billions of dollars in aid to help the young country, with Chinese investment playing a growing role in the infrastructure and energy sectors and South Sudan purchasing broadcasting equipment from China; by 2020, one operator had initiated e-money service (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 subscriptions, mobile-cellular roughly 20 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 211 (2017) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Spaingeneral assessment: well-developed and one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, with average mobile penetration for Europe; regulator has championed competition; LTE is nearly universal with shifts of service to 5G; operator joined government smart cities project; fixed-line broadband is backed by investment in fiber infrastructure; fiber broadband accounts for most of all fixed-line broadband connections; Chinese company Huawei contributes investment to the telecom sector; increased connectivity through submarine cable connection to Brazil; importer of broadcasting equipment from Europe (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 42 per 100 and mobile-cellular 119 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sri Lankageneral assessment: telephone services have improved significantly; strong growth anticipated as Sri Lanka is lagging behind other Asian telecoms; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. funds telecom sector to expand fiber and LTE networks and growing investment in 5G services (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 139 per 100; national trunk network consists of digital microwave radio relay and fiber-optic links; fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing (2020) international: country code - 94; landing points for the SeaMeWe -3,-5,  Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network, WARF Submarine Cable, Bharat Lanka Cable System and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Sudangeneral assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards with ongoing upgrades; despite economic challenges, government continues to boost mobile infrastructure through build-out of fiber-broadband network across country; economic climate has not encouraged client growth in telecom, but some investment has been made to build mobile towers and expand LTE services; growth of e-money services; interim constitution safeguards rights and freedoms, though some Internet users continue to face harassment for activities; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 80 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn because of supply-chain disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. Security services imposed periodic internet and cellular communication blackouts during civilian protests of the military takeover in October, November, and December 2021. Topic: Surinamegeneral assessment: smallest nation in South America with low population and client base; state-owned fixed-line tele-density rates and broadband services below regional average for Latin America and Caribbean; operator building out fiber network; mobile penetration is above regional average; fixed-line effective along the coastline yet poor in the interior; competition in the mobile sector; launch of 5G in Paramaribo; importer of broadcasting equipment from USA (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity over 153 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network is in place (2020) international: country code - 597; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable linking South America with the Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Svalbardgeneral assessment: modern, well-developed (2018) domestic: the Svalbard Satellite Station - connected to the mainland via the Svalbard Undersea Cable System - is the only Arctic ground station that can see low-altitude, polar-orbiting satellites; it provides ground services to more satellites than any other facility in the world (2018) international: country code - 47-790; the Svalbard Undersea Cable System is a twin communications cable that connects Svalbard to mainland Norway; the system is the sole telecommunications link to the archipelago (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Swedengeneral assessment: Sweden’s telecom market includes mature mobile and broadband sectors stimulated by investment of the main operators in new technologies; one of the best developed LTE infrastructures in the region; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet, and broadband penetration; best developed LTE infrastructure in the region; government promotes national broadband strategy to increase connectivity (2020) domestic: fixed-line just over 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 128 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels (2020) international: country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Switzerlandgeneral assessment: Switzerland emerged as a European leader for 1Gb/s fiber broadband, complemented by 5G to 97% of the population; competitive market buttressed by regulator assurances of 5G-compatible network infrastructure; although not a member of the EU, Switzerland follows the EU's telecom framework and regulations; Zurich is being developed as a smart city (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 126 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks (2020) international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Syriageneral assessment: Syria’s telecom sector has paid a heavy toll from years of civil war and destruction leading to major disruptions to the network; operators focusing on rebuilding damaged networks, though lack of basic infrastructure, including power and security, hamper efforts; fairly high mobile penetration for region; remote areas rely on expensive satellite communications; mobile broadband infrastructure is predominantly 3G for about 85% of the population with some LTE ; international aid network provides emergency Internet and telecom services when necessary;  government restrictions of Internet freedom; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2020) domestic: the number of fixed-line connections increased markedly prior to the civil war in 2011 and now stands at over 16 per 100; mobile-cellular service is just over 95 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 963; landing points for the Aletar, BERYTAR and UGART submarine cable connections to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Taiwangeneral assessment: dynamic telecommunications industry defined by excellent infrastructure and competitive mobile market; solid availability of fixed and mobile broadband networks; investors attracted to regulatory certainty, market maturity, an educated workforce, and ICT sector at the heart of economic development; 4G LTE service with fiber is the most popular platform; 5G to 80% of subscribers; government funds development of 5G and IoT market; concerns include China’s efforts to influence media and ICT policy (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 53 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 123 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 886; landing points for the EAC-C2C, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC2, TSE-1, TPE, APG, SeaMeWe-3, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, HKA, NCP, and PLCN submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tajikistangeneral assessment: Tajikistan’s telecom sector continues to struggle due to geographic isolation, lack of electricity, dysfunctional business climate, and impoverished citizenry; despite the launch of 4G/LTE services, one of the lowest fixed-line penetrations in Asia and one of the lowest broadband levels in the world; with help from foreign investment, mobile sector near saturation phase; Russian loans and Chinese investment in infrastructure through Economic Corridor initiatives; a few cities have 4G coverage; LTE-based smart city concept in Dushanbe; government restricts political rights and civil liberties, controlling information through media interruptions; government raised rates on Internet-based calls and Internet services in 2020, making price one of the highest in the world; importer of video displays and broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed line availability has not changed significantly since 1998, while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by competition among multiple operators, has expanded; coverage now extends to all major cities and towns; fixed-line over 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 111 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); 3 satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tanzaniageneral assessment: Tanzania’s telecom services are being developed to reach parity with more advanced networks from neighboring countries such as Kenya and fierce competition exists amongst Tanzania's 5 major mobile network operators; one fixed-line operator with competition in mobile networks; high tariffs on telecom; mobile use remains popular, with the government subsidizing expansion of mobile networks into rural communities; most mobile networks rely on older 2G and 3G technology with 4G/LTE service available in urban centers; the government is currently testing 5G technology and plans to begin rolling out 5G service in 2024; the government continues to improve rural telecom infrastructure including work on a national fiber backbone network connecting the entire population (2022) domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly and exceeds 82 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital (2019) international: country code - 255; landing points for the EASSy, SEACOM/Tata TGN-Eurasia, and SEAS fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Thailandgeneral assessment: high-quality system, especially in urban areas; mobile and mobile broadband penetration are on the increase; FttH has strong growth in cities; 4G-LTE available with adoption of 5G services; seven smart cities with aim for 100 smart cities by 2024; one of the biggest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia; fixed-broadband and mobile marketplace on par with other developed Asian markets; development of Asian data center underway; Internet connectivity supported by international bandwidth to Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, and terrestrial cables with neighboring countries; two more submarine cables under construction with anticipated landings in 2022; government restricts Internet and freedom of press, with additional constraints in response to pandemic-related criticism in 2020; importer of broadcasting equipment and integrated circuits from China and export of same to neighboring countries in Asia (2020) domestic: fixed-line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding; fixed-line over 7 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 167 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 66; landing points for the AAE-1, FEA, SeaMeWe-3,-4, APG, SJC2, TIS, MCT and AAG submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Timor-Lestegeneral assessment: following years of civil unrest, the government and operators are working toward rebuilding key infrastructure, including telecommunications networks; service in urban and some rural areas expanding with competition; most of the population has access to 4G LTE service; increase in mobile-broadband penetration; government aims to boost e-government services with new national terrestrial fiber-optic network; launch of satellite and approval for submarine cable link to Australia will boost sector growth; importer of broadcasting equipment from Indonesia and China (2020) domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services, less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular services are now available in urban and most rural areas with teledensity of over 104 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 670;  international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS); geostationary earth orbit satellite note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Togogeneral assessment: system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system; telecoms supply 8% of GDP; 3 mobile operators; 12% of residents have access to the Internet; mobile subscribers and mobile broadband both increasing (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 79 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating (2020) international: country code - 228; landing point for the WACS submarine cable, linking countries along the west coast of Africa with each other and with Portugal; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tokelaugeneral assessment: modern satellite-based communications system; demand for mobile broadband increasing due to mobile services being the method of access for Internet across the region; 2G widespread with some 4G LTE service; satellite services has improved with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite launched in 2019 (2020) domestic: radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line teledensity is 0 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 690; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable linking Australia, Tokelau, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles, CA (USA); radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3 (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tongageneral assessment: high speed Internet provided by 3 MNOs, has subsequently allowed for better health care services, faster connections for education and growing e-commerce services; in 2018 new 4G LTE network; fixed-line teledensity has dropped given mobile subscriptions; mobile technology dominates given the island's geography; satellite technology is widespread and is important especially in areas away from the city; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 broadband satellite has made broadband more widely available for around 89 remote communities (2020) domestic: fixed-line 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 59 telephones per 100; fully automatic switched network (2019) international: country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Trinidad and Tobagogeneral assessment: excellent international service; good local service; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launch; regulatory development; major growth in mobile telephony and data segments which attacks operation investment in fiber infrastructure; moves to end roaming charges (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 23 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 142 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-868; landing points for the EC Link, ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber, SG-SCS and Americas II submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tunisiageneral assessment: Tunisia has one of the most sophisticated telecom infrastructures in North Africa; penetration rates for mobile and Internet services are among the highest in the region; government program of regulation and infrastructure projects aims to improve Internet connectivity to underserved areas; operators built extensive LTE infrastructure in 2019, and are developing 5G networks and services; Chinese company Huawei invested in LTE network; operator planning nano-satellite launches in 2023; Internet censorship abolished, though concerns of government surveillance remain; legislation passed in 2017 supporting e-commerce and active e-government; importer of integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between several mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a surge in subscribership; fixed-line is nearly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 126 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 216; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-4, Didon, HANNIBAL System and Trapani-Kelibia submarine cable systems that provides links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Turkeygeneral assessment: following earthquake damage to infrastructure in 2020, telecom sector undergoing rapid modernization and expansion, especially in mobile-cellular services; mobile broadband becoming increasingly popular; near saturation of 4G LTE coverage for the population; strides made with 5G through investment by Huawei and Ericcson; fixed and mobile infrastructure will help to underpin Smart City initiatives; tight government control on social media platforms; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; fixed-line nearly 15 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is over 97 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 90; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3 & -5, MedNautilus Submarine System, Turcyos-1 & -2 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia ; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Turkmenistangeneral assessment: stagnant economy, rural geography, and authoritarian rule limit development of the telecom sector; in cooperation with Russian-based partners, operators have installed high-speed fiber-optic lines and upgraded most of the country's telephone switch centers with digital technology; some rural areas lack fixed-line coverage; mobile broadband is in the early stages of development; services are extremely slow, though Trans-Caspian cable will provide international Internet capacity and improvement in services; freedom of press and expression restricted through monitoring, media interruption, and removal of receivers from households; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 163 per 100 persons; first telecommunication satellite was launched in 2015 (2019) international: country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; an exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2018) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsgeneral assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE expansion points to investment and focus on data; regulatory development; telecommunication contributes to greatly to GDP (2020) domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; fixed-line teledensity roughly 11 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Tuvalugeneral assessment: internal communications needs met; small global scale of over 11,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration about 40% and broadband about 10% penetration; govt. owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; 2G widespread; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite will improve the telecommunication sector for the Asia Pacific region (2020) domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands; fixed-line teledensity over 17 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 70 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Ugandageneral assessment: telecom infrastructure has developed through private partnerships; as of 2018, fixed-fiber backbone infrastructure is available in over half of Uganda’s districts; mobile phone companies now provide 4G networks across all major cities and national parks, while offering 3G coverage in small cities and most rural areas with road access; price of commercial Internet services dropped substantially in 2019; consumers rely on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services as fixed-line infrastructure is poor; 5G migration is developing slowly; government commissioned broadband satellite services for rural areas in 2019 (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile cellular systems teledensity about 61 per 100 persons; intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations (2020) international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog and digital links to Kenya and Tanzania note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Ukrainegeneral assessment: Ukraine’s telecom market continues to face challenges resulting from the annexation of Crimea by Russia and unrest in eastern regions; developing telecom market has attracted international investors from Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan; government plan emphasizes improvement of domestic trunk lines, international connections, and a national mobile-cellular system; operators moving from 3G services to 4G, but some areas still use 2G; LTE services available in cities; FttP networks taking over DSL platforms; government approved plan in 2020 for 5G migration and operator is developing IoT capabilities; improvement of licensing requirements for operators and positive reforms for users; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is nearly 8 per 100; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market that is now just over 129 mobile phones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 380; landing point for the Kerch Strait Cable connecting Ukraine to Russia; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic TAE system and 3 Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic TEL project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: United Arab Emiratesgeneral assessment: one of the world’s most connected countries with modern infrastructure and record Internet, broadband, and mobile use; low-cost smartphones drive mobile-broadband penetration; LTE networks cover most of the population with launch of 5G in partnership with Chinese company ZTE; submarine cables connect to South Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, and Europe; ISPs are fully or partially owned by state, allowing control over flow of information; during pandemic, there was a surge of Internet use from home, with temporary government relaxation of restrictions on streaming such as Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams; government censorship and surveillance of online platforms; service prices are highest in the region, yet affordable for population’s affluent users; government launched free digital platforms for students; Dubai and Abu Dhabi are smart cities with government plan to digitize services across country; major importer of broadcasting equipment from China and exporter of broadcasting equipment to Iraq and Saudi Arabia (2020) domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic and coaxial cable; fixed-line roughly 24 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 186 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 971; landing points for the FLAG, SEA-ME-WE-3 ,-4 & -5, Qater UAE Submarine Cable System, FALCON, FOG, Tat TGN-Gulf, OMRAN/EPEG Cable System, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FEA, GBICS/MENA, IMEWE, Orient Express, TEAMS, TW1 and the UAE-Iran submarine cables, linking to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: United Kingdomgeneral assessment: UK’s telecom market remains one of the largest in Europe, characterized by competition, affordable pricing, and its technologically advanced systems; mobile penetration above the EU average; government to invest in infrastructure and 5G technologies with ambition for a fully-fibered nation by 2033; operators expanded the reach of 5G services in 2020; super-fast broadband available to about 95% of customers; London is developing smart city technology, in collaboration with private, tech, and academic sectors; in 2020 the UK Government banned Chinese company Huawei's 5G equipment from the UK's 5G networks following advisement from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC); importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems; fixed-line over 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 116 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 44; Landing points for the GTT Atlantic, Scotland-Northern Ireland -1, & -2, Lanis 1,-2, &-3, Sirius North, BT-MT-1, SHEFA-2, BT Highlands and Islands Submarine Cable System, Northern Lights, FARICE-1, Celtic Norse, Tampnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, CC-2, E-LLan, Sirius South, ESAT -1 & -2, Rockabill, Geo-Eirgrid, UK-Netherlands-14, Circle North & South, Ulysses2, Conceto, Farland North, Pan European Crossing, Solas, Swansea-Bream, GTT Express, Tata TGN-Atlantic & -Western Europe, Apollo, EIG, Glo-1, TAT-14, Yellow, Celtic, FLAG Atlantic-1, FEA, Isle of Scilly Cable, UK-Channel Islands-8 and SeaMeWe-3 submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: United Statesgeneral assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system; reliable Internet available for most of the population though challenges remain in rural areas and tribal lands; concentration among industry operators; saturated mobile subscriber penetration rate; national LTE-M services with reassignment of 2G spectrum for 5G, centered in urban areas; operators signed alliance to develop 6G in line with technology standards, and government policies; almost all citizens have access to both fixed-line and mobile-broadband services; government fund to connect 5.3 million residences and businesses in rural areas; in pandemic, emergency funding for Internet and devices related to education; cooperative approach to e-commerce, health, education, and energy with smart city technology in several areas; federal subsidies to private satellite Internet constellation with aims for fast, world-wide connections; government policy designated Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE as national security threats and restricted partnership; importer of broadcasting equipment from China with export of same to Hong Kong (2020) domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country; fixed-line just over 31 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 134 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 1; landing points for the Quintillion Subsea Cable Network, TERRA SW, AU-Aleutian, KKFL, AKORN, Alaska United -West, & -East & -Southeast, North Star, Lynn Canal Fiber, KetchCar 1, PC-1, SCCN, Tat TGN-Pacific & -Atlantic, Jupiter, Hawaiki, NCP, FASTER, HKA, JUS, AAG, BtoBE, Currie, Southern Cross NEXT, SxS, PLCN, Utility EAC-Pacific, SEA-US, Paniolo Cable Network, HICS, HIFN, ASH, Telstra Endeavor, Honotua, AURORA, ARCOS, AMX-1, Americas -I & -II, Columbus IIb & -III, Maya-1, MAC, GTMO-1, BICS, CFX-1, GlobeNet, Monet, SAm-1, Bahamas 2, PCCS, BRUSA, Dunant, MAREA, SAE x1, TAT 14, Apollo, Gemini Bermuda, Havfrue/AEC-2, Seabras-1, WALL-LI, NYNJ-1, FLAG Atalantic-1, Yellow, Atlantic Crossing-1, AE Connect -1, sea2shore, Challenger Bermuda-1, and GTT Atlantic submarine cable systems providing international connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, & Atlantic, and Indian Ocean Islands, Central and South America, Caribbean, Canada and US; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Uruguaygeneral assessment: Uruguay has an advanced telecom market, with excellent infrastructure and one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Latin America; fully digitized; high computer use and fixed-line/mobile penetrations; deployment of fiber infrastructure will encourage economic growth and stimulate e-commerce; state-owned monopoly on fixed-line market and dominance of mobile market; nationwide 3G coverage and LTE networks; limited 5G commercial reach; strong focus on fiber infrastructure with high percentage of residential fixed-broadband connections and near total business connections; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line roughly 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 138 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 598; landing points for the Unisor, Tannat, and Bicentenario submarine cable system providing direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; Bicentenario 2012 and Tannat 2017 cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Uzbekistangeneral assessment: land-locked, authoritarian state with government grip on ICT technology and no integrated plan; government plans to develop infrastructure to improve geographical disparities in service; increased investment in infrastructure, with aims of expanding subscriber base and rising revenue; some villages have no connectivity, and 70% have 2G with development of 3G and 4G; free WiFi spots across country to boost tourism; Russian operator invested in joint venture on mobile services; government in discussion with Huawei on additional ventures; digital exchanges in large cities and some rural areas; fixed-line is underdeveloped due to preeminence of mobile market; introduction of prepaid Internet has contributed to home Internet usage; consumers largely reliant on terrestrial links and VSAT networks; media controlled by state; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 11 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 100 per 100 persons; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbek Telecom, owner of the fixed-line telecommunications system, has used loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to upgrade fixed-line services including conversion to digital exchanges; mobile-cellular services are provided by 2 private and 3 state-owned operators with a total subscriber base of 22.8 million as of January 2018 (2020) international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; the country also has a link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; Uzbekistan has supported the national fiber-optic backbone project of Afghanistan since 2008 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Vanuatugeneral assessment: liberalized telecom services; mobile phones are primary means of communication; LTE services and rural satellite broadband services; mobile phone use in some rural areas is constrained by electricity shortages; investment in fixed-broadband infrastructure and installation of fiber-optic cables supported sector growth; mobile broadband infrastructure expanded in 2020, resulting in reduced consumer prices; Kacific-1 broadband satellite has improved broadband capacity and access since 2019; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity a bit over 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 80 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 678; landing points for the ICN1 & ICN2 submarine cables providing connectivity to the Solomon Islands and Fiji; cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Venezuelageneral assessment: the telecom industry is struggling due to political upheaval in the country; poor quality of service in many areas of the country due to decrepit state of fixed-line network and operators’ inability to pay for equipment from foreign vendors; operator suffering from stolen or damaged infrastructure; many consumers favor mobile service, and cancel their fixed-line services; popularity of social networks caused growth in mobile data traffic; LTE coverage to about half of the population; government launched National Fiber Optic backbone project in 2019; national satellite drifted off course and became non-operational; an American company closed a telecom service due to US sanctions and a Chilean company later acquired the service; Internet freedom deteriorating amid crisis, with frequent disruptions to service and monitoring; importer of broadcasting equipment from the US (2020) domestic: two domestic satellite systems with three earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; 3 major providers operate in the mobile market and compete with state-owned company; fixed-line over 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 63 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 58; landing points for the Venezuela Festoon, ARCOS, PAN-AM, SAC, GlobeNet, ALBA-1 and Americas II submarine cable system providing connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Vietnamgeneral assessment: though communist, government plans to partially privatize the state’s holdings in telecom companies; competition is thriving in the telecom market place and driving e-commerce; mobile dominates over fixed-line; FttH market is growing; government is the driving force for growth with aims of commercializing 5G services with test licenses; Ho Chi Minh City to become the first smart city in Vietnam with cloud computing infrastructure, big data, data centers, and security-monitoring centers (2020) domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly; fixed-line under 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 143 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 84; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, APG, SJC2, AAE-1, AAG and the TGN-IA submarine cable system providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Virgin Islandsgeneral assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay; good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expansion of FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launches; regulatory development and expansion in several markets point to investment and focus on data (2020) domestic: full range of services available; fixed-line roughly 72 per 100 persons, no recent teledensity numbers available for mobile-cellular usage, although it was approximately 75 per 100 in 2010 (2018) international: country code - 1-340; landing points for the BSCS, St Thomas-ST Croix System, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas II, GCN, MAC, PAN-AM and SAC submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Wake Islandgeneral assessment: satellite communications; 2 Defense Switched Network circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); located in the Hawaii area code - 808 (2018) Topic: Wallis and Futunageneral assessment: 2G widespread; bandwidth is limited; mobile subscriber numbers are higher than fixed-line and better suited for islands; good mobile coverage in the capital cities and also reasonable coverage across more remote atolls; recent international interest in infrastructure development; increase in demand for mobile broadband as mobile services serve as primary source for Internet access; Kacific-1 broadband satellite launched in 2019 to improve costs and capability (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity 25 per 100 persons and 0 per 100 mobile subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 681; landing point for the Tui-Samoa submarine cable network connecting Wallis & Futuna, Samoa and Fiji (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: West Bankgeneral assessment: continuing political and economic instability has impeded liberalization of the telecommunications industry (2018) domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed-line services; two Palestinian cellular providers, JAWWAL and WATANIYA MOBILE, launched 3G mobile networks in the West Bank in January 2018 after Israel lifted its ban; fixed-line 9 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscriptions 84 per 100 (includes Gaza Strip) (2020) international: country code 970 or 972; 1 international switch in Ramallah note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Worldgeneral assessment: Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) is tied to economic growth; business, trade, and foreign direct investment are all based on effective sources of ICT, and development of ICT flourishes with a vigorous economy, open trade, and sound regulation; some 2020 estimates point to a digital economy worth $11.5 trillion globally, equivalent to 15.5% of global GDP (with ICT growing 2.5 times faster than global GDP over the past 15 years);  2020 reports indicate about 7.7 billion global mobile broadband subscriptions, rising from 3.3 billion in five years, and over 1.1 billion fixed broadband subscribers, up from 830 million in 2015 international: economically, telecommunications has been and continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing markets; countries and firms are transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting, increasing automation capabilities and applications, adopting more high-definition technologies, and converting to digital channels broadcasting typically refers to transmission of information to all devices in a network without any acknowledgment by the receivers; data processing parts and accessories includes many supporting elements to broadcasting equipment, such as monitors, keyboards, printers, etc. in terms of market size, broadcasting equipment constituted $413 billion in global trade, making it the fifth most traded commodity in 2019; similarly, data processing equipment equaled $230 billion, the eighth most traded commodity globally; the chief exporters and importers of telecommunications commodities remain largely the same: 1) China leads in both broadcasting and data processing equipment exports, $208 billion and $81.5 billion respectively and 2) the United States, conversely, receives the most of both commodities, importing $81.1 billion in broadcasting equipment and $38.3 billion in data processing equipment in 2019 Topic: Yemengeneral assessment: large percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance and telecom services are vital but disrupted; mobile towers are often deliberately targeted; maintenance is dangerous to staff; aid organizations rely on satellite and radio communications; scarcity of telecom equipment in rural areas; ownership of telecom services and the related revenues and taxes have become a political issue; Chinese company Huawei helping to rebuild some equipment (2020) domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line teledensity remains low by regional standards at roughly 4 per 100 but mobile cellular use expanding at over 55 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 967; landing points for the FALCON, SeaMeWe-5, Aden-Djibouti, and the AAE-1 international submarine cable connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Zambiageneral assessment: service is among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; regulator promotes competition and is a partner to private sector service providers, offering mobile voice and Internet at some of the lowest prices in the region; investment made in data centers, education centers, and computer assembly training plants; operators invest in 3G and LTE-based services; Chinese company Huawei is helping to upgrade state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services; operators focused on improvements to towers (2020) domestic: fiber optic connections are available between most larger towns and cities with microwave radio relays serving more rural areas; 3G and LTE with FttX in limited urban areas and private Ku or Ka band VSAT terminals in remote locations; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 104 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 260; multiple providers operate overland fiber optic routes via Zimbabwe/South Africa, Botswana/Namibia and Tanzania provide access to the major undersea cables note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Topic: Zimbabwegeneral assessment: the pandemic, drought, and rising hyperinflation have devastated the economy and hindered foreign investment; regulator extended tax exemption for Huawei, raising concerns of independence; mobile tariffs were increased three times since mid-2019, raising consumer prices; Internet is limited, exacerbated by inadequate electricity; mobile Internet connections make up almost all Internet connections; competition has driven some expansion of the telecommunications sector, though operators warn that lack of government investment will cause further deterioration, especially in rural areas; mobile network operators continue to invest in e-commerce and e-banking; slow progress on national and international fiber backbone network, as well as 3G and LTE mobile-broadband services; international bandwidth through submarine cables via neighboring countries (2020) domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, fiber-optic cable, VSAT terminals, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is most readily available in Harare and major towns; two government owned and two private cellular providers; fixed-line teledensity at nearly 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 89 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 263; fiber-optic connections to neighboring states provide access to international networks via undersea cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 5 international digital gateway exchanges note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

20220601

countries-grenada-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Grenada due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required, although Grenada requires travelers to have evidence of return/onward travel arrangements. US Embassy/Consulate: +(1)(473) 444-1174, +(1)(473) 444-1175; EMER: +(1)(473) 407-2495; US Embassy Grenada, L’Anse aux Epines Main Road, St. George, Grenada; https://bb.usembassy.gov/embassy/grenada/; StgeorgesACS@state.gov Telephone Code: 1-473 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 434; Fire: 112; Police: 911 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds Currency (Code): East Caribbean dollars (XCD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G Major Languages: English, French patois Major Religions: Protestant 49.2%, Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2% Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, traveler will need to present their US driver's license & IDP to local police to pay a special registration fee Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Grand Anse Beach; Saint George’s; Underwater Sculpture Park; Fort Frederick; Fort George; Grand Etang and Annandale Forest Reserves; Belmont Estate Major Sports: Cricket, soccer Cultural Practices: While it is normal to be late for social or personal meetings, Grenadians expect promptness for business. Tipping Guidelines: Always examine the bill to see if a service charge has already been included. If not, leave 15% as a tip. Bellhops receive $1 (USD) per bag to carry luggage to your room. Taxi drivers generally receive a 10-15% tip on a fare or tour.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-new-caledonia

Topic: Photos of New Caledonia Topic: Introduction Background: The first humans settled in New Caledonia around 1600 B.C. The Lapita were skilled navigators and evidence of their pottery around the Pacific has served as a guide for understanding human expansion in the region. Successive waves of migrants from other islands in Melanesia intermarried with the Lapita, giving rise to the Kanak ethnic group considered indigenous to New Caledonia. British explorer James COOK was the first European to visit New Caledonia in 1774, giving it the Latin name for Scotland. Missionaries first landed in New Caledonia in 1840. In 1853, France annexed New Caledonia to preclude any British attempt to claim the island. France declared it a penal colony in 1864 and sent more than 20,000 prisoners to New Caledonia in the ensuing three decades. Nickel was discovered in 1864 and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that was brutally suppressed by colonial authorities. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, New Caledonia was made an overseas territory and French citizenship was granted to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations. The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57 to 43 percent; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53 to 47 percent. In the third referendum held in December 2021, voters rejected independence 96 to 4 percent; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. In February 2021, pro-independence parties gained a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 18,575 sq km land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 2,254 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains Elevation: highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper Land use: agricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 45.9% (2018 est.) other: 43.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically activecyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active Geography - note: consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls Map description: New Caledonia map showing the various islands that comprise this French territorial archipelago in the Coral Sea.New Caledonia map showing the various islands that comprise this French territorial archipelago in the Coral Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 297,160 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian Ethnic groups: Kanak 39.1%, European 27.1%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.2%, Tahitian 2.1%, Indonesian 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, other 17.7%, unspecified 2.5% (2014 est.) Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.74% (male 32,227/female 30,819) 15-24 years: 15.63% (male 23,164/female 22,163) 25-54 years: 43.73% (male 63,968/female 62,856) 55-64 years: 9.06% (male 12,700/female 13,568) 65 years and over: 9.84% (2020 est.) (male 12,552/female 15,992) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.6 youth dependency ratio: 32.4 elderly dependency ratio: 14.2 potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.9 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.19% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.13 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea Urbanization: urban population: 72.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.83 years male: 74.93 years female: 82.92 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.3% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: 2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.9% male: 97.3% female: 96.5% (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.4% male: 37.1% female: 40% (2014 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 5.33 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Land use: agricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 45.9% (2018 est.) other: 43.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 72.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 108,157 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie etymology: British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland) Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France Dependency status: special collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; note - independence referenda took place on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021 with a majority voting in each case to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place  Capital: name: Noumea geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866, in order to avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the New Caledonian language of Ndrumbea (also spelled Ndumbea, Dubea, and Drubea) spoken in the area gave its name to the capital city, Noumea, as well as to the neighboring town (suburb) of Dumbea Administrative divisions: 3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province) Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853) Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply Legal system: civil law system based on French civil law Citizenship: see France Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Patrice FAURE (since 6 June 2021) head of government: President of the Government Louis MAPOU (since 22 July 2021); Vice President Isabelle CHAMPMOREAU (since 22 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 8 July 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Louis MAPOU elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 votes out of 11 Legislative branch: description: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congrès du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblés Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population, which rules on laws affecting the indigenous population New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term elections: Territorial Congress - last held on 12 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024) French Senate - election last held in September 2019 (next to be held not later than 2021) French National Assembly - election last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022) election results: Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party -Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26); composition - NA representation in French Senate - NA representation in French National Assembly - NA French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2 French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party -Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26); composition - NA representation in French Senate - NA representation in French National Assembly - NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal in Noumea or Cour d'Appel; organized into civil, commercial, social, and pre-trial investigation chambers; court bench normally includes the court president and 2 counselors); Administrative Court (number of judges NA); note - final appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (in Paris); final appeals beyond the Administrative Court are referred to the Administrative Court of Appeal (in Paris) judge selection and term of office: judge appointment and tenure based on France's judicial system subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts Political parties and leaders: Build Our Rainbow Nation Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GERMAIN] Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA] Future Together (l'Avenir Ensemble) [Harold MARTIN] Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO] Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI] National Union for Independence (Union Nationale pour l'Independance) or UNI Party of Kanak Liberation (Parti de Liberation Kanak) or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE] Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE] The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [interim leader Thierry SANTA] Union for Caledonia in France International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of France) Flag description: New Caledonia has two official flags; alongside the flag of France, the Kanak (indigenous Melanesian) flag has equal status; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk - diameter two-thirds the height of the flag - shifted slightly to the hoist side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faitiere symbol, a native rooftop adornment National symbol(s): fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, red National anthem: name: "Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers) lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir) note: adopted 2008; contains a mixture of lyrics in both French and Nengone (an indigenous language); as a self-governing territory of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia Topic: Economy Economic overview: New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.   With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016. In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum.New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016. In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $11.11 billion (2017 est.) $10.89 billion (2016 est.) $10.77 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) 1.1% (2016 est.) 3.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $31,100 (2015 est.) $32,100 (2014 est.) $29,800 (2012 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $9.77 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2017 est.) 0.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.) industry: 26.4% (2017 est.) services: 72.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 38.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -45.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, maize, fruit, beef, pork, potatoes, bananas, eggs, yams Industries: nickel mining and smelting Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 119,500 (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 22.4% services: 74.9% (2010) Unemployment rate: 14.7% (2014) 14% (2009) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.4% male: 37.1% female: 40% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 17% (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 1.995 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: 1.993 billion (2015 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2015 est.) Public debt: 6.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 6.5% of GDP (2014 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 20.4% (of GDP) (2015 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.469 billion (2014 est.) -$1.861 billion (2013 est.) Exports: $2.207 billion (2014 est.) Exports - partners: China 59%, South Korea 14%, Japan 11% (2019) Exports - commodities: iron alloys, nickel, cobalt, carbonates, essential oils (2019) Imports: $2.715 billion (2015 est.) $4.4 billion (2014 est.) Imports - partners: France 43%, Australia 12%, Singapore 12%, China 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, coal, cars, packaged medicines (2019) Debt - external: $112 million (31 December 2013 est.) $79 million (31 December 1998 est.) Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.2 (2017 est.) 107.84 (2016 est.) 107.84 (2015 est.) 89.85 (2013 est.) 90.56 (2012 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 2.945 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.739 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 996,200 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 19,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 46,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 260,277 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.02 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: New Caledonia has a well-developed telecom sector with 3G and LTE network services; one of the highest smart phone adoption rates in the region; telecommunications sector is dominated by government-owned company with a monopoly on fixed and mobile services, Internet, and broadband access; hub for submarine cables that will increase competition and capacity; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from France (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast Internet country code: .nc Internet users: total: 222,466 (2019 est.) percent of population: 82% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 55,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) (registered in France) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (registered in France) Airports: total: 25 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Heliports: 8 (2021) Roadways: total: 5,622 km (2006) Merchant marine: total: 24 by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 18 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Noumea Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; France bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and VanuatuMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

20220601

countries-poland-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions when traveling to Poland. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. No need for blank pages for entry stamp. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [48] (22) 504-2000; US Embassy Warsaw, Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw, Poland; acswarsaw@state.gov; https://pl.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 48 Local Emergency Phone: 112, 999 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Currency (Code): Zlotych (PLN) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: Polish, Silesian Major Religions: Catholic 85.9% (includes Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic), Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.4% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Gdansk Old Town; Bialowieza Forest; Wieliczka & Bochnia Royal Salt Mine; Malbork Castle; Slowinski Sand Dunes; Masurian Lakeland; Wawel Castle & Cathedral; Krakow; Warsaw (includes Wilanow Palace, Palace on the Water); Auschwitz Major Sports: Soccer, motorsports, volleyball, ski jumping, track and field Cultural Practices: Many households will ask you to remove your shoes upon entry. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is expected for good service in restaurants, especially in tourist areas such as Krakow or Warsaw. The norm is to tip around 10-15%. Hotel housekeepers do not expect a tip, but leaving a small amount (10 zlotych), is appreciated. Tipping a tour driver 10-15% is customary.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, May 10, 2022

