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20220901

countries-dominican-republic-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime. 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 you do not stay in the country more than 30 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [1] (809) 567-7775; US Embassy in Santo Domingo, Av. Republica de Colombia # 57, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; https://do.usembassy.gov/; SDOAmericans@state.gov Telephone Code: 809 Local Emergency Phone: 911 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall Currency (Code): Dominican pesos (DOP) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C Major Languages: Spanish Major Religions: Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4% Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in the Dominican Republic, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Cuidad Colonial of Santo Domingo; Lake Enriquillo; Del Este National Park; Samaná Peninsula and Samaná Bay; Bahia de Las Aguilas and Jaragua National Park; Basilica of Our Lady Major Sports: Baseball, soccer, boxing Cultural Practices: Not resting elbows on the table and keeping hands visible while eating is considered polite. Tipping Guidelines: At most restaurants, a tip of 10% is expected unless service charges are pre-added. Typical bellhop tips are $1-2 (USD) per bag and $2-3 (USD) per night for housekeepers. Souvenirs: Larimar jewelry and stones, amber jewelry, woodcarvings, pottery, baskets, limestone carvings, cigars, rumPlease 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

20220901

countries-czechia

Topic: Photos of Czechia Topic: Introduction Background: At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia, a parliamentarian democracy. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, the new country's predominantly Czech leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the increasingly strident demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans, and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). On the eve of World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the territory that today comprises Czechia, and Slovakia became an independent state allied with Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) fell within the Soviet sphere of influence when the pro-Soviet Communist party staged a coup in February 1948. In 1968, an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The country formally added the short-form name Czechia in 2016, while also continuing to use the full form name, the Czech Republic.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 78,867 sq km land: 77,247 sq km water: 1,620 sq km Area - comparative: about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries (4): Austria 402 km; Germany 704 km; Poland 699 km; Slovakia 241 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country Elevation: highest point: Snezka 1,602 m lowest point: Labe (Elbe) River 115 m mean elevation: 433 m Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 320 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations Natural hazards: flooding Geography - note: note 1: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe note 2: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep Map description: Czechia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Czechia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 10,705,384 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech Ethnic groups: Czech 57.3%, Moravian 3.4%, other 7.7%, unspecified 31.6% (2021 est.) note: includes only persons with one ethnicity Languages: Czech (official) 88.4%, Slovak 1.5%, other 2.6%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): World Fackbook, nepostradatelný zdroj základních informací. (Czech) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: includes only persons with one mother tongue Religions: Roman Catholic 7%, other believers belonging to a church or religious society 6% (includes Evangelical United Brethren Church and Czechoslovak Hussite Church), believers unaffiliated with a religious society 9.1%, none 47.8%, unspecified 30.1% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.17% (male 834,447/female 789,328) 15-24 years: 9.2% (male 508,329/female 475,846) 25-54 years: 43.29% (male 2,382,899/female 2,249,774) 55-64 years: 12.12% (male 636,357/female 660,748) 65 years and over: 20.23% (2020 est.) (male 907,255/female 1,257,515) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56 youth dependency ratio: 24.6 elderly dependency ratio: 31.4 potential support ratio: 3.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.3 years male: 42 years female: 44.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.02% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.74 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations Urbanization: urban population: 74.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.318 million PRAGUE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.5 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.73 years male: 76.8 years female: 82.82 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 99.8% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0.2% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.8% (2019) Physicians density: 4.15 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 6.6 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: (2018 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,400 (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 30.7% (2020 est.) male: 35% (2020 est.) female: 26.4% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2011) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8% male: 7.2% female: 9.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; land pollution caused by industry, mining, and agriculture 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-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 Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 102.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.11 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 74.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.17% of GDP (2017 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.337 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 850,935 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.5% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 616.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 967.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 46.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 13.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czechia local long form: Ceska republika local short form: Cesko etymology: name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.; the country officially adopted the English short-form name of Czechia on 1 July 2016 Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Prague geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 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 an old Slavic root "praga" or "prah", meaning "ford", and refer to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava (Moldau) River Administrative divisions: 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin) Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day National holiday: Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918) Constitution: history: previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993 amendments: passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence of members present in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2021 Legal system: new civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 - based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory - and reintroducing former Czech legal terminology 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 Czechia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Milos ZEMAN (since 8 March 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Petr FIALA (since 17 December 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Vit RAKUSAN (since 17 December 2021), Deputy Prime Ministers Marian JURECKA, Ivan BARTOS, Vlastimil VALEK (all since 17 December 2021) 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 (limited to 2 consecutive terms); elections last held on 12-13 January 2018 with a runoff on 26-27 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2023); prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term