20220601

countries-indonesia

Topic: Photos of Indonesia Topic: Introduction Background: The archipelago was once largely under the control of Buddhist and Hindu rulers. By around the 7th century, a Buddhist kingdom arose on Sumatra and expanded into Java and the Malay Peninsula until it was conquered in the late 13th century by the Hindu Majapahit Empire from Java. Majapahit (1290-1527) united most of modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia. Traders introduced Islam in the trade ports around the 11th century, and Indonesians gradually adopted Islam over the next 500 years. The Portuguese conquered parts of Indonesia in the 16th century, but they were ousted by the Dutch (except in East Timor), who began colonizing the islands in the early 17th century. It would be the early 20th century before Dutch colonial rule was established across the entirety of what would become the boundaries of the modern Indonesian state. Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1998, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After street protests toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance in Papua by the separatist Free Papua Movement.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 1,904,569 sq km land: 1,811,569 sq km water: 93,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 2,958 km border countries (3): Malaysia 1,881 km; Papua New Guinea 824 km; Timor-Leste 253 km Coastline: 54,716 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains Elevation: highest point: Puncak Jaya 4,884 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 367 m Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver Land use: agricultural land: 31.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 13% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.1% (2018 est.) forest: 51.7% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 67,220 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Danau Toba - 1,150 sq km note - located in the caldera of a super volcano that erupted more than 70,000 years ago; it is the largest volcanic lake in the World Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Population distribution: major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands (those surrounding Java and Bali), Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda, and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated Natural hazards: occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, 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; on 22 December 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the 338 m high island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami inundating portions of western Java and southern Sumatra leaving more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note"occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest firesvolcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, 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; on 22 December 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the 338 m high island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami inundating portions of western Java and southern Sumatra leaving more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Geography - note: note 1: according to Indonesia's National Coordinating Agency for Survey and Mapping, the total number of islands in the archipelago is 13,466, of which 922 are permanently inhabited (Indonesia is the world's largest country comprised solely of islands); the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean note 2: Indonesia is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; 80% of tsunamis, caused by volcanic or seismic events, occur within the "Pacific Ring of Fire" note 3: despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon note 4: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcanenote 1: according to Indonesia's National Coordinating Agency for Survey and Mapping, the total number of islands in the archipelago is 13,466, of which 922 are permanently inhabited (Indonesia is the world's largest country comprised solely of islands); the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Oceannote 2: Indonesia is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; 80% of tsunamis, caused by volcanic or seismic events, occur within the "Pacific Ring of Fire"note 3: despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon note 4: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcane Map description: Indonesia map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic country as well as parts of surrounding countries.  Indonesia map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic country as well as parts of surrounding countries.  Topic: People and Society Population: 277,329,163 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.) Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese); note - more than 700 languages are used in Indonesia major-language sample(s): Fakta Dunia, sumber informasi dasar yang sangat diperlukan. (Indonesian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 87.2%, Protestant 7%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist and Confucian), unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) Demographic profile: Indonesia has the world’s fourth-largest population.  It is predominantly Muslim and has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world.  The population is projected to increase to as much as 320 million by 2045.  A government-supported family planning program.  The total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – from 5.6 in the mid-1960s to 2.7 in the mid-1990s.  The success of the program was also due to the social acceptance of family planning, which received backing from influential Muslim leaders and organizations. The fertility decline slowed in the late 1990’s when responsibility for family planning programs shifted to the district level, where the programs were not prioritized.  Since 2012 the national government revitalized the national family planning program, and Indonesia’s TFR has slowly decreased to 2.3 in 2020.  The government may reach its goal of achieving replacement level fertility – 2.1 children per woman – but the large number of women of childbearing age ensures significant population growth for many years.  Indonesia is a source country for labor migrants, a transit country for asylum seekers, and a destination mainly for highly skilled migrant workers.  International labor migration, both legal and illegal, from Indonesia to other parts of Asia (most commonly Malaysia) and the Middle East has taken place for decades because of high unemployment and underemployment, poverty, and low wages domestically.  Increasing numbers of migrant workers are drawn to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US.  The majority of Indonesian labor migration is temporary and consists predominantly of low-skilled workers, mainly women working as domestics. Indonesia’s strategic location between Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and Indian Oceans – and its relatively easy accessibility via boat – appeal to asylum seekers.  It is also an attractive transit location because of its easy entry requirements and the ability to continue on to Australia.  Recent asylum seekers have come from Afghanistan, Burma (Rohingyas), Iraq, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.  Since 2013, when Australia tightening its immigration policy, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have been stranded in Indonesia, where they live in precarious conditions and receive only limited support from international organizations.  The situation for refugees in Indonesia has also worsened because Australia and the US, which had resettled the majority of refugees in Indonesia, have significantly lowered their intake.Indonesia has the world’s fourth-largest population.  It is predominantly Muslim and has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world.  The population is projected to increase to as much as 320 million by 2045.  A government-supported family planning program.  The total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – from 5.6 in the mid-1960s to 2.7 in the mid-1990s.  The success of the program was also due to the social acceptance of family planning, which received backing from influential Muslim leaders and organizations.The fertility decline slowed in the late 1990’s when responsibility for family planning programs shifted to the district level, where the programs were not prioritized.  Since 2012 the national government revitalized the national family planning program, and Indonesia’s TFR has slowly decreased to 2.3 in 2020.  The government may reach its goal of achieving replacement level fertility – 2.1 children per woman – but the large number of women of childbearing age ensures significant population growth for many years. Indonesia is a source country for labor migrants, a transit country for asylum seekers, and a destination mainly for highly skilled migrant workers.  International labor migration, both legal and illegal, from Indonesia to other parts of Asia (most commonly Malaysia) and the Middle East has taken place for decades because of high unemployment and underemployment, poverty, and low wages domestically.  Increasing numbers of migrant workers are drawn to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US.  The majority of Indonesian labor migration is temporary and consists predominantly of low-skilled workers, mainly women working as domestics.Indonesia’s strategic location between Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and Indian Oceans – and its relatively easy accessibility via boat – appeal to asylum seekers.  It is also an attractive transit location because of its easy entry requirements and the ability to continue on to Australia.  Recent asylum seekers have come from Afghanistan, Burma (Rohingyas), Iraq, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.  Since 2013, when Australia tightening its immigration policy, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have been stranded in Indonesia, where they live in precarious conditions and receive only limited support from international organizations.  The situation for refugees in Indonesia has also worsened because Australia and the US, which had resettled the majority of refugees in Indonesia, have significantly lowered their intake. Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.87% (male 32,473,246/female 31,264,034) 15-24 years: 16.76% (male 22,786,920/female 21,960,130) 25-54 years: 42.56% (male 58,249,570/female 55,409,579) 55-64 years: 8.99% (male 11,033,838/female 12,968,005) 65 years and over: 7.82% (2020 est.) (male 9,099,773/female 11,781,271) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 47.5 youth dependency ratio: 38.3 elderly dependency ratio: 9.2 potential support ratio: 10.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31.1 years male: 30.5 years female: 31.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.79% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.75 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands (those surrounding Java and Bali), Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda, and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated Urbanization: urban population: 57.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 11.075 million JAKARTA (capital), 3.622 million Bekasi, 3.005 million Surabaya, 2.942 million Depok, 2.638 million Bandung, 2.456 million Tangerang (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.4 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 177 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 19.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.08 years male: 70.86 years female: 75.4 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 55.5% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.2% of population rural: 86.8% of population total: 93.3% of population unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population rural: 13.2% of population total: 6.7% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.9% (2019) Physicians density: 0.43 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.2% of population rural: 86.5% of population total: 92.5% of population unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population rural: 13.5% of population total: 7.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 540,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 24,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Indonesia; as of 30 March 2022, Indonesia has reported a total of 6,005,646 cases of COVID-19 or 2,195.66 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 154,882 cumulative deaths or a rate 56.62 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 71.01% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.7% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2% (2017) women married by age 18: 16.3% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97.4% female: 94.6% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.8% male: 15.1% female: 14.3% (2020 est.) People - note: Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the World after China, India, and the United States; more than half of the Indonesian population - roughly 150 million people or 55% - live on the island of Java (about the size of California) making it the most crowded island on earth Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: large-scale deforestation (much of it illegal) and related wildfires cause heavy smog; over-exploitation of marine resources; environmental problems associated with rapid urbanization and economic development, including air pollution, traffic congestion, garbage management, and reliable water and waste water services; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 563.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 244.5 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Land use: agricultural land: 31.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 13% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.1% (2018 est.) forest: 51.7% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 57.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.39% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 1.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Indonesia; as of 30 March 2022, Indonesia has reported a total of 6,005,646 cases of COVID-19 or 2,195.66 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 154,882 cumulative deaths or a rate 56.62 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 71.01% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 65.2 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4.564 million tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7% (2016 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Danau Toba - 1,150 sq km note - located in the caldera of a super volcano that erupted more than 70,000 years ago; it is the largest volcanic lake in the World Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Total water withdrawal: municipal: 23.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 9.135 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 189.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 2,018,700,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies (Dutch East Indies), Netherlands New Guinea etymology: the name is an 18th-century construct of two Greek words, "Indos" (India) and "nesoi" (islands), meaning "Indian islands" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Jakarta; note - Indonesian lawmakers on 18 January 2022 approved the relocation of the country’s capital from Jakarta to a site in East Kalimantan, a jungle area of Borneo; the move to Nusantara, the name of the new capital, will take several years geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Indonesia has three time zones etymology: "Jakarta" derives from the Sanscrit "Jayakarta" meaning "victorious city" and refers to a successful defeat and expulsion of the Portuguese in 1527; previously the port had been named "Sunda Kelapa" Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 national capital district*** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta** note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities have become the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services Independence: 17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945) Constitution: history: drafted July to August 1945, effective 18 August 1945, abrogated by 1949 and 1950 constitutions; 1945 constitution restored 5 July 1959 amendments: proposed by the People’s Consultative Assembly, with at least two thirds of its members present; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the unitary form of the state cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2002 Legal system: civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Indonesia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 continuous years Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age Executive branch: chief of state: President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014, reelected 17 April 2019, inauguration 19 October 2019); Vice President Ma'ruf AMIN (since 20 October 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014); Vice President Ma'ruf AMIN (since 20 October 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 April 2019 (next election 2024) election results: Joko WIDODO elected president; percent of vote - Joko WIDODO (PDI-P) 55.5%, PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (GERINDRA) 44.5% Legislative branch: description: bicameral People's Consultative Assembly or Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat (MPR) consists of: Regional Representative Council or Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (136 seats; non-partisan members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - 4 each from the country's 34 electoral districts - by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Regional Representative Council has no legislative authority House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (575 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 5-year terms) (2019) elections: Regional Representative Council - last held on 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 17 April 2019 (next to be held 2024) (2019) election results: Regional Representative Council - all seats elected on a non-partisan basis; composition - men 102, women 34, percent of women 25% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDI-P 19.3%, Gerindra 12.6%, Golkar 12.3%,  PKB 9.7%, Nasdem 9.1%, PKS 8.2%, PD 7.8%, PAN 6.8%, PPP 4.5%, other 9.6%; seats by party - PDI-P 128, Golkar 85, Gerindra 78, Nasdem 59, PKB 58, PD 54, PKS 50, PAN 44, PPP 19; composition - men 449, women 126, percent of women 21.9%; total People's Consultative Assembly percent of women 22.5% (2019) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (51 judges divided into 8 chambers); Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by Judicial Commission, appointed by president with concurrence of parliament; judges serve until retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by president, 3 by Supreme Court, and 3 by parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: High Courts of Appeal, district courts, religious courts Political parties and leaders: Berkarya Party [Muchdi PURWOPRANJONO] Crescent Star Party or PBB [Yusril Ihza MAHENDRA] Democrat Party or PD [Agus Harimurti YUDHOYONO] Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Airlangga HARTARTO] Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo] Garuda Party [Ahmad Ridha SABANA] Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri] Indonesian Justice and Unity Party or PKPI [Yussuf SOLICHIEN] Indonesian Solidarity Party or PSI [GIRING GANESHA] National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR] National Democratic Party or NasDem [Surya PALOH] National Mandate Party or PAN [Zulkifli HASAN] People's Conscience Party or Hanura [Oesman Sapta ODANG] Perindo Party [Hary TANOESOEDIBJO] Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Ahmad SYAIKHU] United Development Party or PPP [Suharso MONOARFA] (2021) International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IORA, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, MSG (associate member), NAM, OECD (enhanced engagement), OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rosan ROESLANI (since 25 October 2021) chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200 FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365 email address and website: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sung Y. KIM (since 21 October 2020) embassy: Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 3-5, Jakarta 10110 mailing address: 8200 Jakarta Place, Washington DC  8200 telephone: [62] (21) 5083-1000 (2020) FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189 (2018) email address and website: jakartaacs@state.gov https://id.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Surabaya consulate(s): MedanAmbassador Sung Y. KIM (since 21 October 2020) Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries; red symbolizes courage, white represents purity note: similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red National symbol(s): garuda (mythical bird); national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia) lyrics/music: Wage Rudolf SOEPRATMAN note: adopted 1945 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (5 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Borobudur Temple Compounds (c), Komodo National Park (n), Prambanan Temple Compounds (c), Ujung Kulon National Park (n), Sangiran Early Man Site (c), Lorentz National Park (n), Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (n), Cultural Landscape of Bali Province (c), Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen a slowdown in growth since 2012, mostly due to the end of the commodities export boom. During the global financial crisis, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth. Indonesia’s annual budget deficit is capped at 3% of GDP, and the Government of Indonesia lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio from a peak of 100% shortly after the Asian financial crisis in 1999 to 34% today. In May 2017 Standard & Poor’s became the last major ratings agency to upgrade Indonesia’s sovereign credit rating to investment grade.   Poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among its regions are still part of Indonesia’s economic landscape. President Joko WIDODO - elected in July 2014 – seeks to develop Indonesia’s maritime resources and pursue other infrastructure development, including significantly increasing its electrical power generation capacity. Fuel subsidies were significantly reduced in early 2015, a move which has helped the government redirect its spending to development priorities. Indonesia, with the nine other ASEAN members, will continue to move towards participation in the ASEAN Economic Community, though full implementation of economic integration has not yet materialized.Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen a slowdown in growth since 2012, mostly due to the end of the commodities export boom. During the global financial crisis, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth. Indonesia’s annual budget deficit is capped at 3% of GDP, and the Government of Indonesia lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio from a peak of 100% shortly after the Asian financial crisis in 1999 to 34% today. In May 2017 Standard & Poor’s became the last major ratings agency to upgrade Indonesia’s sovereign credit rating to investment grade. Poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among its regions are still part of Indonesia’s economic landscape. President Joko WIDODO - elected in July 2014 – seeks to develop Indonesia’s maritime resources and pursue other infrastructure development, including significantly increasing its electrical power generation capacity. Fuel subsidies were significantly reduced in early 2015, a move which has helped the government redirect its spending to development priorities. Indonesia, with the nine other ASEAN members, will continue to move towards participation in the ASEAN Economic Community, though full implementation of economic integration has not yet materialized. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3,130,470,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,196,620,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,043,880,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.03% (2019 est.) 5.17% (2018 est.) 5.07% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $11,400 (2020 est.) $11,800 (2019 est.) $11,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1,119,720,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 3.2% (2018 est.) 3.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2017) Moody's rating: Baa2 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 13.7% (2017 est.) industry: 41% (2017 est.) services: 45.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 9.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -19.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, rice, maize, sugar cane, coconuts, cassava, bananas, eggs, poultry, rubber Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 129.366 million (2019 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 32% industry: 21% services: 47% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.31% (2018 est.) 5.4% (2017 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.8% male: 15.1% female: 14.3% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 9.4% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.8 (2018 est.) 39.4 (2005) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.2% (2010) Budget: revenues: 131.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 159.6 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 28.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 13% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$30.359 billion (2019 est.) -$30.633 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $178.26 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $200.1 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $211.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 15%, United States 10%, Japan 9%, Singapore 8%, India 7%, Malaysia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: coal, palm oil, natural gas, cars, gold (2019) Imports: $159.64 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $204.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $218.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 27%, Singapore 12%, Japan 8%, Thailand 5%, United States 5%, South Korea 5%, Malaysia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, vehicle parts, telephones, natural gas (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $130.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) Debt - external: $393.252 billion (2019 est.) $360.945 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 14,110 (2020 est.) 14,015 (2019 est.) 14,470 (2018 est.) 13,389.4 (2014 est.) 11,865.2 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 99% (2019) Electricity - production: 235.4 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 213.4 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 693 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 61.43 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 85% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 772,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 302,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 498,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 3.31 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 950,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.601 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 79,930 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 591,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 72.09 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 42.32 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 29.78 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 2.866 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 9,662,135 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 355,620,388 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Indonesia’s telecom sector is based on 3G/LTE mobile infrastructure and inadequate fixed-line capacity; large population and disbursed island geography make upgrades difficult; market is attracting foreign investment, especially in data center and cloud based services; tests of 5G challenged by lack of spectrum; satellite improvements in 2020 (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscribership roughly 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular 130 per 100 persons; coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership growing rapidly (2020) international: country code - 62; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 & 5, DAMAI, JASUKA, BDM, Dumai-Melaka Cable System, IGG, JIBA, Link 1, 3, 4,  & 5, PGASCOM, B3J2, Tanjung Pandam-Sungai Kakap Cable System, JAKABARE, JAYABAYA, INDIGO-West, Matrix Cable System, ASC, SJJK, Jaka2LaDeMa, S-U-B Cable System, JBCS, MKCS, BALOK, Palapa Ring East, West and Middle, SMPCS Packet-1 and 2, LTCS, TSCS, SEA-US and Kamal Domestic Submarine Cable System, 35 submarine cable networks that provide links throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: mixture of about a dozen national TV networks - 1 public broadcaster, the remainder private broadcasters - each with multiple transmitters; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; overall, more than 700 radio stations with more than 650 privately operated (2019) Internet country code: .id Internet users: total: 147,702,755 (2020 est.) percent of population: 54% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 11,722,218 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 25 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 611 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,154,100 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,131,910,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PK Airports: total: 673 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 186 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 37 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 487 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 460 (2021) Heliports: 76 (2021) Pipelines: 1064 km condensate, 150 km condensate/gas, 11702 km gas, 119 km liquid petroleum gas, 7767 km oil, 77 km oil/gas/water, 728 km refined products, 53 km unknown, 44 km water (2013) Railways: total: 8,159 km (2014) narrow gauge: 8,159 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified) note: 4,816 km operational Roadways: total: 496,607 km (2011) paved: 283,102 km (2011) unpaved: 213,505 km (2011) Waterways: 21,579 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 10,427 by type: bulk carrier 148, container ship 226, general cargo 2,238, oil tanker 676, other 7,139 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Banjarmasin, Belawan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok container port(s) (TEUs): Tanjung Perak (3,900,000), Tanjung Priok (7,600,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (export): Bontang, Tangguh LNG terminal(s) (import): Arun, Lampung, West Java Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), includes Marine Corps (Korps Marinir, KorMar), Naval Aviation Center (PUSPENERBAL)), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Komando Pertahanan Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)), Armed Forces Special Operations Command (Kopassus), Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad), National Army Reserve Component (Komcad) (2022) note(s) - in 2014, Indonesia created a Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) to coordinate the actions of all maritime security agencies, including the Navy, the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard (Kesatuan Penjagaan Laut dan Pantai, KPLP), the Water Police (Polair), Customs (Bea Cukai), and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries the Indonesian National Police includes a paramilitary Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB); following the Bali terror bombing in 2002, the National Police formed a special counter-terrorism force called Detachment 88 (Densus or Detasemen Khusus 88 Antiteror) Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020) 0.8% of GDP (2019) (approximately $15.5 billion) 0.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $14.5 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $15.5 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately, 400,000 active duty troops (300,000 Army; 60,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 30,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Indonesian military inventory comes from a wide variety of sources; since 2010, the top suppliers included China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US; the TNI has been engaged in a long-term modernization program since 2010 with uneven success; Indonesia has a growing defense industry fueled by technology transfers and cooperation agreements with several countries; in 2019, the Indonesian Government publicly said that growing its domestic defense industry is a national priority over the next 5-10 years (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized (males, age 18), but not utilized; 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers) (2021) Military deployments: 225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,030 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,250 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (Jan 2022) Military - note: as of 2022, Indonesian military and police forces were engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Papua against the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, which has been fighting a low-level insurgency since the 1960s when Indonesia annexed the former Dutch colony; since 2019, there has been an increase in militant activity in Papua and a larger Indonesian military presence; Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969; in addition, the Indonesian military has been assisting police in Sulawesi in countering the Mujahideen Indonesia Timur (MIT; aka East Indonesia Mujahideen), a local Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated terrorist group Indonesia is not a formal claimant in the South China Sea, although some of its waters lie within China's “nine-dash line” maritime claims, resulting in some stand offs in recent years; since 2016, the Indonesian military has bolstered its presence on Great Natuna Island (aka Pulau Natuna Besar), the main island of the Middle Natuna Archipelago, which is part of the Riau Islands Province, held military exercises in surrounding waters, and increased security cooperation (2022) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; the number of attacks decreased from 26 incidents in 2020 to nine in 2021 due to aggressive maritime patrolling by regional authorities; vessels continue to be boarded while anchored or berthed at Indonesian ports with seven vessels attacked; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (aka Jemaah Anshorut Daulah); Jemaah Islamiyah note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches; land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundaryIndonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches; land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,792 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: 40,000 (inter-communal, inter-faith, and separatist violence between 1998 and 2004 in Aceh and Papua; religious attacks and land conflicts in 2007 and 2013; most IDPs in Aceh, Maluku, East Nusa Tengarra) (2020) stateless persons: 668 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: a transit and destination point for illicit narcotics; consumer of crystal methamphetamine trafficked in Burma and Pakistan and also transit to Australia and New Zealand; significant consumer of ecstasy from China and the Netherlands and domestically grown cannabis  a transit and destination point for illicit narcotics; consumer of crystal methamphetamine trafficked in Burma and Pakistan and also transit to Australia and New Zealand; significant consumer of ecstasy from China and the Netherlands and domestically grown cannabis 

20220601

countries-norfolk-island

Topic: Photos of Norfolk Island Topic: Introduction Background: Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500 but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders - descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions - were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands. Some returned to the Pitcairn Islands over the next few years but most settled permanently on Norfolk Island and recreated the land tenure and governance structures they previously had. Norfolk Island retained a great degree of local control until 1897, when it became a dependency of New South Wales. During World War II, Norfolk Island was an airbase and an important refueling stop in the South Pacific. In 1976, an Australian judge recommended Norfolk Island be incorporated fully into Australia, which Norfolk Islanders rejected. Following an appeal to the UN, Australia granted limited self-government to Norfolk Island in 1979. With growing financial troubles during the 2000s, Australia abolished the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly in 2015, reduced Norfolk Island’s autonomy in 2016, and suspended the local council in 2020. Most services are provided by a mix of the Australian Capital Territory and the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These moves were unpopular on Norfolk Island, which has sought to have its self-government restored.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 36 sq km land: 36 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 32 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic island with mostly rolling plains Elevation: highest point: Mount Bates 319 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish Land use: agricultural land: 25% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.) forest: 11.5% (2018 est.) other: 63.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (especially May to July) Geography - note: most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated Map description: Norfolk Island map shows a few population centers on this island in the South Pacific Ocean.Norfolk Island map shows a few population centers on this island in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,748 (2016 est.) Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s) Ethnic groups: Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.) note: respondents were able to identify up to two ancestries; percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in Norfolk Island, including those who did not identify an ancestry; only top responses are shownAustralian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% Languages: English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (also known as Norfuk or Norf'k, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home Religions: Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston Sex ratio: NA Infant mortality rate: total: (2018) NA male: NA female: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: (2017 est.) NA male: NA female: NA Total fertility rate: NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: (2020) NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: inadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation Land use: agricultural land: 25% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.) forest: 11.5% (2018 est.) other: 63.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774 Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia Dependency status: self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development Capital: name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April etymology: the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the British king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was George III Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856) Constitution: history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979 amendments: amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: English common law and the laws of Australia Citizenship: see Australia Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Administrator Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017) cabinet: Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia Legislative branch: description: unicameral Norfolk Island Regional Council (5 seats; councillors directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); mayor elected annually by the councillors elections: elections last held 28 May 2016 (next rescheduled to be held in 2022) election results: seats by party - independent 5; composition - men 4, women 1, percent of women 20% note: following an administrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 and replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council consisted of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections on 28 May 2016, the new Norfolk Island Regional Council (NIRC) commenced operations on 1 July 2016; on 20 December 2020 the NIRC was suspended for three months following a public audit and this suspension was extended on 3 February 2021 for an additional three months pending the outcome of a public inquiry; the council election previously scheduled for 13 March 2021 has been postponed 12 months Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal Political parties and leaders: Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY] Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN] International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria National symbol(s): Norfolk Island pine National anthem: name: Come Ye Blessed lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair" (which other Australian territories use); instead "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): NANA Agricultural products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry Industries: tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete Labor force: 978 (2006) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6% industry: 14% services: 80% (2006 est.) Budget: revenues: 4.6 million (FY99/00) expenditures: 4.8 million (FY99/00) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Exports: NANA Exports - partners: Philippines 29%, Singapore 21%, India 14%, Belgium 7%, Australia 5%, Canada 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: soybean meal, Norfolk Island pine seeds, Kentia palm seeds, activated carbon, centrifuges, pesticides, postage stamps (2019) Imports: $NA$NA Imports - partners: New Zealand 23%, Australia 19%, Philippines 19%, Singapore 14%, Fiji 11% (2019) Imports - commodities: clothing and apparel, chemical analysis instruments, refined petroleum, cars, kitchen machinery (2019) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.311 (2017 est.) 1.3291 (2016 est.) 1.3291 (2015) 1.3291 (2014 est.) 1.1094 (2013 est.) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate, 4G mobile telecommunication network (2020) domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009) Internet country code: .nf Internet users: total: 612 (2016 est.) percent of population: 35% (2016 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 80 km (2008) paved: 53 km (2008) unpaved: 27 km (2008) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Kingston Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

field-major-aquifers

This entry lists the major (mega) aquifer system(s) that underlie a country, keeping in mind that many of these mega aquifers are so large that they extend under multiple countries. More than 30% of freshwater is held in underground aquifers. There is great variation in the size of such aquifers, but a limited number of very large aquifer systems contain a majority of the World’s groundwater volume in storage. Topic: AlgeriaLullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin, North Western Sahara Aquifer, Taoudeni-Tanezrouft Basin Topic: AngolaCongo Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Topic: ArgentinaGuarani Aquifer System Topic: AustraliaGreat Artesian Basin, Canning Basin Topic: BahrainArabian Aquifer System Topic: BangladeshIndus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Topic: BoliviaAmazon Basin Topic: BotswanaLower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Topic: BrazilAmazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin Topic: CameroonLake Chad Basin Topic: CanadaNorthern Great Plains Aquifer Topic: Central African RepublicCongo Basin, Lake Chad Basin Topic: ChadLake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System Topic: ChinaNorth China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin Topic: ColombiaAmazon Basin Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theCongo Basin Topic: Congo, Republic of theCongo Basin Topic: EgyptNubian Aquifer System Topic: EthiopiaOgaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Topic: FranceParis Basin Topic: GabonCongo Basin Topic: Gambia, TheSenegalo-Mauritanian Basin Topic: Guinea-BissauSenegalo-Mauritanian Basin Topic: IndiaIndus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Topic: IraqArabian Aquifer System Topic: JordanArabian Aquifer System Topic: KenyaOgaden-Juba Basin Topic: KuwaitArabian Aquifer System Topic: LibyaNubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin Topic: MaliLullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Taodeni-Tanezrouft Basin Topic: MauritaniaSenegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin Topic: MexicoAtlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer Topic: NamibiaLower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Topic: NepalIndus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Topic: NigerLake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin Topic: NigeriaLake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System Topic: OmanArabian Aquifer System Topic: PakistanIndus Basin Topic: ParaguayGuarani Aquifer System Topic: PeruAmazon Basin Topic: QatarArabian Aquifer System Topic: RussiaAngara-Lena Basin, Pechora Basin, North Caucasus Basin, East European Aquifer System, West Siberian Basin, Tunguss Basin, Yakut Basin Topic: Saudi ArabiaArabian Aquifer System Topic: SenegalSenegalo-Mauritanian Basin Topic: SomaliaOgaden-Juba Basin Topic: South AfricaKaroo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin Topic: SudanNubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Topic: TunisiaNorth Western Sahara Aquifer System Topic: United StatesNorthern Great Plains Aquifer, Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer System, Californian Central Valley Aquifer System, Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains), Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer Topic: UruguayGuarani Aquifer System Topic: Worldsummary statement: aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock formations; they include alluvial formations such as unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers, sedimentary rock formations of sandstone and karst (carbonate rocks such as limestone) aquifers, as well as volcanic aquifers, and basement aquifers (igneous and metamorphic rocks that underlie sedimentary and volcanic rock sequences); groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well; The World Factbook lists 37 major aquifers across 52 countries; of these, 13 are in Africa, 10 in Asia, 5 in North America, 3 in South America, 4 in Europe, and 2 in Australia; although aquifers can vary in size, the major aquifers listed in The Factbook contain the bulk of the stored volume of groundwater; the fresh water held in these aquifers represents more than 30% of the World's fresh water; in the US, groundwater is primarily used for irrigation and globally, 70% of groundwater withdrawn is used for agriculture; groundwater also supplies almost half of all drinking water worldwide Topic: ZambiaUpper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin Topic: ZimbabweUpper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

20220601

countries-midway-islands

20220601

field-real-gdp-purchasing-power-parity

This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The differences between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy industrialized countries are generally much smaller. Topic: Afghanistan$77.04 billion (2020 est.) $78.56 billion (2019 est.) $75.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Albania$37.73 billion (2020 est.) $39.02 billion (2019 est.) $38.19 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Algeria$468.4 billion (2020 est.) $495.56 billion (2019 est.) $491.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: American Samoa$658 million (2016 est.) $674.9 million (2015 est.) $666.9 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars Topic: Andorra$3.327 billion (2015 est.) $3.363 billion (2014 est.) $3.273 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars Topic: Angola$203.71 billion (2020 est.) $212.29 billion (2019 est.) $213.62 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Anguilla$175.4 million (2009 est.) $191.7 million (2008 est.) $108.9 million (2004 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda$1.76 billion (2020 est.) $2.09 billion (2019 est.) $2.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Argentina$893.31 billion (2020 est.) $991.52 billion (2019 est.) $1,012,670,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Armenia$37.31 billion (2020 est.) $40.38 billion (2019 est.) $37.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Aruba$4.158 billion (2017 est.) $4.05 billion (2017 est.) $4.107 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Australia$1,250,900,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,254,480,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,227,940,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Austria$463.12 billion (2020 est.) $495.8 billion (2019 est.) $488.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Azerbaijan$138.51 billion (2020 est.) $144.74 billion (2019 est.) $141.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bahamas, The$12.1 billion (2020 est.) $14.45 billion (2019 est.) $14.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bahrain$69.65 billion (2020 est.) $73.95 billion (2019 est.) $72.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bangladesh$793.49 billion (2020 est.) $775.08 billion (2019 est.) $716.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Barbados$3.7 billion (2020 est.) $4.49 billion (2019 est.) $4.49 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Belarus$179.97 billion (2020 est.) $181.61 billion (2019 est.) $179.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Belgium$557.11 billion (2020 est.) $594.47 billion (2019 est.) $584.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Belize$2.43 billion (2020 est.) $2.83 billion (2019 est.) $2.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Benin$40.29 billion (2020 est.) $38.79 billion (2019 est.) $36.3 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bermuda$5.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5.2 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5.227 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Bhutan$8.42 billion (2020 est.) $9.03 billion (2019 est.) $8.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bolivia$92.59 billion (2020 est.) $100.45 billion (2019 est.) $98.27 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina$47.05 billion (2020 est.) $49.17 billion (2019 est.) $47.82 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Botswana$37.72 billion (2020 est.) $40.95 billion (2019 est.) $39.75 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Brazil$2,989,430,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,115,910,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,072,550,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: British Virgin Islands$500 million (2017 est.) $490.2 million (2016 est.) $481.1 million (2015 est.) Topic: Brunei$27.23 billion (2020 est.) $26.91 billion (2019 est.) $25.9 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Bulgaria$155.06 billion (2020 est.) $161.78 billion (2019 est.) $156.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Burkina Faso$45.16 billion (2020 est.) $44.27 billion (2019 est.) $41.88 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Burma$247.24 billion (2020 est.) $274.69 billion (2019 est.) $270.11 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Burundi$8.69 billion (2020 est.) $8.67 billion (2019 est.) $8.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cabo Verde$3.36 billion (2020 est.) $3.94 billion (2019 est.) $3.73 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cambodia$70.08 billion (2020 est.) $72.36 billion (2019 est.) $67.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cameroon$94.94 billion (2020 est.) $94.25 billion (2019 est.) $90.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Canada$1,742,790,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,842,330,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,808,660,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cayman Islands$4.78 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.409 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Central African Republic$4.483 billion (2019 est.) $4.354 billion (2018 est.) $4.195 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Chad$24.97 billion (2020 est.) $25.19 billion (2019 est.) $24.4 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Chile$445.88 billion (2020 est.) $473.19 billion (2019 est.) $468.77 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: China$23,009,780,000,000 (2020 est.) $22,492,450,000,000 (2019 est.) $21,229,360,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Christmas IslandNANA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNANA Topic: Colombia$683.94 billion (2020 est.) $734.22 billion (2019 est.) $710.89 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Comoros$2.73 billion (2020 est.) $2.6 billion (2019 est.) $2.55 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the$96.03 billion (2020 est.) $95.29 billion (2019 est.) $91.29 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Congo, Republic of the$19.03 billion (2020 est.) $20.68 billion (2019 est.) $20.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cook Islands$299.9 million (2016 est.) $183.2 million (2015 est.) Topic: Costa Rica$100.25 billion (2020 est.) $105.02 billion (2019 est.) $102.79 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cote d'Ivoire$136.48 billion (2020 est.) $134.05 billion (2019 est.) $126.19 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Croatia$107.11 billion (2020 est.) $116.89 billion (2019 est.) $113.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Cuba$137 billion (2017 est.) $134.8 billion (2016 est.) $134.2 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars Topic: Curacao$3.86 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $3.99 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.08 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Cyprus$33.67 billion (2020 est.) $35.48 billion (2019 est.) $34.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Czechia$409.97 billion (2020 est.) $434.31 billion (2019 est.) $424.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Denmark$326.2 billion (2020 est.) $335.36 billion (2019 est.) $326.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Djibouti$5.42 billion (2020 est.) $5.39 billion (2019 est.) $5 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Dominica$710 million (2020 est.) $850 million (2019 est.) $830 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Dominican Republic$184.45 billion (2020 est.) $197.74 billion (2019 est.) $188.23 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Ecuador$182.24 billion (2020 est.) $197.55 billion (2019 est.) $197.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Egypt$1,223,040,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,180,890,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,118,720,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: El Salvador$52.26 billion (2020 est.) $56.77 billion (2019 est.) $55.31 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Equatorial Guinea$23.86 billion (2020 est.) $25.09 billion (2019 est.) $26.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Eritrea$9.702 billion (2017 est.) $8.953 billion (2016 est.) $8.791 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Estonia$47.44 billion (2020 est.) $48.87 billion (2019 est.) $46.54 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Eswatini$9.74 billion (2020 est.) $9.9 billion (2019 est.) $9.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Ethiopia$264.05 billion (2020 est.) $248.97 billion (2019 est.) $229.76 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: European Union$19,885,625,000,000 (2019 est.) $19,551,328,000,000 (2018 est.) $19,115,988,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)$206.4 million (2015 est.) $164.5 million (2014 est.) $167.5 million (2013 est.) Topic: Faroe Islands$2.001 billion (2014 est.) $1.89 billion (2013 est.) $1.608 billion (2012 est.) Topic: Fiji$9.86 billion (2020 est.) $12.18 billion (2019 est.) $12.23 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Finland$261.39 billion (2020 est.) $268.84 billion (2019 est.) $265.46 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: France$2,832,170,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,082,300,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,036,490,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: French Polynesia$5.49 billion (2017 est.) $5.383 billion (2016 est.) $6.963 billion (2015 est.) Topic: Gabon$32.05 billion (2020 est.) $32.48 billion (2019 est.) $31.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Gambia, The$5.22 billion (2020 est.) $5.22 billion (2019 est.) $4.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Gaza Stripsee entry for the West Banksee entry for the West Bank Topic: Georgia$52.33 billion (2020 est.) $55.76 billion (2019 est.) $53.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Germany$4,238,800,000,000 (2020 est.) $4,457,050,000,000 (2019 est.) $4,432,430,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Ghana$164.84 billion (2020 est.) $164.16 billion (2019 est.) $154.13 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Gibraltar$2.044 billion (2014 est.) $1.85 billion (2013 est.) $2 billion (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 dollars Topic: Greece$292.4 billion (2020 est.) $318.68 billion (2019 est.) $312.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Greenland$2.413 billion (2015 est.) $2.24 billion (2014 est.) $2.203 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars Topic: Grenada$1.7 billion (2020 est.) $1.91 billion (2019 est.) $1.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Guam$5.793 billion (2016 est.) $5.697 billion (2015 est.) $5.531 billion (2014 est.) Topic: Guatemala$141.5 billion (2020 est.) $143.68 billion (2019 est.) $138.33 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Guernsey$3.465 billion (2015 est.) $3.451 billion (2014 est.) $3.42 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars Topic: Guinea$35.08 billion (2020 est.) $32.78 billion (2019 est.) $31.03 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Guinea-Bissau$3.64 billion (2020 est.) $3.73 billion (2019 est.) $3.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Guyana$14.69 billion (2020 est.) $10.24 billion (2019 est.) $9.72 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Haiti$31.62 billion (2020 est.) $32.72 billion (2019 est.) $33.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NANA Topic: Honduras$50.89 billion (2020 est.) $55.91 billion (2019 est.) $54.46 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Hong Kong$420.13 billion (2020 est.) $447.34 billion (2019 est.) $454.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Hungary$302.32 billion (2020 est.) $318.09 billion (2019 est.) $303.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Iceland$19.16 billion (2020 est.) $20.52 billion (2019 est.) $20.01 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: India$8,443,360,000,000 (2020 est.) $9,174,040,000,000 (2019 est.) $8,817,670,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Indonesia$3,130,470,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,196,620,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,043,880,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Iran$1,044,310,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,027,240,000,000 (2019 est.) $1.102 trillion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Iraq$372.27 billion (2020 est.) $415.32 billion (2019 est.) $397.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Ireland$447.97 billion (2020 est.) $433.17 billion (2019 est.) $410.33 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Isle of Man$6.792 billion (2015 est.) $7.428 billion (2014 est.) $6.298 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars Topic: Israel$353.39 billion (2020 est.) $362.23 billion (2019 est.) $350.15 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Italy$2,322,140,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,548,190,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,540,890,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Jamaica$25.89 billion (2020 est.) $28.83 billion (2019 est.) $28.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Japan$5,224,850,000,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5,210,770,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $5,180,326,000,000 (2017 est.) Topic: Jersey$5.569 billion (2016 est.) $5.514 billion (2015 est.) $4.98 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars Topic: Jordan$100.16 billion (2020 est.) $101.74 billion (2019 est.) $99.79 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kazakhstan$475.18 billion (2020 est.) $487.87 billion (2019 est.) $466.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kenya$226.94 billion (2020 est.) $227.64 billion (2019 est.) $216.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kiribati$270 million (2020 est.) $270 million (2019 est.) $260 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Korea, North$40 billion (2015 est.) $40 billion (2014 est.) $40 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2015 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion. Topic: Korea, South$2,187,800,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,208,960,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,164,810,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kosovo$19.13 billion (2020 est.) $20.55 billion (2019 est.) $19.58 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kuwait$209.74 billion (2019 est.) $208.85 billion (2018 est.) $206.274 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Kyrgyzstan$31.02 billion (2020 est.) $33.95 billion (2019 est.) $32.46 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Laos$56.79 billion (2020 est.) $56.54 billion (2019 est.) $53.62 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Latvia$56.92 billion (2020 est.) $59.06 billion (2019 est.) $57.88 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Lebanon$79.51 billion (2020 est.) $99.76 billion (2019 est.) $106.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Lesotho$4.88 billion (2020 est.) $5.49 billion (2019 est.) $5.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Liberia$6.85 billion (2020 est.) $7.05 billion (2019 est.) $7.21 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Libya$70.65 billion (2020 est.) $102.84 billion (2019 est.) $100.3 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Liechtenstein$4.978 billion (2014 est.) $3.2 billion (2009 est.) $3.216 billion (2008 est.) Topic: Lithuania$102.66 billion (2020 est.) $103.56 billion (2019 est.) $99.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Luxembourg$69.72 billion (2020 est.) $70.64 billion (2019 est.) $69.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Macau$35.58 billion (2020 est.) $81.44 billion (2019 est.) $83.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Madagascar$41.82 billion (2020 est.) $43.65 billion (2019 est.) $41.81 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Malawi$28.44 billion (2020 est.) $28.22 billion (2019 est.) $26.69 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Malaysia$855.6 billion (2020 est.) $906.24 billion (2019 est.) $868.85 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Maldives$7.05 billion (2020 est.) $10.37 billion (2019 est.) $9.69 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Mali$44.89 billion (2020 est.) $45.64 billion (2019 est.) $43.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Malta$20.6 billion (2020 est.) $22.15 billion (2019 est.) $20.99 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Marshall Islands$240 million (2019 est.) $220 million (2018 est.) $219 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Mauritania$23.17 billion (2020 est.) $23.52 billion (2019 est.) $22.2 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Mauritius$24.64 billion (2020 est.) $28.95 billion (2019 est.) $28.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Mexico$2,306,320,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,513,410,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,514,780,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of$390 million (2019 est.) $390 million (2018 est.) $389 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Moldova$32.26 billion (2020 est.) $34.68 billion (2019 est.) $33.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Monaco$7.672 billion (2015 est.) $7.279 billion (2014 est.) $6.79 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars Topic: Mongolia$37.6 billion (2020 est.) $39.72 billion (2019 est.) $37.77 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Montenegro$11.36 billion (2020 est.) $13.39 billion (2019 est.) $12.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Montserrat$167.4 million (2011 est.) $155.9 million (2010 est.) $162.7 million (2009 est.) Topic: Morocco$259.42 billion (2020 est.) $279.3 billion (2019 est.) $272.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Mozambique$38.42 billion (2020 est.) $38.91 billion (2019 est.) $38.04 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Namibia$22.6 billion (2020 est.) $24.56 billion (2019 est.) $24.71 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Nauru$150 million (2019 est.) $150 million (2018 est.) $137 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Nepal$110.72 billion (2020 est.) $113.08 billion (2019 est.) $106.03 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Netherlands$945.48 billion (2020 est.) $982.22 billion (2019 est.) $966.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: New Caledonia$11.11 billion (2017 est.) $10.89 billion (2016 est.) $10.77 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars Topic: New Zealand$215.6 billion (2020 est.) $213.5 billion (2019 est.) $210.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Nicaragua$34.98 billion (2020 est.) $35.68 billion (2019 est.) $37.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Niger$28.97 billion (2020 est.) $28.54 billion (2019 est.) $26.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Nigeria$1,013,530,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,032,050,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,009,750,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Niue$10.01 million (2003 est.) Topic: Norfolk IslandNANA Topic: North Macedonia$33.02 billion (2020 est.) $34.59 billion (2019 est.) $33.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data Topic: Northern Mariana Islands$1.242 billion (2016 est.) $933 million (2015 est.) $845 million (2014 est.) note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy; data are in 2013 dollars Topic: Norway$342.06 billion (2020 est.) $344.69 billion (2019 est.) $341.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Oman$135.79 billion (2019 est.) $136.92 billion (2018 est.) $135.696 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Pakistan$1,021,130,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,015,800,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,005,850,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars data are for fiscal years Topic: Palau$320 million (2019 est.) $330 million (2018 est.) $317 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Panama$109.52 billion (2020 est.) $133.47 billion (2019 est.) $129.54 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Papua New Guinea$36.69 billion (2020 est.) $38.17 billion (2019 est.) $36.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Paraguay$87.98 billion (2020 est.) $88.87 billion (2019 est.) $89.23 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Peru$371.29 billion (2020 est.) $417.88 billion (2019 est.) $408.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Philippines$871.56 billion (2020 est.) $963.83 billion (2019 est.) $908.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNANA Topic: Poland$1,223,460,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,257,440,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,202,820,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Portugal$331.64 billion (2020 est.) $358.78 billion (2019 est.) $350.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Puerto Rico$106.82 billion (2020 est.) $111.16 billion (2019 est.) $109.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Qatar$245.66 billion (2020 est.) $255.01 billion (2019 est.) $253.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Romania$556.07 billion (2020 est.) $578.39 billion (2019 est.) $555.47 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Russia$3,875,690,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,993,550,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,913,980,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Rwanda$27.18 billion (2020 est.) $28.13 billion (2019 est.) $25.7 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha$31.1 million (2009 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis$1.24 billion (2020 est.) $1.39 billion (2019 est.) $1.36 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Saint Lucia$2.25 billion (2020 est.) $2.82 billion (2019 est.) $2.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Saint Martin$561.5 million (2005 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon$261.3 million (2015 est.) $215.3 million (2006 est.) note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$1.34 billion (2020 est.) $1.38 billion (2019 est.) $1.37 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Samoa$1.25 billion (2020 est.) $1.28 billion (2019 est.) $1.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: San Marino$2.06 billion (2019 est.) $2.01 billion (2018 est.) $1.982 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sao Tome and Principe$890 million (2020 est.) $860 million (2019 est.) $840 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Saudi Arabia$1,543,240,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,609,320,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,604,010,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Senegal$55.26 billion (2020 est.) $54.78 billion (2019 est.) $52.47 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Serbia$125.8 billion (2020 est.) $127.04 billion (2019 est.) $121.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Seychelles$2.4 billion (2020 est.) $2.69 billion (2019 est.) $2.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sierra Leone$13.15 billion (2020 est.) $13.44 billion (2019 est.) $12.72 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Singapore$531.04 billion (2020 est.) $561.3 billion (2019 est.) $553.85 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sint Maarten$1.44 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $1.436 billion (2018 est.) $1.538 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Slovakia$165.57 billion (2020 est.) $173.83 billion (2019 est.) $169.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Slovenia$76.75 billion (2020 est.) $81.25 billion (2019 est.) $78.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Solomon Islands$1.71 billion (2020 est.) $1.78 billion (2019 est.) $1.76 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Somalia$13.19 billion (2020 est.) $13.39 billion (2019 est.) $13.01 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 US dollars Topic: South Africa$680.04 billion (2020 est.) $730.91 billion (2019 est.) $729.8 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: South Sudan$20.01 billion (2017 est.) $21.1 billion (2016 est.) $24.52 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Spain$1,714,860,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,923,330,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,886,540,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sri Lanka$274.8 billion (2020 est.) $284.97 billion (2019 est.) $278.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sudan$176.4 billion (2020 est.) $179.2 billion (2019 est.) $181.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Suriname$9.46 billion (2020 est.) $11.07 billion (2019 est.) $10.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Sweden$524.75 billion (2020 est.) $539.96 billion (2019 est.) $532.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Switzerland$590.71 billion (2020 est.) $608.16 billion (2019 est.) $601.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Syria$50.28 billion (2015 est.) $55.8 billion (2014 est.) $61.9 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars the war-driven deterioration of the economy resulted in a disappearance of quality national level statistics in the 2012-13 period Topic: Taiwan$1,143,277,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,113,126,000,000 (2018 est.) $1,083,384,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars Topic: Tajikistan$34.88 billion (2020 est.) $33.38 billion (2019 est.) $31.08 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Tanzania$152.79 billion (2020 est.) $149.79 billion (2019 est.) $141.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Thailand$1,206,620,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,284,830,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,256,360,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Timor-Leste$4.19 billion (2020 est.) $4.59 billion (2019 est.) $3.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Togo$17.45 billion (2020 est.) $17.15 billion (2019 est.) $16.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Tokelau$7,711,583 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars. Topic: Tonga$670 million (2019 est.) $660 million (2018 est.) $660 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Trinidad and Tobago$33.21 billion (2020 est.) $36.03 billion (2019 est.) $36.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Tunisia$114.97 billion (2020 est.) $125.78 billion (2019 est.) $124.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Turkey$2,393,960,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,352,640,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,331,270,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Turkmenistan$92.33 billion (2019 est.) $86.86 billion (2018 est.) $81.787 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands$820 million (2020 est.) $1.12 billion (2019 est.) $1.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Tuvalu$50 million (2020 est.) $50 million (2019 est.) $50 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Uganda$99.61 billion (2020 est.) $96.84 billion (2019 est.) $90.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Ukraine$516.68 billion (2020 est.) $538.33 billion (2019 est.) $521.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: United Arab Emirates$655.79 billion (2019 est.) $644.97 billion (2018 est.) $637.384 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: United Kingdom$2,797,980,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,101,640,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,059,690,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: United States$19,846,720,000,000 (2020 est.) $20,563,590,000,000 (2019 est.) $20,128,580,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Uruguay$75.06 billion (2020 est.) $79.73 billion (2019 est.) $79.45 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Uzbekistan$239.42 billion (2020 est.) $235.54 billion (2019 est.) $222.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Vanuatu$850 million (2020 est.) $930 million (2019 est.) $910 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Venezuela$269.068 billion (2018 est.) $381.6 billion (2017 est.) $334.751 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Vietnam$798.21 billion (2020 est.) $775.67 billion (2019 est.) $724.81 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Virgin Islands$3.872 billion (2016 est.) $3.759 billion (2015 est.) $3.622 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2013 dollars Topic: Wallis and Futuna$60 million (2004 est.) Topic: West Bank$25.91 billion (2020 est.) $29.26 billion (2019 est.) $28.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars and includes Gaza Strip Topic: World$127.8 trillion (2017 est.) $123.3 trillion (2016 est.) $119.5 trillion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Yemen$73.63 billion (2017 est.) $78.28 billion (2016 est.) $90.63 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Zambia$60.12 billion (2020 est.) $61.99 billion (2019 est.) $61.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Topic: Zimbabwe$40.79 billion (2020 est.) $44.34 billion (2019 est.) $48.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

20220601

countries-kosovo

Topic: Photos of Kosovo Topic: Introduction Background: The central Balkans were part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires before ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century. During the medieval period, Kosovo became the center of a Serbian Empire and saw the construction of many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. The defeat of Serbian forces at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over the region from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War of 1912. After World War II, Kosovo's present-day boundaries were established when Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.). Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. The Serbs - many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland - instituted a new constitution in 1989 revoking Kosovo's autonomous status. Kosovo's Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum declaring Kosovo independent. Serbia undertook repressive measures against the Kosovar Albanians in the 1990s, provoking a Kosovar Albanian insurgency. Beginning in 1998, Serbia conducted a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians (some 800,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo). After international attempts to mediate the conflict failed, a three-month NATO military operation against Serbia beginning in March 1999 forced the Serbs to agree to withdraw their military and police forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's final status. The 2006-07 negotiations ended without agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, though the UN issued a comprehensive report on Kosovo's final status that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Since then, close to 100 countries have recognized Kosovo, and it has joined numerous international organizations. In October 2008, Serbia sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality under international law of Kosovo's declaration of independence. The ICJ released the advisory opinion in July 2010 affirming that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate general principles of international law, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, or the Constitutive Framework. The opinion was closely tailored to Kosovo's unique history and circumstances. Demonstrating Kosovo’s development into a sovereign, multi-ethnic, democratic country the international community ended the period of Supervised Independence in 2012. Kosovo held its most recent national and municipal elections in 2021, ushering in a government led by the Self-Determination Movement's (VV) Albin KURTI, a former political prisoner who did not fight in the 1998-99 war. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries agreed in April 2013 to normalize their relations through EU-facilitated talks, which produced several subsequent agreements the parties are implementing to varying degrees, though they have not yet reached a comprehensive normalization of relations. Kosovo has pursued bilateral recognitions and memberships in international organizations, moves that Serbia strongly opposes. Kosovo signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in 2015, and the EU named Kosovo as among the six Western Balkan countries that will be able to join the organization once it meets the criteria to accede. Kosovo also seeks memberships in the UN and in NATO.The central Balkans were part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires before ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century. During the medieval period, Kosovo became the center of a Serbian Empire and saw the construction of many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. The defeat of Serbian forces at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over the region from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War of 1912. After World War II, Kosovo's present-day boundaries were established when Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.). Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. The Serbs - many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland - instituted a new constitution in 1989 revoking Kosovo's autonomous status. Kosovo's Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum declaring Kosovo independent. Serbia undertook repressive measures against the Kosovar Albanians in the 1990s, provoking a Kosovar Albanian insurgency.Beginning in 1998, Serbia conducted a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians (some 800,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo). After international attempts to mediate the conflict failed, a three-month NATO military operation against Serbia beginning in March 1999 forced the Serbs to agree to withdraw their military and police forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's final status. The 2006-07 negotiations ended without agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, though the UN issued a comprehensive report on Kosovo's final status that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Since then, close to 100 countries have recognized Kosovo, and it has joined numerous international organizations. In October 2008, Serbia sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality under international law of Kosovo's declaration of independence. The ICJ released the advisory opinion in July 2010 affirming that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate general principles of international law, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, or the Constitutive Framework. The opinion was closely tailored to Kosovo's unique history and circumstances.Demonstrating Kosovo’s development into a sovereign, multi-ethnic, democratic country the international community ended the period of Supervised Independence in 2012. Kosovo held its most recent national and municipal elections in 2021, ushering in a government led by the Self-Determination Movement's (VV) Albin KURTI, a former political prisoner who did not fight in the 1998-99 war. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries agreed in April 2013 to normalize their relations through EU-facilitated talks, which produced several subsequent agreements the parties are implementing to varying degrees, though they have not yet reached a comprehensive normalization of relations. Kosovo has pursued bilateral recognitions and memberships in international organizations, moves that Serbia strongly opposes. Kosovo signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in 2015, and the EU named Kosovo as among the six Western Balkan countries that will be able to join the organization once it meets the criteria to accede. Kosovo also seeks memberships in the UN and in NATO.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia Geographic coordinates: 42 35 N, 21 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 10,887 sq km land: 10,887 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Delaware Land boundaries: total: 714 km border countries (4): Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December Terrain: flat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m Elevation: highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m mean elevation: 450 m Natural resources: nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite Land use: agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, the largest being in the east in and around the capital of Pristina Geography - note: the 41-km long Nerodimka River divides into two branches each of which flows into a different sea: the northern branch flows into the Sitnica River, which via the Ibar, Morava, and Danube Rivers ultimately flows into the Black Sea; the southern branch flows via the Lepenac and Vardar Rivers into the Aegean Sea Map description: Kosovo map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Kosovo map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,952,701 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Kosovan adjective: Kosovan note: Kosovo, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective as in Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo minority, or Kosovo citizen Ethnic groups: Albanians 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, Romani 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and some other ethnic minorities because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo Languages: Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1%; note - in municipalities where a community's mother tongue is not one of Kosovo's official languages, the language of that community may be given official status according to the 2006 Law on the Use of Languages (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Libri i Fakteve Boterore, burimi vital per informacione elementare. (Albanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.07% (male 241,563/female 223,568) 15-24 years: 16.95% (male 170,566/female 157,063) 25-54 years: 42.56% (male 433,914/female 388,595) 55-64 years: 8.67% (male 85,840/female 81,782) 65 years and over: 7.75% (2020 est.) (male 63,943/female 85,940) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 30.5 years male: 30.2 years female: 30.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.57% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.85 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, the largest being in the east in and around the capital of Pristina Major urban areas - population: 216,870 PRISTINA (capital) (2019) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 27.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.12 years male: 68.83 years female: 73.58 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 49.7% male: 45.9% female: 57.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution (pollution from power plants and nearby lignite mines take a toll on people's health); water scarcity and pollution; land degradation Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 8.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.54 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December Land use: agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2015 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo) local short form: Kosove (Kosovo) etymology: name derives from the Serbian "kos" meaning "blackbird," an ellipsis (linguistic omission) for "kosove polje" or "field of the blackbirds" Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina) geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from a Proto-Slavic word reconstructed as "pryshchina," meaning "spring (of water)" Administrative divisions: 38 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine, singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan Independence: 17 February 2008 (from Serbia) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 February (2008) Constitution: history: previous 1974, 1990; latest (postindependence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008; note - amendment 24, passed by the Assembly in August 2015, established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Institution, referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chamber or "Specialist Court," to try war crimes allegedly committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the late 1990s amendments: proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment; amended several times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system; note - the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) retained limited executive powers within the Kosovo judiciary for complex cases from 2008 to 2018 International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 22 March 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Assembly elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly for a 5-year term; if a candidate does not attain a two-thirds threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3-4 April 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly election results: Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu elected president in the third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (Guxo!) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (VV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67-30 Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova (120 seats; 100 members directly elected by open-list proportional representation vote with 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities - 10 for Serbs and 10 for other ethnic minorities; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 14 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - VV 50%, PDK 16.9%, LDK 12.7%, AAK 7.1%, Serbian List 5.1%, other 8.2%; seats by party - VV 58, PDK 19, LDK 15, Serbian List 10, AAK 8, other 10; composition as of December 2021 - men 79, women 41, percent of women 34.2% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges and organized into Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Property Agency and Special Chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Judicial Council, a 13-member independent body staffed by judges and lay members, and also responsible for overall administration of Kosovo's judicial system; judges appointed by the president of the Republic of Kosovo; judges appointed until mandatory retirement age; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Assembly and appointed by the president of the republic to serve single, 9-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (organized into 4 departments: General, Serious Crime, Commercial Matters, and Administrative Matters); Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches) note: in August 2015, the Kosovo Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that establishes the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution, also referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers or "Special Court"; the court, located at the Hague in the Netherlands, began operating in late 2016 and has jurisdiction to try crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under Kosovo law that occurred in the 1998-2000 period Political parties and leaders: Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ] Alternativa [Mimoza KUSARI-LILA] Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI [Bekim ARIFI] Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Lumir ABDIXHIKU] Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Memli KRASNIQI] Guxo! [Donika GERVALLA-SCHWARZ] Independent Liberal Party or SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC] Initiative for Kosovo or NISMA [Fatmir LIMAJ] New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Elbert KRASNIQI] New Democratic Party or NDS [Emilja REDXEPI] New Kosovo Alliance or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI] Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRK [Erxhan GALUSHI] Romani Initiative [Gazmend SALIJEVCI] Self-Determination Movement (Vetevendosje) or VV [Albin KURTI] Serbian List or SL [Goran RAKIC] Social Democratic Party of Kosovo or PSD [Shpend AHMETI] Social Democratic Union [Duda BALJE] Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP [Fikrim DAMKA] Unique Gorani Party [Adem HODZA] Vakat Coalition or VAKAT [Rasim DEMIRI] International organization participation: IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022) chancery: 2175 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130 FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609 email address and website: https://www.ambasada-ks.net/us/?page=2,1 consulate(s) general: New York consulate(s): Des Moines (IA) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip KOSNETT (since 3 December 2018) embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Rr.  4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina mailing address: 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC  20521-9520 telephone: [383] 38-59-59-3000 FAX: [383] 38-604-890 email address and website: PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: centered on a dark blue field is a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks note: one of only two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Cyprus is the other National symbol(s): six, five-pointed, white stars; national colors: blue, gold, white National anthem: name: Europe lyrics/music: no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI note: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose to exclude lyrics in its anthem so as not to offend the country's minority ethnic groups National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo Topic: Economy Economic overview: Kosovo's economy has shown progress in transitioning to a market-based system and maintaining macroeconomic stability, but it is still highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and the Nordic countries - are estimated to account for about 17% of GDP and international donor assistance accounts for approximately 10% of GDP. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize a majority of its state-owned enterprises.   Kosovo's citizens are the second poorest in Europe, after Moldova, with a per capita GDP (PPP) of $10,400 in 2017. An unemployment rate of 33%, and a youth unemployment rate near 60%, in a country where the average age is 26, encourages emigration and fuels a significant informal, unreported economy. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and a lack of technical expertise. Kosovo enjoys lower labor costs than the rest of the region. However, high levels of corruption, little contract enforcement, and unreliable electricity supply have discouraged potential investors. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used illegally in Serb majority communities. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep core inflation low.   Minerals and metals production - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once the backbone of industry, has declined because of aging equipment and insufficient investment, problems exacerbated by competing and unresolved ownership claims of Kosovo’s largest mines. A limited and unreliable electricity supply is a major impediment to economic development. The US Government is cooperating with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the World Bank to conclude a commercial tender for the construction of Kosovo C, a new lignite-fired power plant that would leverage Kosovo’s large lignite reserves. MED also has plans for the rehabilitation of an older bituminous-fired power plant, Kosovo B, and the development of a coal mine that could supply both plants.   In June 2009, Kosovo joined the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2012, and the Council of Europe Development Bank in 2013. In 2016, Kosovo implemented the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations with the EU, focused on trade liberalization. In 2014, nearly 60% of customs duty-eligible imports into Kosovo were EU goods. In August 2015, as part of its EU-facilitated normalization process with Serbia, Kosovo signed agreements on telecommunications and energy distribution, but disagreements over who owns economic assets, such as the Trepca mining conglomerate, within Kosovo continue.   Kosovo experienced its first federal budget deficit in 2012, when government expenditures climbed sharply. In May 2014, the government introduced a 25% salary increase for public sector employees and an equal increase in certain social benefits. Central revenues could not sustain these increases, and the government was forced to reduce its planned capital investments. The government, led by Prime Minister MUSTAFA - a trained economist - recently made several changes to its fiscal policy, expanding the list of duty-free imports, decreasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) for basic food items and public utilities, and increasing the VAT for all other goods.   While Kosovo’s economy continued to make progress, unemployment has not been reduced, nor living standards raised, due to lack of economic reforms and investment.Kosovo's economy has shown progress in transitioning to a market-based system and maintaining macroeconomic stability, but it is still highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and the Nordic countries - are estimated to account for about 17% of GDP and international donor assistance accounts for approximately 10% of GDP. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize a majority of its state-owned enterprises. Kosovo's citizens are the second poorest in Europe, after Moldova, with a per capita GDP (PPP) of $10,400 in 2017. An unemployment rate of 33%, and a youth unemployment rate near 60%, in a country where the average age is 26, encourages emigration and fuels a significant informal, unreported economy. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and a lack of technical expertise. Kosovo enjoys lower labor costs than the rest of the region. However, high levels of corruption, little contract enforcement, and unreliable electricity supply have discouraged potential investors. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used illegally in Serb majority communities. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep core inflation low. Minerals and metals production - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once the backbone of industry, has declined because of aging equipment and insufficient investment, problems exacerbated by competing and unresolved ownership claims of Kosovo’s largest mines. A limited and unreliable electricity supply is a major impediment to economic development. The US Government is cooperating with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the World Bank to conclude a commercial tender for the construction of Kosovo C, a new lignite-fired power plant that would leverage Kosovo’s large lignite reserves. MED also has plans for the rehabilitation of an older bituminous-fired power plant, Kosovo B, and the development of a coal mine that could supply both plants. In June 2009, Kosovo joined the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2012, and the Council of Europe Development Bank in 2013. In 2016, Kosovo implemented the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations with the EU, focused on trade liberalization. In 2014, nearly 60% of customs duty-eligible imports into Kosovo were EU goods. In August 2015, as part of its EU-facilitated normalization process with Serbia, Kosovo signed agreements on telecommunications and energy distribution, but disagreements over who owns economic assets, such as the Trepca mining conglomerate, within Kosovo continue. Kosovo experienced its first federal budget deficit in 2012, when government expenditures climbed sharply. In May 2014, the government introduced a 25% salary increase for public sector employees and an equal increase in certain social benefits. Central revenues could not sustain these increases, and the government was forced to reduce its planned capital investments. The government, led by Prime Minister MUSTAFA - a trained economist - recently made several changes to its fiscal policy, expanding the list of duty-free imports, decreasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) for basic food items and public utilities, and increasing the VAT for all other goods. While Kosovo’s economy continued to make progress, unemployment has not been reduced, nor living standards raised, due to lack of economic reforms and investment. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $19.13 billion (2020 est.) $20.55 billion (2019 est.) $19.58 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.7% (2017 est.) 4.1% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $10,800 (2020 est.) $11,500 (2019 est.) $10,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $7.926 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 11.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.7% (2017 est.) services: 70.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 84.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish Industries: mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2016 est.) Labor force: 500,300 (2017 est.) note: includes those estimated to be employed in the gray economy Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.4% industry: 17.4% services: 78.2% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 30.5% (2017 est.) 27.5% (2016 est.) note: Kosovo has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 49.7% male: 45.9% female: 57.6% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 17.6% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29 (2017 est.) 24.1 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 22% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 2.054 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.203 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 21.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 29% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Current account balance: -$467 million (2017 est.) -$533 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.69 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.31 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Albania 16%, India 14%, North Macedonia 12.1%, Serbia 10.6%, Switzerland 5.6%, Germany 5.4% (2017) Exports - commodities: mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, vegetable products, textiles and apparel Imports: $4.19 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.45 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.5 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 12.4%, Serbia 12.3%, Turkey 9.6%, China 9.1%, Italy 6.4%, North Macedonia 5.1%, Albania 5%, Greece 4.4% (2017) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, livestock, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery, minerals, textiles, stone, ceramic and glass products, electrical equipment Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $683.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) $708.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $2.388 billion (2019 est.) $2.409 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 5.638 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 3.957 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 885.7 million kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 557 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.573 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (2017 est.) NA Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 192 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,040 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (2017 est.) NA Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 383,763 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2019 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 562,000 (2015 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2015 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: EU pre-accession process supported progress in the telecom industry with a regulatory framework, European standards, and a market of new players encouraging development; two operators dominate the sector; under-developed telecom infrastructure leads to low fixed-line penetration; little expansion of fiber networks for broadband; expansion of LTE services (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular 32 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 383 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Internet country code: .xk note: assigned as a temporary code under UN Security Council resolution 1244/99 Internet users: total: 1,502,658 (2019 est.) percent of population: 84% (2019 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z6 Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Railways: total: 333 km (2015) standard gauge: 333 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge Roadways: total: 2,012 km (2015) paved: 1,921 km (2015) (includes 78 km of expressways) unpaved: 91 km (2015) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Kosovo Security Force (KSF): Land Force Command; Logistics Command; Doctrine and Training Command; National Guard Command (2021) Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $160 million) 0.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $150 million) 0.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $130 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has approximately 3,500 personnel; note - Kosovo plans for the KSF to eventually number around 5,000 troops (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the KSF is equipped with small arms and light vehicles only; it relies on donations and since 2013 has received donated equipment from Turkey and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: service is voluntary; must be over the age of 18 and a citizen of Kosovo; upper age for enlisting is 30 for officers, 25 for other ranks, although these may be waived for recruits with key skills considered essential for the KSF (2021) Military - note: the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has operated in the country as a peace support force since 1999; as of 2021, it numbered about 3,500 troops; KFOR also assists in developing the Kosovo Security Force Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens; Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completedSerbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens; Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 16,000 (primarily ethnic Serbs displaced during the 1998-1999 war fearing reprisals from the majority ethnic-Albanian population; a smaller number of ethnic Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians fled their homes in 2,004 as a result of violence) (2020) note: 7,794 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022)

20220601

field-exports-commodities

This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported commodities. Topic: Afghanistangold, grapes, opium, fruits and nuts, insect resins, cotton, handwoven carpets, soapstone, scrap metal (2019) Topic: Albanialeather footwear and parts, crude petroleum, iron alloys, clothing, electricity, perfumes (2019) Topic: Algeriacrude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, ammonia (2019) Topic: American Samoacanned tuna Topic: Andorraintegrated circuits, medical supplies, essential oils, cars, tanned hides (2019) Topic: Angolacrude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, refined petroleum, ships (2019) Topic: Anguillalobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum Topic: Antigua and Barbudaships, refined petroleum, precious/semi-precious metal scraps, rice, corn (2019) Topic: Argentinasoybean products, corn, delivery trucks, wheat, frozen meat, gold (2019) Topic: Armeniacopper ore, gold, tobacco, liquors, iron alloys (2019) Topic: Arubarefined petroleum, liquors, scrap iron, soap, tobacco (2019) Topic: Australiairon ore, coal, natural gas, gold, aluminum oxide (2019) Topic: Austriacars, packaged medical supplies, vehicle parts, medical vaccines/cultures, flavored water (2019) Topic: Azerbaijancrude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, tomatoes, gold (2019) Topic: Bahamas, Theships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, crustaceans, styrene polymers (2019) Topic: Bahrainrefined petroleum, aluminum and plating, crude petroleum, iron ore, gold (2019) Topic: Bangladeshclothing, knitwear, leather footwear (2019) Topic: Barbadosrums and other hard liquor, ships, orthopedic appliances, cement, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: Belarusrefined petroleum, fertilizers, cheese, delivery trucks, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Belgiumcars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, natural gas (2019) Topic: Belizeraw sugar, bananas, fruit juice, fish products, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Benincotton, refined petroleum, gold, cashews, copper (2019) Topic: Bermudare-exports of pharmaceuticals Topic: Bhutaniron alloys, dolomite, refined iron, cement, silicon carbides (2019) Topic: Bolivianatural gas, gold, zinc, soybean oil and soy products, tin, silver, lead (2019) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaelectricity, seating, leather shoes, furniture, insulated wiring (2019) Topic: Botswanadiamonds, insulated wiring, gold, beef, carbonates (2019) Topic: Brazilsoybeans, crude petroleum, iron, corn, wood pulp products (2019) Topic: British Virgin Islandsrecreational boats, aircraft, diamonds, paintings, precious stones (2019) Topic: Bruneinatural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, industrial alcohols, industrial hydrocarbons (2019) Topic: Bulgariarefined petroleum, packaged medicines, copper, wheat, electricity (2019) Topic: Burkina Fasogold, cotton, zinc, cashews, sesame seeds (2019) Topic: Burmanatural gas, clothing products, rice, copper, dried legumes (2019) Topic: Burundigold, coffee, tea, raw earth metal ores, wheat flours (2019) Topic: Cabo Verdeprocessed and frozen fish, mollusks, clothing, scrap iron (2019) Topic: Cambodiaclothing, precious metal scraps, trunks/cases, gold, leather footwear (2019) Topic: Camerooncrude petroleum, cocoa beans, lumber, gold, natural gas, bananas (2019) Topic: Canadacrude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, gold, refined petroleum, natural gas (2019) Topic: Cayman Islandsrecreational boats, gold, broadcasting equipment, sulfates, collector's items (2019) Topic: Central African Republiclumber, gold, diamonds, sea vessels, cocoa paste (2019) Topic: Chadcrude petroleum, gold, livestock, sesame seeds, gum arabic, insect resins (2019) Topic: Chilecopper, wood pulp, fish fillets, pitted fruits, wine (2019) Topic: Chinabroadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, office machinery and parts, telephones (2019) Topic: Christmas Islandcalcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandscomputers, packaged medicines, precious metal watches, office machinery/parts, chemical analysis instruments (2019) Topic: Colombiacrude petroleum, coal, refined petroleum, coffee, gold (2019) Topic: Comoroscloves, essential oils, vacuum flask, vanilla, scrap vessels (2019) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecopper, cobalt, crude petroleum, diamonds (2019) Topic: Congo, Republic of thecrude petroleum, copper, lumber, ships, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Cook Islandsfish products, recreational boats, precious metal scraps, fruit juice, chemical analysis instruments (2019) Topic: Costa Ricamedical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2019) Topic: Cote d'Ivoirecocoa beans, gold, rubber, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Croatiarefined petroleum, packaged medicines, cars, medical cultures/vaccines, lumber (2019) Topic: Cubacigars, raw sugar, nickel products, rum, zinc (2019) Topic: Curacaogold, precious metal scraps, petroleum coke, frozen fish, coal tar oil (2019) Topic: Cyprusships, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cheese, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Czechiacars and vehicle parts, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, seating (2019) Topic: Denmarkpackaged medicines, electric generators, pork, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019) Topic: Djiboutivarious animals, chlorides, dried legumes, industrial fatty acids/oils, coffee, chickpeas (2019) Topic: Dominicamedical instruments, pharmaceuticals, low-voltage protection equipment, tropical fruits, bandages (2019) Topic: Dominican Republicgold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019) Topic: Ecuadorcrude petroleum, crustaceans, bananas, fish, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Egyptcrude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, natural gas, fertilizers (2019) Topic: El Salvadortextiles and apparel, electrical capacitors, plastic lids, raw sugar, toilet paper (2019) Topic: Equatorial Guineacrude petroleum, natural gas, industrial alcohols, lumber, veneer sheeting (2019) Topic: Eritreagold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small industry manufactures Topic: Estoniabroadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, prefabricated buildings (2019) Topic: Eswatinisoft drink concentrates, sugar, timber, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus, and canned fruit Topic: Ethiopiacoffee, sesame seeds, gold, cut flowers, zinc (2019) Topic: European Unionmachinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, aircraft, plastics, iron and steel, wood pulp and paper products, alcoholic beverages, furniture Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019) Topic: Faroe Islandsfish and fish products (97%) (2017 est.) Topic: Fijiwater, refined petroleum, fish, raw sugar, gold (2019) Topic: Finlandrefined petroleum, paper and wood pulp products, cars, stainless steel, lumber (2019) Topic: Franceaircraft, packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, gas turbines, wine (2019) Topic: French Polynesiacultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat Topic: Gaboncrude petroleum, manganese, lumber, veneer sheeting, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Gambia, Thelumber, cashews, refined petroleum, fish oil, ground nut oil (2019) Topic: Gaza Stripstrawberries, carnations, vegetables, fish (small and irregular shipments, as permitted to transit the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing) Topic: Georgiacopper, cars, iron alloys, wine, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: Germanycars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, aircraft, medical cultures/vaccines, industrial machinery (2019) Topic: Ghanagold, crude petroleum, cocoa products, manganese, cashews (2019) Topic: Gibraltarcars, ships, refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats (2019) Topic: Greecerefined petroleum, packaged medicines, aluminum plating, computers, cotton (2019) Topic: Greenlandfish, crustaceans, fishing ships (2019) Topic: Grenadafish, nutmeg, cocoa beans, fruits, wheat, toilet paper (2019) Topic: Guamscrap iron, electric batteries, gas turbines, scrap copper, beauty products (2019) Topic: Guatemalabananas, raw sugar, coffee, cardamom, palm oil (2019) Topic: Guernseytomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables Topic: Guineaaluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019) Topic: Guinea-Bissaucashews, gold, fish, lumber, aluminum ores (2019) Topic: Guyanaships, gold, shipping containers, excavation machinery, aluminum ores, rice (2019) Topic: Haiticlothing and apparel, eels, essential oils, perfumes, mangoes, cocoa beans (2019) Topic: Hondurasclothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, bananas, palm oil (2019) Topic: Hong Konggold, broadcasting equipment, integrated circuits, diamonds, telephones (2019) Topic: Hungarycars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, spark-ignition engines, video displays, broadcasting equipment (2019) Topic: Icelandaluminum and aluminum products, fish products, aircraft, iron alloys, animal meal (2019) Topic: Indiarefined petroleum, diamonds, packaged medicines, jewelry, cars (2019) Topic: Indonesiacoal, palm oil, natural gas, cars, gold (2019) Topic: Irancrude petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, iron, pistachios (2019) Topic: Iraqcrude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, dates, petroleum coke (2019) Topic: Irelandmedical cultures/vaccines, nitrogen compounds, packaged medicines, integrated circuits, scented mixtures (2019) Topic: Isle of Mantweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb Topic: Israeldiamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Italypackaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, valves, trunks/cases, wine (2019) Topic: Jamaicabauxite, refined petroleum, aluminum, rum, fruits, nuts (2019) Topic: Japancars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, personal appliances, ships (2019) Topic: Jerseylight industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers Topic: Jordanfertilizers, calcium phosphates, packaged medicines, clothing and apparel, phosphoric acid (2019) Topic: Kazakhstancrude petroleum, natural gas, copper, iron alloys, radioactive chemicals (2019) Topic: Kenyatea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, titanium (2019) Topic: Kiribatifish and fish produces, ships, coconut oil, copra (2019) Topic: Korea, Northwatch components, fake hair, iron alloys, instructional models, tungsten (2019) Topic: Korea, Southintegrated circuits, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, ships, office machinery (2019) Topic: Kosovomining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, vegetable products, textiles and apparel Topic: Kuwaitcrude petroleum, refined petroleum, aircraft, natural gas, industrial hydrocarbon products (2019) Topic: Kyrgyzstangold, precious metals, various beans, refined petroleum, scrap copper (2019) Topic: Laoselectricity, copper, rubber, gold, flavored water (2019) Topic: Latvialumber, broadcasting equipment, whiskey and other hard liquors, wheat, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: Lebanongold, jewelry, shotguns, diamonds, scrap copper (2019) Topic: Lesothodiamonds, clothing and apparel, low-voltage protection equipment, wheat products, footwear (2019) Topic: Liberiaships, iron, gold, rubber, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Libyacrude petroleum, natural gas, gold, refined petroleum, scrap iron (2019) Topic: Liechtensteinsmall specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products Topic: Lithuaniarefined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019) Topic: Luxembourgiron and iron products, tires, cars, broadcasting equipment, clothing and apparel  (2019) Topic: Macaubroadcasting equipment, jewelry, watches, trunks/cases, telephones (2019) Topic: Madagascarvanilla, nickel, gold, clothing and apparel, gemstones (2019) Topic: Malawitobacco, tea, raw sugar, beans, soybean products, clothing and apparel (2019) Topic: Malaysiaintegrated circuits, refined petroleum, natural gas, semiconductors, palm oil (2019) Topic: Maldivesfish products, natural gas, scrap iron, jewelry, liquid pumps (2019) Topic: Maligold, cotton, sesame seeds, lumber, vegetable oils/residues (2019) Topic: Maltaintegrated circuits, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, children's toys and stuffed animals, postage stamps  (2019) Topic: Marshall Islandsships, fish, recreational boats, broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil (2019) Topic: Mauritaniairon ore, fish products, gold, mollusks, processed crustaceans (2019) Topic: Mauritiusfish products, raw sugar, clothing and apparel, diamonds, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Mexicocars and vehicle parts, computers, delivery trucks, crude petroleum, insulated wiring (2019) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States offish and fish products, coral/shells, scrap metals, mollusks, office machinery/parts (2019) Topic: Moldovainsulated wiring, sunflower seeds, wine, corn, seats (2019) Topic: Monacojewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, plastic products (2019) Topic: Mongoliacoal, copper, gold, iron, crude petroleum (2019) Topic: Montenegroaluminum, packaged medicines, cars, zinc, wine (2019) Topic: Montserratsand, iron products, seats, medical instruments, fish (2019) Topic: Moroccocars, insulated wiring, fertilizers, phosphoric acid, clothing and apparel (2019) Topic: Mozambiquecoal, aluminum, natural gas, tobacco, electricity, gold, lumber (2019) Topic: Namibiacopper, diamonds, uranium, thorium, gold, radioactive chemicals, fish (2019) Topic: Naurufish, calcium phosphates, low-voltage protection equipment, air conditioners, leather apparel (2019) Topic: Nepalpalm oil, clothing and apparel, carpets, soybean oil, flavored water (2019) Topic: Netherlandsrefined petroleum, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, photography equipment, computers (2019) Topic: New Caledoniairon alloys, nickel, cobalt, carbonates, essential oils (2019) Topic: New Zealanddairy products, sheep/goat meats, lumber, beef products, fresh fruits (2019) Topic: Nicaraguaclothing and apparel, gold, insulated wiring, coffee, beef (2019) Topic: Nigergold, sesame seeds, uranium, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Nigeriacrude petroleum, natural gas, scrap vessels, flexible metal tubing, cocoa beans (2019) Topic: Niuetanker ships, fruit juice, thermostats, textiles, measurement devices/appliances (2019) Topic: Norfolk Islandsoybean meal, Norfolk Island pine seeds, Kentia palm seeds, activated carbon, centrifuges, pesticides, postage stamps (2019) Topic: North Macedoniasupport catalysts, centrifuges, insulated wiring, vehicle parts, buses, seats (2019) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsscrap iron, scrap copper, scrap aluminum, computers, laboratory diagnostic equipment (2019) Topic: Norwaycrude petroleum, natural gas, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2019) Topic: Omancrude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, iron products, fertilizers (2019) Topic: Pakistantextiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, surgical instruments (2019) Topic: Palaufish, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, scrap vessels (2019) Topic: Panamarefined petroleum, copper, bananas, ships, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: Papua New Guineanatural gas, gold, copper, lumber, crude petroleum, nickel, palm oil, fish, coffee (2019) Topic: Paraguaysoybeans and soybean products, electricity, beef, corn, insulated wiring (2019) Topic: Perucopper, gold, refined petroleum, zinc, fishmeal, tropical fruits, lead, iron, molybdenum (2019) Topic: Philippinesintegrated circuits, office machinery/parts, insulated wiring, semiconductors, transformers (2019) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsleather footwear, gas turbine parts, precious metal ores, clothing and apparel, beef (2019) Topic: Polandcars and vehicle parts, seats, furniture, computers, video displays (2019) Topic: Portugalcars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, leather footwear, paper products, tires (2019) Topic: Puerto Ricopackaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019) Topic: Qatarnatural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, fertilizers (2019) Topic: Romaniacars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019) Topic: Russiacrude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, coal, wheat, iron (2019) Topic: Rwandagold, refined petroleum, coffee, tea, tin (2019) Topic: Saint Barthelemybeauty products, broadcasting equipment, sunflower seed oil, plastics, cars (2019) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhacrustaceans, fish, integrated circuits, air conditioners, clothing and apparel (2019) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevislow-voltage protection equipment, broadcasting equipment, measuring instruments, electric motor parts, electrical transformers (2019) Topic: Saint Luciacrude petroleum, beer, jewelry, bananas, refined petroleum, rum (2019) Topic: Saint Martingold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miqueloncrustaceans, fish, medical instruments, electrical parts, pasta (2019) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesnatural gas, drilling platforms and ships, recreational boats, collector's items, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch (2019) Topic: Samoarefined petroleum, fish, fruit juice, coconut oil, beer (2019) Topic: San Marinoindustrial washing/bottling machinery, packaged medicines, woodworking machinery, foodstuffs, aircraft (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and Principegas turbines, cocoa beans, aircraft parts, iron products, chocolate (2019) Topic: Saudi Arabiacrude petroleum, refined petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, natural gas (2019) Topic: Senegalgold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, ground nuts (2019) Topic: Serbiainsulated wiring, tires, corn, cars, iron products, copper (2019) Topic: Seychellesrefined petroleum, fish, recreational boats, cigarettes, animal meal (2019) Topic: Sierra Leonetitanium, lumber, diamonds, aluminum, cocoa beans (2019) Topic: Singaporeintegrated circuits, refined petroleum, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: Sint Maartensugar Topic: Slovakiacars and vehicle parts, video displays, broadcasting equipment, tires, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Sloveniapackaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, electrical lighting/signaling equipment, electricity (2019) Topic: Solomon Islandslumber, fish, aluminum, palm oil, cocoa beans (2019) Topic: Somaliagold, sheep, goats, sesame seeds, insect resins, cattle (2019) Topic: South Africagold, platinum, cars, iron products, coal, manganese, diamonds  (2019) Topic: South Sudancrude petroleum, gold, forage crops, lumber, insect resins (2019) Topic: Spaincars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, clothing and apparel (2019) Topic: Sri Lankaclothing and apparel, tea, used tires, rubber products, precious stones, cinnamon (2019) Topic: Sudangold, crude petroleum, sesame seeds, sheep, goats, cotton, ground nuts (2019) Topic: Surinamegold, lumber, refined petroleum, fish, cigarettes (2019) Topic: Swedencars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019) Topic: Switzerlandgold, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, watches, jewelry (2019) Topic: Syriaolive oil, cumin seeds, pistachios, tomatoes, apples, pears, spices, pitted fruits (2019) Topic: Taiwanintegrated circuits, office machinery/parts, computers, refined petroleum, liquid crystal displays (2019) Topic: Tajikistangold, aluminum, cotton, zinc, antimony, lead (2019) Topic: Tanzaniagold, tobacco, cashews, sesame seeds, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Thailandoffice machinery/parts, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, delivery trucks, gold (2019) Topic: Timor-Lestecrude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, various vegetables, scrap iron (2019) Topic: Togorefined petroleum, crude petroleum, electricity, calcium phosphates, cotton (2019) Topic: Tokelauoscilloscopes, house linens, fruits, nuts, recreational boats, iron products (2019) Topic: Tongasquash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagonatural gas, industrial alcohols, crude petroleum, ammonia, iron products, refined petroleum (2019) Topic: Tunisiainsulated wiring, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, olive oil, vehicle parts (2019) Topic: Turkeycars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, jewelry, clothing and apparel (2019) Topic: Turkmenistannatural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cotton fibers, fertilizers (2019) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsplastic building materials, stone processing machinery, iron structures, crustaceans, integrated circuits (2019) Topic: Tuvalufish, ships, coins, metal-clad products, electrical power accessories (2019) Topic: Ugandagold, coffee, milk, fish and fish products, tobacco (2019) Topic: Ukrainecorn, sunflower seed oils, iron and iron products, wheat, insulated wiring, rapeseed (2019) Topic: United Arab Emiratescrude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, jewelry, broadcasting equipment (2019) Topic: United Kingdomcars, gas turbines, gold, crude petroleum, packaged medicines (2019) Topic: United Statesrefined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, aircraft (2019) Topic: Uruguaysulfate wood pulp, beef, soybeans, concentrated milk, rice (2019) Topic: Uzbekistangold, natural gas, cotton fibers, copper, ethylene polymers (2019) Topic: Vanuatufish and fish products, tug boats, perfume plants, mollusks, cocoa beans (2019) Topic: Venezuelacrude petroleum, refined petroleum, industrial alcohols, gold, iron (2019) Topic: Vietnambroadcasting equipment, telephones, integrated circuits, footwear, furniture (2019) Topic: Virgin Islandsrefined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019) Topic: Wallis and Futunaintegrated circuits, jewelry, cars, aircraft parts, polyacetals (2019) Topic: West Bankstone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone Topic: Worldthe whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: 14.8 electrical machinery, including computers; 14.4 mineral fuels, including oil, coal, gas, and refined products; 14.2 nuclear reactors, boilers, and parts; 8.9 cars, trucks, and buses; 3.5 scientific and precision instruments; 3.4 plastics; 2.7 iron and steel; 2.6 organic chemicals; 2.6 pharmaceutical products; 1.9 diamonds, pearls, and precious stones (2007 est.) Topic: Yemencrude petroleum, gold, fish, industrial chemical liquids, scrap iron (2019) Topic: Zambiacopper, gold, gemstones, sulfuric acid, raw sugar, tobacco (2019) Topic: Zimbabwegold, tobacco, iron alloys, nickel, diamonds, jewelry (2019)

20220601

countries-guinea-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Guinea due to civil unrest. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for each entry stamp/visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: +(224) 655-10-4000; EMER: +(224) 657-10-4311; US Embassy Conakry, US Embassy is located in Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle near Bambeto Circle at the following address: American Embassy Conakry, PO Box 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administra Telephone Code: 224 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Currency (Code): Guinean francs (GNF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F, K Major Languages: French, Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages; note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language Major Religions: Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6% Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve; Alcatraz Island Guinea; Badiar National Park; Belle Air Beach; Bridal Veil Falls Major Sports: Soccer Cultural Practices: Although direct eye contact is usually acceptable, refrain from doing so with elders. Tipping Guidelines: Tips are appreciated, but not expected. In restaurants, if no service charge has been added, 10% is acceptable for a gratuity.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, March 30, 2022

20220601

field-land-use

This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: agricultural land, forest, and other; agricultural land is further divided into arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest, permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest, and includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, and permanent pastures and meadows – land used for at least five years or more to grow herbaceous forage, either cultivated or growing naturally; forest area is land spanning more than 0.5 hectare with trees higher than five meters and a canopy cover of more than 10% to include windbreaks, shelterbelts, and corridors of trees greater than 0.5 hectare and at least 20 m wide; land classified as other includes built-up areas, roads and other transportation features, barren land, or wasteland. Topic: Afghanistanagricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018) permanent pasture: 46% (2018) forest: 1.85% (2018 est.) other: 40.1% (2018) Topic: Albaniaagricultural land: 42.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.4% (2018 est.) forest: 28.8% (2018 est.) other: 28.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Algeriaagricultural land: 17.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.8% (2018 est.) forest: 0.8% (2018 est.) other: 81.8% (2018 est.) Topic: American Samoaagricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 15% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 75.5% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Andorraagricultural land: 40% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 26% (2018 est.) Topic: Angolaagricultural land: 45.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Anguillaagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 61.1% (2018 est.) other: 38.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Antarcticaagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaagricultural land: 20.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 60.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Argentinaagricultural land: 53.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 39.6% (2018 est.) forest: 10.7% (2018 est.) other: 35.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Armeniaagricultural land: 59.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 42% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 31.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Arubaagricultural land: 11.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 2.3% (2018 est.) other: 86.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Australiaagricultural land: 46.65% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.03% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.04% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 42.58% (2018 est.) forest: 17.42% (2018 est.) other: 33.42% (2018 est.) Topic: Austriaagricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.) forest: 47.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanagricultural land: 57.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 32.1% (2018 est.) forest: 11.3% (2018 est.) other: 31.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Theagricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.) forest: 51.4% (2018 est.) other: 47.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Bahrainagricultural land: 11.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.) forest: 0.7% (2018 est.) other: 88% (2018 est.) Topic: Bangladeshagricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 59% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.) forest: 11.1% (2018 est.) other: 18.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Barbadosagricultural land: 32.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 25.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.7% (2018 est.) forest: 19.4% (2018 est.) other: 48% (2018 est.) Topic: Belarusagricultural land: 43.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.9% (2018 est.) forest: 42.7% (2018 est.) other: 13.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Belgiumagricultural land: 44.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.) forest: 22.4% (2018 est.) other: 33.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Belizeagricultural land: 6.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.) forest: 60.6% (2018 est.) other: 32.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Beninagricultural land: 31.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.) forest: 40% (2018 est.) other: 28.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Bermudaagricultural land: 14.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 14.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 20% (2018 est.) other: 65.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Bhutanagricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 85.5% (2018 est.) other: 0.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Boliviaagricultural land: 34.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.) forest: 52.5% (2018 est.) other: 13.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaagricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2018 est.) forest: 42.8% (2018 est.) other: 15% (2018 est.) Topic: Botswanaagricultural land: 45.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2018 est.) forest: 19.8% (2018 est.) other: 34.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Bouvet Islandagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Brazilagricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 61.9% (2018 est.) other: 5.2% (2018 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsagricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.) forest: 24.3% (2018 est.) other: 29% (2018 est.) Topic: Bruneiagricultural land: 2.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 71.8% (2018 est.) other: 25.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Bulgariaagricultural land: 46.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 29.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.5% (2018 est.) forest: 36.7% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoagricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Burmaagricultural land: 19.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.5% (2018 est.) forest: 48.2% (2018 est.) other: 32.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Burundiagricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeagricultural land: 18.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.) forest: 21% (2018 est.) other: 60.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Cambodiaagricultural land: 32.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.5% (2018 est.) forest: 56.5% (2018 est.) other: 11.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Cameroonagricultural land: 20.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 37.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Canadaagricultural land: 6.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.) forest: 34.1% (2018 est.) other: 59.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsagricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Central African Republicagricultural land: 8.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Chadagricultural land: 39.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 35.7% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 51.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Chileagricultural land: 21.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 21.9% (2018 est.) other: 57% (2018 est.) Topic: Chinaagricultural land: 54.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.8% (2018 est.) forest: 22.3% (2018 est.) other: 23% (2018 est.) Topic: Christmas Islandagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Clipperton Islandagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Colombiaagricultural land: 37.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 34.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.4% (2018 est.) other: 8.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Comorosagricultural land: 84.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 46.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 29.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2018 est.) forest: 1.4% (2018 est.) other: 14.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theagricultural land: 11.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8% (2018 est.) forest: 67.9% (2018 est.) other: 20.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theagricultural land: 31.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.) forest: 65.6% (2018 est.) other: 3.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsagricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 64.6% (2018 est.) other: 27% (2018 est.) Topic: Coral Sea Islandsagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaagricultural land: 37.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.) forest: 51.5% (2018 est.) other: 11.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireagricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 14.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 32.7% (2018 est.) other: 2.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Croatiaagricultural land: 23.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.) forest: 34.4% (2018 est.) other: 41.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Cubaagricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.) forest: 27.3% (2018 est.) other: 12.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Curacaoagricultural land: 10% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018) other: 90% (2018 est.) Topic: Cyprusagricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 67.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Czechiaagricultural land: 54.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 41% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 12.8% (2018 est.) forest: 34.4% (2018 est.) other: 10.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Denmarkagricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.) forest: 12.9% (2018 est.) other: 23.7% (2018 est.) note: highest percentage of arable land for any country in the world Topic: Djiboutiagricultural land: 73.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 73.3% (2018 est.) forest: 0.2% (2018 est.) other: 26.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Dominicaagricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 24% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.7% (2018 est.) forest: 59.2% (2018 est.) other: 6.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicagricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.8% (2018 est.) other: 7.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Ecuadoragricultural land: 29.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.4% (2018 est.) forest: 38.9% (2018 est.) other: 31.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Egyptagricultural land: 3.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 96.3% (2018 est.) Topic: El Salvadoragricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.7% (2018 est.) forest: 13.6% (2018 est.) other: 11.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaagricultural land: 10.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 57.5% (2018 est.) other: 32.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Eritreaagricultural land: 75.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.) forest: 15.1% (2018 est.) other: 9.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Estoniaagricultural land: 22.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.) forest: 52.1% (2018 est.) other: 25.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Eswatiniagricultural land: 68.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 57.7% (2018 est.) forest: 31.7% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaagricultural land: 36.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.) forest: 12.2% (2018 est.) other: 51.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)agricultural land: 92.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 7.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsagricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 97.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Fijiagricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.6% (2018 est.) forest: 55.7% (2018 est.) other: 21% (2018 est.) Topic: Finlandagricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 72.9% (2018 est.) other: 19.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Franceagricultural land: 52.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.) forest: 29.2% (2018 est.) other: 18.1% (2018 est.) Topic: French Polynesiaagricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.5% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 43.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Gabonagricultural land: 19% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.) forest: 81% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theagricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 41% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.9% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Georgiaagricultural land: 35.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.) forest: 39.4% (2018 est.) other: 25.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Germanyagricultural land: 48% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.3% (2018 est.) forest: 31.8% (2018 est.) other: 20.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Ghanaagricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.) forest: 21.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Gibraltaragricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Greeceagricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.) forest: 30.5% (2018 est.) other: 6.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Greenlandagricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Grenadaagricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.9% (2018 est.) forest: 50% (2018 est.) other: 17.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Guamagricultural land: 33.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.) forest: 47.9% (2018 est.) other: 18.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Guatemalaagricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 14.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.2% (2018 est.) forest: 33.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Guineaagricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauagricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.) forest: 55.2% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Guyanaagricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.) forest: 77.4% (2018 est.) other: 14.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Haitiagricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.) forest: 3.6% (2018 est.) other: 30% (2018 est.) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsagricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Hondurasagricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.) forest: 45.3% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Hong Kongagricultural land: 5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 95% (2018 est.) Topic: Hungaryagricultural land: 58.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 48.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.) forest: 22.5% (2018 est.) other: 18.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Icelandagricultural land: 18.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.) forest: 0.3% (2018 est.) other: 81% (2018 est.) Topic: Indiaagricultural land: 60.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 52.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 23.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Indonesiaagricultural land: 31.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 13% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.1% (2018 est.) forest: 51.7% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Iranagricultural land: 30.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.8% (2018 est.) other: 63.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Iraqagricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.2% (2018 est.) forest: 1.9% (2018 est.) other: 80% (2018 est.) Topic: Irelandagricultural land: 66.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.) forest: 10.9% (2018 est.) other: 23% (2018 est.) Topic: Isle of Managricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 43.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.9% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Israelagricultural land: 23.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.3% (2018 est.) forest: 7.1% (2018 est.) other: 69.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Italyagricultural land: 47.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Jamaicaagricultural land: 41.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.) forest: 31.1% (2018 est.) other: 27.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Jan Mayenagricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Japanagricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 68.5% (2018 est.) other: 19% (2018 est.) Topic: Jerseyagricultural land: 66% (2018 est.) arable land: 66% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 34% (2018 est.) Topic: Jordanagricultural land: 11.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.) forest: 1.1% (2018 est.) other: 87.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanagricultural land: 77.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2018 est.) forest: 1.2% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Kenyaagricultural land: 48.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Kiribatiagricultural land: 42% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 39.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 15% (2018 est.) other: 43% (2018 est.) Topic: Korea, Northagricultural land: 21.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 46% (2018 est.) other: 32.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Korea, Southagricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 63.9% (2018 est.) other: 18% (2018 est.) Topic: Kosovoagricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Kuwaitagricultural land: 8.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0.4% (2018 est.) other: 91.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanagricultural land: 55.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 39.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Laosagricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 67.9% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Latviaagricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Lebanonagricultural land: 63.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 39.1% (2018 est.) forest: 13.4% (2018 est.) other: 23.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Lesothoagricultural land: 76.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 65.9% (2018 est.) forest: 1.5% (2018 est.) other: 22.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Liberiaagricultural land: 28.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.) forest: 44.6% (2018 est.) other: 27.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Libyaagricultural land: 8.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 91.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinagricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 43.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Lithuaniaagricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.) forest: 34.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Luxembourgagricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 24% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.1% (2018 est.) forest: 33.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Macauagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Madagascaragricultural land: 71.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 64.1% (2018 est.) forest: 21.5% (2018 est.) other: 7.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Malawiagricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 6.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Malaysiaagricultural land: 23.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 19.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.) forest: 62% (2018 est.) other: 14.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Maldivesagricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.) forest: 3% (2018 est.) other: 73.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Maliagricultural land: 34.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2018 est.) forest: 10.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Maltaagricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.9% (2018 est.) other: 66.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsagricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.) forest: 49.3% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaagricultural land: 38.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.1% (2018 est.) forest: 0.2% (2018 est.) other: 61.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Mauritiusagricultural land: 43.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.) forest: 17.3% (2018 est.) other: 38.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Mexicoagricultural land: 54.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 33.3% (2018 est.) other: 11.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofagricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 74.5% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Moldovaagricultural land: 74.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 55.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 11.9% (2018 est.) other: 13.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Monacoagricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99% (2018 est.) Topic: Mongoliaagricultural land: 73% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 72.6% (2018 est.) forest: 7% (2018 est.) other: 20% (2018 est.) Topic: Montenegroagricultural land: 38.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.) forest: 40.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Montserratagricultural land: 30% (2018 est.) arable land: 20% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10% (2018 est.) forest: 25% (2018 est.) other: 45% (2018 est.) Topic: Moroccoagricultural land: 67.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 17.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 47.1% (2018 est.) forest: 11.5% (2018 est.) other: 21% (2018 est.) note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert Topic: Mozambiqueagricultural land: 56.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Namibiaagricultural land: 47.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 44% (2018 est.) Topic: Nauruagricultural land: 20% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 20% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 80% (2018 est.) Topic: Navassa Islandother: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Nepalagricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 12.5% (2018 est.) forest: 25.4% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Netherlandsagricultural land: 55.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 29.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.2% (2018 est.) forest: 10.8% (2018 est.) other: 34.1% (2018 est.) Topic: New Caledoniaagricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 45.9% (2018 est.) other: 43.7% (2018 est.) Topic: New Zealandagricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 25.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaagricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.2% (2018 est.) forest: 25.3% (2018 est.) other: 32.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Nigeragricultural land: 35.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 22.7% (2018 est.) forest: 1% (2018 est.) other: 63.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Nigeriaagricultural land: 78% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.) forest: 9.5% (2018 est.) other: 12.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Niueagricultural land: 19.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.) forest: 71.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Norfolk Islandagricultural land: 25% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.) forest: 11.5% (2018 est.) other: 63.5% (2018 est.) Topic: North Macedoniaagricultural land: 44.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.) forest: 39.8% (2018 est.) other: 15.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsagricultural land: 6.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.) forest: 65.5% (2018 est.) other: 27.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Norwayagricultural land: 2.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.5% (2018 est.) forest: 27.8% (2018 est.) other: 69.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Omanagricultural land: 4.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 95.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Pakistanagricultural land: 35.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.5% (2018 est.) forest: 2.1% (2018 est.) other: 62.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Palauagricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.) forest: 87.6% (2018 est.) other: 1.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Panamaagricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.) forest: 43.6% (2018 est.) other: 25.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaagricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 63.1% (2018 est.) other: 34.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Paracel Islandsother: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Paraguayagricultural land: 53.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.) forest: 43.8% (2018 est.) other: 2.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Peruagricultural land: 18.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 53% (2018 est.) other: 28.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Philippinesagricultural land: 41% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.) forest: 25.9% (2018 est.) other: 33.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsagricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) forest: 74.5% (2018 est.) other: 25.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Polandagricultural land: 48.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 30.6% (2018 est.) other: 21.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Portugalagricultural land: 39.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.) forest: 37.8% (2018 est.) other: 22.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricoagricultural land: 22% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 63.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Qataragricultural land: 5.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 94.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Romaniaagricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.) forest: 28.7% (2018 est.) other: 10.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Russiaagricultural land: 13.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.) forest: 49.4% (2018 est.) other: 37.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Rwandaagricultural land: 74.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 47% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.4% (2018 est.) forest: 18% (2018 est.) other: 7.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaagricultural land: 30.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 64.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisagricultural land: 23.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 42.3% (2018 est.) other: 34.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaagricultural land: 17.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.) forest: 77% (2018 est.) other: 5.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonagricultural land: 8.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 12.5% (2018 est.) other: 78.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesagricultural land: 25.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.) forest: 68.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Samoaagricultural land: 12.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.8% (2018 est.) forest: 60.4% (2018 est.) other: 27.2% (2018 est.) Topic: San Marinoagricultural land: 16.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 83.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeagricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.) forest: 28.1% (2018 est.) other: 21.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaagricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.) forest: 0.5% (2018 est.) other: 18.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Senegalagricultural land: 46.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.) forest: 43.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Serbiaagricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Seychellesagricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 88.5% (2018 est.) other: 5% (2018 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneagricultural land: 56.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 23.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.) forest: 37.5% (2018 est.) other: 6.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Singaporeagricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 3.3% (2018 est.) other: 95.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Slovakiaagricultural land: 40.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.2% (2018 est.) other: 19.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Sloveniaagricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.) forest: 62.3% (2018 est.) other: 14.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsagricultural land: 3.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.3% (2018 est.) forest: 78.9% (2018 est.) other: 17.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Somaliaagricultural land: 70.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2018 est.) forest: 10.6% (2018 est.) other: 19.1% (2018 est.) Topic: South Africaagricultural land: 79.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2018 est.) forest: 7.6% (2018 est.) other: 13% (2018 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsother: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: South Sudanagricultural land: 45% (2018) arable land: 4.4% (2018) permanent pasture: 40.7% (2018) forest: 11.3% (2018) other: 43.5% (2018) Topic: Spainagricultural land: 54.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 24.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Spratly Islandsother: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Sri Lankaagricultural land: 43.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 7% (2018 est.) forest: 29.4% (2018 est.) other: 27.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Sudanagricultural land: 100% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Surinameagricultural land: 0.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 94.6% (2018 est.) other: 4.9% (2018 est.) Topic: Svalbardagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Swedenagricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.) forest: 68.7% (2018 est.) other: 23.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Switzerlandagricultural land: 38.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.) forest: 31.5% (2018 est.) other: 29.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Syriaagricultural land: 75.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 25.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 44.6% (2018 est.) forest: 2.7% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Taiwanagricultural land: 22.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.) other: 77.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Tajikistanagricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.7% (2018 est.) forest: 2.9% (2018 est.) other: 62.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaagricultural land: 43.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 14.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2018 est.) forest: 37.3% (2018 est.) other: 19% (2018 est.) Topic: Thailandagricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.) forest: 37.2% (2018 est.) other: 21.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteagricultural land: 25.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.) forest: 49.1% (2018 est.) other: 25.8% (2018 est.) Topic: Togoagricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Tokelauagricultural land: 60% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 40% (2018 est.) Topic: Tongaagricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.) forest: 12.5% (2018 est.) other: 44.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoagricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.) forest: 44% (2018 est.) other: 45.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Tunisiaagricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 31.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 28.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Turkeyagricultural land: 49.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 26.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19% (2018 est.) forest: 14.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanagricultural land: 72% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 67.8% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsagricultural land: 1.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 36.2% (2018 est.) other: 62.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Tuvaluagricultural land: 60% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 33.3% (2018 est.) other: 6.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Ugandaagricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.) forest: 14.5% (2018 est.) other: 14.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Ukraineagricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 56.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.6% (2018 est.) forest: 16.8% (2018 est.) other: 12% (2018 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesagricultural land: 4.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.6% (2018 est.) forest: 3.8% (2018 est.) other: 91.6% (2018 est.) Topic: United Kingdomagricultural land: 71% (2018 est.) arable land: 25.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.7% (2018 est.) forest: 11.9% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Topic: United Statesagricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.4% (2018 est.) forest: 33.3% (2018 est.) other: 22.2% (2018 est.) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesother: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Uruguayagricultural land: 87.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 76.9% (2018 est.) forest: 10.2% (2018 est.) other: 2.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanagricultural land: 62.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 51.7% (2018 est.) forest: 7.7% (2018 est.) other: 29.7% (2018 est.) Topic: Vanuatuagricultural land: 15.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.) forest: 36.1% (2018 est.) other: 48.6% (2018 est.) Topic: Venezuelaagricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.6% (2018 est.) forest: 52.1% (2018 est.) other: 23.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Vietnamagricultural land: 34.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.1% (2018 est.) forest: 45% (2018 est.) other: 20.2% (2018 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsagricultural land: 11.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.7% (2018 est.) forest: 57.4% (2018 est.) other: 31.1% (2018 est.) Topic: Wake Islandagricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunaagricultural land: 42.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 41.9% (2018 est.) other: 15.3% (2018 est.) Topic: West Bankagricultural land: 43.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2018 est.) forest: 1.5% (2018 est.) other: 55.2% (2018 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip Topic: Yemenagricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 1% (2018 est.) other: 54.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Zambiaagricultural land: 31.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.) forest: 66.3% (2018 est.) other: 2% (2018 est.) Topic: Zimbabweagricultural land: 42.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 31.3% (2018 est.) forest: 39.5% (2018 est.) other: 18% (2018 est.)

20220601

countries-trinidad-and-tobago

Topic: Photos of Trinidad and Tobago Topic: Introduction Background: First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 362 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin measured from claimed archipelagic baselines Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December) Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains Elevation: highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 83 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.) forest: 44% (2018 est.) other: 45.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms Geography - note: Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt Map description: Trinidad and Tobago map showing the major population centers of these islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.Trinidad and Tobago map showing the major population centers of these islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,405,646 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin Ethnic groups: East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.) Languages: English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese Religions: Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.01% (male 116,953/female 112,805) 15-24 years: 11.28% (male 70,986/female 65,389) 25-54 years: 43.77% (male 276,970/female 252,108) 55-64 years: 13.83% (male 83,650/female 83,585) 65 years and over: 12.11% (2020 est.) (male 64,092/female 82,251) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.1 youth dependency ratio: 29.3 elderly dependency ratio: 16.8 potential support ratio: 7.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 37.8 years male: 37.3 years female: 38.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.14% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 15.83 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.94 years male: 74.02 years female: 77.93 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 40.3% (2011) Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019) Physicians density: 4.17 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 10,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2011) Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99.2% female: 98.7% (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.7% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2016 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 43.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.35 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December) Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.) forest: 44% (2018 est.) other: 45.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,874 tons (2010 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 16.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 3.84 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Port of Spain geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name dates to the period of Spanish colonial rule (16th to late 18th centuries) when the city was referred to as "Puerto de Espana"; the name was anglicized following the British capture of Trinidad in 1797 Administrative divisions: 9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando ward: Tobago9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 wardregions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarcoborough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortincities: Port of Spain, San Fernandoward: Tobago Independence: 31 August 1962 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962) Constitution: history: previous 1962; latest 1976 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, such as human rights and freedoms or citizenship, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and assent of the president; passage of amendments, such as the powers and authorities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and the procedure for amending the constitution, requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the House membership, two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership, and assent of the president; amended many times, last in 2007 Legal system: English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Paula-Mae WEEKES (since 19 March 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 January 2018 (next to be held by February 2023); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister election results: Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she is Trinidad and Tobago's first female head of state Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the president, and 6 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms;) House of Representatives (42 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and the house speaker - usually designated from outside Parliament; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last appointments in August 2020 House of Representatives - last held on 10 August 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 21, women 10, percent of women 32.3% House of Representatives - percent by party - NA; seats by party - PNM 22, UNC 19; composition - NA note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 assemblymen directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed councilors - 3 on the advice of the chief secretary and 1 on the advice of the minority leader; members serve 4-year terms) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges); note - Trinidad and Tobago can file appeals beyond its Supreme Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges serve for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court Political parties and leaders: Congress of the People or COP [Kirt SINNETTE] People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY] Progressive Democratic Patriots (Tobago) [Watson DUKE] United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 email address and website: embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shante MOORE (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC  20521-3410 telephone: (868) 622-6371 FAX: (868) 822-5905 email address and website: acspos@state.gov https://tt.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people National symbol(s): scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black National anthem: name: Forged From the Love of Liberty lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE note: adopted 1962; song originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962 Topic: Economy Economic overview: Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages.   Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports.   Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages. Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports. Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $33.21 billion (2020 est.) $36.03 billion (2019 est.) $36.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -2.6% (2017 est.) -6.1% (2016 est.) 1.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $23,700 (2020 est.) $25,800 (2019 est.) $26,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $24.031 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (2017 est.) 3.1% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Ba1 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.) industry: 47.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 8.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: poultry, fruit, coconuts, citrus fruit, milk, plantains, maize, oranges, eggs, gourds Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles Industrial production growth rate: -4.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 629,400 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 11.5% services: 85.4% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2017 est.) 4% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.7% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 20% (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 5.581 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 7.446 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -8.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 24.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: $2.325 billion (2017 est.) -$653 million (2016 est.) Exports: $9.57 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $11.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 33%, Guyana 9%, Spain 6%, China 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: natural gas, industrial alcohols, crude petroleum, ammonia, iron products, refined petroleum (2019) Imports: $7.93 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.16 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 40%, Guyana 19%, China 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, excavation machinery, shipping containers, iron, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $8.892 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $8.238 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $8.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.78 (2017 est.) 6.669 (2016 est.) 6.669 (2015 est.) 6.4041 (2014 est.) 6.4041 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 10.07 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 9.867 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 2.608 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 63,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 31,030 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 80,860 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 243 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 134,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 51,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 106,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 36.73 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 21.24 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 15.49 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 447.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 323,905 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,163,730 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155.11 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: excellent international service; good local service; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launch; regulatory development; major growth in mobile telephony and data segments which attacks operation investment in fiber infrastructure; moves to end roaming charges (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 23 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 142 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-868; landing points for the EC Link, ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber, SG-SCS and Americas II submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019) Internet country code: .tt Internet users: total: 1,074,126 (2019 est.) percent of population: 77% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 376,771 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,525,130 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41.14 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9Y Airports: total: 4 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 257 km condensate, 11 km condensate/gas, 1567 km gas, 587 km oil (2013) Merchant marine: total: 105 by type: general cargo 1, other 104 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Army/Land Forces (Trinidad and Tobago Regiment), Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves; Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) (2021) note - the Ministry of National Security oversees defense, immigration, and the police Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $350 million) 1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $340 million) 1.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $420 million) 1.4% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $460 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,500 TTDF personnel; approximately 7,000 TTPS personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the TTDF's ground force inventory includes only light weapons, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard field mostly second-hand equipment from a mix of countries, including Australia, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women; some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2017, women comprised about 14% of the active military Military - note: as of 2021, the primary responsibilities for the TTDF were conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement  as of 2021, the primary responsibilities for the TTDF were conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement  Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its watersBarbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 28,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) Illicit drugs: a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs;  marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug  a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs;  marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug 

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field-labor-force

This entry contains the total labor force figure. Topic: Afghanistan8.478 million (2017 est.) Topic: Albania1.104 million (2020 est.) Topic: Algeria10.859 million (2017 est.) Topic: American Samoa17,850 (2015 est.) Topic: Andorra39,750 (2016) Topic: Angola12.51 million (2017 est.) Topic: Anguilla6,049 (2001) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda30,000 (1991) Topic: Argentina18 million (2017 est.) note: urban areas only Topic: Armenia1.507 million (2017 est.) Topic: Aruba51,610 (2007 est.) note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population Topic: Australia12.568 million (2020 est.) Topic: Austria3.739 million (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan4.939 million (2019 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The196,900 (2013 est.) Topic: Bahrain831,600 (2017 est.) note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national Topic: Bangladesh66.64 million (2017 est.) note: extensive migration of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia Topic: Barbados144,000 (2017 est.) Topic: Belarus4.381 million (2016 est.) Topic: Belgium4.122 million (2020 est.) Topic: Belize120,500 (2008 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel Topic: Benin3.662 million (2007 est.) Topic: Bermuda33,480 (2016 est.) Topic: Bhutan397,900 (2017 est.) note: major shortage of skilled labor Topic: Bolivia5.719 million (2016 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina806,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Botswana1.177 million (2017 est.) Topic: Brazil86.621 million (2020 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islands12,770 (2004) Topic: Brunei203,600 (2014 est.) Topic: Bulgaria3.113 million (2020 est.) note: number of employed persons Topic: Burkina Faso8.501 million (2016 est.) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment Topic: Burma22.3 million (2017 est.) Topic: Burundi5.012 million (2017 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde196,100 (2007 est.) Topic: Cambodia8.913 million (2017 est.) Topic: Cameroon9.912 million (2017 est.) Topic: Canada18.136 million (2020 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands39,000 (2007 est.) note: nearly 55% are non-nationals Topic: Central African Republic2.242 million (2017 est.) Topic: Chad5.654 million (2017 est.) Topic: Chile7.249 million (2020 est.) Topic: China774.71 million (2019 est.) note: by the end of 2012, China's working age population (15-64 years) was 1.004 billion Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia19.309 million (2020 est.) Topic: Comoros278,500 (2016 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the20.692 million (2012 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the2.055 million (2016 est.) Topic: Cook Islands6,820 (2001) Topic: Costa Rica1.843 million (2020 est.) note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica Topic: Cote d'Ivoire8.747 million (2017 est.) Topic: Croatia1.656 million (2020 est.) Topic: Cuba4.691 million (2017 est.) note: state sector 72.3%, non-state sector 27.7% Topic: Curacao73,010 (2013) Topic: Cyprus416,000 (2019 est.) Topic: Czechia5.222 million (2020 est.) Topic: Denmark2.736 million (2020 est.) Topic: Djibouti294,600 (2012) Topic: Dominica25,000 (2000 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic4.732 million (2017 est.) Topic: Ecuador8.086 million (2017 est.) Topic: Egypt24.113 million (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvador2.908 million (2019 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea195,200 (2007 est.) Topic: Eritrea2.71 million (2017 est.) Topic: Estonia648,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatini427,900 (2016 est.) Topic: Ethiopia52.82 million (2017 est.) Topic: European Union238.9 million (2016 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)1,850 (2016 est.) Topic: Faroe Islands27,540 (2017 est.) Topic: Fiji353,100 (2017 est.) Topic: Finland2.52 million (2020 est.) Topic: France27.742 million (2020 est.) Topic: French Polynesia126,300 (2016 est.) Topic: Gabon557,800 (2017 est.) Topic: Gambia, The777,100 (2007 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip1.24 million (2017 est.) note: excludes the West Bank Topic: Georgia686,000 (2019 est.) Topic: Germany44.585 million (2020 est.) Topic: Ghana12.49 million (2017 est.) Topic: Gibraltar24,420 (2014 est.) Topic: Greece4 million (2020 est.) Topic: Greenland26,840 (2015 est.) Topic: Grenada55,270 (2017 est.) Topic: Guam73,210 (2016 est.) note: includes only the civilian labor force Topic: Guatemala6.664 million (2017 est.) Topic: Guernsey31,470 (March 2006) Topic: Guinea5.558 million (2017 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau731,300 (2013 est.) Topic: Guyana313,800 (2013 est.) Topic: Haiti4.594 million (2014 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor; unskilled labor abundant Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)4,822 (2016) Topic: Honduras3.735 million (2017 est.) Topic: Hong Kong3.627 million (2020 est.) Topic: Hungary4.414 million (2020 est.) Topic: Iceland200,000 (2020 est.) Topic: India521.9 million (2017 est.) Topic: Indonesia129.366 million (2019 est.) Topic: Iran30.5 million (2017 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor Topic: Iraq8.9 million (2010 est.) Topic: Ireland2.289 million (2020 est.) Topic: Isle of Man41,790 (2006) Topic: Israel3.893 million (2020 est.) Topic: Italy22.92 million (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaica1.113 million (2020 est.) Topic: Japan66.54 million (2020 est.) Topic: Jersey59,950 (2017 est.) Topic: Jordan731,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan8.685 million (2020 est.) Topic: Kenya19.6 million (2017 est.) Topic: Kiribati39,000 (2010 est.) note: economically active, not including subsistence farmers Topic: Korea, North14 million (2014 est.) note: estimates vary widely Topic: Korea, South26.839 million (2020 est.) Topic: Kosovo500,300 (2017 est.) note: includes those estimated to be employed in the gray economy Topic: Kuwait2.695 million (2017 est.) note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force Topic: Kyrgyzstan2.841 million (2017 est.) Topic: Laos3.582 million (2017 est.) Topic: Latvia885,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanon2.166 million (2016 est.) note: excludes as many as 1 million foreign workers and refugees Topic: Lesotho930,800 (2017 est.) Topic: Liberia1.677 million (2017 est.) Topic: Libya1.114 million (2017 est.) Topic: Liechtenstein38,520 (2015 est.) (2012) note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany Topic: Lithuania1.333 million (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourg476,000 (2020 est.) note: data exclude foreign workers; in addition to the figure for domestic labor force, about 150,000 workers commute daily from France, Belgium, and Germany Topic: Macau392,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Madagascar13.4 million (2017 est.) Topic: Malawi7 million (2013 est.) Topic: Malaysia15.139 million (2020 est.) Topic: Maldives222,200 (2017 est.) Topic: Mali6.447 million (2017 est.) Topic: Malta223,000 (2019 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands10,670 (2013 est.) Topic: Mauritania1.437 million (2017 est.) Topic: Mauritius554,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Mexico50.914 million (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of37,920 (2010 est.) Topic: Moldova1.295 million (2017 est.) Topic: Monaco52,000 (2014 est.) note: includes all foreign workers Topic: Mongolia1.241 million (2017 est.) Topic: Montenegro167,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Montserrat4,521 (2012) Topic: Morocco10.399 million (2020 est.) Topic: Mozambique12.9 million (2017 est.) Topic: Namibia956,800 (2017 est.) Topic: NauruNA Topic: Nepal16.81 million (2017 est.) note: severe lack of skilled labor Topic: Netherlands8.907 million (2020 est.) Topic: New Caledonia119,500 (2016 est.) Topic: New Zealand2.709 million (2020 est.) Topic: Nicaragua3.046 million (2017 est.) Topic: Niger6.5 million (2017 est.) Topic: Nigeria60.08 million (2017 est.) Topic: Niue663 (2001) Topic: Norfolk Island978 (2006) Topic: North Macedonia793,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands27,970 (2010 est.) note: includes foreign workers Topic: Norway2.699 million (2020 est.) Topic: Oman2.255 million (2016 est.) note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national Topic: Pakistan61.71 million (2017 est.) note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor Topic: Palau11,610 (2016) Topic: Panama1.633 million (2017 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor Topic: Papua New Guinea3.681 million (2017 est.) Topic: Paraguay3.428 million (2017 est.) Topic: Peru3.421 million (2020 est.) note: individuals older than 14 years of age Topic: Philippines41.533 million (2020 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islands15 (2004) Topic: Poland9.561 million (2020 est.) Topic: Portugal4.717 million (2020 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico1.139 million (December 2014 est.) Topic: Qatar1.953 million (2017 est.) Topic: Romania4.889 million (2020 est.) Topic: Russia69.923 million (2020 est.) Topic: Rwanda6.227 million (2017 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha2,486 (1998 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis18,170 (June 1995 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia79,700 (2012 est.) Topic: Saint Martin17,300 (2008 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon4,429 (2015) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines57,520 (2007 est.) Topic: Samoa50,700 (2016 est.) Topic: San Marino21,960 (September 2013 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe72,600 (2017 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia13.8 million (2017 est.) note: comprised of 3.1 million Saudis and 10.7 million non-Saudis Topic: Senegal6.966 million (2017 est.) Topic: Serbia3 million (2020 est.) Topic: Seychelles51,000 (2018 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone132,000 (2013 est.) Topic: Singapore3.778 million (2019 est.) note: excludes non-residents Topic: Sint Maarten23,200 (2008 est.) Topic: Slovakia2.511 million (2020 est.) Topic: Slovenia885,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands202,500 (2007 est.) Topic: Somalia4.154 million (2016 est.) Topic: South Africa14.687 million (2020 est.) Topic: Spain19.057 million (2020 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka8 million (2020 est.) Topic: Sudan11.92 million (2007 est.) Topic: Suriname144,000 (2014 est.) Topic: Svalbard1,590 (2013) Topic: Sweden5.029 million (2020 est.) Topic: Switzerland5.067 million (2020 est.) Topic: Syria3.767 million (2017 est.) Topic: Taiwan11.498 million (2020 est.) Topic: Tajikistan2.295 million (2016 est.) Topic: Tanzania24.89 million (2017 est.) Topic: Thailand37.546 million (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste286,700 (2016 est.) Topic: Togo2.595 million (2007 est.) Topic: Tokelau1,100 (2019 est.) Topic: Tonga33,800 (2011 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago629,400 (2017 est.) Topic: Tunisia4.054 million (2017 est.) Topic: Turkey25.677 million (2020 est.) note: this number is for the domestic labor force only; number does not include about 1.2 million Turks working abroad, nor refugees Topic: Turkmenistan2.305 million (2013 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands4,848 (1990 est.) Topic: Tuvalu3,615 (2004 est.) Topic: Uganda15.84 million (2015 est.) Topic: Ukraine16.033 million (2017 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates5.344 million (2017 est.) note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce Topic: United Kingdom35.412 million (2020 est.) Topic: United States146.128 million (2020 est.) note: includes unemployed Topic: Uruguay1.748 million (2017 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan13.273 million (2018 est.) Topic: Vanuatu115,900 (2007 est.) Topic: Venezuela14.21 million (2017 est.) Topic: Vietnam54.659 million (2019 est.) Topic: Virgin Islands48,550 (2016 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futuna4,482 (2013) Topic: West Bank1.24 million (2017 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip Topic: World3.432 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Yemen7.425 million (2017 est.) Topic: Zambia6.898 million (2017 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe7.907 million (2017 est.)

20220601

countries-guinea-bissau

Topic: Photos of Guinea-Bissau Topic: Introduction Background: For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trade was lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In May 1999, a military mutiny and civil war led to VIEIRA's ouster. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In September 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. In June 2009, Malam Bacai SANHA was elected president, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. In April 2012, a military coup prevented the second-round of the presidential election from taking place. Following mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president after a free and fair election. In June 2019, VAZ became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full presidential term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in December 2019, but he did not take office until February 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trade was lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In May 1999, a military mutiny and civil war led to VIEIRA's ouster. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In September 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. In June 2009, Malam Bacai SANHA was elected president, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. In April 2012, a military coup prevented the second-round of the presidential election from taking place. Following mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president after a free and fair election. In June 2019, VAZ became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full presidential term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in December 2019, but he did not take office until February 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 36,125 sq km land: 28,120 sq km water: 8,005 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 762 km border countries (2): Guinea 421 km; Senegal 341 km Coastline: 350 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Terrain: mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets Elevation: highest point: Dongol Ronde 277 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong location of the high elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 70 m Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.) forest: 55.2% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 250 sq km (2012) Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin Population distribution: approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires Geography - note: this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland Map description: Guinea-Bissau map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean.Guinea-Bissau map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,026,778 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Bissau-Guinean(s) adjective: Bissau-Guinean Ethnic groups: Balanta 30%, Fulani 30%, Manjaco 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, unspecified smaller ethnic groups 6% (2015 est.) Languages: Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo Religions: Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.) Demographic profile: Guinea-Bissau’s young and growing population is sustained by high fertility; approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Its large reproductive-age population and total fertility rate of more than 4 children per woman offsets the country’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. The latter is among the world’s highest because of the prevalence of early childbearing, a lack of birth spacing, the high percentage of births outside of health care facilities, and a shortage of medicines and supplies.Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability, a civil war, and several coups (the latest in 2012) have resulted in a fragile state with a weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, and thriving drug and child trafficking. With the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers, and with the cultural emphasis placed on religious education, parents frequently send boys to study in residential Koranic schools (daaras) in Senegal and The Gambia. They often are extremely deprived and are forced into street begging or agricultural work by marabouts (Muslim religious teachers), who enrich themselves at the expense of the children. Boys who leave their marabouts often end up on the streets of Dakar or other large Senegalese towns and are vulnerable to even worse abuse.Some young men lacking in education and job prospects become involved in the flourishing international drug trade. Local drug use and associated violent crime are growing.Guinea-Bissau’s young and growing population is sustained by high fertility; approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Its large reproductive-age population and total fertility rate of more than 4 children per woman offsets the country’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. The latter is among the world’s highest because of the prevalence of early childbearing, a lack of birth spacing, the high percentage of births outside of health care facilities, and a shortage of medicines and supplies.Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability, a civil war, and several coups (the latest in 2012) have resulted in a fragile state with a weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, and thriving drug and child trafficking. With the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers, and with the cultural emphasis placed on religious education, parents frequently send boys to study in residential Koranic schools (daaras) in Senegal and The Gambia. They often are extremely deprived and are forced into street begging or agricultural work by marabouts (Muslim religious teachers), who enrich themselves at the expense of the children. Boys who leave their marabouts often end up on the streets of Dakar or other large Senegalese towns and are vulnerable to even worse abuse.Some young men lacking in education and job prospects become involved in the flourishing international drug trade. Local drug use and associated violent crime are growing. Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.17% (male 417,810/female 414,105) 15-24 years: 20.38% (male 192,451/female 200,370) 25-54 years: 30.24% (male 275,416/female 307,387) 55-64 years: 3.12% (male 29,549/female 30,661) 65 years and over: 3.08% (2020 est.) (male 25,291/female 34,064) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 81.2 youth dependency ratio: 76 elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 potential support ratio: 19.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 18 years male: 17.4 years female: 18.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.53% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 36.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 45% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 643,000 BISSAU (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 667 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 49.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 54.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.68 years male: 61.45 years female: 65.99 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.69 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 20.6% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 90.6% of population rural: 59.1% of population total: 73.1% of population unimproved: urban: 9.4% of population rural: 40.9% of population total: 26.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.4% (2019) Physicians density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 62.4% of population rural: 7.6% of population total: 31.8% of population unimproved: urban: 37.6% of population rural: 92.4% of population total: 68.2% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 37,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,500 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Guinea-Bissau is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 9.5% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.8% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8.1% (2019) women married by age 18: 25.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 2.2% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 59.9% male: 71.8% female: 48.3% (2015) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation (rampant felling of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 27.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.46 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.) forest: 55.2% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 45% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 9.24% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Guinea-Bissau is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 289,514 tons (2015 est.) Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 34.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 11.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 144 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 31.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Bissau geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the meaning of Bissau is uncertain, it might be an alternative name for the Papel people who live in the area of the city of Bissau Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali Independence: 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973) Constitution: history: promulgated 16 May 1984; note - constitution suspended following military coup April 2012, restored 2014; note - in May 2020, President EMBALO established a commission to draft a revised constitution amendments: proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 1991, 1993, 1996 Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Umaro Sissoko EMBALO (since 27 February 2020); note - President EMBALO was declared winner of the 29 December 2019 runoff presidential election by the electoral commission. In late February 2020, Embalo inaugurated himself with only military leadership present, even though the Supreme Court of Justice had yet to rule on an electoral litigation appeal lodged by his political rival Domingos Simoes PEREIRA. head of government: Prime Minister Nuno NABIAM (since 27 February 2020) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 24 November 2019 with a runoff on 29 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly; note - the president cannot apply for a third consecutive term, nor during the 5 years following the end of the second term election results: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; 100 members directly elected in 27 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 2 elected in single-seat constituencies for citizens living abroad (Africa 1, Europe 1 ); all members serve 4-year terms) elections: note: President dissolved parliament on 16 May 2022 and decreed new elections for 18 December 2022    last held on 10 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 35.2%, Madem G-15 21.1%, PRS 21.1%, other 22.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 47, Madem G-15 27, PRS 21, other 7; composition - men 88, women 14, percent of women 13.7% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life subordinate courts: Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos SIMOES PEREIRA] Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES] Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 [Braima CAMARA] National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB [Nuno Gomes NABIAM] New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO] Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA] Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES] Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau. U.S. diplomatic representation in Guinea-Bissau is conducted through the U.S. Embassy in Dakar and the Guinea-Bissau Liaison Office located in Bissau. mailing address: 2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC  20521-2080 email address and website: dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag National symbol(s): black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black National anthem: name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country) lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence Topic: Economy Economic overview: Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe.   Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. Offshore oil and gas exploration has begun. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% of export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities.   The government was deposed in August 2015, and since then, a political stalemate has resulted in weak governance and reduced donor support.   The country is participating in a three-year, IMF extended credit facility program that was suspended because of a planned bank bailout. The program was renewed in 2017, but the major donors of direct budget support (the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank) have halted their programs indefinitely. Diversification of the economy remains a key policy goal, but Guinea-Bissau’s poor infrastructure and business climate will constrain this effort.Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe. Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. Offshore oil and gas exploration has begun. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% of export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities. The government was deposed in August 2015, and since then, a political stalemate has resulted in weak governance and reduced donor support. The country is participating in a three-year, IMF extended credit facility program that was suspended because of a planned bank bailout. The program was renewed in 2017, but the major donors of direct budget support (the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank) have halted their programs indefinitely. Diversification of the economy remains a key policy goal, but Guinea-Bissau’s poor infrastructure and business climate will constrain this effort. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.64 billion (2020 est.) $3.73 billion (2019 est.) $3.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.9% (2017 est.) 6.3% (2016 est.) 6.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $1,800 (2020 est.) $1,900 (2019 est.) $1,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.339 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2019 est.) 0.3% (2018 est.) 1.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 50% (2017 est.) industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) services: 36.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 83.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 4.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -26.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, cashew nuts, roots/tubers nes, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, vegetables, coconuts, fruit Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 731,300 (2013 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 82% industry and services: 18% (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: NANA Population below poverty line: 67% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 50.7 (2010 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28% (2002) Budget: revenues: 246.2 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 263.5 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 53.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 57.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$27 million (2017 est.) $16 million (2016 est.) Exports: $290 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $380 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: India 50%, Belgium 28%, Cote d'Ivoire 8% (2019) Exports - commodities: cashews, gold, fish, lumber, aluminum ores (2019) Imports: $500 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $460 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Portugal 31%, Senegal 20%, China 10%, Netherlands 7%, Pakistan 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, wheat products, soups/broths, malt extract (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $356.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $349.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 28% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 56% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 7% (2019) Electricity - production: 39 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 36.27 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 28,300 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 2,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,625 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 0 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,913,858 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the country's telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is just over 97 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 245; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea-Bissau with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) Internet country code: .gw Internet users: total: 452,640 (2020 est.) percent of population: 23% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,383 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.12 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J5 Airports: total: 8 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Roadways: total: 4,400 km (2018) paved: 453 km (2018) unpaved: 3,947 km (2018) Waterways: (2012) (rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) Merchant marine: total: 8 by type: general cargo 5, other 3 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force Ministry of Internal Administration: Guard Nacional (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2022) note - the Public Order Police is responsible for maintaining law and order, while the Judicial Police, under the Ministry of Justice, has primary responsibility for investigating drug trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes Military expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $50 million) 1.7% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $45 million) 1.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $45 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,000 total active troops, including a few hundred air and naval personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FARP is poorly armed with an inventory consisting of Soviet-era equipment, much of which is reportedly unserviceable; the only reported deliveries of military equipment since 2015 were patrol boats from Spain in 2017 and non-lethal equipment from China in 2015; Guinea-Bissau has also discussed acquiring military equipment with Indonesia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2021) Military - note: from 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegalfrom 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegal Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: a longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe havena longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe haven Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 7,757 (Senegal) (2022) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a country of origin and destination for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys reportedly were transported to southern Senegal for forced manual and agricultural labor; girls may be subjected to forced domestic service and child prostitution in Senegal and Guinea; both boys and girls are forced to work as street vendors in cities in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Guinea-Bissau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include identifying forced child begging victims, cooperating with Moroccan authorities on international crime investigations, and approving a new action plan; yet, the government has not convicted a trafficker, identified fewer trafficking victims, and lacked resources or the political will to fight trafficking or to enact its action plan, which would meet minimum standards; Guinea-Bissau was granted a waiver under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from downgrade to Tier 3 (2020) Illicit drugs: important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling

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countries-uganda

Topic: Photos of Uganda Topic: Introduction Background: An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. The colonial boundaries demarcating Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country. Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament approved the removal of presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life. Uganda faces numerous challenges that could affect future stability, including explosive population growth, power and infrastructure constraints, corruption, underdeveloped democratic institutions, and human rights deficits.An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. The colonial boundaries demarcating Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country. Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament approved the removal of presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life. Uganda faces numerous challenges that could affect future stability, including explosive population growth, power and infrastructure constraints, corruption, underdeveloped democratic institutions, and human rights deficits.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 241,038 sq km land: 197,100 sq km water: 43,938 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total: 2,729 km border countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains Elevation: highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m Natural resources: copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold Land use: agricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.) forest: 14.5% (2018 est.) other: 14.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 140 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Population distribution: population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms Geography - note: landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda Map description: Uganda map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and Lake Victoria.Uganda map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and Lake Victoria. Topic: People and Society Population: 46,205,893 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan Ethnic groups: Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.) Languages: English (official language, taught in schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic Religions: Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.) Demographic profile: Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world; its total fertility rate is among the world’s highest at close to 5.5 children per woman. Except in urban areas, actual fertility exceeds women’s desired fertility by one or two children, which is indicative of the widespread unmet need for contraception, lack of government support for family planning, and a cultural preference for large families. High numbers of births, short birth intervals, and the early age of childbearing contribute to Uganda’s high maternal mortality rate. Gender inequities also make fertility reduction difficult; women on average are less-educated, participate less in paid employment, and often have little say in decisions over childbearing and their own reproductive health. However, even if the birth rate were significantly reduced, Uganda’s large pool of women entering reproductive age ensures rapid population growth for decades to come. Unchecked, population increase will further strain the availability of arable land and natural resources and overwhelm the country’s limited means for providing food, employment, education, health care, housing, and basic services. The country’s north and northeast lag even further behind developmentally than the rest of the country as a result of long-term conflict (the Ugandan Bush War 1981-1986 and more than 20 years of fighting between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan Government forces), ongoing inter-communal violence, and periodic natural disasters. Uganda has been both a source of refugees and migrants and a host country for refugees. In 1972, then President Idi AMIN, in his drive to return Uganda to Ugandans, expelled the South Asian population that composed a large share of the country’s business people and bankers. Since the 1970s, thousands of Ugandans have emigrated, mainly to southern Africa or the West, for security reasons, to escape poverty, to search for jobs, and for access to natural resources. The emigration of Ugandan doctors and nurses due to low wages is a particular concern given the country’s shortage of skilled health care workers. Africans escaping conflicts in neighboring states have found refuge in Uganda since the 1950s; the country currently struggles to host tens of thousands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and other nearby countries.Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world; its total fertility rate is among the world’s highest at close to 5.5 children per woman. Except in urban areas, actual fertility exceeds women’s desired fertility by one or two children, which is indicative of the widespread unmet need for contraception, lack of government support for family planning, and a cultural preference for large families. High numbers of births, short birth intervals, and the early age of childbearing contribute to Uganda’s high maternal mortality rate. Gender inequities also make fertility reduction difficult; women on average are less-educated, participate less in paid employment, and often have little say in decisions over childbearing and their own reproductive health. However, even if the birth rate were significantly reduced, Uganda’s large pool of women entering reproductive age ensures rapid population growth for decades to come.Unchecked, population increase will further strain the availability of arable land and natural resources and overwhelm the country’s limited means for providing food, employment, education, health care, housing, and basic services. The country’s north and northeast lag even further behind developmentally than the rest of the country as a result of long-term conflict (the Ugandan Bush War 1981-1986 and more than 20 years of fighting between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan Government forces), ongoing inter-communal violence, and periodic natural disasters.Uganda has been both a source of refugees and migrants and a host country for refugees. In 1972, then President Idi AMIN, in his drive to return Uganda to Ugandans, expelled the South Asian population that composed a large share of the country’s business people and bankers. Since the 1970s, thousands of Ugandans have emigrated, mainly to southern Africa or the West, for security reasons, to escape poverty, to search for jobs, and for access to natural resources. The emigration of Ugandan doctors and nurses due to low wages is a particular concern given the country’s shortage of skilled health care workers. Africans escaping conflicts in neighboring states have found refuge in Uganda since the 1950s; the country currently struggles to host tens of thousands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and other nearby countries. Age structure: 0-14 years: 48.21% (male 10,548,913/female 10,304,876) 15-24 years: 20.25% (male 4,236,231/female 4,521,698) 25-54 years: 26.24% (male 5,202,570/female 6,147,304) 55-64 years: 2.91% (male 579,110/female 681,052) 65 years and over: 2.38% (2020 est.) (male 442,159/female 589,053) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 92.3 youth dependency ratio: 88.5 elderly dependency ratio: 3.8 potential support ratio: 26.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 15.7 years male: 14.9 years female: 16.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 3.27% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 40.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 26.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.652 million KAMPALA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 375 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 30.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.96 years male: 66.71 years female: 71.27 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.36 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 41.8% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 92.5% of population rural: 80% of population total: 83.1% of population unimproved: urban: 7.5% of population rural: 20% of population total: 16.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 0.5 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 67.3% of population rural: 27.5% of population total: 37.4% of population unimproved: urban: 32.7% of population rural: 72.5% of population total: 62.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 5.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.4 million (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 22,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness) water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Uganda is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.4% (2016) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.3% (2016) women married by age 18: 34% (2016) men married by age 18: 5.5% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 3% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.5% male: 82.7% female: 70.8% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2011) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.6% male: 13.8% female: 17.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 48.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.68 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.24 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast Land use: agricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.) forest: 14.5% (2018 est.) other: 14.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 26.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 7.32% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness) water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Uganda is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to weather extremes - in Karamoja Region, about 188,000 people, 16% of the population, were estimated to be severely food insecure between August 2021 and January 2022, mainly a result of consecutive poor rainy seasons that adversely affected crop and livestock production (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 7,045,050 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 422,703 tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2017 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 328 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 60.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda etymology: from the name "Buganda," adopted by the British as the designation for their East African colony in 1894; Buganda had been a powerful East African state during the 18th and 19th centuries Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the site of the original British settlement was referred to by its native name as Akasozi ke'Empala ("hill of the impala" [plural]); over time this designation was shortened to K'empala and finally Kampala Administrative divisions: 134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo Independence: 9 October 1962 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent ofthe president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2017 (2021) Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since coming to power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since coming to power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly or persons who qualify to be elected as members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: 2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Bobi WINE (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4% 2016: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 60.6%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 35.6%, other 3.8% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (556 seats; 353 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 146 for women directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote, and 30 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5, older persons 5; 27 ex officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in February 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 336, NUP 57, FDC 32, DP 9, UPDF 10, UPC 9, independent 76 (excludes 27 ex-officio members) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance for National Transformation or ANT [Ms. Alice ALASO, acting national coordinator]; note - Mugisha MUNTU resigned his position as ANT national coordinator in late June 2020 to run in the 2021 presidential election Activist Party [Stephen BAMPIGGA] Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO] Conservative Party [Walyemera Daniel MASUMBA] Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Patrick Oboi AMURIAT] Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA] National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI] Uganda People's Congress or UPC [James AKENA] National Unity Platform [Nkonge KIBALAMA] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mull Ssebujja KATENDE (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727 email address and website: washington@mofa.go.ug; info@ugandaembassysus.org; ambauganda@aol.com https://washington.mofa.go.ug/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Natalie E. BROWN (since 17 November 2020) embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC  20521-2190 telephone: [256] (0) 312-306-001 FAX: [256] (0) 414-259-794 email address and website: KampalaUScitizen@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK National symbol(s): grey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red National anthem: name: Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty! lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA note: adopted 1962 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (c), Rwenzori Mountains National Park (c), Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi Topic: Economy Economic overview: Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country’s export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption.   Uganda’s economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda’s budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise.   Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars’ worth of highway projects to the oil region.   Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government’s failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas.Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country’s export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption. Uganda’s economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda’s budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise. Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars’ worth of highway projects to the oil region. Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government’s failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $99.61 billion (2020 est.) $96.84 billion (2019 est.) $90.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.8% (2017 est.) 2.3% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,200 (2020 est.) $2,200 (2019 est.) $2,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $34.683 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 2.6% (2018 est.) 5.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2015) Moody's rating: B2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 28.2% (2017 est.) industry: 21.1% (2017 est.) services: 50.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 74.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, plantains, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, milk, vegetables, beans, bananas, sorghum Industries: sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 15.84 million (2015 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 71% industry: 7% services: 22% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2014 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.6% male: 13.8% female: 17.6% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 21.4% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 42.8 (2016 est.) 45.7 (2002) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.) Budget: revenues: 3.848 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.928 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 40% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: -$1.212 billion (2017 est.) -$707 million (2016 est.) Exports: $6.12 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.958 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 58%, Kenya 9% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, milk, fish and fish products, tobacco (2019) Imports: $9.54 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.44 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 19%, India 17%, Kenya 16%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Japan 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: packaged medicines, aircraft, delivery trucks, cars, wheat (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.034 billion (31 December 2016 est.) note: excludes gold Debt - external: $13.85 billion (2019 est.) $12.187 billion (2018 est.) $6.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 3,680 (2020 est.) 3,685 (2019 est.) 3,735 (2018 est.) 3,234.1 (2014 est.) 2,599.8 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 29% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 17% (2019) Electricity - production: 3.463 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 3.106 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 121 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 50 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.02 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 19% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 68% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 31,490 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 90,774 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 25,395,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57.37 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: telecom infrastructure has developed through private partnerships; as of 2018, fixed-fiber backbone infrastructure is available in over half of Uganda’s districts; mobile phone companies now provide 4G networks across all major cities and national parks, while offering 3G coverage in small cities and most rural areas with road access; price of commercial Internet services dropped substantially in 2019; consumers rely on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services as fixed-line infrastructure is poor; 5G migration is developing slowly; government commissioned broadband satellite services for rural areas in 2019 (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile cellular systems teledensity about 61 per 100 persons; intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations (2020) international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog and digital links to Kenya and Tanzania note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 operational FM stations Internet country code: .ug Internet users: total: 9,148,200 (2020 est.) percent of population: 20% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 58,594 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.13 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,537 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5X Airports: total: 47 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Railways: total: 1,244 km (2014) narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 20,544 km (2017) (excludes local roads) paved: 4,257 km (2017) unpaved: 16,287 km (2017) Waterways: (2011) (there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile that flow out of Lake Albert in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores) Ports and terminals: lake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces, Air Forces, Marine Forces, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force (2021) note - in 2018, President MUSEVENI created a volunteer force of Local Defense Units under the military to beef up local security in designated parts of the country Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $870 million) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $640 million) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $610 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 45-50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel; approximately 20,000 personnel in the Local Defense Units (2021) note - in 2021, the Ugandan Government announced it would recruit another 10,000 Local Defense Units personnel Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the UPDF's inventory is mostly older Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a limited mix of more modern Russian- and Western-origin arms; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of arms to the UPDF (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty (men and women); 9-year service obligation (2021) Military deployments: 6,800 Somalia (6,200 AMISOM; 620 UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (2022) Military - note: the UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates as of 2022, the UPDF was conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including cross-border operations) against a Congo-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see Appendix T); in addition, elements of the UPDF were deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangs beginning in 2012, the UPDF led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threat Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016 and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020 the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (“KAR”) in 1902, which participated in both world wars; the UPDF was established in 1995the UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidatesas of 2022, the UPDF was conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including cross-border operations) against a Congo-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see Appendix T); in addition, elements of the UPDF were deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangsbeginning in 2012, the UPDF led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threatUganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016 and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020 the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (“KAR”) in 1902, which participated in both world wars; the UPDF was established in 1995 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021  Uganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Uganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain storesUganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021  Uganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Uganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain stores Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 963,086 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 462,120 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 43,731 (Burundi), 55,877 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 25,915 (Rwanda), 22,505 (Eritrea) (2022) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Uganda, and traffickers exploit victims from Uganda abroad; young Ugandan children are exploited in forced labor in agriculture, fishing, forestry, cattle herding, mining, stone quarrying, brick making, carpentry, steel manufacturing, street vending, bars, restaurants, gold mining, and domestic service; traffickers exploit girls and boys in commercial sex; most are children from the northeastern region and are exploited in forced begging, commercial sex in brothels, or sold in markets; traffickers compel  children from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan into forced agricultural labor and sex trafficking in Uganda; young women most at risk for transnational trafficking seek employment as domestic workers in the Middle East and then are exploited in sex trafficking; traffickers subject Ugandans to forced labor and sex trafficking in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Bahrain, Jordan, China, Kenya, and India; traffickers are often relatives, friends of victims, or religious leaders who receive a fee per worker from recruiters tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list — Uganda does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include investigating allegations of complicit officials, implementing the protection and prevention provisions of the 2009 anti-trafficking act, convicting alleged traffickers, developing a plan for an anti-trafficking department within the police force; however, the government reported the lowest number of investigations in the past five years and a substantial decrease in prosecutions; authorities provided no training for law enforcement and immigration officials and identified fewer victims; the Coordination Office for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons is severely underfunded, stifling efforts to coordinate and combat trafficking; no systematic procedures to refer or assist victims have been developed, and the government provides no resources to NGOs for protective services; Uganda was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

20220601

central-asia

20220601

countries-guernsey

Topic: Photos of Guernsey Topic: Introduction Background: Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the main island of Guernsey and a number of smaller islands including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 78 sq km land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands Area - comparative: about one-half the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 50 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast Terrain: mostly flat with low hills in southwest Elevation: highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m lowest point: English Channel 0 m Natural resources: cropland Irrigated land: NA Natural hazards: very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous Geography - note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port Topic: People and Society Population: 67,334 (July 2021 est.) Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander Ethnic groups: Guernsey 52.9%, UK and Ireland 23.9%, Portugal 2.2%, Latvia 1.5%, other Europe 2.9%, other 4.6%, unspecified 12% (2019 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth; the native population is of British and Norman-French descent Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts Religions: Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 5,008/female 4,712) 15-24 years: 10.58% (male 3,616/female 3,476) 25-54 years: 40.73% (male 13,821/female 13,492) 55-64 years: 13.96% (male 4,635/female 4,728) 65 years and over: 20.23% (male 6,229/female 7,335) (2020 est.) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49 youth dependency ratio: 22.3 elderly dependency ratio: 26.7 potential support ratio: 3.7 (2020 est.) note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey Median age: total: 44.3 years male: 43 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.24% (2021 est.) Birth rate: 9.75 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 31.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey Major urban areas - population: 16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.03 years male: 80.31 years female: 85.89 years (2021 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (2021 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 94.2% of population unimproved: total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.) note: includes data for Jersey Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 1.2% of population (2017) note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity due to land abandonment and succession to scrub or woodland Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast Urbanization: urban population: 31.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.) note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey. Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island" Government type: parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation) Dependency status: British crown dependency Capital: name: Saint Peter Port geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: Saint Peter Port is the name of the town and its surrounding parish; the "port" distinguishes this parish from that of Saint Peter on the other side of the island Administrative divisions: none (British Crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed - Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark - but they are generally not included in the enumeration of parishes Independence: none (British Crown dependency) National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) Constitution: history: unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice amendments: new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote; many laws have been passed; in 2019, 60 laws were passed Legal system: customary legal system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Vice Admiral Ian CORDER (since 14 March 2016) head of government: Chief Minister Peter FERBRACHE (since 16 October 2020); Bailiff Richard MCMAHON (since 11 May 2020); note - the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government; the Policy and Resources Committee, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive; the 5 members all have equal voting rights cabinet: none elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term; last held on 6 May 2016 (next to be held in June 2020) election results: Gavin ST PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister Legislative branch: description: unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general elections: last held on 7 October 2020 (next to be held in June 2025) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 38; composition - men 32, women 8, percent of women 20% Judicial branch: highest courts: Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with 1 judge and 4 jurats); note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Bailiff and a number of jurats subordinate courts: Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas Political parties and leaders: none; all independents International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (British crown dependency) Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 National symbol(s): Guernsey cow, donkey; national colors: red, white, yellow National anthem: name: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear) lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Financial services accounted for about 21% of employment and about 32% of total income in 2016 in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Construction, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, professional services, tourism, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular offshore financial center. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.465 billion (2015 est.) $3.451 billion (2014 est.) $3.42 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.4% (2015 est.) 1.2% (2014 est.) 4.2% (2012 est.) Real GDP per capita: $52,500 (2014 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.742 billion (2005 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (June 2006 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2000) industry: 10% (2000) services: 87% (2000) Agricultural products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle Industries: tourism, banking Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 31,470 (March 2006) Unemployment rate: 1.2% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 563.6 million (2005) expenditures: 530.9 million (2005 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.2% (of GDP) (2005) Taxes and other revenues: 20.6% (of GDP) (2005) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: NANA Exports - commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables Imports: NANA Imports - commodities: coal, gasoline, oil, machinery, and equipment Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Guernsey pound per US dollar 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.738 (2016 est.) 0.738 (2015) 0.6542 (2014) 0.607 (2013) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 33,940 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 71,622 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2018 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: high performance global connections with quality service; connections to major cities around the world to rival and attract future investment and future needs of islanders and businesses (2018) domestic: fixed-line 54 per 100 and mobile-cellular 114 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating Internet country code: .gg Internet users: total: 54,600 (2021 est.) percent of population: 83.63% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 25,336 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40.1 (2020) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (registered in UK) (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 (registered in UK) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 2 Airports: total: 2 (2013) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2019) Roadways: total: 260 km (2017) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

countries-cayman-islands

Topic: Photos of Cayman Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 264 sq km land: 264 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 160 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs Elevation: highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism Land use: agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America Map description: Cayman Islands map showing the islands that comprise the UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.Cayman Islands map showing the islands that comprise the UK territory in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 64,309 (2022 est.) note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, White 20%, African descent 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% Languages: English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.) Religions: Protestant 67.8% (includes Church of God 22.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.4%, Presbyterian/United Church 8.6%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 7.1%, non-denominational 5.3%, Anglican 4.1%, Wesleyan Holiness 2.4%), Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other 7%, none 9.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.75% (male 5,535/female 5,457) 15-24 years: 11.86% (male 3,673/female 3,675) 25-54 years: 41.37% (male 12,489/female 13,140) 55-64 years: 14.78% (male 4,398/female 4,755) 65 years and over: 14.24% (2020 est.) (male 4,053/female 4,769) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 40.5 years male: 39.7 years female: 41.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.97 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 12.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US Population distribution: majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.04 years male: 79.35 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.4% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 95.6% of population total: 95.6% of population unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.8% male: 16.4% female: 11.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use) Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) Land use: agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there Government type: parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Capital: name: George Town (on Grand Cayman) geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after English King George III (1738-1820) Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959) Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) amendments: amended 2016, 2020 Legal system: English common law and local statutes Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018) head of government: Premier Wayne PANTON (since 21 April 2021) cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held on 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; composition of elected members - men 15, women 4, percent of women 21.1%; ex-officio members - men 2 Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70 subordinate courts: Summary Court Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Alden MCLAUGHLIN] Cayman Democratic Party or CDP [McKeeva BUSH] International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica Flag description: a blue field with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS National symbol(s): green sea turtle National anthem: name: Beloved Isle Cayman lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.   Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US.With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.78 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.409 billion (2017 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 1.7% (2014 est.) 1.2% (2013 est.) 1.6% (2012 est.) Real GDP per capita: $73,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $71,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $69,573 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.25 billion (2008 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2017 est.) -0.6% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Aa3 (1997) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.4% (2017 est.) services: 92.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -64.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 39,000 (2007 est.) note: nearly 55% are non-nationals Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.9% industry: 19.1% services: 79% (2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 4% (2008) 4.4% (2004) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.8% male: 16.4% female: 11.4% (2015 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 874.5 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 766.6 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$492.6 million (2017 est.) -$493.5 million (2016 est.) Exports: $4.13 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.96 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Netherlands 82%, Spain 11% (2019) Exports - commodities: recreational boats, gold, broadcasting equipment, sulfates, collector's items (2019) Imports: $2.7 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Netherlands 56%, United States 18%, Italy 8%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: recreational boats, ships, gold, refined petroleum, cars (2019) Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - 0.82 (2017 est.) 0.82 (2016 est.) 0.82 (2015 est.) 0.82 (2014 est.) 0.83 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 650 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 612 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 132,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 4,400 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 4,285 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 36,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 100,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competition in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2017) domestic: introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions; nearly 55 per 100 fixed-line and 153 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman Internet country code: .ky Internet users: total: 53,233 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3,200 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-C Airports: total: 3 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012) Roadways: total: 785 km (2007) paved: 785 km (2007) Merchant marine: total: 160 by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 1, general cargo 1, oil tanker 23, other 103 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering  major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering 

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countries-saint-helena-ascension-and-tristan-da-cunha

Topic: Photos of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Topic: Introduction Background: Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.; Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in October of 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks.; Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.; The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha.Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.;Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in October of 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks.;Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.;The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts.Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena Geographic coordinates: Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 WSaint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 394 sq km land: 122 sq km Saint Helena Island water: 0 sq km 88 sq km Ascension Island, 184 sq km Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 sq km), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands) Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid; Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid; Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) Terrain: the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffsthe islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs Elevation: highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 859 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 818 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena Island 2,060 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish, lobster Land use: agricultural land: 30.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 64.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: Saint Helena - population is concentrated in and around the capital Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area; Ascension - largest settlement, and location of most of the population, is Georgetown; Tristan da Cunha - most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunhavolcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004active volcanism on Tristan da Cunhavolcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004 Geography - note: Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa Map description: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha map showing the various islands that comprise this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha map showing the various islands that comprise this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 7,925 (2022 est.) note: Saint Helena's Statistical Office estimated the resident population to be 4,439 in 2021; only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited, none of the other nearby islands/islets are Nationality: noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints" Ethnic groups: African descent 50%, White 25%, Chinese 25% Languages: English Religions: Protestant 75.9% (includes Anglican 68.9, Baptist 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.8%, Salvation Army 1.7%, New Apostolic 1.4%), Jehovah's Witness 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.2%, other 2.5% (includes Baha'i), unspecified 0.8%, none 6.1%, no response 9.4% (2016 est.) note: data represent Saint Helena only Demographic profile: The vast majority of the population of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha live on Saint Helena. Ascension has no indigenous or permanent residents and is inhabited only by persons contracted to work on the island (mainly with the UK and US military or in the space and communications industries) or their dependents, while Tristan da Cunha – the main island in a small archipelago – has fewer than 300 residents. The population of Saint Helena consists of the descendants of 17th century British sailors and settlers from the East India Company, African slaves, and indentured servants and laborers from India, Indonesia, and China. Most of the population of Ascension are Saint Helenians, Britons, and Americans, while that of Tristan da Cunha descends from shipwrecked sailors and Saint Helenians.Change in Saint Helena’s population size is driven by net outward migration. Since the 1980s, Saint Helena’s population steadily has shrunk and aged as the birth rate has decreased and many working-age residents left for better opportunities elsewhere. The restoration of British citizenship in 2002 accelerated family emigration; from 1998 to 2008 alone, population declined by about 20%.In the last few years, population has experienced some temporary growth, as foreigners and returning Saint Helenians, have come to build an international airport, but numbers are beginning to fade as the project reaches completion and workers depart. In the long term, once the airport is fully operational, increased access to the remote island has the potential to boost tourism and fishing, provide more jobs for Saint Helenians domestically, and could encourage some ex-patriots to return home. In the meantime, however, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha have to contend with the needs of an aging population. The elderly population of the islands has risen from an estimated 9.4% in 1998 to 20.4% in 2016.The vast majority of the population of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha live on Saint Helena. Ascension has no indigenous or permanent residents and is inhabited only by persons contracted to work on the island (mainly with the UK and US military or in the space and communications industries) or their dependents, while Tristan da Cunha – the main island in a small archipelago – has fewer than 300 residents. The population of Saint Helena consists of the descendants of 17th century British sailors and settlers from the East India Company, African slaves, and indentured servants and laborers from India, Indonesia, and China. Most of the population of Ascension are Saint Helenians, Britons, and Americans, while that of Tristan da Cunha descends from shipwrecked sailors and Saint Helenians.Change in Saint Helena’s population size is driven by net outward migration. Since the 1980s, Saint Helena’s population steadily has shrunk and aged as the birth rate has decreased and many working-age residents left for better opportunities elsewhere. The restoration of British citizenship in 2002 accelerated family emigration; from 1998 to 2008 alone, population declined by about 20%.In the last few years, population has experienced some temporary growth, as foreigners and returning Saint Helenians, have come to build an international airport, but numbers are beginning to fade as the project reaches completion and workers depart. In the long term, once the airport is fully operational, increased access to the remote island has the potential to boost tourism and fishing, provide more jobs for Saint Helenians domestically, and could encourage some ex-patriots to return home. In the meantime, however, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha have to contend with the needs of an aging population. The elderly population of the islands has risen from an estimated 9.4% in 1998 to 20.4% in 2016. Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.66% (male 592/female 570) 15-24 years: 11.7% (male 472/female 455) 25-54 years: 42.59% (male 1,679/female 1,692) 55-64 years: 13.53% (male 523/female 549) 65 years and over: 18.06% (2022 est.) (male 730/female 701) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 43.2 years male: 43.2 years female: 43.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.13% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.34 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: Saint Helena - population is concentrated in and around the capital Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area; Ascension - largest settlement, and location of most of the population, is Georgetown; Tristan da Cunha - most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Urbanization: urban population: 40.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.48 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.51 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.1% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.9% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: development threatens unique biota on Saint Helena Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid; Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid; Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) Land use: agricultural land: 30.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 64.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 40.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha conventional short form: none etymology: Saint Helena was discovered in 1502 by Galician navigator Joao da NOVA, sailing in the service of the Kingdom of Portugal, who named it "Santa Helena"; Ascension was named in 1503 by Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE who sighted the island on the Feast Day of the Ascension; Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA who christened the main island after himself (the name was subsequently anglicized) Government type: parliamentary democracy Dependency status: Overseas Territory of the UK Capital: name: Jamestown geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King James II of England (r. 1785-1788) Administrative divisions: 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, third Monday in April (1926) Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009) Legal system: English common law and local statutes Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Philip RUSHBROOK (since 11 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha appointed by the governor Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats including the speaker and deputy speaker; 12 members directly elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote and 3 ex-officio members - the chief secretary, financial secretary, and attorney general; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 13 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 12; composition - men 14, women 3, percent women 17.6% note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice - a nonresident - and NA judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of Queen ELIZABETH II; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag National symbol(s): Saint Helena plover (bird) National anthem: note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $27 million in FY06/07 or more than twice the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $31.1 million (2009 est.) Real GDP growth rate: NANA Real GDP per capita: $7,800 (FY09/10 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2012 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Agricultural products: coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 2,486 (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6% industry: 48% services: 46% (1987 est.) Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 8.427 million (FY06/07 est.) expenditures: 20.7 million (FY06/07 est.) note: revenue data reflect only locally raised revenues; the budget deficit is resolved by grant aid from the UK Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Exports: $19 million (2004 est.) Exports - partners: United States 47%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, France 9%, Australia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crustaceans, fish, integrated circuits, air conditioners, clothing and apparel (2019) Imports: $20.53 million (2010 est.) Imports - partners: United Kingdom 65%, South Africa 21% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cranes, communion wafers, iron sheeting, cars and vehicle parts (2019) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.6542 (2016 est.) 0.6542 (2015) 0.607 (2014 est.) 0.6391 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity - production: 7 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 6.51 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 8,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 70 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 65 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49.93 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66.58 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: capability to communicate worldwide; ADSL- broadband service; LTE coverage of 95% of population, includes voice calls, text messages, mobile data as well as inbound and outbound roaming; Wi-Fi hotspots in Jamestown, 1 ISP, many services are not offered locally but made available for visitors; some sun outages due to the reliance of international telephone and Internet communication relying on single satellite link (2020) domestic: automatic digital network; fixed-line roughly 50 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 67 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island) - 247; landing point for the SaEx1 submarine cable providing connectivity to South Africa, Brazil, Virginia Beach (US) and islands in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Saint Helena has no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially; Ascension Island has no local TV station but has 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from 1 radio station on Saint Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) are available, as well as TV services for the US military; Tristan da Cunha has 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts Internet country code: .sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac Internet users: total: 2,302 (2019 est.) percent of population: 38% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Communications - note: Ascension Island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)); South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-H Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 Ascension Island - Wideawake Field (ASI) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Saint Helena (HLE); note - weekly commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia commenced on 14 October 2017 Roadways: total: 198 km (2002) (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (2002) (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (2002) (Saint Helena 20 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Saint Helena Saint Helena: Jamestown Ascension Island: Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh) Transportation - note: the new airport on Saint Helena opened for limited operations in July 2016, and the first commercial flight took place on 14 October 2017, marking the start of weekly air service between Saint Helena and South Africa via Namibia; the military airport on Ascension Island is closed to civilian traffic; there is no air connection to Tristan da Cunha and very limited sea connections making it one of the most isolated communities on the planet Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

references-definitions-and-notes

Topic: Abbreviations Topic: Acronyms Topic: Administrative divisions Topic: Age structure Topic: Agricultural products Topic: Air pollutantsThis entry refers to specified gases and particulates released by various sources of animals, plants, goods, and processes that can contribute to global warming, poor air quality, pollution, and climate change. particulate matter emissions - This entry provides the modeled annual mean concentration of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air. Exposure to PM2.5 pollutants should not exceed an annual mean concentration of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, according to World Health Organization guidelines. Particulate matter are inhalable and respirable particles composed of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, and water. Fine particles less than 2.5 microns pose the greatest health risks because they can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Sources include combustion engines, solid-fuel combustion, and other industrial activities. Exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, although even low concentrations of particulate matter can impact health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can decrease the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. carbon dioxide emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of carbon dioxide emissions for a country, as measured in megatons.  Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted through human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the burning of fossil fuels (including coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, as well as certain chemical processes, such as cement production. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release, and respiration. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate warming, air quality, global warming, and pollution. methane emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of methane emissions for a country, as measured in megatons. Methane is a greenhouse gas emitted from the breakdown of organic material from human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the decay of organic waste in landfills; agricultural activities; stationary and mobile combustion; waste water treatment; and certain industrial processes. Natural sources include the decay of plant material in wetlands, the seepage of gas from underground deposits, and the digestion of food by ruminants. Methane emissions cause poor air quality, health issues for animals and humans, and reduced crop yields, and are a contributor to climate change. Topic: Airports Topic: Airports - with paved runways Topic: Airports - with unpaved runways Topic: Appendixes Topic: Area Topic: Area - comparative

20220601

countries-gibraltar

Topic: Photos of Gibraltar Topic: Introduction Background: Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain Geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C. Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries (1): Spain 1.2 km Coastline: 12 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar Elevation: highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Natural hazards: occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination) Geography - note: note 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea note 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territorynote 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Seanote 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory Map description: Gibraltar map showing major populated areas and significant features on this UK peninsular territory that projects into the Mediterranean Sea.Gibraltar map showing major populated areas and significant features on this UK peninsular territory that projects into the Mediterranean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 29,573 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar Ethnic groups: Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese Religions: Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.24% (male 3,080/female 2,907) 15-24 years: 13.07% (male 2,000/female 1,866) 25-54 years: 41.28% (male 6,289/female 5,922) 55-64 years: 8.71% (male 1,082/female 1,495) 65 years and over: 16.7% (2020 est.) (male 2,378/female 2,562) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 35.5 years male: 34.4 years female: 36.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.19% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Major urban areas - population: 35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.42 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.41 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 16,954 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Capital: name: Gibraltar geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK) Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain Constitution: history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 amendments: proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020) head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 52.5% (GSLP 37.0%, LPG 15.5%), GSD 25.6%, TG 20.5%, independent 1.4%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6, TG 1; composition including Parliament speaker - men 16, women 2, percent of women 1.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67 but tenure can be extended 3 years subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG [Joseph GARCIA] Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI] Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO] GSLP-Liberal Alliance (includes GSLP and LPG) Together Gibraltar or TG [Marlene HASSAN-NAHON] International organization participation: ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean National symbol(s): Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow National anthem: name: Gibraltar Anthem lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.   The financial sector, tourism (over 11 million visitors in 2012), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%.Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment. The financial sector, tourism (over 11 million visitors in 2012), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.044 billion (2014 est.) $1.85 billion (2013 est.) $2 billion (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 dollars Real GDP per capita: $61,700 (2014 est.) $43,000 (2008 est.) $41,200 (2007 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.044 billion (2014 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2013 est.) 2.2% (2012 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2016 est.) industry: 0% (2008 est.) services: 100% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: none Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 24,420 (2014 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NEGL industry: 1.8% services: 98.2% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 1% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 475.8 million (2008 est.) expenditures: 452.3 million (2008 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.1% (of GDP) (2008 est.) Public debt: 7.5% of GDP (2008 est.) 8.4% of GDP (2006 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2008 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Exports: $202.3 million (2014 est.) $271 million (2004 est.) Exports - partners: Poland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars, ships, refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats (2019) Imports: $2.967 billion (2004 est.) Imports - partners: Spain 19%, US 12%, India 12%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11%, United Kingdom 7%, Greece 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, coal tar oil, crude petroleum (2019) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 238.8 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 230.8 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 43,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 78,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 74,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 17,041 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,438 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Gibraltar’s population is urban based, served by a digital telephone exchange supported by a fiber optic and copper infrastructure; near universal mobile and Internet use (2019) domestic: automatic exchange facilities; over 50 per 100 fixed-line and 120 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) Broadcast media: Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio broadcasting services via 1 TV station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible Internet country code: .gi Internet users: total: 31,684 (2019 est.) percent of population: 94% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 21,009 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-G Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 29 km (2007) paved: 29 km (2007) Merchant marine: total: 202 by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 19, general cargo 55, oil tanker 20, other 100 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Gibraltar Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2022) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomyin 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy

20220601

countries-tonga-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Tonga due to COVID-19 and recent volcanic eruptions. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as the stay is less than 31 days. US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga; +(679) 331-4466; EMER: +(679) 772-8049; US Embassy Suva, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua, Suva, Fiji Islands Telephone Code: 676 Local Emergency Phone: 911 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Currency (Code): Pa'anga (TOP) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): I Major Languages: Tongan, English Major Religions: Protestant 64.1%, Mormon 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2% Time Difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Nuku'alofa; Ha'atafu Beach; Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes; Pangaimotu Island Major Sports: Rugby, soccer, American football, boxing Cultural Practices: Being excessively loud in public is considered very rude. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping in restaurants is not the norm for locals, but most tourists leave a little tip to waiters to show their appreciation. It is not customary to tip in hotels in Tonga.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-india

Topic: Photos of India Topic: 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 Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) 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 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 November 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital. India's economic growth following the launch of economic reforms in 1991, a massive youthful population, and a strategic geographic location have contributed to India's emergence as a regional and global power. However, India still faces pressing problems such as environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, and its restrictive business climate challenges economic growth expectations.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 Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) 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 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 November 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital. India's economic growth following the launch of economic reforms in 1991, a massive youthful population, and a strategic geographic location have contributed to India's emergence as a regional and global power. However, India still faces pressing problems such as environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, and its restrictive business climate challenges economic growth expectations.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 2,973,193 sq km water: 314,070 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than one-third the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 13,888 km border countries (6): 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 contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m 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: 60.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 52.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 23.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 667,000 sq km (2012) 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: with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest, including the Thar Desert, and the mountain fringe in the north, a very high population density exists throughout most of the country; 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; earthquakesvolcanism: Barren Island (354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent yearsdroughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakesvolcanism: 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 Map description: India map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian Ocean.India map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,389,637,446 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, and other 3% (2000) 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%; note - English enjoys the status of subsidiary official language but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; there are 22 other officially recognized languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): विश्व फ़ैक्टबुक, आधारभूत जानकारी का एक अपरिहार्य स्त्रोत  (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: 26.31% (male 185,017,089/female 163,844,572) 15-24 years: 17.51% (male 123,423,531/female 108,739,780) 25-54 years: 41.56% (male 285,275,667/female 265,842,319) 55-64 years: 7.91% (male 52,444,817/female 52,447,038) 65 years and over: 6.72% (2020 est.) (male 42,054,459/female 47,003,975) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.7 youth dependency ratio: 38.9 elderly dependency ratio: 9.8 potential support ratio: 10.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 28.7 years male: 28 years female: 29.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.67% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 16.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest, including the Thar Desert, and the mountain fringe in the north, a very high population density exists throughout most of the country; 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: 35.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 32.066 million NEW DELHI (capital), 20.961 million Mumbai, 15.134 million Kolkata, 13.193 million Bangalore, 11.503 million Chennai, 10.534 million Hyderabad (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21 years (2015/16) note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 145 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 30.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 30.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.22 years male: 65.46 years female: 69.16 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 53.5% (2015/16) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.9% of population rural: 94.7% of population total: 95.5% of population unimproved: urban: 3.1% of population rural: 5.3% of population total: 4.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3% (2019) Physicians density: 0.86 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.5 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.6% of population rural: 75.2% of population total: 83.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.4% of population rural: 24.8% of population total: 16.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.3 million (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 69,000 (2017 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria water contact diseases: leptospirosis animal contact diseases: rabies note: clusters of cases of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are being reported across 27 States and Union Territories in India; as of 30 March 2022, India has reported a total of 43,023,215 cases of COVID-19 or 3,117.61 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 521,101 cumulative deaths or a rate 37.76 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 70.68% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 33.4% (2016/18) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 6.8% (2016) women married by age 18: 27.3% (2016) men married by age 18: 4.2% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2016) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.4% male: 82.4% female: 65.8% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.8% male: 19.5% female: 21% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources; preservation and quality of forests; biodiversity loss Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 65.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2,407.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 559.11 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north Land use: agricultural land: 60.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 52.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 23.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 35.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 1.15% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria water contact diseases: leptospirosis animal contact diseases: rabies note: clusters of cases of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are being reported across 27 States and Union Territories in India; as of 30 March 2022, India has reported a total of 43,023,215 cases of COVID-19 or 3,117.61 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 521,101 cumulative deaths or a rate 37.76 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 70.68% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 168,403,240 tons (2001 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 8,420,162 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2013 est.) 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 Total water withdrawal: municipal: 56 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 688 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 1,910,900,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya local short form: India/Bharat etymology: the English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name "Bharat" may derive from the "Bharatas" tribe mentioned in the Vedas of the second millennium B.C.; the name is also associated with Emperor Bharata, the legendary conqueror of all of India Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: New Delhi geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the city's name is associated with various myths and legends; the original name for the city may have been Dhilli or Dhillika; alternatively, the name could be a corruption of the Hindustani words "dehleez" or "dehali" - both terms meaning "threshold" or "gateway" - and indicative of the city as a gateway to the Gangetic Plain; after the British decided to move the capital of their Indian Empire from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, they created a new governmental district south of the latter designated as New Delhi; the new capital was not formally inaugurated until 1931 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 note: although its status is that of a union territory, the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi Independence: 15 August 1947 (from the UK) National holiday: Republic Day, 26 January (1950) Constitution: history: previous 1935 (preindependence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950 amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2020 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 International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of India dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ram Nath KOVIND (since 25 July 2017); Vice President M. Venkaiah NAIDU (since 11 August 2017)  head of government: Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)  cabinet: Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 17 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022); vice president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 5 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022); following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by Lok Sabha members of the majority party election results: Ram Nath KOVIND elected president; percent of electoral college vote - Ram Nath KOVIND (BJP) 65.7% Meira KUMAR (INC) 34.3%; M. Venkaiah NAIDU elected vice president; electoral college vote - M. Venkaiah NAIDU (BJP) 516, Gopalkrishna GANDHI (independent) 244 Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of: Council of States or Rajya Sabha (245 seats; 233 members indirectly elected by state and territorial assemblies by proportional representation vote and 12 members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years at various dates) House of the People or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 2 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Council of States - last held by state and territorial assemblies at various dates in 2019 (in progress March through July 2022 to fill 70 expiry seats) House of the People - last held April-May 2019 in 7 phases (next to be held in 2024) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BJP 97, INC 34, AITC 13, DMK 10, other 2, independent 2; composition - men 209, women 29, percent of women 13.8% House of the People - percent of vote by party - BJP 55.8%, INC 9.6%, AITC 4.4%, YSRC 4.4%, DMK 4.2%, SS 3.3%, JDU 2.9%, BJD 2.2%, BSP 1.8%, TRS 1.7%, LJP 1.1%, NCP 0.9%, SP 0.9%, other 6.4%, independent 0.7%; seats by party - BJP 303, INC 52, DMK 24, AITC 22, YSRC 22, SS 18, JDU 16, BJD 12, BSP 10, TRS 9, LJP 6, NCP 5, SP 5, other 35, independent 4, vacant 2; composition - men 465, women 78, percent of women 14.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 11.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges, including the chief justice) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65 subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court note: in mid-2011, India’s Cabinet approved the "National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform" to eliminate judicial corruption and reduce the backlog of cases Political parties and leaders: Aam Aadmi Party or AAP [Arvind KEJRIWAL] All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata BANERJEE] Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI] Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Jagat Prakash NADDA] Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK] Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) [Sitaram YECHURY] Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam [Muthuvel Karunanidhi STALIN] Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI] Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR] Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Lalu Prasad YADAV] Samajwadi Party or SP [Akhilesh YADAV] Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Sukhbir Singh BADAL] Shiv Sena or SS [Uddhav THACKERAY] Telegana Rashtra Samithi or TRS [K. Chandrashekar RAO] Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU] YSR Congress or YSRC [Jagan Mohan REDDY] note: India has dozens of national and regional political parties 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), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Taranjit Singh SANDHU (since 6 February 2020) chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351 email address and website: minca@washington@mea.gov.in (community affairs) https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Patricia A. LACINA (since 9 September 2021) embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 mailing address: 9000 New Delhi Place, Washington DC  20521-9000 telephone: [91] (11) 2419-8000 FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017 email address and website: acsnd@state.gov https://in.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay) Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation note: similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band National symbol(s): the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; Bengal tiger; lotus flower; national colors: saffron, white, green National anthem: name: "Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People) lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE note: adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 40 (32 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Taj Mahal (c), Red Fort Complex (c), Ellora Caves (c), Hill Forts of Rajasthan (c), Sundarbans National Park (n), Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (c), Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (c), Dholavira: A Harappan City (c), Jaipur (c), Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (c), Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (n), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly less than half of the workforce is in agriculture, but services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of India's output but employing less than one-third of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated English-speaking population to become a major exporter of information technology services, business outsourcing services, and software workers. Nevertheless, per capita income remains below the world average. India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization measures, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and served to accelerate the country's growth, which averaged nearly 7% per year from 1997 to 2017.   India's economic growth slowed in 2011 because of a decline in investment caused by high interest rates, rising inflation, and investor pessimism about the government's commitment to further economic reforms and about slow world growth. Investors’ perceptions of India improved in early 2014, due to a reduction of the current account deficit and expectations of post-election economic reform, resulting in a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee. Growth rebounded in 2014 through 2016. Despite a high growth rate compared to the rest of the world, India’s government-owned banks faced mounting bad debt, resulting in low credit growth. Rising macroeconomic imbalances in India and improving economic conditions in Western countries led investors to shift capital away from India, prompting a sharp depreciation of the rupee through 2016.   The economy slowed again in 2017, due to shocks of "demonetizaton" in 2016 and introduction of GST in 2017. Since the election, the government has passed an important goods and services tax bill and raised foreign direct investment caps in some sectors, but most economic reforms have focused on administrative and governance changes, largely because the ruling party remains a minority in India’s upper house of Parliament, which must approve most bills.   India has a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and is increasing integration into the global economy. However, long-term challenges remain significant, including: India's discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation and distribution system, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, decades-long civil litigation dockets, inadequate transport and agricultural infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, high spending and poorly targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration.India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly less than half of the workforce is in agriculture, but services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of India's output but employing less than one-third of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated English-speaking population to become a major exporter of information technology services, business outsourcing services, and software workers. Nevertheless, per capita income remains below the world average. India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization measures, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and served to accelerate the country's growth, which averaged nearly 7% per year from 1997 to 2017. India's economic growth slowed in 2011 because of a decline in investment caused by high interest rates, rising inflation, and investor pessimism about the government's commitment to further economic reforms and about slow world growth. Investors’ perceptions of India improved in early 2014, due to a reduction of the current account deficit and expectations of post-election economic reform, resulting in a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee. Growth rebounded in 2014 through 2016. Despite a high growth rate compared to the rest of the world, India’s government-owned banks faced mounting bad debt, resulting in low credit growth. Rising macroeconomic imbalances in India and improving economic conditions in Western countries led investors to shift capital away from India, prompting a sharp depreciation of the rupee through 2016. The economy slowed again in 2017, due to shocks of "demonetizaton" in 2016 and introduction of GST in 2017. Since the election, the government has passed an important goods and services tax bill and raised foreign direct investment caps in some sectors, but most economic reforms have focused on administrative and governance changes, largely because the ruling party remains a minority in India’s upper house of Parliament, which must approve most bills. India has a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and is increasing integration into the global economy. However, long-term challenges remain significant, including: India's discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation and distribution system, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, decades-long civil litigation dockets, inadequate transport and agricultural infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, high spending and poorly targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $8,443,360,000,000 (2020 est.) $9,174,040,000,000 (2019 est.) $8,817,670,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.86% (2019 est.) 6.78% (2018 est.) 6.55% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $6,100 (2020 est.) $6,700 (2019 est.) $6,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2,835,927,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 3.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2006) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2007) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 15.4% (2016 est.) industry: 23% (2016 est.) services: 61.5% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 59.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3.9% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 19.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -22% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, rice, wheat, buffalo milk, milk, potatoes, vegetables, bananas, maize, mangoes/guavas Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 521.9 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 47% industry: 22% services: 31% (FY 2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.5% (2017 est.) 8.5% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.8% male: 19.5% female: 21% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 21.9% (2011 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.7 (2011 est.) 37.8 (1997) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 29.8% (2011) Budget: revenues: 238.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 329 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 71.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: -$29.748 billion (2019 est.) -$65.939 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $484.95 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $546.03 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $537.04 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 17%, United Arab Emirates 9%, China 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, diamonds, packaged medicines, jewelry, cars (2019) Imports: $493.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $619.48 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $642.96 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 15%, United States 7%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, coal, diamonds, natural gas (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $409.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $359.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $555.388 billion (2019 est.) $518.34 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar - 73.565 (2020 est.) 71.05 (2019 est.) 70.7675 (2018 est.) 64.152 (2014 est.) 61.03 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 99% (2019) Electricity - production: 1.386 trillion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 1.137 trillion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 5.15 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 5.617 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 367.8 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 71% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 709,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 4.057 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 4.495 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 4.897 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 4.521 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1.305 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 653,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 31.54 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 55.43 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 76.45 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 23.96 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.29 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 20,052,162 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.15 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: supported by deregulation, India is one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE; fixed-line/broadband underdeveloped; government investment in national infrastructure; project aims to connect 600,000 villages to broadband networks; expansive foreign investment; imports of integrated circuits and broadcast equipment from China; steps taken towards a 5G auction and tests; submarine cable linking mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; smart cities mission to promote 100 model cities in providing core infrastructure, sustainable environment, and quality of life through economic growth and competition, including focus on social, economic, and institutional pillars (2022) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions stands at roughly 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular at nearly 84 per 100; mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles, each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 (very small aperture terminals) VSAT (2022) international: country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE-3 & 4, AAE-1, BBG, EIG, FALCON, FEA, GBICS, MENA, IMEWE, SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia, SAFE, WARF, Bharat Lanka Cable System, IOX, Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Island Cable, SAEx2, Tata TGN-Tata Indicom and i2icn that provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South East Asia, numerous Indian Ocean islands including Australia ; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; Indian Ocean region (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governmentssupported by deregulation, India is one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; implementation of 4G/LTE; fixed-line/broadband underdeveloped; government investment in national infrastructure; project aims to connect 600,000 villages to broadband networks; expansive foreign investment; imports of integrated circuits and broadcast equipment from China; steps taken towards a 5G auction and tests; submarine cable linking mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; smart cities mission to promote 100 model cities in providing core infrastructure, sustainable environment, and quality of life through economic growth and competition, including focus on social, economic, and institutional pillars 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 and increasing number of privately owned TV stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers; in 2020, 130 million households paid for cable and satellite television across India and as of 2018, cable and satellite TV offered 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 their numbers have increased rapidly (2020) Internet country code: .in Internet users: total: 593.4 million (2020 est.) percent of population: 43% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 22.95 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 485 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 164,035,637 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,703,960,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VT Airports: total: 346 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 253 over 3,047 m: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 59 1,524 to 2,437 m: 76 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 93 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 45 (2021) Heliports: 45 (2021) Pipelines: 17,389 km natural gas, 10, 419 km crude oil, 3544 liquid petroleum gas, 14,729 km refined products (2020) 9 km condensate/gas, 20 km oil/gas/water (2013)  (2013) Railways: total: 68,525 km (2014) narrow gauge: 1,604 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge broad gauge: 63,950 km (2014) (39, 329 km electrified) Roadways: total: 6,386,297 km (2015) note: includes 132,500 km of national highways and expressways, 186,528 km of state highways , and 6,067,269 km of other roads note: includes 96,214 km of national highways and expressways, 147,800 km of state highways, and 4,455,010 km of other roads Waterways: 14,500 km (2012) (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) Merchant marine: total: 1,801 by type: bulk carrier 63, container ship 22, general cargo 587, oil tanker 136, other 993 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam container port(s) (TEUs): Jawaharal Nehru Port (5,100,891), Mundra (4,732,699) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Indian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard; Defense Security Corps (provides security for Ministry of Defense sites); Ministry of Home Affairs paramilitary forces: 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) (2022) note - the Assam Rifles are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while operational control falls under the Ministry of Defense (specifically the Indian Army) Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $93.9 billion) 2.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $88.2 billion) 2.4% of GDP (2017) (approximately $83.8 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 1.45 million active personnel (est. 1.25 million Army; 65,000 Navy; 140,000 Air Force; 12,000 Coast Guard) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Indian Armed Forces consists mostly of Russian- and Soviet-origin equipment along with a smaller mix of Western and domestically-produced arms; since 2010, Russia has been the leading supplier of arms to India; other key suppliers included France, Israel, and the US; India's defense industry is capable of producing a range of air, land, missile, and naval weapons systems for both indigenous use and export (2022) Military service age and obligation: 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as Air Force pilots, and under consideration for Army and Navy combat roles (currently can fly naval reconnaissance aircraft) (2021) Military deployments: 1,900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 200 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 900 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 2,400 South Sudan (UNMISS) (Jan 2022) Military - note: as of 2022, the Indian Armed Forces were chiefly focused on China and Pakistan; the short 1962 Sino-India War left in place one of the world’s longest disputed international borders, resulting in occasional standoffs between Indian and Chinese security forces, including lethal clashes in 1975 and 2020; meanwhile, India and Pakistan have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (the First Kashmir War of 1947 and the 1999 Kargil Conflict); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2022, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir where Indian forces have conducted counterinsurgency operations since the 1980s; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area at least three times between 1985 and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2022, both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sicknessas of 2022, the Indian Armed Forces were chiefly focused on China and Pakistan; the short 1962 Sino-India War left in place one of the world’s longest disputed international borders, resulting in occasional standoffs between Indian and Chinese security forces, including lethal clashes in 1975 and 2020; meanwhile, India and Pakistan have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (the First Kashmir War of 1947 and the 1999 Kargil Conflict); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003 and revised in 2018, although the border, known as the Line of Control, remained contested as of 2022, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir where Indian forces have conducted counterinsurgency operations since the 1980s; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area at least three times between 1985 and 1995; a cease-fire went into effect in 2003, but as of 2022, both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Hizbul Mujahideen; Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – India; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent; IRGC/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepalsince China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 92,885 (Sri Lanka), 73,407 (Tibet/China), 20,325 (Burma), 8,537 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: 473,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2020) stateless persons: 19,677 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: source and transit point for illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America; in 2020 India exported over $19 billion of illegal pharmaceutical drugs; illegal opium poppy growing in the  the Northeast; traffickers retool commercial chemical factories to produce large volumes of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and other drugs illicitly  source and transit point for illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America; in 2020 India exported over $19 billion of illegal pharmaceutical drugs; illegal opium poppy growing in the  the Northeast; traffickers retool commercial chemical factories to produce large volumes of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and other drugs illicitly 

20220601

countries-mozambique

Topic: Photos of Mozambique Topic: Introduction Background: In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500 and to set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a late December 2016 ceasefire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in August 2019. Elections in October 2019, challenged by Western observers and civil society as being problematic, resulted in resounding wins for NYUSI and FRELIMO across the country. Since October 2017, violent extremists - who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in June 2019 - have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In 2021, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community deployed forces to support Mozambique’s efforts to counter the extremist group.In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500 and to set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a late December 2016 ceasefire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in August 2019. Elections in October 2019, challenged by Western observers and civil society as being problematic, resulted in resounding wins for NYUSI and FRELIMO across the country. Since October 2017, violent extremists - who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in June 2019 - have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In 2021, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community deployed forces to support Mozambique’s efforts to counter the extremist group.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California Land boundaries: total: 4,783 km border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km Coastline: 2,470 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical to subtropical Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west Elevation: highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite Land use: agricultural land: 56.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490 Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Population distribution: three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces Geography - note: the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country Map description: Mozambique map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian Ocean.Mozambique map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 31,693,239 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican Ethnic groups: African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) 0.2% (2017 est.) Languages: Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 27.2%, Muslim 18.9%, Zionist Christian 15.6%, Evangelical/Pentecostal 15.3%, Anglican 1.7%, other 4.8%, none 13.9%, unspecified 2.5% (2017 est.) Demographic profile: Mozambique is a poor, sparsely populated country with high fertility and mortality rates and a rapidly growing youthful population – 45% of the population is younger than 15. Mozambique’s high poverty rate is sustained by natural disasters, disease, high population growth, low agricultural productivity, and the unequal distribution of wealth. The country’s birth rate is among the world’s highest, averaging around more than 5 children per woman (and higher in rural areas) for at least the last three decades. The sustained high level of fertility reflects gender inequality, low contraceptive use, early marriages and childbearing, and a lack of education, particularly among women. The high population growth rate is somewhat restrained by the country’s high HIV/AIDS and overall mortality rates. Mozambique ranks among the worst in the world for HIV/AIDS prevalence, HIV/AIDS deaths, and life expectancy at birth.Mozambique is predominantly a country of emigration, but internal, rural-urban migration has begun to grow. Mozambicans, primarily from the country’s southern region, have been migrating to South Africa for work for more than a century. Additionally, approximately 1.7 million Mozambicans fled to Malawi, South Africa, and other neighboring countries between 1979 and 1992 to escape from civil war. Labor migrants have usually been men from rural areas whose crops have failed or who are unemployed and have headed to South Africa to work as miners; multiple generations of the same family often become miners. Since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, other job opportunities have opened to Mozambicans, including in the informal and manufacturing sectors, but mining remains their main source of employment.Mozambique is a poor, sparsely populated country with high fertility and mortality rates and a rapidly growing youthful population – 45% of the population is younger than 15. Mozambique’s high poverty rate is sustained by natural disasters, disease, high population growth, low agricultural productivity, and the unequal distribution of wealth. The country’s birth rate is among the world’s highest, averaging around more than 5 children per woman (and higher in rural areas) for at least the last three decades. The sustained high level of fertility reflects gender inequality, low contraceptive use, early marriages and childbearing, and a lack of education, particularly among women. The high population growth rate is somewhat restrained by the country’s high HIV/AIDS and overall mortality rates. Mozambique ranks among the worst in the world for HIV/AIDS prevalence, HIV/AIDS deaths, and life expectancy at birth.Mozambique is predominantly a country of emigration, but internal, rural-urban migration has begun to grow. Mozambicans, primarily from the country’s southern region, have been migrating to South Africa for work for more than a century. Additionally, approximately 1.7 million Mozambicans fled to Malawi, South Africa, and other neighboring countries between 1979 and 1992 to escape from civil war. Labor migrants have usually been men from rural areas whose crops have failed or who are unemployed and have headed to South Africa to work as miners; multiple generations of the same family often become miners. Since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, other job opportunities have opened to Mozambicans, including in the informal and manufacturing sectors, but mining remains their main source of employment. Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.57% (male 6,950,800/female 6,766,373) 15-24 years: 19.91% (male 2,997,529/female 2,994,927) 25-54 years: 28.28% (male 3,949,085/female 4,564,031) 55-64 years: 3.31% (male 485,454/female 509,430) 65 years and over: 2.93% (2020 est.) (male 430,797/female 449,771) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 88.4 youth dependency ratio: 83 elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 potential support ratio: 18.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 17 years male: 16.3 years female: 17.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.56% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 37.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.25 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 38.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.797 million Matola, 1.139 million MAPUTO (capital), 927,000 Nampula (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2011 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 289 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 61.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.1 years male: 55.76 years female: 58.49 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.81 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 27.1% (2015) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 93.4% of population rural: 61.5% of population total: 73.3% of population unimproved: urban: 6.6% of population rural: 38.5% of population total: 26.7% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 71.9% of population (2015 est.) rural: 24.7% of population total: 42.2% of population unimproved: urban: 28.1% of population rural: 75.3% of population total: 57.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 11.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.1 million (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 38,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Mozambique is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.6% (2014/15) Education expenditures: 6.2% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.7% male: 72.6% female: 50.3% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2017) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.4% male: 7.7% female: 7.1% (2015 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory) Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 19.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 16.26 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical to subtropical Land use: agricultural land: 56.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 38.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 6.46% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 4.17% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Mozambique is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in staple food production, insecurity in northern areas, extreme weather events - an estimated 1.9 million people require humanitarian assistance until at least March 2022, primarily due to shortfalls in food production and the impact of insecurity in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where populations are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity; approximately 24,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity; cyclones and tropical storms in early 2022 have affected a large number of people, particularly in central provinces, and the number of food insecure people is expected to increase in late 2022 (2022)due to localized shortfalls in staple food production, insecurity in northern areas, extreme weather events - an estimated 1.9 million people require humanitarian assistance until at least March 2022, primarily due to shortfalls in food production and the impact of insecurity in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where populations are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity; approximately 24,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity; cyclones and tropical storms in early 2022 have affected a large number of people, particularly in central provinces, and the number of food insecure people is expected to increase in late 2022 Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.5 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,000 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2014 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490 Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 372 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.076 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique etymology: named for the offshore island of Mozambique; the island was apparently named after Mussa al-BIK, an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: reputedly named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975) Constitution: history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments; amended 2007, 2018 Legal system: mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law and customary law; note - in rural, apply where applicable predominantly Muslim villages with no formal legal system, Islamic law may be applied International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Adriano Afonso MALEIANE (since 3 March 2022); note - President NYUSI removed former Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO from office on 3 March 2022 as part of a cabinet reshuffle cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president elected directly by absolute majority popular vote (in 2 rounds, if needed) for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024); prime minister appointed by the president (2019) election results: Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1% (2019) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 single members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) (2019) elections: last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024) (2019) election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 71%, RENAMO 23%, MDM 4%; seats by party - FRELIMO 184, RENAMO 60, MDM 6; composition - men 151, women 99, percent of women 39.6% (2019) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges); note - the Higher Council of the Judiciary Magistracy is responsible for judiciary management and discipline judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Lutero SIMANGO] Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Filipe NYUSI] Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Ossufo MOMADE] Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos [Helder Mendonca] (2021) International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos DOS SANTOS (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7147 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 email address and website: washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis Walter HEARNE (since 3 April 2019) embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, 193, Caixa Postal, 783, Maputo mailing address: 2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC  20521-2330 telephone: [258] (21) 49-27-97 FAX: [258] (21) 49-01-14 email address and website: consularmaputos@state.gov https://mz.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book; green represents the riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents Marxism and internationalism note: one of only two national flags featuring a firearm, the other is Guatemala National symbol(s): national colors: green, black, yellow, white, red National anthem: name: "Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland) lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown note: adopted 2002 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique Topic: Economy Economic overview: At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992 further impoverished the country. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, propelled the country’s GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, from $4 billion in 1993 to about $37 billion in 2017. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, about half the population remains below the poverty line and subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force.   Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt was reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives. However, in 2016, information surfaced revealing that the Mozambican Government was responsible for over $2 billion in government-backed loans secured between 2012-14 by state-owned defense and security companies without parliamentary approval or national budget inclusion; this prompted the IMF and international donors to halt direct budget support to the Government of Mozambique. An international audit was performed on Mozambique’s debt in 2016-17, but debt restructuring and resumption of donor support have yet to occur.   Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade leading up to 2015, one of Africa's strongest performances, but the sizable external debt burden, donor withdrawal, elevated inflation, and currency depreciation contributed to slower growth in 2016-17.   Two major International consortiums, led by American companies ExxonMobil and Anadarko, are seeking approval to develop massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, in what has the potential to become the largest infrastructure project in Africa. . The government predicts sales of liquefied natural gas from these projects could generate several billion dollars in revenues annually sometime after 2022.At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992 further impoverished the country. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, propelled the country’s GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, from $4 billion in 1993 to about $37 billion in 2017. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, about half the population remains below the poverty line and subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt was reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives. However, in 2016, information surfaced revealing that the Mozambican Government was responsible for over $2 billion in government-backed loans secured between 2012-14 by state-owned defense and security companies without parliamentary approval or national budget inclusion; this prompted the IMF and international donors to halt direct budget support to the Government of Mozambique. An international audit was performed on Mozambique’s debt in 2016-17, but debt restructuring and resumption of donor support have yet to occur. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade leading up to 2015, one of Africa's strongest performances, but the sizable external debt burden, donor withdrawal, elevated inflation, and currency depreciation contributed to slower growth in 2016-17. Two major International consortiums, led by American companies ExxonMobil and Anadarko, are seeking approval to develop massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, in what has the potential to become the largest infrastructure project in Africa. . The government predicts sales of liquefied natural gas from these projects could generate several billion dollars in revenues annually sometime after 2022. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $38.42 billion (2020 est.) $38.91 billion (2019 est.) $38.04 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.11% (2018 est.) 3.7% (2017 est.) 4.07% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $1,200 (2020 est.) $1,300 (2019 est.) $1,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $14.964 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 15.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2019) Moody's rating: Caa2 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 23.9% (2017 est.) industry: 19.3% (2017 est.) services: 56.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 69.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 27.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 13.9% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -70.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, maize, milk, bananas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, sorghum, potatoes Industries: aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 12.9 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 74.4% industry: 3.9% services: 21.7% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 24.5% (2017 est.) 25% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.4% male: 7.7% female: 7.1% (2015 est.) Population below poverty line: 46.1% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 54 (2014 est.) 47.3 (2002) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.7% (2008) Budget: revenues: 3.356 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.054 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 102.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 121.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$3.025 billion (2019 est.) -$4.499 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $4.35 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.6 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.97 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: South Africa 16%, India 13%, China 12%, Italy 7%, United Arab Emirates 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: coal, aluminum, natural gas, tobacco, electricity, gold, lumber (2019) Imports: $8.38 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.57 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $10.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: South Africa 31%, India 18%, China 17% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, chromium, iron, bauxite, electricity (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.081 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $10.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $10.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 74.12 (2020 est.) 63.885 (2019 est.) 61.625 (2018 est.) 39.983 (2014 est.) 31.367 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 35% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 57% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 22% (2019) Electricity - production: 18.39 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 11.57 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 12.88 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 9.928 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 2.626 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 16% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 83% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 26,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 25,130 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 6.003 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 1.841 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 4.162 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 89,016 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 14,773,364 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48.65 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: one of the first countries in the region to reform telecom market and open it to competition; the mobile segment has shown strong growth; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, 3G, and some fiber broadband available; LTE tests underway; roll out of national fiber backbone and upgrades to infrastructure; submarine cables reduced the cost of bandwidth; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: extremely low fixed-line teledensity contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; operators provide coverage that includes all the main cities and key roads; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and nearly 49 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019) international: country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) Internet country code: .mz Internet users: total: 5,313,424 (2020 est.) percent of population: 17% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 70,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.22 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 540,124 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.78 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C9 Airports: total: 98 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 77 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 38 (2021) Pipelines: 972 km gas, 278 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 4,787 km (2014) narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge Roadways: total: 31,083 km (2015) paved: 7,365 km (2015) unpaved: 23,718 km (2015) Waterways: 460 km (2010) (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) Merchant marine: total: 30 by type: general cargo 9, other 21 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Beira, Maputo, Nacala Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) Ministry of Interior: Mozambique National Police (PRM), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR; police special forces), Border Security Force other security forces include the Presidential Guard and the Force for the Protection of High-Level Individuals (2021) note - the FADM and other security forces are referred to collectively as the Defense and Security Forces (DFS) Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $220 million) 1.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $210 million) 0.9% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $170 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information limited and varied; approximately 12,000 personnel (11,000 Army; 200 Navy; 800 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although since 2010 it has received limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of countries, mostly as aid/donations (2021) Military service age and obligation: registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2021) Military - note: the Government of Mozambique is facing an insurgency driven by militants with ties to the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique, which was declared a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021) in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; insurgent attacks in the province began in 2017 and as of 2022, the fighting had left an estimated 3,000 dead and over 700,000 displaced; the FADM is widely assessed as lacking the training, equipment, and overall capabilities to address the insurgency; as of early 2022, several countries from the Southern Africa Development Community and the European Union, as well as Rwanda and the US were providing various forms of military assistance; African countries have provided approximately 3,000 troops Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Mozambique (ISIS-M) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migrationSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 10,866 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,558 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) IDPs: 881,047 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2022) Illicit drugs: used by transnational organized crime networks from West and East Africa and South Asia as a transit point for drug trafficking and international money laundering; heroin from Southwest Asia, cocaine from South America, precursor chemicals and controlled pharmaceuticals from India, and methamphetamine from Nigeria transit destined for Southern Africa, Northern Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States; cannabis is cultivated in Mozambique

20220601

countries-nigeria-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and maritime crime. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [234] (9) 461-4000; US Embassy Abuja, Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja, Nigeria; AbujaACS@state.gov; https://ng.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 234 Local Emergency Phone: 199 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations. On 30 September 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak has now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in multiple states (Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Enugu); the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak. Widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 30 March 2022, Nigeria has reported a total of 255,341 cases of COVID-19 or 123.86 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 3,142 cumulative deaths or a rate of 1.52 cumulative death per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 9.95% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Nigeria is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north Currency (Code): Nairas (NGN) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, F Major Languages: English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages Major Religions: Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Abudja (includes Millennium Park, Zuma Rock, Arts & Crafts Village); Nana Living History Museum; Ancient Nok Settlement; New Afrika Shrine; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove Major Sports: Soccer, boxing, rugby, track and field, basketball Cultural Practices: Using the left hand for eating or greeting is considered unclean; use the right hand instead. Tipping Guidelines: Service charges are added in many restaurants, but if not, a 10% tip is customary. Negotiate taxi fares before embarking on a journey. Tipping is not necessary.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, April 05, 2022

20220601

countries-mali

Topic: Photos of Mali Topic: Introduction Background: Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century it fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms.  The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center and well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms. France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali. Mali saw 31 years of dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup led by Amadou Toumani TOURE ousted the government, established a new constitution, and instituted a multi-party democracy. President Alpha Oumar KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who won a second term in 2007. In 2012, rising ethnic tensions and an influx of fighters - some linked to Al-Qa’ida - from Libya led to a rebellion and military coup. Following the coup, rebels expelled the military from the country’s three northern regions, allowing terrorist organizations to develop strongholds in the area. With French military intervention, the Malian Government managed to retake most of the north. However, the government’s grasp in the region remains weak with local militias, terrorists, and insurgent groups continuously trying to expand control. In 2015, the Malian Government and northern rebels signed an internationally mediated peace accord. Despite a June 2017 target for implementation of the agreement, the signatories have made little progress. Extremist groups were left out of the peace process, and terrorist attacks remain common.   Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA won the Malian presidential elections in 2013 and 2018. Aside from security and logistic shortfalls, international observers deemed these elections credible. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic-based violence, and extra-judicial military killings plagued the country during KEITA’s second term. In August 2020, the military arrested KEITA, his prime minister, and other senior members of the government and established a military junta called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). In September 2020, the junta established a transition government and appointed Bah N’DAW, a retired army officer and former defense minister, as interim president and Colonel Assimi GOITA, the coup leader and chairman of the CNSP, as interim vice president. The transition government’s charter allowed it to rule for up to 18 months before calling a general election.   In May 2021, Colonel Assimi GOITA led a military takeover, arresting the interim president after a Cabinet shake up removed Goita’s key allies. Goita was sworn in as transition president in June 2021 and Choguel Kokalla MAIGA was sworn in as prime minister. In January 2022, ECOWAS imposed sanctions against the transition government and member states closed their borders after the transition government presented a five-year extension to the electoral calendar. ECOWAS and the transition government continue to work to negotiate an acceptable electoral calendar.Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century it fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms.  The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center and well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms.France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali. Mali saw 31 years of dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup led by Amadou Toumani TOURE ousted the government, established a new constitution, and instituted a multi-party democracy. President Alpha Oumar KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who won a second term in 2007.In 2012, rising ethnic tensions and an influx of fighters - some linked to Al-Qa’ida - from Libya led to a rebellion and military coup. Following the coup, rebels expelled the military from the country’s three northern regions, allowing terrorist organizations to develop strongholds in the area. With French military intervention, the Malian Government managed to retake most of the north. However, the government’s grasp in the region remains weak with local militias, terrorists, and insurgent groups continuously trying to expand control. In 2015, the Malian Government and northern rebels signed an internationally mediated peace accord. Despite a June 2017 target for implementation of the agreement, the signatories have made little progress. Extremist groups were left out of the peace process, and terrorist attacks remain common.  Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA won the Malian presidential elections in 2013 and 2018. Aside from security and logistic shortfalls, international observers deemed these elections credible. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic-based violence, and extra-judicial military killings plagued the country during KEITA’s second term. In August 2020, the military arrested KEITA, his prime minister, and other senior members of the government and established a military junta called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). In September 2020, the junta established a transition government and appointed Bah N’DAW, a retired army officer and former defense minister, as interim president and Colonel Assimi GOITA, the coup leader and chairman of the CNSP, as interim vice president. The transition government’s charter allowed it to rule for up to 18 months before calling a general election.   In May 2021, Colonel Assimi GOITA led a military takeover, arresting the interim president after a Cabinet shake up removed Goita’s key allies. Goita was sworn in as transition president in June 2021 and Choguel Kokalla MAIGA was sworn in as prime minister. In January 2022, ECOWAS imposed sanctions against the transition government and member states closed their borders after the transition government presented a five-year extension to the electoral calendar. ECOWAS and the transition government continue to work to negotiate an acceptable electoral calendar.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,240,192 sq km land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 7,908 km border countries (6): Algeria 1,359 km; Burkina Faso 1,325 km; Cote d'Ivoire 599 km; Guinea 1,062 km; Mauritania 2,236 km; Niger 838 km, Senegal 489 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast Elevation: highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m lowest point: Senegal River 23 m mean elevation: 343 m Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower, note, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited Land use: agricultural land: 34.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2018 est.) forest: 10.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 3,780 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lac Faguibine - 590 sq km note - the Niger River is the only source of water for the lake; in recent years the lake is dry Major rivers (by length in km): Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Niger, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Major aquifers: Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Taodeni-Tanezrouft Basin Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding Geography - note: landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan Map description: Mali map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Mali map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 20,741,769 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian Ethnic groups: Bambara 33.3%, Fulani (Peuhl) 13.3%, Sarakole/Soninke/Marka 9.8%, Senufo/Manianka 9.6%, Malinke 8.8%, Dogon 8.7%, Sonrai 5.9%, Bobo 2.1%, Tuareg/Bella 1.7%, other Malian 6%, from members of Economic Community of West Africa 0.4%, other 0.3% (2018 est.) Languages: French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.) note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language Religions: Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist 0.7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.) Demographic profile: Mali’s total population is expected to double by 2035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman – the third highest in the world – ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Significant outmigration only marginally tempers this growth. Despite decreases, Mali’s infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.Mali’s high total fertility rate has been virtually unchanged for decades, as a result of the ongoing preference for large families, early childbearing, the lack of female education and empowerment, poverty, and extremely low contraceptive use. Slowing Mali’s population growth by lowering its birth rate will be essential for poverty reduction, improving food security, and developing human capital and the economy.Mali has a long history of seasonal migration and emigration driven by poverty, conflict, demographic pressure, unemployment, food insecurity, and droughts. Many Malians from rural areas migrate during the dry period to nearby villages and towns to do odd jobs or to adjoining countries to work in agriculture or mining. Pastoralists and nomads move seasonally to southern Mali or nearby coastal states. Others migrate long term to Mali’s urban areas, Cote d’Ivoire, other neighboring countries, and in smaller numbers to France, Mali’s former colonial ruler. Since the early 1990s, Mali’s role has grown as a transit country for regional migration flows and illegal migration to Europe. Human smugglers and traffickers exploit the same regional routes used for moving contraband drugs, arms, and cigarettes.Between early 2012 and 2013, renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg secessionists and their Islamist allies, a French-led international military intervention, as well as chronic food shortages, caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Malians. Most of those displaced domestically sought shelter in urban areas of southern Mali, except for pastoralist and nomadic groups, who abandoned their traditional routes, gave away or sold their livestock, and dispersed into the deserts of northern Mali or crossed into neighboring countries. Almost all Malians who took refuge abroad (mostly Tuareg and Maure pastoralists) stayed in the region, largely in Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso.Mali’s total population is expected to double by 2035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman – the third highest in the world – ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Significant outmigration only marginally tempers this growth. Despite decreases, Mali’s infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.Mali’s high total fertility rate has been virtually unchanged for decades, as a result of the ongoing preference for large families, early childbearing, the lack of female education and empowerment, poverty, and extremely low contraceptive use. Slowing Mali’s population growth by lowering its birth rate will be essential for poverty reduction, improving food security, and developing human capital and the economy.Mali has a long history of seasonal migration and emigration driven by poverty, conflict, demographic pressure, unemployment, food insecurity, and droughts. Many Malians from rural areas migrate during the dry period to nearby villages and towns to do odd jobs or to adjoining countries to work in agriculture or mining. Pastoralists and nomads move seasonally to southern Mali or nearby coastal states. Others migrate long term to Mali’s urban areas, Cote d’Ivoire, other neighboring countries, and in smaller numbers to France, Mali’s former colonial ruler. Since the early 1990s, Mali’s role has grown as a transit country for regional migration flows and illegal migration to Europe. Human smugglers and traffickers exploit the same regional routes used for moving contraband drugs, arms, and cigarettes.Between early 2012 and 2013, renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg secessionists and their Islamist allies, a French-led international military intervention, as well as chronic food shortages, caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Malians. Most of those displaced domestically sought shelter in urban areas of southern Mali, except for pastoralist and nomadic groups, who abandoned their traditional routes, gave away or sold their livestock, and dispersed into the deserts of northern Mali or crossed into neighboring countries. Almost all Malians who took refuge abroad (mostly Tuareg and Maure pastoralists) stayed in the region, largely in Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.69% (male 4,689,121/female 4,636,685) 15-24 years: 19% (male 1,768,772/female 1,945,582) 25-54 years: 26.61% (male 2,395,566/female 2,806,830) 55-64 years: 3.68% (male 367,710/female 352,170) 65 years and over: 3.02% (2020 est.) (male 293,560/female 297,401) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 98 youth dependency ratio: 93.1 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 16 years male: 15.3 years female: 16.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.95% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 41.07 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 45.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.817 million BAMAKO (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 562 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 60.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 55.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.41 years male: 60.19 years female: 64.7 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 17.2% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 75.9% of population total: 86.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 24.1% of population total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.9% (2019) Physicians density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.1 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 85.7% of population rural: 44.7% of population total: 62.7% of population unimproved: urban: 14.3% of population rural: 55.3% of population total: 37.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,600 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.1% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 15.9% (2018) women married by age 18: 53.7% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 3.4% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 46.2% female: 25.7% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2017) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.4% male: 2.6% female: 2.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 31.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 19.16 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) Land use: agricultural land: 34.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2018 est.) forest: 10.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 45.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity and shortfall in staple food production - between June and August 2022, 1.84 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity, driven in part by a shortfall in staple food production in 2021; sanctions imposed on the country, following the postponement of elections by the transitional military government, are likely to slow down economic activity and further weigh on households’ economic capacity to access food (2022)due to civil insecurity and shortfall in staple food production - between June and August 2022, 1.84 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity, driven in part by a shortfall in staple food production in 2021; sanctions imposed on the country, following the postponement of elections by the transitional military government, are likely to slow down economic activity and further weigh on households’ economic capacity to access food Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,937,354 tons (2012 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lac Faguibine - 590 sq km note - the Niger River is the only source of water for the lake; in recent years the lake is dry Major rivers (by length in km): Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Niger, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) Major aquifers: Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Taodeni-Tanezrouft Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 107 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 5.075 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 120 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan, Sudanese Republic, Mali Federation etymology: name derives from the West African Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D. Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name in the Bambara language can mean either "crocodile tail" or "crocodile river" and three crocodiles appear on the city seal Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Menaka, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu); note - Menaka and Taoudenni were legislated in 2016, but implementation has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 22 September (1960) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992, suspended briefly in 2012 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by members of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional sections on the integrity of the state, its republican and secular form of government, and its multiparty system cannot be amended; note - the transition government intends to adopt a new constitution Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Transition President Assimi GOITA (since 7 June 2021) note: an August 2020 coup d'etat deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA; on 21 September 2020, a group of 17 electors chosen by the Malian military junta, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) and led by Colonel Assimi GOITA, selected Bah NDAW as transition president; GOITA served as vice president of the transitional government which was inaugurated on 25 September 2020; Vice President GOITA seized power on 25 May 2021; NDAW resigned on 26 May 2021 head of government: Transition Prime Minister Choguel MAIGA (appointed by Transitional President Assimi GOITA on 7 June 2021) note: former transition Prime Minister Moctar OUANE was arrested and detained by the military on 24 May 2021 and resigned on 26 May 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 July 2018 with runoff on 12 August 2018; prime minister appointed by the president; note - on 21 February 2022, the transition government adopted a charter allowing transition authorities to rule for up to 5 years; thereafter transition President GOITA is barred from being a candidate in presidential elections. election results: Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (RPM) 77.6%, Soumaila CISSE (URD) 22.4% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members directly elected in single and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; 13 seats reserved for citizens living abroad; members serve 5-year terms) note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 18 August 2020 following a military coup and the resignation of President KEITA; note - the transition government created a National Transition Council (CNT) whose 121 members were selected by then-transition vice president Assimi GOITA; the CNT acts as the transition government's legislative body with Malick DIAW serving as the president; in February 2022 the CNT increased the number of seats to 147 but the additional seats have not yet been filled elections: last held on 30 March and 19 April 2020 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA composition - NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 19 judges organized into judicial, administrative, and accounting sectons); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office); administrative courts (first instance and appeal); commercial courts; magistrate courts; labor courts; juvenile courts; special court of state security Political parties and leaders: African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO] Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ [Tiemoko SANGARE] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-Maliba [Amadou THIAM] Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Amadou CISSE] (vice-president, acting) Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE] Convergence for the Development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni Amion GUINDO] Democratic Alliance for Peace or ADP-Maliba [Aliou Boubacar DIALLO] Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR] Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (coalition of smaller opposition parties) National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL] Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME] Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA] Rally for Mali or RPM [Boucary TRETA] Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, ECOWAS (suspended), EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOPS, UN Women, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, World Bank Group, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (designate) Sékou BERTHE (since April 2022) chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 email address and website: infos@mali.embassy.us https://www.maliembassy.us/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis B. HANKINS (since 15 March 2019) embassy: ACI 2000, Rue 243, (located off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge west of the Bamako central district), Porte 297, Bamako mailing address: 2050 Bamako Place, Washington DC  20521-2050 telephone: [223] 20-70-23-00 FAX: [223] 20-70-24-79 email address and website: ACSBamako@state.gov https://ml.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea National symbol(s): Great Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red National anthem: name: "Le Mali" (Mali) lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO note: adopted 1962; also known as "Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (For Africa and for You, Mali) and "A ton appel Mali" (At Your Call, Mali) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Towns of Djenné (c), Timbuktu (c), Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (m), Tomb of Askia (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, landlocked Mali depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid.   Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River; about 65% of Mali’s land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government subsidizes the production of cereals to decrease the country’s dependence on imported foodstuffs and to reduce its vulnerability to food price shocks.   Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold, but the pace will depend on global price trends. Although the political coup in 2012 slowed Mali’s growth, the economy has since bounced back, with GDP growth above 5% in 2014-17, although physical insecurity, high population growth, corruption, weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital continue to constrain economic development. Higher rainfall helped to boost cotton output in 2017, and the country’s 2017 budget increased spending more than 10%, much of which was devoted to infrastructure and agriculture. Corruption and political turmoil are strong downside risks in 2018 and beyond.Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, landlocked Mali depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River; about 65% of Mali’s land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government subsidizes the production of cereals to decrease the country’s dependence on imported foodstuffs and to reduce its vulnerability to food price shocks. Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold, but the pace will depend on global price trends. Although the political coup in 2012 slowed Mali’s growth, the economy has since bounced back, with GDP growth above 5% in 2014-17, although physical insecurity, high population growth, corruption, weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital continue to constrain economic development. Higher rainfall helped to boost cotton output in 2017, and the country’s 2017 budget increased spending more than 10%, much of which was devoted to infrastructure and agriculture. Corruption and political turmoil are strong downside risks in 2018 and beyond. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $44.89 billion (2020 est.) $45.64 billion (2019 est.) $43.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.) 5.8% (2016 est.) 6.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,200 (2020 est.) $2,300 (2019 est.) $2,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $17.508 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (2018 est.) 1.8% (2017 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Caa1 (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 41.8% (2017 est.) industry: 18.1% (2017 est.) services: 40.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 82.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, rice, millet, sorghum, mangoes/guavas, cotton, watermelons, green onions/shallots, okra, sugar cane Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 6.447 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.9% (2017 est.) 7.8% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.4% male: 2.6% female: 2.3% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: 42.1% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.1 (2001) 50.5 (1994) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.8% (2010 est.) Budget: revenues: 3.075 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.513 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 35.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 36% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 20% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$886 million (2017 est.) -$1.015 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $4.18 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.803 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 66%, Switzerland 26% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, sesame seeds, lumber, vegetable oils/residues (2019) Imports: $6.08 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.403 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Senegal 23%, Cote d'Ivoire 15%, China 11%, France 9% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, cement, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $647.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $395.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $4.192 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.981 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 50% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 78% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 28% (2019) Electricity - production: 2.489 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.982 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 800 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 590,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,610 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 281,638 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 25,315,598 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Mali’s telecom systems are challenged by recent conflict, geography, areas of low population, poverty, security issues, and high illiteracy; telecom infrastructure is barely adequate in urban areas and not available in most of the country with underinvestment in fixed-line networks; high mobile penetration and potential for mobile broadband service; local plans for IXP; dependent on neighboring countries for international bandwidth and access to submarine cables; there are Chinese investment agreements for infrastructure; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2022) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is over 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to 125 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas (2020) international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation is slow; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) Internet country code: .ml Internet users: total: 5,467,725 (2020 est.) percent of population: 27% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 243,806 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TZ, TT Airports: total: 25 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Railways: total: 593 km (2014) narrow gauge: 593 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 139,107 km (2018) Waterways: 1,800 km (2011) (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Koulikoro (Niger) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Malian Armed Forces (FAMa): Army (Armee de Terre; includes a riverine patrol force), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM); National Gendarmerie; National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2021) note(s) - the Gendarmerie and the National Guard are under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Ministere De La Defense Et Des Anciens Combattants, MDAC), but operational control is shared between the MDAC and the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection the Gendarmerie's primary mission is internal security and public order; its duties also include territorial defense, humanitarian operations, intelligence gathering, and protecting private property, mainly in rural areas; as of 2021, the Gendarmerie was comprised of approximately 8 paramilitary companies and a mobile intervention unit the National Guard is a military force responsible for providing security to government facilities and institutions, prison service, public order, humanitarian operations, some border security, and intelligence gathering; as of 2021, it had approximately 8 companies of troops, including a camel corps for patrolling the deserts and borders of northern Mali Military expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $630 million) 3.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $600 million) 3.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $600 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 16,000 active personnel (15,000 Army; 1,000 Air Force); estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie and National Guard (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAMa's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years it has received limited quantities of mostly second-hand armaments from more than a dozen countries, including Russia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2021) Military deployments: until announcing its withdrawal in May of 2022, Mali was part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger; Mali had committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force (2022) Military - note: prior to the coups in August 2020 and May 2021, the Malian military had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960; two attempts failed (1976 and 1978), while three succeeded in overturning civilian rule (1968, 1991, and 2012); the military collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants; it has been since rebuilt, but continues to have limited capabilities and is heavily reliant on external assistance as of 2022, Malian security forces were conducting operations against insurgents and terrorist groups in the eastern, central, and northern parts of the country the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has operated in the country since 2013; the Mission's responsibilities include providing security, rebuilding Malian security forces, supporting national political dialogue, and assisting in the reestablishment of Malian government authority; as of February 2022, MINUSMA had around 14,000 personnel deployed the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-M) and the French military have also operated in the country since 2013; the EUTM-M provides advice and training to the Malian Armed Forces and military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force; as 2021, the mission included almost 700 personnel from 25 European countries; as of early 2022, the French had approximately 2,400 troops providing military assistance and conducting counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations; note - in February 2022, France announced it would remove its personnel from Mali, citing obstructions from the ruling military government; in April of 2022, the EU said it would halt its training program in Mali Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Dine; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara; Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: demarcation is underway with Burkina Fasodemarcation is underway with Burkina Faso Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 17,124 (Burkina Faso), 14,951 (Mauritania), 12,845 (Niger) (2022) IDPs: 350,110 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging in Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's Tuareg community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves; slaveholders use some members of the Tuareg community in hereditary servitude where communities rather than individuals or families exploit the enslaved tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Mali does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included prosecuting hereditary slavery cases, increasing convictions, continuing training and awareness raising activities, releasing all children associated with the Malian armed forces (FAMa) to an international organization for care, training law enforcement officials on protection of children in armed conflict, identifying 215 children used by armed groups and referring them to international organizations for care; however, the government did not stop all use of children in the FAMa; the government continued to provide support to and collaborate with the Imghad Tuareg and the Allies Self-Defense Group, which recruited and used child soldiers; authorities did not investigate any suspects for child soldier offenses or make efforts to prevent it; law enforcement lacked resources and training about human trafficking; services for victims remained insufficient; therefore, Mali was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) Illicit drugs: a transit point for illicit drugs trafficked to Europe; trafficking controlled by armed groups, criminal organizations, terrorist groups and government officials that facilitate, protect and profit from the activitya transit point for illicit drugs trafficked to Europe; trafficking controlled by armed groups, criminal organizations, terrorist groups and government officials that facilitate, protect and profit from the activity

20220601

countries-falkland-islands-islas-malvinas

Topic: Photos of Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Topic: 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 on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later 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 March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 1,288 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm 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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss Land use: agricultural land: 92.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 7.6% (2018 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 Map description: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) map showing the islands that make up this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) map showing the islands that make up this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,198 (2016 est.) note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2016 census Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s) 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.) note: data represent population by national identity 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.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.) Birth rate: 10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.) Net migration rate: NA Population distribution: a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley Urbanization: urban population: 79.3% of total population (2022) 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.) note: sex ratio is somewhat skewed by the high proportion of males at the Royal Air Force station, Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA); excluding MPA, the sex ratio of the total population would be 1.04 Infant mortality rate: total: (2018) NA male: NA female: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.9 male: 75.6 female: (2017 est.) 79.6 Total fertility rate: NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 78.2% of population total: 95.3% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 21.8% of population total: 4.7% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires 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: 92.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 7.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 79.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of Falkland, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764 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 geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) Constitution: history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008) Legal system: English common law and local statutes Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 12 September 2017) head of government: Chief Executive Andy KEELING (since April 2021) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 5 members directly elected in the Stanley constituency and 3 members in the Camp constituency by simple majority vote, 2 appointed non-voting ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms); note - several previous referendums -  the latest in September 2020 - on whether to merge the Stanley and Camp constituencies into a single islands wide constituency, failed elections: last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8; composition of elected members -men 6, women 2, percent of women 25% Judicial branch: highest courts: 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); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: all justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction Political parties and leaders: none; all independents International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT National symbol(s): ram National anthem: name: Song of the Falklands" lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch.   Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins.   Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense.   In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands.The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins. Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $206.4 million (2015 est.) $164.5 million (2014 est.) $167.5 million (2013 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 25.5% (2015 est.) -1.8% (2014 est.) -20.4% (2013 est.) Real GDP per capita: $70,800 (2015 est.) $63,000 (2014 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $206.4 million (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2014 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 41% (2015 est.) industry: 20.6% (2015 est.) services: 38.4% (2015 est.) Agricultural products: fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 1,850 (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 41% industry: 24.5% services: 34.5% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 1% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36 (2015) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 67.1 million (FY09/10) expenditures: 75.3 million (FY09/10) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4% (of GDP) (FY09/10) Public debt: 0% of GDP (2015 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 32.5% (of GDP) (FY09/10) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Exports: $257.3 million (2015 est.) $125 million (2004 est.) Exports - partners: Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019) Imports: $90 million (2004 est.) Imports - partners: United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019) Debt - external: $0 (2017 est.) $0 (2016 est.) Exchange rates: Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.6542 (2016 est.) 0.6542 (2015) 0.6542 (2014 est.) 0.6391 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity - production: 19 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 17.67 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 12,100 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 290 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 286 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2018 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands domestic: fixed-line subscriptions approximately 65 per 100, 163 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries (2015) Broadcast media: TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio services provided by the public broadcaster, Falkland Islands Radio Service, broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies, and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007) Internet country code: .fk Internet users: total: 3,343 (2019 est.) percent of population: 99% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-F Airports: total: 7 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Roadways: total: 440 km (2008) paved: 50 km (2008) unpaved: 390 km (2008) Merchant marine: total: 2 by type: general cargo 1, other 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Stanley Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains about 1,200 troops on the islands Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talksArgentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

20220601

oceans-atlantic-ocean

Topic: Photos of Atlantic Ocean Topic: Introduction Background: The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways.The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, the Arctic Ocean, the Americas, and the Southern Ocean Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W Map references: Political Map of the World Area: total: 85.133 million sq km note: includes Baffin Bay, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies Area - comparative: about 7.5 times the size of the US Coastline: 111,866 km Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin major surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basinmajor surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north Elevation: highest point: sea level lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m mean depth: -3,646 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m. The upper 200 m (656 ft) of oceans is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth. The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible. The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness. Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December) Geography - note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean Map description: Atlantic Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints.Atlantic Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints. Volume: Ocean volume: 310,410,900 cu km Percent of total ocean volume: 23.3% Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; unsustainable exploitation of fisheries (over fishing, bottom trawling, drift net fishing, discards, catch of non-target species); pollution (maritime transport, discharges, offshore drilling, oil spills); municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea Marine fisheries: the Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 26.4%, or 21,063,495 mt, of the global catch in 2019; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following: Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the fourth most important in the world producing 10.2% of the global catch or 8,116,507 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (3,528,240 mt), Russia (1,044,153 mt), Iceland (933,019 mt), UK (823,669 mt), and Denmark (641,927 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodder Eastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and sixth largest in the world producing more than 6.8% of the global catch or 5,397,726 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,419,872 mt), Mauritania (705,850 mt), Senegal (472,571 mt), Nigeria (451,768 mt), Ghana (303,001 mt), Cameroon (265,969 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerel Northwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and eighth in the world producing 2% of the global catch and 1,679,512 mt in 2019; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (927,777 mt), Canada (615,651 mt), and Greenland (179,990 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhaden Mediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.7% or 1,385,190 mt of the world’s total capture in 2019; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (686,650 mt), Italy (281,212 mt), Tunisia (129,325 mt), Spain (119,759 mt), and Russia (72,279 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International  Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Southeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commissionthe Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 26.4%, or 21,063,495 mt, of the global catch in 2019; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following:Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the fourth most important in the world producing 10.2% of the global catch or 8,116,507 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (3,528,240 mt), Russia (1,044,153 mt), Iceland (933,019 mt), UK (823,669 mt), and Denmark (641,927 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodderEastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and sixth largest in the world producing more than 6.8% of the global catch or 5,397,726 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,419,872 mt), Mauritania (705,850 mt), Senegal (472,571 mt), Nigeria (451,768 mt), Ghana (303,001 mt), Cameroon (265,969 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerelNorthwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and eighth in the world producing 2% of the global catch and 1,679,512 mt in 2019; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (927,777 mt), Canada (615,651 mt), and Greenland (179,990 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhadenMediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.7% or 1,385,190 mt of the world’s total capture in 2019; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (686,650 mt), Italy (281,212 mt), Tunisia (129,325 mt), Spain (119,759 mt), and Russia (72,279 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International  Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Southeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November Topic: Government Country name: etymology: name derives from the Greek description of the waters beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantis thalassa, meaning "Sea of Atlas" Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea). Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) Transportation - note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US; the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore Atlantic waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa; in 2014, 41 commercial vessels were attacked in the Gulf of Guinea with 5 hijacked and 144 crew members taken hostage; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen Topic: Military and Security Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchoredthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchored Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

20220601

countries-san-marino

Topic: Photos of San Marino Topic: 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; social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: 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 land: 61 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 37 km border countries (1): 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 lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m Natural resources: building stone Land use: agricultural land: 16.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 83.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) 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 Map description: San Marino map showing the major population centers in this microstate surrounded by Italy.San Marino map showing the major population centers in this microstate surrounded by Italy. Topic: People and Society Population: 34,682 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian Languages: Italian 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: 14.73% (male 2,662/female 2,379) 15-24 years: 11.64% (male 2,091/female 1,894) 25-54 years: 39.12% (male 6,310/female 7,081) 55-64 years: 14.28% (male 2,367/female 2,520) 65 years and over: 20.24% (2020 est.) (male 3,123/female 3,805) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 45.2 years male: 43.9 years female: 46.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.61% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.85 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 97.7% of total population (2022) 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 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.9 years (2019) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.86 years male: 81.3 years female: 86.65 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: 6.4% (2019) Physicians density: 6.11 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 3.8 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.4% of GDP (2019) Literacy: total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.4% male: 21.4% female: 36% (2016 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage Environment - international 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 13.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers Land use: agricultural land: 16.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 83.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 97.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,175 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,737 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 45.1% (2016 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded the monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: San Marino (city) geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded a monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle Independence: 3 September 301 (traditional founding date) National holiday: Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301) 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 amendments: 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; Declaration of Civil Rights amended several times, last in 2019San 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 Legal system: civil law system with Italian civil law influences International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captain Regent Oscar MONA and Captain Regent Paolo RONDELLI (for the period 1 April 2022 - 1 October 2022) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council elections/appointments: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; election last held in September 2021 (next to be held in March 2022); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term; election last held on 28 December 2019 (next to be held by November 2024) election results: Oscar MINA (PDCS) and Paolo RONDELLI (RETE) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA; Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 7 other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 7 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles Legislative branch: description: unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by list proportional representation vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 8 December 2019 (next to be held by 31 December 2024) election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - PDCS 33.3%, Tomorrow in Movement coalition 24.7% (RETE Movement 18.2%, Domani - Motus Liberi 6.2%, other 0.3%), Free San Marino 16.5%, We for the Republic 13.1%, Future Republic 10.3%, I Elect for a New Republic 2%; seats by coalition/party - PDCS 21, Tomorrow in Movement coalition 15 (RETE Movement 11, Domani - Motus Liberi 4), Free San Marino 10, We for the Republic 8, Future Republic 6; composition (as of October 2021) - men 40, women 20, percent of women 33.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members); note - the College of Guarantors for the Constitutionality and General Norms functions as San Marino's constitutional court judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms 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 and leaders: Civic 10 [Franco SANTI] Domani - Modus Liberi or DML [Lorenzo Forcellini REFFI] Free San Marino or Libera Future Republic or RF [Mario VENTURINI] I Elect for a New Republic Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD [Paride ANDREOLI] RETE Movement Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Marco GATTI] Socialist Party or PS [Alessandro BEVITORI] Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML) We for the Republic 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017) chancery: 327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 Embassy address:      1711 North Street, NW (2nd Floor)       Washington, DC 22036 telephone: [1] (212) 751-1234 [1] (202) 223-24l8 [1] (202) 751-1436 FAX: [1] (212) 751-1436 email address and website: sanmarinoun@gmail.com 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 Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature, Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively National symbol(s): three peaks each displaying a tower; national colors: white, blue National anthem: name: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic) lyrics/music: no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on a 10th century chorale piece National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano Topic: Economy Economic overview: San Marino's economy relies heavily on tourism, banking, and the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The manufacturing and financial sectors account for more than half of San Marino's GDP. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy.   San Marino's economy contracted considerably in the years since 2008, largely due to weakened demand from Italy - which accounts for nearly 90% of its export market - and financial sector consolidation. Difficulties in the banking sector, the global economic downturn, and the sizable decline in tax revenues all contributed to negative real GDP growth. The government adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses and is seeking to shift its growth model away from a reliance on bank and tax secrecy. San Marino does not issue public debt securities; when necessary, it finances deficits by drawing down central bank deposits.   The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. The income tax rate is also very low, about one-third the average EU level. San Marino continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully adopt global tax standards, and in 2010 San Marino signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements with most major countries. In 2013, the San Marino Government signed a Double Taxation Agreement with Italy, but a referendum on EU membership failed to reach the quorum needed to bring it to a vote.San Marino's economy relies heavily on tourism, banking, and the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The manufacturing and financial sectors account for more than half of San Marino's GDP. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy. San Marino's economy contracted considerably in the years since 2008, largely due to weakened demand from Italy - which accounts for nearly 90% of its export market - and financial sector consolidation. Difficulties in the banking sector, the global economic downturn, and the sizable decline in tax revenues all contributed to negative real GDP growth. The government adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses and is seeking to shift its growth model away from a reliance on bank and tax secrecy. San Marino does not issue public debt securities; when necessary, it finances deficits by drawing down central bank deposits. The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. The income tax rate is also very low, about one-third the average EU level. San Marino continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully adopt global tax standards, and in 2010 San Marino signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements with most major countries. In 2013, the San Marino Government signed a Double Taxation Agreement with Italy, but a referendum on EU membership failed to reach the quorum needed to bring it to a vote. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.06 billion (2019 est.) $2.01 billion (2018 est.) $1.982 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.9% (2017 est.) 2.2% (2016 est.) 0.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $60,800 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $59,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $58,867 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.643 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2017 est.) 0.6% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.1% (2009) industry: 39.2% (2009) services: 60.7% (2009) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: (2011 est.) NA government consumption: (2011 est.) NA investment in fixed capital: (2011 est.) NA investment in inventories: (2011 est.) NA exports of goods and services: 176.6% (2011) imports of goods and services: -153.3% (2011) Agricultural products: wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides Industries: tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (2012 est.) Labor force: 21,960 (September 2013 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.2% industry: 33.5% services: 66.3% (September 2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.1% (2017 est.) 8.6% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.4% male: 21.4% female: 36% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 667.7 million (2011 est.) expenditures: 715.3 million (2011 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.) Public debt: 24.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 22.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 40.6% (of GDP) (2011 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $0 (2017 est.) $0 (2016 est.) Exports: $3.827 billion (2011 est.) $2.576 billion (2010 est.) Exports - partners: Romania 10%, France 9%, United States 8%, Germany 8%, Poland 6%, Brazil 6%, Russia 6%, Austria 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: industrial washing/bottling machinery, packaged medicines, woodworking machinery, foodstuffs, aircraft (2019) Imports: $2.551 billion (2011 est.) $2.132 billion (2010 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 21%, Italy 13%, Poland 10%, France 7%, Spain 7%, Belgium 6%, Romania 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: electricity, cars, aluminum, footwear, natural gas, iron piping (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $392 million (2014 est.) $539.3 million (2013 est.) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 16,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 38,750 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.4 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system (2018) domestic: fixed-line a little over 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 114 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 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: total: 20,318 (2019 est.) percent of population: 60% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 11,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T7 Roadways: total: 292 km (2006) paved: 292 km (2006) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Corps (Corpi Militari), which includes a Uniformed Militia (performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions) and Guard of the Great and General Council (defends the Captains Regent and the Great and General Council, participates in official ceremonies, cooperates with the maintenance of public order on special occasions, and performs guard duties during parliamentary sittings); the Police Corps includes the Gendarmerie, which is responsible for maintaining public order, protecting citizens and their property, and providing assistance during disasters (2021) 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 service in the military (2019) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

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countries-ukraine

Topic: Photos of Ukraine Topic: Introduction Background: Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. 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 through subsequent centuries. 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, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest referred to as the "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary (Rada) elections, become prime minister in August 2006, and be elected president in February 2010. In October 2012, Ukraine held Rada elections, widely criticized by Western observers as flawed due to use of government resources to favor ruling party candidates, interference with media access, and harassment of opposition candidates. President YANUKOVYCH's backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU in November 2013 - in favor of closer economic ties with Russia - and subsequent use of force against students, civil society activists, and other civilians in favor of the agreement led to a three-month protest occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in February 2014 led to all out pitched battles, scores of deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. New elections in the spring allowed pro-West president Petro POROSHENKO to assume office in June 2014; he was succeeded by Volodymyr ZELENSKY in May 2019. Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in late February 2014, Russian President PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula falsely claiming the action was to protect ethnic Russians living there. Two weeks later, a "referendum" was held regarding the integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation. The "referendum" was condemned as illegitimate by the Ukrainian Government, the EU, the US, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, 100 members of the UN passed UNGA resolution 68/262, rejecting the "referendum" as baseless and invalid and confirming the sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In mid-2014, Russia began supplying proxies in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces with manpower, funding, and materiel driving an armed conflict with the Ukrainian Government that continues to this day. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the unrecognized Russian proxy republics signed the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum in September 2014 to end the conflict. However, this agreement failed to stop the fighting or find a political solution. In a renewed attempt to alleviate ongoing clashes, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany negotiated a follow-on Package of Measures in February 2015 to implement the Minsk agreements. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the unrecognized Russian proxy republics, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also meet regularly to facilitate implementation of the peace deal. By early 2022, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded as a result of the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated its conflict with Ukraine by invading the country on several fronts in what has become the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II. The invasion has received near universal international condemnation, and many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia and also supplied humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. The invasion has also created Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. As of 24 May, approximately 6.64 million people had fled Ukraine, and nearly 8.03 million people were internally displaced as of 3 May.  More than 8,460 civilian casualties had been reported, as of 22 May.  Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. 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 through subsequent centuries. 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, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and endured a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two forced famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy and prosperity remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties.A peaceful mass protest referred to as the "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a comeback in parliamentary (Rada) elections, become prime minister in August 2006, and be elected president in February 2010. In October 2012, Ukraine held Rada elections, widely criticized by Western observers as flawed due to use of government resources to favor ruling party candidates, interference with media access, and harassment of opposition candidates. President YANUKOVYCH's backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU in November 2013 - in favor of closer economic ties with Russia - and subsequent use of force against students, civil society activists, and other civilians in favor of the agreement led to a three-month protest occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in February 2014 led to all out pitched battles, scores of deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. New elections in the spring allowed pro-West president Petro POROSHENKO to assume office in June 2014; he was succeeded by Volodymyr ZELENSKY in May 2019.Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in late February 2014, Russian President PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula falsely claiming the action was to protect ethnic Russians living there. Two weeks later, a "referendum" was held regarding the integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation. The "referendum" was condemned as illegitimate by the Ukrainian Government, the EU, the US, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, 100 members of the UN passed UNGA resolution 68/262, rejecting the "referendum" as baseless and invalid and confirming the sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In mid-2014, Russia began supplying proxies in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces with manpower, funding, and materiel driving an armed conflict with the Ukrainian Government that continues to this day. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the unrecognized Russian proxy republics signed the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum in September 2014 to end the conflict. However, this agreement failed to stop the fighting or find a political solution. In a renewed attempt to alleviate ongoing clashes, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany negotiated a follow-on Package of Measures in February 2015 to implement the Minsk agreements. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the unrecognized Russian proxy republics, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also meet regularly to facilitate implementation of the peace deal. By early 2022, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded as a result of the Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated its conflict with Ukraine by invading the country on several fronts in what has become the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II. The invasion has received near universal international condemnation, and many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia and also supplied humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. The invasion has also created Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. As of 24 May, approximately 6.64 million people had fled Ukraine, and nearly 8.03 million people were internally displaced as of 3 May.  More than 8,460 civilian casualties had been reported, as of 22 May. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, 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 land: 579,330 sq km water: 24,220 sq km note: approximately 43,133 sq km, or about 7.1% of Ukraine's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Crimea and about one-third of both Luhans'k and Donets'k oblasts Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,581 km border countries (6): 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 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 lowest point: Black Sea 0 m 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: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 56.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.6% (2018 est.) forest: 16.8% (2018 est.) other: 12% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 21,670 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Dnieper river mouth (shared with Russia [s] and Belarus) - 2,287 km; 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; noteable 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 Map description: Ukraine map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea.Ukraine map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 43,528,136 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Ukrainian(s) 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: Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldovan/Romanian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.); note - in February 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that 2012 language legislation entitling a language spoken by at least 10% of an oblast's population to be given the status of "regional language" - allowing for its use in courts, schools, and other government institutions - was unconstitutional, thus making the law invalid; Ukrainian remains the country's only official nationwide language 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.) note: Ukraine's population is overwhelmingly Christian; the vast majority - up to two thirds - identify themselves as Orthodox, but many do not specify a particular branch; the OCU and the UOC-MP each represent less than a quarter of the country's population, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accounts for 8-10%, and the UAOC accounts for 1-2%; Muslim and Jewish adherents each compose less than 1% of the total population Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.16% (male 3,658,127/female 3,438,887) 15-24 years: 9.28% (male 2,087,185/female 1,987,758) 25-54 years: 43.66% (male 9,456,905/female 9,718,758) 55-64 years: 13.87% (male 2,630,329/female 3,463,851) 65 years and over: 17.03% (2020 est.) (male 2,523,600/female 4,957,539) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49.1 youth dependency ratio: 23.8 elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 potential support ratio: 4 (2020 est.) note: data include Crimea Median age: total: 41.2 years male: 38.2 years female: 44.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.5% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 13.77 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; noteable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa Urbanization: urban population: 69.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.010 million KYIV (capital), 1.423 million Kharkiv, 1.008 million Odesa, 952,000 Dnipropetrovsk, 893,000 Donetsk (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.42 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.2 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.45 years male: 68.8 years female: 78.39 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 65.4% (2012) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.4% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.1% (2019) Physicians density: 2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 7.5 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 260,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,100 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.1% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2014) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.3% male: 19.8% female: 18.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air and water pollution; land degradation; solid waste management; biodiversity loss; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant Environment - international 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 202.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 63.37 megatons (2020 est.) 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: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 56.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.6% (2018 est.) forest: 16.8% (2018 est.) other: 12% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 69.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.42% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 15,242,025 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 487,745 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.2% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Dnieper river mouth (shared with Russia [s] and Belarus) - 2,287 km; 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) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.397 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.577 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.206 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 175.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukraina former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: name derives from the Old East Slavic word "ukraina" meaning "borderland or march (militarized border region)" and began to be used extensively in the 19th century; originally Ukrainians referred to themselves as Rusyny (Rusyns, Ruthenians, or Ruthenes), an endonym derived from the medieval Rus state (Kyivan Rus) Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Kyiv (Kiev) geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name is associated with that of Kyi, who along with his brothers Shchek and Khoryv, and their sister Lybid, are the legendary founders of the medieval city of Kyiv; Kyi being the eldest brother, the city was named after him note: pronounced KAY-yiv 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 note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); plans include the eventual renaming of Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad oblasts, but because these names are mentioned in the Constitution of Ukraine, the change will require a constitutional amendment note 2: the US Government does not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol, nor their redesignation as the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol" 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); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, and the date the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted and ratified 28 June 1996 amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2019 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ukraine dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (since 20 May 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Denys SHMYHAL (since 4 March 2020) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, approved by the Verkhovna Rada elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 March and 21 April 2019 (next to be held in March 2024); prime minister selected by the Verkhovna Rada election results: 2019: Volodymyr ZELENSKYY elected president; first round results: percent of vote - 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%; second round results: percent of vote - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (Servant of the People) 73.2%, Petro POROSHENKO (BPP-Solidarity) 24.5%; Denys SHMYHAL (independent) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 291-59 2014: Petro POROSHENKO elected president in the 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 note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a presidential administration helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president Legislative branch: description: unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; 225 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 225 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 21 July 2019 (next to be held in July 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - Servant of the People 43.2%, Opposition Platform-For Life 13.1%, Batkivshchyna 8.2%, European Solidarity 8.1%, Voice 5.8%, other 21.6%; seats by party (preliminary) - Servant of the People 254, Oposition Platform for Life 43, Batkivshchyna 26, European Solidarity 25, Voice 20, Opposition Bloc 6, Samopomich 1, Svoboda 1, other parties 2, independent 46; note - voting not held in Crimea and parts of two Russian-occupied eastern oblasts leaving 26 seats vacant; although this brings the total to 424 elected members (of 450 potential), article 83 of the constitution mandates that a parliamentary majority consists of 226 seats Judicial branch: highest courts: 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) 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 responsible for judicial self-governance and administration, and appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process as Supreme Court justices, with one addition – 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; this majority must include at least 3 members of the Public Council of International Experts; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, by the Congress of Judges, and by the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms   subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; district courts note: specialized courts were abolished as part of Ukraine's judicial reform program; in November 2019, President ZELENSKYY signed a bill on legal reforms  Political parties and leaders: Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO] European Solidarity (BPP-Solidarity) [Petro POROSHENKO] Holos (Voice) [Kira RUDYK] Opposition Bloc or OB [Evgeny MURAYEV] Opposition Platform-For Life [Yuriy BOYKO, Vadim RABINOVICH] Radical Party [Oleh LYASHKO] Samopomich (Self Reliance) [Andriy SADOVYY] Servant of the People [Oleksandr KORNIENKO] Svoboda (Freedom) [Oleh TYAHNYBOK] 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, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Oksana Serhiyivna MARKAROVA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 349-2963 FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817 email address and website: emb_us@mfa.gov.ua; consul_us@mfa.gov.ua https://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kristina KVIEN (since January 2020) embassy: 4 A. I. Igor Sikorsky Street, 04112 Kyiv mailing address: 5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850 telephone: [380] (44) 521-5000 FAX: [380] (44) 521-5544 email address and website: kyivacs@state.gov https://ua.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow; although the colors date back to medieval heraldry, in modern times they are sometimes claimed to represent grain fields under a blue sky National symbol(s): tryzub (trident), sunflower; national colors: blue, yellow National anthem: name: "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished) lyrics/music: Paul CHUBYNSKYI/Mikhail VERBYTSKYI note: music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003; song first performed in 1864 at the Ukraine Theatre in Lviv; the lyrics, originally written in 1862, were revised in 2003 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) 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) Topic: Economy Economic overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian Republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil accounted for more than one fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied unique equipment such as large diameter pipes and vertical drilling apparatus, and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR.   Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms to foster economic growth. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy. From 2000 until mid-2008, Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president. The economy contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world. In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its naval base in Crimea.   Ukraine’s oligarch-dominated economy grew slowly from 2010 to 2013 but remained behind peers in the region and among Europe’s poorest. After former President YANUKOVYCH fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine’s economy fell into crisis because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, military conflict in the eastern part of the country, and a trade war with Russia, resulting in a 17% decline in GDP, inflation at nearly 60%, and dwindling foreign currency reserves. The international community began efforts to stabilize the Ukrainian economy, including a March 2014 IMF assistance package of $17.5 billion, of which Ukraine has received four disbursements, most recently in April 2017, bringing the total disbursed as of that date to approximately $8.4 billion. Ukraine has made progress on reforms designed to make the country prosperous, democratic, and transparent, including creation of a national anti-corruption agency, overhaul of the banking sector, establishment of a transparent VAT refund system, and increased transparency in government procurement. But more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, improving the business environment to attract foreign investment, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and land reform. The fifth tranche of the IMF program, valued at $1.9 billion, was delayed in mid-2017 due to lack of progress on outstanding reforms, including adjustment of gas tariffs to import parity levels and adoption of legislation establishing an independent anti-corruption court.   Russia’s occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth. With the loss of a major portion of Ukraine’s heavy industry in Donbas and ongoing violence, the economy contracted by 6.6% in 2014 and by 9.8% in 2015, but it returned to low growth in in 2016 and 2017, reaching 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, as key reforms took hold. Ukraine also redirected trade activity towards the EU following the implementation of a bilateral Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner. A prohibition on commercial trade with separatist-controlled territories in early 2017 has not impacted Ukraine’s key industrial sectors as much as expected, largely because of favorable external conditions. Ukraine returned to international debt markets in September 2017, issuing a $3 billion sovereign bond.After Russia, the Ukrainian Republic was the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil accounted for more than one fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied unique equipment such as large diameter pipes and vertical drilling apparatus, and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after independence in August 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms to foster economic growth. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy. From 2000 until mid-2008, Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president. The economy contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances in the world. In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its naval base in Crimea. Ukraine’s oligarch-dominated economy grew slowly from 2010 to 2013 but remained behind peers in the region and among Europe’s poorest. After former President YANUKOVYCH fled the country during the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine’s economy fell into crisis because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, military conflict in the eastern part of the country, and a trade war with Russia, resulting in a 17% decline in GDP, inflation at nearly 60%, and dwindling foreign currency reserves. The international community began efforts to stabilize the Ukrainian economy, including a March 2014 IMF assistance package of $17.5 billion, of which Ukraine has received four disbursements, most recently in April 2017, bringing the total disbursed as of that date to approximately $8.4 billion. Ukraine has made progress on reforms designed to make the country prosperous, democratic, and transparent, including creation of a national anti-corruption agency, overhaul of the banking sector, establishment of a transparent VAT refund system, and increased transparency in government procurement. But more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, improving the business environment to attract foreign investment, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and land reform. The fifth tranche of the IMF program, valued at $1.9 billion, was delayed in mid-2017 due to lack of progress on outstanding reforms, including adjustment of gas tariffs to import parity levels and adoption of legislation establishing an independent anti-corruption court. Russia’s occupation of Crimea in March 2014 and ongoing Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine have hurt economic growth. With the loss of a major portion of Ukraine’s heavy industry in Donbas and ongoing violence, the economy contracted by 6.6% in 2014 and by 9.8% in 2015, but it returned to low growth in in 2016 and 2017, reaching 2.3% and 2.0%, respectively, as key reforms took hold. Ukraine also redirected trade activity towards the EU following the implementation of a bilateral Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, displacing Russia as its largest trading partner. A prohibition on commercial trade with separatist-controlled territories in early 2017 has not impacted Ukraine’s key industrial sectors as much as expected, largely because of favorable external conditions. Ukraine returned to international debt markets in September 2017, issuing a $3 billion sovereign bond. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $516.68 billion (2020 est.) $538.33 billion (2019 est.) $521.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.24% (2019 est.) 3.41% (2018 est.) 2.48% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,400 (2020 est.) $12,800 (2019 est.) $12,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $155.082 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.9% (2019 est.) 11% (2018 est.) 14.4% (2017 est.) note: Excluding the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and part of the anti-terrorist operation zone Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2019) Moody's rating: B3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 12.2% (2017 est.) industry: 28.6% (2017 est.) services: 60% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 4.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, wheat, potatoes, sunflower seed, sugar beet, milk, barley, soybeans, rapeseed, tomatoes Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 16.033 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.8% industry: 26.5% services: 67.8% (2014) Unemployment rate: 8.89% (2019 est.) 9.42% (2018 est.) note: officially registered workers; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.3% male: 19.8% female: 18.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 1.1% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 26.1 (2018 est.) 28.2 (2009) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 29.82 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 31.55 billion (2017 est.) note: this is the planned, consolidated budget Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 71% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: the total public debt of $64.5 billion consists of: domestic public debt ($23.8 billion); external public debt ($26.1 billion); and sovereign guarantees ($14.6 billion) Taxes and other revenues: 26.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$4.124 billion (2019 est.) -$6.432 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $60.67 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $63.56 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $59.18 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Russia 9%, China 8%, Germany 6%, Poland 6%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: corn, sunflower seed oils, iron and iron products, wheat, insulated wiring, rapeseed (2019) Imports: $62.46 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $76.07 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $70.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 13%, Russia 12%, Germany 10%, Poland 9%, Belarus 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, coal, natural gas (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $18.81 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $117.41 billion (2019 est.) $114.449 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - 28.10001 (2020 est.) 23.7 (2019 est.) 27.80499 (2018 est.) 21.8447 (2014 est.) 11.8867 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 153.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 133.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 3.591 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 77 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 57.28 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 65% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 32,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 413 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 4,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 395 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 63,670 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 233,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1,828 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 167,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 19.73 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 30.92 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 12.97 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.104 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,314,263 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 54,842,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.63 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Ukraine’s telecom market continues to face challenges resulting from the annexation of Crimea by Russia and unrest in eastern regions; developing telecom market has attracted international investors from Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan; government plan emphasizes improvement of domestic trunk lines, international connections, and a national mobile-cellular system; operators moving from 3G services to 4G, but some areas still use 2G; LTE services available in cities; FttP networks taking over DSL platforms; government approved plan in 2020 for 5G migration and operator is developing IoT capabilities; improvement of licensing requirements for operators and positive reforms for users; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is nearly 8 per 100; the mobile-cellular telephone system's expansion has slowed, largely due to saturation of the market that is now just over 129 mobile phones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 380; landing point for the Kerch Strait Cable connecting Ukraine to Russia; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic TAE system and 3 Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic TEL project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Ukraine’s media landscape is dominated by oligarch-owned news outlets, which are often politically motivated and at odds with one another and/or the government; while polls suggest most Ukrainians still receive news from traditional media sources, social media is a crucial component of information dissemination in Ukraine; almost all Ukrainian politicians and opinion leaders communicate with the public via social media and maintain at least one social media page, if not more; this allows them direct communication with audiences, and news often breaks on Facebook or Twitter before being picked up by traditional news outlets Ukraine television serves as the principal source of news; the largest national networks are controlled by oligarchs: TRK Ukraina is owned by Rinat Akhmetov; Studio 1+1 is owned by Ihor Kolomoyskyy; Inter is owned by Dmytro Firtash and Serhiy Lyovochkin; and StarlightMedia channels (ICTV, STB, and Novyi Kanal) are owned by Victor Pinchuk;  a set of 24-hour news channels also have clear political affiliations: pro-Ukrainian government Channel 5 and Pryamyi are linked to President Petro Poroshenko; 24 is owned by opposition, but not pro-Russian, politicians; UA: Suspilne is a public television station under the umbrella of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine; while it is often praised by media experts for balanced coverage, it lags in popularity; Ukrainian Radio, institutionally linked to UA: Suspilne, is one of only two national talk radio networks, with the other being the privately owned Radio NV (2021)Ukraine television serves as the principal source of news; the largest national networks are controlled by oligarchs: TRK Ukraina is owned by Rinat Akhmetov; Studio 1+1 is owned by Ihor Kolomoyskyy; Inter is owned by Dmytro Firtash and Serhiy Lyovochkin; and StarlightMedia channels (ICTV, STB, and Novyi Kanal) are owned by Victor Pinchuk;  a set of 24-hour news channels also have clear political affiliations: pro-Ukrainian government Channel 5 and Pryamyi are linked to President Petro Poroshenko; 24 is owned by opposition, but not pro-Russian, politicians; UA: Suspilne is a public television station under the umbrella of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine; while it is often praised by media experts for balanced coverage, it lags in popularity; Ukrainian Radio, institutionally linked to UA: Suspilne, is one of only two national talk radio networks, with the other being the privately owned Radio NV Internet country code: .ua Internet users: total: 33,101,020 (2020 est.) percent of population: 75% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,769,401 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.) Communications - note: a sorting code to expeditiously handle large volumes of mail was first set up in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union) in the 1930s; the sophisticated, three-part (number-letter-number) postal code system, referred to as an "index," was the world's first postal zip code; the system functioned well and was in use from 1932 to 1939 when it was abruptly discontinued Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 126 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,854,842 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 75.26 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: UR Airports: total: 215 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 108 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 79 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 69 (2021) Heliports: 9 (2021) Pipelines: 36720 km gas, 4514 km oil, 4363 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 21,733 km (2014) standard gauge: 49 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (49 km electrified) broad gauge: 21,684 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) Roadways: total: 169,694 km (2012) paved: 166,095 km (2012) (includes 17 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,599 km (2012) Waterways: 1,672 km (2012) (most on Dnieper River) Merchant marine: total: 409 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 84, oil tanker 15, other 308 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Feodosiia, Chornomorsk, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Yuzhne river port(s): Kherson, Kyiv (Dnieper River), Mykolaiv (Pivdennyy Buh River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Ukraine (Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny, ZSU): Ground Forces (Sukhoputni Viys’ka), Naval Forces (Viys’kovo-Mors’ki Syly, VMS), Air Forces (Povitryani Syly, PS), Air Assault Forces (Desantno-shturmovi Viyska, DShV), Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (UASOF), Territorial Defense Forces (Reserves);  Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (includes Maritime Border Guard) (2021) Military expenditures: 4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $9.7 billion) 3.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $8.87 billion) 3.1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $8.54 billion) 3.6% of GDP (2016) (approximately $8.53 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 200,000 active troops (125,000 Army; 25,000 Airborne/Air Assault Forces; 2,000 Special Operations Forces; 10,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 National Guard (2021) note - in early 2022, the Ukrainian Government announced plans to add 100,000 personnel to the armed forces over three years  Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Ukrainian military is equipped mostly with older Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, it has imported limited quantities of weapons from several European countries, as well as Canada, the US, and the United Arab Emirates; Ukraine has a broad defense industry capable of building Soviet-era land systems and maintaining and upgrading Soviet-era combat aircraft, as well as missile and air defense systems (2021) Military service age and obligation: conscription abolished in 2012, but reintroduced in 2014; 20-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months (2021) note(s) - the Ukrainian military has a mix of conscripts (14,000 conscripted in 2021) and professional soldiers on contracts; women can volunteer and have served in the Ukrainian armed forces since 1993; as of 2021, women comprised approximately 15-20% of the military; in late 2021, the Ukrainian Government began requiring women between 18 and 60 who are fit for military service and work in a broad range of professions to register with Ukraine's armed forces   Military deployments: note - Ukraine contributes 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 Military - note:    Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: 1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains unratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete and demarcation began in 2012; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Ukraine and Moldova signed an agreement officially delimiting their border in 1999, but the border has not been demarcated due to Moldova's difficulties with the break-away region of Transnistria; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's Transnistria Region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops; the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains unratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete and demarcation began in 2012; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Ukraine and Moldova signed an agreement officially delimiting their border in 1999, but the border has not been demarcated due to Moldova's difficulties with the break-away region of Transnistria; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's Transnistria Region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops; the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 1,461,700 (Russian-sponsored separatist violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine) (2021); 6.48 million (Russian invasion), according to the UN (2022); note – the more recent invasion total may reflect some double counting, since it is impossible to determine how many of the recent IDPs may also include IDPs from the earlier Russian-sponsored violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine stateless persons: 35,875 (mid-year 2021); note - citizens of the former USSR who were permanently resident in Ukraine were granted citizenship upon Ukraine's independence in 1991, but some missed this window of opportunity; people arriving after 1991, Crimean Tatars, ethnic Koreans, people with expired Soviet passports, and people with no documents have difficulty acquiring Ukrainian citizenship; following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, thousands of Crimean Tatars and their descendants deported from Ukraine under the STALIN regime returned to their homeland, some being stateless and others holding the citizenship of Uzbekistan or other former Soviet republics; a 1998 bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan simplified the process of renouncing Uzbek citizenship and obtaining Ukrainian citizenship1,461,700 (Russian-sponsored separatist violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine) (2021); 6.48 million (Russian invasion), according to the UN (2022); note – the more recent invasion total may reflect some double counting, since it is impossible to determine how many of the recent IDPs may also include IDPs from the earlier Russian-sponsored violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine Illicit drugs: a transit country for illicit drug trafficking into the European Union due to its location amidst several important trafficking routes into western Europe, ports on the Black and Azov seas, extensive river routes, and porous northern and eastern borders; South American cocaine moves through Ukrainian seaports and airports; amphetamine and methamphetamine laboratories supply the local marketa transit country for illicit drug trafficking into the European Union due to its location amidst several important trafficking routes into western Europe, ports on the Black and Azov seas, extensive river routes, and porous northern and eastern borders; South American cocaine moves through Ukrainian seaports and airports; amphetamine and methamphetamine laboratories supply the local market

20220601

field-waterways-country-comparison

20220601

countries-italy

Topic: Photos of Italy Topic: Introduction Background: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and its subsequent successors the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and its subsequent successors the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 301,340 sq km land: 294,140 sq km water: 7,200 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona Land boundaries: total: 1,836.4 km border countries (6): Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km Coastline: 7,600 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands Elevation: highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 538 m Natural resources: coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 39,500 sq km (2012) 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: despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples), attracting larger and denser populations Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsiniregional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini Geography - note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe Map description: Italy map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.Italy map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies. Topic: People and Society Population: 61,095,551 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south) Languages: Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area) major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.45% (male 4,292,431/female 4,097,732) 15-24 years: 9.61% (male 3,005,402/female 2,989,764) 25-54 years: 40.86% (male 12,577,764/female 12,921,614) 55-64 years: 14% (male 4,243,735/female 4,493,581) 65 years and over: 22.08% (2020 est.) (male 5,949,560/female 7,831,076) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57 youth dependency ratio: 20.4 elderly dependency ratio: 36.6 potential support ratio: 2.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 46.5 years male: 45.4 years female: 47.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.13% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 6.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 11.31 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples), attracting larger and denser populations Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 4.298 million ROME (capital), 3.149 million Milan, 2.180 million Naples, 1.798 million Turin, 907,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.3 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.59 years male: 80.25 years female: 85.08 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 65.1% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.7% (2019) Physicians density: 3.98 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 3.1 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 140,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000 Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: a new coronavirus is causing  respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Italy; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Italy has reported a total of 14,496,579 cases of COVID-19 or 24,306.19 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 159,054 cumulative deaths or a rate of 266.68 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 84.02% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Italy to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.2% male: 99.4% female: 99% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.4% male: 27.9% female: 31.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 41.3 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: a new coronavirus is causing  respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Italy; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Italy has reported a total of 14,496,579 cases of COVID-19 or 24,306.19 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 159,054 cumulative deaths or a rate of 266.68 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 84.02% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Italy to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 29.524 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,646,716 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.) 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) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9.488 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 7.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 191.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy etymology: derivation is unclear, but the Latin "Italia" may come from the Oscan "Viteliu" meaning "[Land] of Young Cattle" (the bull was a symbol of southern Italic tribes) Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Rome geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city and its first king Administrative divisions: 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto; autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto;autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French) Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871) National holiday: Republic Day, 2 June (1946) Constitution: history: previous 1848 (originally for the Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by the Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948 amendments: proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by five Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25 Executive branch: chief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Mario DRAGHI (since 13 February 2021); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers; note - Prime Minister Giuseppe CONTE resigned on 26 January 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the Premier; nominated by the president; the current deputy prime ministers, known officially as vice-presidents of the Council of Ministers, are Matteo Salvini (L) and Luigi Di Maio (M5S) (since 1 June 2018) elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds) (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament election results: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of: Senate or Senato della Repubblica (320 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 193 members in multi-seat constituencies and 6 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 5 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life) Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition 137 (Lega 58, FI 57, FdI 18, NCI-UDC 4), M5S 112, center-left coalition 60 (PD 53, SVP-PATT 3, CP 1, +EU 1, Together 1, VdAI 1), LeU 4, MAIE 1, USEI 1; composition (as of March 2022) - men 208, women 112, percent of women 35% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition 265 (Lega 125, FI 104, FdI 32, NeI-UDC 4), M5S 227, center-left coalition 122 (PD 112, SVP-PATT 4, +EU 3, CP 2, Together 1), LeU 14, MAIE 1,USEI 1; composition (as of September 2021) - men 401, women 229, percent of women 36.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 35.9% Note: in October 2019, Italy's Parliament voted to reduce the number of Senate seats from 315 to 200 and the number of Chamber of Deputies seats from 630 to 400; a referendum to reduce the membership of Parliament held on 20-21 September 2020 was approved, effective for the 2023 election Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president (chief justice), deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years subordinate courts: various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal) Political parties and leaders: Article One or Art.1-MDP [Roberto SPERANZA] Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE [Ricardo Antonio MERIO] Brothers of Italy or FdI [Giorgi MELONI] Democratic Party or PD [Enrico LETTA] Five Star Movement or M5S [Giuseppe CONTE] Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI] Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU [Pietro GRASSO] League or Lega [Matteo SALVINI] More Europe or +EU [Emma BONINO] Popular Civic List or CP [Beatrice LORENZIN] Possible [Beatrice BRIGNONE] South American Union Italian Emigrants or USEI [Eugenion SANGREGORIO] South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Philipp ACHAMMER] Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese) or PATT [Franco PANIZZA, secretary] Us with Italy [Raffaele FITTO]Article One or Art.1-MDP [Roberto SPERANZA] Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE [Ricardo Antonio MERIO] Brothers of Italy or FdI [Giorgi MELONI] Democratic Party or PD [Enrico LETTA] Five Star Movement or M5S [Giuseppe CONTE] Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI] Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU [Pietro GRASSO] League or Lega [Matteo SALVINI] More Europe or +EU [Emma BONINO] Popular Civic List or CP [Beatrice LORENZIN] Possible [Beatrice BRIGNONE] South American Union Italian Emigrants or USEI [Eugenion SANGREGORIO] South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Philipp ACHAMMER] Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese) or PATT [Franco PANIZZA, secretary] Us with Italy [Raffaele FITTO] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mariangela ZAPPIA (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 518-2154 email address and website: amb.washington@cert.esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Charlotte (NC), Cleveland (OH), Detroit (MI), Hattiesburg (MS), Honolulu (HI), New Orleans, Newark (NJ), Norfolk (VA), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Seattle Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas D. SMITHAM (since 4 January 2021); note - also accredited to San Marino embassy: via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma mailing address: 9500 Rome Place, Washington DC  20521-9500 telephone: [39] 06-46741 FAX: [39] 06-4674-2244 email address and website: uscitizenrome@state.gov https://it.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of green and red, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green National symbol(s): white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia); national colors: red, white, green National anthem: name: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians) lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 58 (53 cultural, 5 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (c); Villa d'Este, Tivoli (c); Mount Etna (n); Rock Drawings in Valcamonica (c); Historic Siena (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Italy’s economy comprises a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, with a legacy of unemployment and underdevelopment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-owned. Italy also has a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for as much as 17% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors.   Italy is the third-largest economy in the euro zone, but its exceptionally high public debt and structural impediments to growth have rendered it vulnerable to scrutiny by financial markets. Public debt has increased steadily since 2007, reaching 131% of GDP in 2017. Investor concerns about Italy and the broader euro-zone crisis eased in 2013, bringing down Italy's borrowing costs on sovereign government debt from euro-era records. The government still faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its efforts to address Italy's longstanding structural economic problems, including labor market inefficiencies, a sluggish judicial system, and a weak banking sector. Italy’s economy returned to modest growth in late 2014 for the first time since 2011. In 2015-16, Italy’s economy grew at about 1% each year, and in 2017 growth accelerated to 1.5% of GDP. In 2017, overall unemployment was 11.4%, but youth unemployment remained high at 37.1%. GDP growth is projected to slow slightly in 2018.Italy’s economy comprises a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, with a legacy of unemployment and underdevelopment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-owned. Italy also has a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for as much as 17% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors. Italy is the third-largest economy in the euro zone, but its exceptionally high public debt and structural impediments to growth have rendered it vulnerable to scrutiny by financial markets. Public debt has increased steadily since 2007, reaching 131% of GDP in 2017. Investor concerns about Italy and the broader euro-zone crisis eased in 2013, bringing down Italy's borrowing costs on sovereign government debt from euro-era records. The government still faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its efforts to address Italy's longstanding structural economic problems, including labor market inefficiencies, a sluggish judicial system, and a weak banking sector. Italy’s economy returned to modest growth in late 2014 for the first time since 2011. In 2015-16, Italy’s economy grew at about 1% each year, and in 2017 growth accelerated to 1.5% of GDP. In 2017, overall unemployment was 11.4%, but youth unemployment remained high at 37.1%. GDP growth is projected to slow slightly in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,322,140,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,548,190,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,540,890,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.34% (2019 est.) 0.83% (2018 est.) 1.73% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $39,000 (2020 est.) $42,700 (2019 est.) $42,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2,002,763,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (2019 est.) 1.1% (2018 est.) 1.2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2020) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.1% (2017 est.) industry: 23.9% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, grapes, wheat, maize, tomatoes, apples, olives, sugar beet, oranges, rice Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 22.92 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.9% industry: 28.3% services: 67.8% (2011) Unemployment rate: 9.88% (2019 est.) 10.63% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.4% male: 27.9% female: 31.8% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 20.1% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.9 (2017 est.) 27.3 (1995) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 26.8% (2000) Budget: revenues: 903.3 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 948.1 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 131.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 132% of GDP (2016 est.) note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises central, state, and local government and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 46.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $59.517 billion (2019 est.) $51.735 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $558.26 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $636.01 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $656.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 12%, France 11%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 5%, Spain 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, valves, trunks/cases, wine (2019) Imports: $486.35 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $569.7 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $605.44 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 16%, France 9%, China 7%, Spain 5%, Netherlands 5%, Belgium 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $151.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $130.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $2,463,208,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,533,153,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 275.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 293.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 6.155 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 43.18 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 114.2 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 54% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 90,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 13,790 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 1.341 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 487.8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.607 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.236 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 615,900 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 422,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 5.55 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 75.15 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 271.8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 69.66 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 38.11 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 19,607,341 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 77,581,048 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: well-developed, fully automated telephone, and data services; among highest mobile penetration rates in Europe; benefitted from progressive government programs aimed at developing fiber in broadband sector; leading edge of development with 5G in six cities; fiber network reaches more than half of population; Milan developing smart city technology; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; 32 per 100 for fixed-line and nearly 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 39; landing points for Italy-Monaco, Italy-Libya, Italy-Malta, Italy-Greece-1, Italy-Croatia, BlueMed, Janna, FEA, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, Trapani-Kelibia, Columbus-III, Didon, GO-1, HANNIBAL System, MENA, Bridge International, Malta-Italy Interconnector, Melita1, IMEWE, VMSCS, AAE-1, and OTEGLOBE, submarine cables that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: two Italian media giants dominate - the publicly owned Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and privately owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations and Sky Italia - a satellite TV network; RAI operates 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations Internet country code: .it Internet users: total: 41,614,669 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,128,787 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 180 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 27,630,435 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.418 billion (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: I Airports: total: 129 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 98 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 11 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 20 (2021) Heliports: 5 (2021) Pipelines: 20223 km gas, 1393 km oil, 1574 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 20,182 km (2014) standard gauge: 18,770.1 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (12,893.6 km electrified) narrow gauge: 122.3 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (122.3 km electrified) 1289.3 0.950-m gauge (151.3 km electrified) Roadways: total: 487,700 km (2007) paved: 487,700 km (2007) (includes 6,700 km of expressways) Waterways: 2,400 km (2012) (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) Merchant marine: total: 1,296 by type: bulk carrier 36, container ship 7, general cargo 111, oil tanker 103, other 1,039 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice oil terminal(s): Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal container port(s) (TEUs): Genoa (2,621,472), Gioia Tauro (2,523,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): La Spezia, Panigaglia, Porto Levante Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Italian Armed Forces: Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2021) note(s) - the Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie; for its civil police functions, the Carabinieri falls under the control of the Ministry of the Interior; the Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance is a force with military status and nationwide remit for financial crime investigations, including narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and illegal immigration Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020) 1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $30.1 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $31 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $30.1 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 175,000 active personnel (105,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force); approximately 107,000 Carabinieri (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Italian Armed Forces' inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced, jointly-produced, and imported weapons systems, mostly from Europe and the US; the US is the leading supplier of weapons to Italy since 2010, followed by Germany; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in naval vessels and aircraft; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 1-year service obligation; conscription abolished 2004 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 120 Djibouti; 900 Middle East/Iraq/Kuwait (NATO, counter-ISIS campaign, European Assistance Mission Iraq); 640 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 250 Latvia (NATO); 1,190 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 400 Libya; 290 Niger; 250 Romania (NATO); 150 Somalia (EUTM) (2022) note - NATO troop deployment numbers in eastern Europe are as of February 2022; in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe  Military - note: Italy is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Italy is an active participant in EU, NATO, UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations abroad; as of 2021, it hosted the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force (EUNAVFOR-MED) in Rome and the US Navy’s 6th Fleet in Naples; Italy was admitted to the UN in 1955 and in 1960 participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC); since 1960, it has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions, and as of 2021, was the top supplier of military and police forces among Western and EU nations to UN peacekeeping operations; since 2006, Italy has hosted a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern AfricaItaly's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 19,441 (Nigeria), 15,337 (Pakistan), 12,962 (Afghanistan), 10,609 (Mali), 7,901 (Somalia), 5,845 (Gambia), 5,079 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: 3,000 (mid-year 2021) note: 604,000 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022) Illicit drugs: important gateway for drug trafficking; organized crime groups allied with Colombian and Spanish groups trafficking cocaine to Europe

20220601

field-hiv-aids-people-living-with-hiv-aids

This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS. Topic: Afghanistan12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania1,400 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Algeria18,000 (2020 est.) Topic: American SamoaNA Topic: AndorraNA Topic: Angola340,000 (2020 est.) Topic: AnguillaNA Topic: Antigua and Barbuda(2018) <1,000 Topic: Argentina140,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Armenia4,800 (2020 est.) Topic: ArubaNA Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia30,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Austria7,400 (2017 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan9,900 (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The4,700 (2020 est.) Topic: Bahrain(2017 est.) <500 Topic: Bangladesh14,000 (2018 est.) Topic: Barbados2,700 (2019 est.) Topic: Belarus28,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: BelgiumNA Topic: Belize3,800 (2020 est.) Topic: Benin75,000 (2020 est.) Topic: BermudaNA Topic: Bhutan1,300 (2020) Topic: Bolivia17,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina(2018) <500 Topic: Botswana370,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Bouvet IslandNA Topic: Brazil930,000 (2020 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA Topic: BruneiNA Topic: Bulgaria3,300 (2019 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso97,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Burma240,000 (2019 est.) Topic: Burundi83,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde2,400 (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodia75,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroon500,000 (2020 est.) Topic: CanadaNA Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic88,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Chad110,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Chile77,000 (2020 est.) Topic: ChinaNA Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia180,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Comoros(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the510,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the110,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Cook IslandsNA Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica16,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire380,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Croatia1,700 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Cuba33,000 (2020 est.) Topic: CuracaoNA Topic: Cyprus(2017 est.) <1000 Topic: Czechia4,400 (2018 est.) Topic: Denmark6,700 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti6,800 (2020 est.) Topic: Dominica(2018) <500 Topic: Dominican Republic72,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuador45,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Egypt24,000 (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvador25,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea68,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Eritrea13,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Estonia7,100 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Eswatini200,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopia620,000 (2020 est.) Topic: European Unionnote - see individual entries of member states Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe IslandsNA Topic: Fiji1,300 (2020 est.) Topic: Finland4,000 (2018) Topic: France190,000 (2019 est.) Topic: French PolynesiaNA Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon46,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, The27,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza StripNA Topic: Georgia9,100 (2020 est.) Topic: Germany93,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Ghana350,000 (2020 est.) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: Greece17,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: GreenlandNA Topic: Grenada(2018) <500 Topic: GuamNA Topic: Guatemala33,000 (2020 est.) Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea110,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau37,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Guyana9,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Haiti150,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras22,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Hong KongNA Topic: Hungary3,700 (2018 est.) Topic: Iceland(2020) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: India2.3 million (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesia540,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Iran54,000 (2020 est.) Topic: IraqNA Topic: Ireland7,800 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Isle of ManNA Topic: Israel9,000 (2018) Topic: Italy140,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Jamaica32,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan30,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: Kazakhstan35,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Kenya1.4 million (2020 est.) Topic: KiribatiNA Topic: Korea, NorthNA Topic: Korea, SouthNA Topic: KosovoNA Topic: Kuwait(2018 est.) <1000 Topic: Kyrgyzstan9,200 (2020 est.) Topic: Laos15,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Latvia5,600 (2019 est.) Topic: Lebanon2,700 (2020 est.) Topic: Lesotho280,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Liberia35,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Libya9,500 (2020) Topic: LiechtensteinNA Topic: Lithuania3,400 (2019 est.) Topic: Luxembourg1,200 (2018 est.) Topic: MacauNA Topic: Madagascar42,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Malawi990,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysia92,000 (2020 est.) Topic: MaldivesNA Topic: Mali110,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Malta(2016 est.) <500 Topic: Marshall IslandsNA Topic: Mauritania8,500 (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritius14,000 (2020) Topic: Mexico340,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA Topic: Moldova14,000 (2020 est.) Topic: MonacoNA Topic: Mongolia(2020 est.) <1,000 Topic: Montenegro(2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Topic: MontserratNA Topic: Morocco22,000 (2020 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique2.1 million (2020 est.) Topic: Namibia210,000 (2020 est.) Topic: NauruNA Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal30,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Netherlands24,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: New CaledoniaNA Topic: New Zealand3,600 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Nicaragua12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Niger31,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeria1.7 million (2020 est.) Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedonia(2018 est.) <500 Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA Topic: Norway5,800 (2018 est.) Topic: Oman2,500 (2019) Topic: Pakistan200,000 (2020 est.) Topic: PalauNA Topic: Panama31,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Papua New Guinea55,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay19,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Peru91,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Philippines120,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: PolandNA Topic: Portugal42,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Puerto RicoNA Topic: Qatar(2020 est.) <200 Topic: Romania19,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Russia1 million (2017 est.) Topic: Rwanda220,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis(2018) <200 Topic: Saint Lucia(2018) <1,000 Topic: Saint MartinNA Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1,200 (2018) Topic: SamoaNA Topic: San MarinoNA Topic: Sao Tome and Principe(2020) <1,000 Topic: Saudi Arabia12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Senegal39,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Serbia3,300 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: SeychellesNA Topic: Sierra Leone80,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Singapore8,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Sint MaartenNA Topic: Slovakia1,200 (2018 est.) Topic: Slovenia(2020 est.) <1,000 note: estimate does not include children Topic: Solomon IslandsNA Topic: Somalia8,700 (2020 est.) Topic: South Africa7.8 million (2020 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South Sudan180,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Spain150,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka3,700 (2020 est.) Topic: Sudan49,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Suriname5,200 (2020 est.) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Sweden11,000 (2016 est.) Topic: Switzerland17,000 (2020) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Syria(2020) <1,000 Topic: TaiwanNA Topic: Tajikistan14,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Tanzania1.7 million (2020 est.) Topic: Thailand500,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste1,200 (2020) Topic: Togo110,000 (2020 est.) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: TongaNA Topic: Trinidad and Tobago10,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children Topic: Tunisia4,500 (2020 est.) Topic: TurkeyNA Topic: TurkmenistanNA Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA Topic: TuvaluNA Topic: Uganda1.4 million (2020 est.) Topic: Ukraine260,000 (2020 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates(2020) <1,000 Topic: United KingdomNA Topic: United StatesNA Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay12,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan58,000 (2020 est.) Topic: VanuatuNA Topic: Venezuela100,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Vietnam250,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA Topic: West BankNA Topic: World37.7 million (2020 est.) Topic: Yemen11,000 (2020 est.) Topic: Zambia1.5 million (2020 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe1.3 million (2020 est.)

20220601

field-independence

For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several significant dates are cited. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note. Topic: Afghanistan19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) Topic: Albania28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) Topic: Algeria5 July 1962 (from France) Topic: American Samoanone (territory of the US) Topic: Andorra1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell) Topic: Angola11 November 1975 (from Portugal) Topic: Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1 November 1981 (from the UK) Topic: Argentina9 July 1816 (from Spain) Topic: Armenia21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared) Topic: Arubanone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Topic: Australia1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies) Topic: Austriano official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed) Topic: Azerbaijan30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan) Topic: Bahamas, The10 July 1973 (from the UK) Topic: Bahrain15 August 1971 (from the UK) Topic: Bangladesh16 December 1971 (from Pakistan) Topic: Barbados30 November 1966 (from the UK) Topic: Belarus25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Belgium4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) Topic: Belize21 September 1981 (from the UK) Topic: Benin1 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Bermudanone (Overseas Territory of the UK) Topic: Bhutan17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence) Topic: Bolivia6 August 1825 (from Spain) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia); note - referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992 Topic: Botswana30 September 1966 (from the UK) Topic: Brazil7 September 1822 (from Portugal) Topic: British Virgin Islandsnone (Overseas Territory of the UK) Topic: Brunei1 January 1984 (from the UK) Topic: Bulgaria3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) Topic: Burkina Faso5 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Burma4 January 1948 (from the UK) Topic: Burundi1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) Topic: Cabo Verde5 July 1975 (from Portugal) Topic: Cambodia9 November 1953 (from France) Topic: Cameroon1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Canada1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster) Topic: Cayman Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Central African Republic13 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Chad11 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Chile18 September 1810 (from Spain) Topic: China1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China) Topic: Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia) Topic: Colombia20 July 1810 (from Spain) Topic: Comoros6 July 1975 (from France) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the30 June 1960 (from Belgium) Topic: Congo, Republic of the15 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Cook Islandsnone (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) Topic: Costa Rica15 September 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire7 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Croatia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia; notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established) Topic: Cuba20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence Topic: Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Topic: Cyprus16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey Topic: Czechia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day Topic: Denmarkca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormsson); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy) Topic: Djibouti27 June 1977 (from France) Topic: Dominica3 November 1978 (from the UK) Topic: Dominican Republic27 February 1844 (from Haiti) Topic: Ecuador24 May 1822 (from Spain) Topic: Egypt28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically Topic: El Salvador15 September 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Equatorial Guinea12 October 1968 (from Spain) Topic: Eritrea24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) Topic: Estonia24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) Topic: Eswatini6 September 1968 (from the UK) Topic: Ethiopiaoldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.) Topic: European Union7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force) note: the Treaties of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 and subsequently entered into force on 1 January 1958, created the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; a series of subsequent treaties have been adopted to increase efficiency and transparency, to prepare for new member states, and to introduce new areas of cooperation - such as a single currency; the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009 is the most recent of these treaties and is intended to make the EU more democratic, more efficient, and better able to address global problems with one voice Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Topic: Faroe Islandsnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Topic: Fiji10 October 1970 (from the UK) Topic: Finland6 December 1917 (from Russia) Topic: Franceno official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established) Topic: French Polynesianone (overseas lands of France) Topic: Gabon17 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Gambia, The18 February 1965 (from the UK) Topic: Georgia9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III) Topic: Germany18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor) Topic: Ghana6 March 1957 (from the UK) Topic: Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Greece3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire); note - 25 March 1821, outbreak of the national revolt against the Ottomans; 3 February 1830, signing of the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence by Great Britain, France, and Russia Topic: Greenlandnone (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland) Topic: Grenada7 February 1974 (from the UK) Topic: Guamnone (territory of the US) Topic: Guatemala15 September 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Guernseynone (British Crown dependency) Topic: Guinea2 October 1958 (from France) Topic: Guinea-Bissau24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal) Topic: Guyana26 May 1966 (from the UK) Topic: Haiti1 January 1804 (from France) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754 Topic: Honduras15 September 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Hong Kongnone (special administrative region of China) Topic: Hungary16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established) Topic: Iceland1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement) Topic: India15 August 1947 (from the UK) Topic: Indonesia17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands) Topic: Iran1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty) Topic: Iraq3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government Topic: Ireland6 December 1921 (from the UK by the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended British rule); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled) Topic: Isle of Mannone (British Crown dependency) Topic: Israel14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration) Topic: Italy17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871) Topic: Jamaica6 August 1962 (from the UK) Topic: Japan3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy) Topic: Jerseynone (British Crown dependency) Topic: Jordan25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Topic: Kazakhstan16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Kenya12 December 1963 (from the UK) Topic: Kiribati12 July 1979 (from the UK) Topic: Korea, North15 August 1945 (from Japan) Topic: Korea, South15 August 1945 (from Japan) Topic: Kosovo17 February 2008 (from Serbia) Topic: Kuwait19 June 1961 (from the UK) Topic: Kyrgyzstan31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Laos19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence) Topic: Latvia18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) Topic: Lebanon22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Topic: Lesotho4 October 1966 (from the UK) Topic: Liberia26 July 1847 Topic: Libya24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship) Topic: Liechtenstein23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation) Topic: Lithuania16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) Topic: Luxembourg1839 (from the Netherlands) Topic: Macaunone (special administrative region of China) Topic: Madagascar26 June 1960 (from France) Topic: Malawi6 July 1964 (from the UK) Topic: Malaysia31 August 1957 (from the UK) Topic: Maldives26 July 1965 (from the UK) Topic: Mali22 September 1960 (from France) Topic: Malta21 September 1964 (from the UK) Topic: Marshall Islands21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Mauritania28 November 1960 (from France) Topic: Mauritius12 March 1968 (from the UK) Topic: Mexico16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Moldova27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Monaco1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI) Topic: Mongolia29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China) Topic: Montenegro3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established) Topic: Montserratnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Morocco2 March 1956 (from France) Topic: Mozambique25 June 1975 (from Portugal) Topic: Namibia21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) Topic: Nauru31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Nepal1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) Topic: Netherlands23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581, they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence) Topic: New Caledonianone (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place Topic: New Zealand26 September 1907 (from the UK) Topic: Nicaragua15 September 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Niger3 August 1960 (from France) Topic: Nigeria1 October 1960 (from the UK) Topic: Niue19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand) Topic: Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia) Topic: North Macedonia8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnone (commonwealth in political union with the US) Topic: Norway7 June 1905 (declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of petty Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed) Topic: Oman1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) Topic: Pakistan14 August 1947 (from British India) Topic: Palau1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Panama3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821) Topic: Papua New Guinea16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Paraguay14-15 May 1811 (from Spain); note - the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811 and both days are celebrated in Paraguay Topic: Peru28 July 1821 (from Spain) Topic: Philippines4 July 1946 (from the US) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Poland11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) Topic: Portugal1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed) Topic: Puerto Riconone (territory of the US with commonwealth status) Topic: Qatar3 September 1971 (from the UK) Topic: Romania9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) Topic: Russia25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union; Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established) Topic: Rwanda1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Saint Barthelemynone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis19 September 1983 (from the UK) Topic: Saint Lucia22 February 1979 (from the UK) Topic: Saint Martinnone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnone (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines27 October 1979 (from the UK) Topic: Samoa1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: San Marino3 September 301 (traditional founding date) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe12 July 1975 (from Portugal) Topic: Saudi Arabia23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom) Topic: Senegal4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 Topic: Serbia5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established) Topic: Seychelles29 June 1976 (from the UK) Topic: Sierra Leone27 April 1961 (from the UK) Topic: Singapore9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) Topic: Sint Maartennone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Topic: Slovakia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Topic: Slovenia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Topic: Solomon Islands7 July 1978 (from the UK) Topic: Somalia1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic) Topic: South Africa31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule) Topic: South Sudan9 July 2011 (from Sudan) Topic: Spain1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain Topic: Sri Lanka4 February 1948 (from the UK) Topic: Sudan1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK) Topic: Suriname25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands) Topic: Svalbardnone (territory of Norway) Topic: Sweden6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) Topic: Switzerland1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation) Topic: Syria17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Topic: Tajikistan9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Tanzania26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK) Topic: Thailand1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) Topic: Timor-Leste20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia Topic: Togo27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) Topic: Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand) Topic: Tonga4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago31 August 1962 (from the UK) Topic: Tunisia20 March 1956 (from France) Topic: Turkey29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire) Topic: Turkmenistan27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK) Topic: Tuvalu1 October 1978 (from the UK) Topic: Uganda9 October 1962 (from the UK) Topic: Ukraine24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus); 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed); 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate); 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia) Topic: United Arab Emirates2 December 1971 (from the UK) Topic: United Kingdomno official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Topic: United States4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain) Topic: Uruguay25 August 1825 (from Brazil) Topic: Uzbekistan1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Topic: Vanuatu30 July 1980 (from France and the UK) Topic: Venezuela5 July 1811 (from Spain) Topic: Vietnam2 September 1945 (from France) Topic: Virgin Islandsnone (territory of the US) Topic: Wake Islandnone (territory of the US) Topic: Wallis and Futunanone (overseas collectivity of France) Topic: Yemen22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK) Topic: Zambia24 October 1964 (from the UK) Topic: Zimbabwe18 April 1980 (from the UK)

20220601

field-public-debt

This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings. Topic: Afghanistan7% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Albania71.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Algeria27.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt Topic: American Samoa12.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Andorra41% of GDP (2014 est.) 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.) Topic: Angola65% of GDP (2017 est.) 75.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Anguilla20.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda86.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 86.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Argentina57.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 55% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Armenia53.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Aruba86% of GDP (2017 est.) 84.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Australia40.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 40.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Austria78.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 83.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices Topic: Azerbaijan54.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The54.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bahrain88.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bangladesh33.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Barbados157.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 149.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Belarus53.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Belgium103.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 106% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; general government debt is defined by the Maastricht definition and calculated by the National Bank of Belgium as consolidated gross debt; the debt is defined in European Regulation EC479/2009 concerning the implementation of the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht) of 7 February 1992; the sub-sectors of consolidated gross debt are: federal government, communities and regions, local government, and social security funds Topic: Belize99% of GDP (2017 est.) 95.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Benin54.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 49.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bermuda43% of GDP (FY14/15) Topic: Bhutan106.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 114.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bolivia49% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions. Topic: Botswana14% of GDP (2017 est.) 15.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Brazil84% of GDP (2017 est.) 78.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Brunei2.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bulgaria23.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 27.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Topic: Burkina Faso38.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Burma33.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 35.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Burundi51.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde125.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 127.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Cambodia30.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 29.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Cameroon36.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Canada89.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 91.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: figures are for gross general government debt, as opposed to net federal debt; gross general government debt includes both intragovernmental debt and the debt of public entities at the sub-national level Topic: Central African Republic52.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 56% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Chad52.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 52.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Chile23.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 21% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: China47% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover both central and local government debt, including debt officially recognized by China's National Audit Office report in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, and China Asset Management Company debt Topic: Colombia49.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 49.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities Topic: Comoros32.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 27.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the18.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the130.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Costa Rica48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire47% of GDP (2017 est.) 47% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Croatia77.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Cuba47.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 42.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Curacao33.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 40.6% of GDP (2011 est.) Topic: Cyprus97.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 106.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment Topic: Czechia34.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Denmark35.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Djibouti31.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Dominica82.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 71.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic37.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Ecuador45.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 43.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Egypt103% of GDP (2017 est.) 96.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Topic: El Salvador67.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt Topic: Equatorial Guinea37.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 43.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Eritrea131.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 132.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Estonia9% of GDP (2017 est.) 9.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Topic: Eswatini28.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 25.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Ethiopia54.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: European Union86.8% of GDP (2014) 85.5% of GDP (2013) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)0% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: Faroe Islands35% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Fiji48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 47.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Finland61.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 62.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: France96.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 96.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Gabon62.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 64.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Gambia, The88% of GDP (2017 est.) 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Georgia44.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities; Georgia does not maintain intragovernmental debt or social funds Topic: Germany63.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 67.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; the series are presented as a percentage of GDP and in millions of euros; GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product at current market prices; data expressed in national currency are converted into euro using end-of-year exchange rates provided by the European Central Bank Topic: Ghana71.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Gibraltar7.5% of GDP (2008 est.) 8.4% of GDP (2006 est.) Topic: Greece181.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 183.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Greenland13% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: Grenada70.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 82% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Guam22.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 32.1% of GDP (2013) Topic: Guatemala24.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 24.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Guinea37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau53.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 57.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Guyana52.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Haiti31.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Honduras39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Hong Kong0.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Hungary73.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 76% of GDP (2016 est.) note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and national, state, and local government and social security funds. Topic: Iceland40% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: India71.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Indonesia28.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Iran39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 47.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: includes publicly guaranteed debt Topic: Iraq59.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 66% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Ireland68.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Israel72.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 59.6% of GDP (2019 est.) 60.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Italy131.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 132% of GDP (2016 est.) note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises central, state, and local government and social security funds Topic: Jamaica101% of GDP (2017 est.) 113.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Japan237.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 235.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Jordan95.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 95.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Kazakhstan20.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Kenya54.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Kiribati26.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 22.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Korea, South39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Kosovo21.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Kuwait20.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 9.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan56% of GDP (2017 est.) 55.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Laos63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 58.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Latvia36.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Topic: Lebanon146.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 145.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment Topic: Lesotho33.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Liberia34.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Libya4.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Lithuania39.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 40.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Topic: Luxembourg23% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Macau0% of GDP (2017 est.) 0% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Madagascar36% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Malawi59.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 60.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Malaysia54.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 56.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: this figure is based on the amount of federal government debt, RM501.6 billion ($167.2 billion) in 2012; this includes Malaysian Treasury bills and other government securities, as well as loans raised externally and bonds and notes issued overseas; this figure excludes debt issued by non-financial public enterprises and guaranteed by the federal government, which was an additional $47.7 billion in 2012 Topic: Maldives63.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mali35.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 36% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Malta50.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 56.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds Topic: Marshall Islands25.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 30% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mauritania96.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 100% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mauritius64% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mexico54.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 56.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of24.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 25.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Moldova31.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 35.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mongolia91.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 90% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Montenegro67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Morocco65.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 64.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Mozambique102.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 121.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Namibia41.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Nauru62% of GDP (2017 est.) 65% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Nepal26.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 27.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Netherlands56.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: New Caledonia6.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 6.5% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: New Zealand31.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Nicaragua33.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 31.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP Topic: Niger45.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 45.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Nigeria21.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: North Macedonia39.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds Topic: Northern Mariana Islands7.1% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Norway36.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Oman46.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises Topic: Pakistan67% of GDP (2017 est.) 67.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Palau24.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 21.6% of GDP (2015) Topic: Panama37.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea36.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Paraguay19.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 18.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Peru25.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 24.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities Topic: Philippines39.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 39% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Poland50.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 54.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Portugal125.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 129.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Puerto Rico51.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Qatar53.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 46.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Romania36.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Topic: Russia15.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 16.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Rwanda40.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis62.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia70.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines73.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 82.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Samoa49.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 52.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: San Marino24.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 22.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe88.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 93.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia17.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 13.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Senegal48.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 47.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Serbia62.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Seychelles63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone63.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 54.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Singapore111.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 106.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: Singapore's public debt consists largely of Singapore Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore's defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are non-tradable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s; Singapore has no external public debt Topic: Slovakia50.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central, state, local government, and social security funds Topic: Slovenia73.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 78.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the central, state, local government, and social security funds Topic: Solomon Islands9.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Somalia76.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 93% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: South Africa53% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: South Sudan62.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 86.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Spain98.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 99% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka79.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 79.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: covers central government debt and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments Topic: Sudan121.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 99.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Suriname69.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 75.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Sweden40.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 42.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Switzerland41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM (Government Financial Systems Manual) 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options Topic: Syria94.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 91.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Taiwan35.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data for central government Topic: Tajikistan50.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 42% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Tanzania37% of GDP (2017 est.) 38% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Thailand41.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Topic: Timor-Leste3.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Togo75.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Tonga48% of GDP (FY2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (FY2016 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Tunisia70.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 62.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Turkey28.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan28.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Tuvalu37% of GDP (2017 est.) 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Uganda40% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Ukraine71% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: the total public debt of $64.5 billion consists of: domestic public debt ($23.8 billion); external public debt ($26.1 billion); and sovereign guarantees ($14.6 billion) Topic: United Arab Emirates19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: United Kingdom87.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 87.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: United States78.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as "Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities; the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social Security, Federal Employees, Hospital and Supplemental Medical Insurance (Medicare), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller trusts; if data for intragovernment debt were added, "gross debt" would increase by about one-third of GDP Topic: Uruguay65.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions. Topic: Uzbekistan24.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Vanuatu48.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 46.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Venezuela38.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 31.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Topic: Vietnam58.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 59.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: Virgin Islands53.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 45.9% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futuna5.6% of GDP (2004 est.) note: offical data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Topic: West Bank24.4% of GDP (2014 est.) 23.8% of GDP (2013 est.) Topic: World67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 67.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Yemen74.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 68.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Zambia63.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 60.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe82.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

20220601

field-urbanization

This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. It is possible for a country with a 100% urban population to still display a change in the rate of urbanization (up or down). For example, a population of 100,000 that is 100% urban can change in size to 110,000 or 90,000 but remain 100% urban. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. Topic: Afghanistanurban population: 26.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Albaniaurban population: 63.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Algeriaurban population: 74.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: American Samoaurban population: 87.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Andorraurban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Angolaurban population: 68.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Anguillaurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaurban population: 24.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Argentinaurban population: 92.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Armeniaurban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Arubaurban population: 44.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Australiaurban population: 86.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island Topic: Austriaurban population: 59.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanurban population: 57.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh Topic: Bahamas, Theurban population: 83.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bahrainurban population: 89.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bangladeshurban population: 39.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Barbadosurban population: 31.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Belarusurban population: 80.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Belgiumurban population: 98.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Belizeurban population: 46.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Beninurban population: 49.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bermudaurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bhutanurban population: 43.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Boliviaurban population: 70.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaurban population: 49.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Botswanaurban population: 72.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Brazilurban population: 87.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsurban population: 49.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bruneiurban population: 78.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Bulgariaurban population: 76.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasourban population: 31.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Burmaurban population: 31.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Burundiurban population: 14.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeurban population: 67.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cambodiaurban population: 25.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cameroonurban population: 58.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Canadaurban population: 81.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Central African Republicurban population: 43.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Chadurban population: 24.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Chileurban population: 87.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Chinaurban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau Topic: Colombiaurban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Comorosurban population: 29.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theurban population: 46.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theurban population: 68.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsurban population: 75.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaurban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireurban population: 52.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Croatiaurban population: 58.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cubaurban population: 77.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Curacaourban population: 89% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Cyprusurban population: 66.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Czechiaurban population: 74.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Denmarkurban population: 88.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Djiboutiurban population: 78.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Dominicaurban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicurban population: 83.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Ecuadorurban population: 64.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Egypturban population: 43% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: El Salvadorurban population: 74.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaurban population: 74% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Eritreaurban population: 42.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Estoniaurban population: 69.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Eswatiniurban population: 24.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaurban population: 22.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)urban population: 79.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsurban population: 42.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Fijiurban population: 58.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Finlandurban population: 85.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Franceurban population: 81.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: French Polynesiaurban population: 62.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Gabonurban population: 90.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theurban population: 63.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripurban population: 77.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Georgiaurban population: 60.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Abkhazia and South Ossetia Topic: Germanyurban population: 77.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Ghanaurban population: 58.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Gibraltarurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Topic: Greeceurban population: 80.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Greenlandurban population: 87.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Grenadaurban population: 36.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Guamurban population: 95.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Guatemalaurban population: 52.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Guernseyurban population: 31.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey Topic: Guineaurban population: 37.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauurban population: 45% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Guyanaurban population: 27% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Haitiurban population: 58.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Hondurasurban population: 59.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Hong Kongurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Hungaryurban population: 72.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Icelandurban population: 94% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Indiaurban population: 35.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Indonesiaurban population: 57.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Iranurban population: 76.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Iraqurban population: 71.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Irelandurban population: 64.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Isle of Manurban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Israelurban population: 92.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Italyurban population: 71.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Jamaicaurban population: 57% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Japanurban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Jerseyurban population: 31.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey Topic: Jordanurban population: 91.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanurban population: 58% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Kenyaurban population: 29% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Kiribatiurban population: 57.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Korea, Northurban population: 62.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Korea, Southurban population: 81.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Kuwaiturban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanurban population: 37.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Laosurban population: 37.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Latviaurban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Lebanonurban population: 89.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Lesothourban population: 29.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Liberiaurban population: 53.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Topic: Libyaurban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinurban population: 14.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Lithuaniaurban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Luxembourgurban population: 91.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Macauurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Madagascarurban population: 39.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Malawiurban population: 18% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Malaysiaurban population: 78.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Maldivesurban population: 41.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Maliurban population: 45.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Maltaurban population: 94.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsurban population: 78.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaurban population: 56.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Mauritiusurban population: 40.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Mexicourban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofurban population: 23.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Moldovaurban population: 43.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Monacourban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Mongoliaurban population: 68.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Montenegrourban population: 68.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Montserraturban population: 9.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Moroccourban population: 64.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note:  data does not include former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiqueurban population: 38.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Namibiaurban population: 54% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Nauruurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Nepalurban population: 21.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Netherlandsurban population: 92.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: New Caledoniaurban population: 72.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: New Zealandurban population: 86.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaurban population: 59.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Nigerurban population: 16.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Nigeriaurban population: 53.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Niueurban population: 47.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: North Macedoniaurban population: 59.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsurban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Norwayurban population: 83.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Topic: Omanurban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Pakistanurban population: 37.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Palauurban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Panamaurban population: 69.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaurban population: 13.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Paraguayurban population: 62.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Peruurban population: 78.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Philippinesurban population: 48% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsrate of urbanization: NA Topic: Polandurban population: 60.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Portugalurban population: 67.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricourban population: 93.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Qatarurban population: 99.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Romaniaurban population: 54.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Russiaurban population: 75.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Rwandaurban population: 17.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaurban population: 40.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisurban population: 31% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaurban population: 19% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonurban population: 90% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesurban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Samoaurban population: 17.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: San Marinourban population: 97.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeurban population: 75.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaurban population: 84.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Senegalurban population: 49.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Serbiaurban population: 56.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo Topic: Seychellesurban population: 58.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneurban population: 43.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Singaporeurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Sint Maartenurban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.) Topic: Slovakiaurban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Sloveniaurban population: 55.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsurban population: 25.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Somaliaurban population: 47.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: South Africaurban population: 68.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: South Sudanurban population: 20.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Spainurban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla Topic: Sri Lankaurban population: 19% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Sudanurban population: 36% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Surinameurban population: 66.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Swedenurban population: 88.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Switzerlandurban population: 74.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Syriaurban population: 56.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Taiwanurban population: 79.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tajikistanurban population: 28% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaurban population: 36.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Thailandurban population: 52.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteurban population: 32.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Togourban population: 43.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tokelauurban population: 0% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tongaurban population: 23.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagourban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tunisiaurban population: 70.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Turkeyurban population: 77% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanurban population: 53.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsurban population: 94% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Tuvaluurban population: 65.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Ugandaurban population: 26.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Ukraineurban population: 69.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesurban population: 87.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: United Kingdomurban population: 84.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: United Statesurban population: 83.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Uruguayurban population: 95.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanurban population: 50.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Vanuatuurban population: 25.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Venezuelaurban population: 88.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Vietnamurban population: 38.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsurban population: 96.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunaurban population: 0% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: West Bankurban population: 77.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Worldurban population: 57% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Yemenurban population: 39.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Topic: Zambiaurban population: 45.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Topic: Zimbabweurban population: 32.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)