election results: 2018: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6% 2013: Milos ZEMAN elected president; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 54.8%, Karel SCHWARZENBERG (TOP 09) 45.2% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (81 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members directly elected in 14 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote with a 5% threshold required to fill a seat; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in 2 rounds on 2-3 and 9-10 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2022) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 8-9 October 2021 (next to be held by October 2025) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - STAN 19, ODS 18, KDU-CSL 12, ANO 5, TOP 09 5, CSSD 3, SEN 21 3, Pirates 2, SZ 1, minor parties with one seat each 9, independents 4; composition (as of October 2021) - men 69, women 12, percent of women 14.8% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party – SPOLU 27.8%, Action of Dissatisfied Persons 27.1%, Pirates and Mayors 15.6%, Freedom and Direct Democracy 9.6%, other 19.9%; seats by party - Action of Dissatisfied Persons 72, SPOLU 71, Pirates and Mayors 37, Freedom and Direct Democracy 20; composition (as of October 2021) - men 154, women 46, percent of women 23%; note - total Parliament percent of women 26% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (organized into Civil Law and Commercial Division, and Criminal Division each with a court chief justice, vice justice, and several judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 justices); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 36 judges, including the court president and vice president, and organized into 6-, 7-, and 9-member chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; unlimited terms subordinate courts: High Court; regional and district courts Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Marian JURECKA] Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Petr FIALA] Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Katerina KONECNA] Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Michal SMARDA] Free Bloc or VB [Jana VOLFOVA] Freedom and Direct Democracy or SPD [Tomio OKAMURA] Mayors and Independents or STAN [Vit RAKUSAN] Movement of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO [Andrej BABIS] Oath or Prisaha [Robert SLACHTA] Pirate Party or Pirates [Ivan BARTOS] Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 or TOP 09 [Marketa PEKAROVA ADAMOVA] Tricolor Freedomites Freeholders or TSS [Zuzana MAJEROVA ZAHRADNIKOVA] International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael J. DODMAN (since 29 March 2022) embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Praha 1 - Mala Strana mailing address: 5630 Prague Place, Washington DC  20521-5630 telephone: [420] 257-022-000 FAX: [420] 257-022-809 email address and website: ACSPrg@state.gov https://cz.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: combines the white and red colors of Bohemia with blue from the arms of Moravia; is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia National symbol(s): silver (or white), double-tailed, rampant lion; national colors: white, red, blue National anthem: name: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?) lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP note: adopted 1993; the anthem was originally written as incidental music to the play "Fidlovacka" (1834), it soon became very popular as an unofficial anthem of the Czech nation; its first verse served as the official Czechoslovak anthem beginning in 1918, while the second verse (Slovak) was dropped after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 16 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Prague; Historic Telč; Historic Český Krumlov; Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape; Historic Kutná Hora; Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc; Karlovy Vary Spa  Topic: Economy Economic overview: Czechia is a prosperous market economy that boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates and lowest unemployment levels in the EU, but its dependence on exports makes economic growth vulnerable to contractions in external demand. Czechia’s exports comprise some 80% of GDP and largely consist of automobiles, the country’s single largest industry. Czechia acceded to the EU in 2004 but has yet to join the euro-zone. While the flexible koruna helps Czechia weather external shocks, it was one of the world’s strongest performing currencies in 2017, appreciating approximately 16% relative to the US dollar after the central bank (Czech National Bank - CNB) ended its cap on the currency’s value in early April 2017, which it had maintained since November 2013. The CNB hiked rates in August and November 2017 - the first rate changes in nine years - to address rising inflationary pressures brought by strong economic growth and a tight labor market.   Since coming to power in 2014, the new government has undertaken some reforms to try to reduce corruption, attract investment, and improve social welfare programs, which could help increase the government’s revenues and improve living conditions for Czechs. The government introduced in December 2016 an online tax reporting system intended to reduce tax evasion and increase revenues. The government also plans to remove labor market rigidities to improve the business climate, bring procurement procedures in line with EU best practices, and boost wages. The country's low unemployment rate has led to steady increases in salaries, and the government is facing pressure from businesses to allow greater migration of qualified workers, at least from Ukraine and neighboring Central European countries.   Long-term challenges include dealing with a rapidly aging population, a shortage of skilled workers, a lagging education system, funding an unsustainable pension and health care system, and diversifying away from manufacturing and toward a more high-tech, services-based, knowledge economy.Czechia is a prosperous market economy that boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates and lowest unemployment levels in the EU, but its dependence on exports makes economic growth vulnerable to contractions in external demand. Czechia’s exports comprise some 80% of GDP and largely consist of automobiles, the country’s single largest industry. Czechia acceded to the EU in 2004 but has yet to join the euro-zone. While the flexible koruna helps Czechia weather external shocks, it was one of the world’s strongest performing currencies in 2017, appreciating approximately 16% relative to the US dollar after the central bank (Czech National Bank - CNB) ended its cap on the currency’s value in early April 2017, which it had maintained since November 2013. The CNB hiked rates in August and November 2017 - the first rate changes in nine years - to address rising inflationary pressures brought by strong economic growth and a tight labor market. Since coming to power in 2014, the new government has undertaken some reforms to try to reduce corruption, attract investment, and improve social welfare programs, which could help increase the government’s revenues and improve living conditions for Czechs. The government introduced in December 2016 an online tax reporting system intended to reduce tax evasion and increase revenues. The government also plans to remove labor market rigidities to improve the business climate, bring procurement procedures in line with EU best practices, and boost wages. The country's low unemployment rate has led to steady increases in salaries, and the government is facing pressure from businesses to allow greater migration of qualified workers, at least from Ukraine and neighboring Central European countries. Long-term challenges include dealing with a rapidly aging population, a shortage of skilled workers, a lagging education system, funding an unsustainable pension and health care system, and diversifying away from manufacturing and toward a more high-tech, services-based, knowledge economy. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $409.97 billion (2020 est.) $434.31 billion (2019 est.) $424.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.27% (2019 est.) 3.18% (2018 est.) 5.35% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $38,300 (2020 est.) $40,700 (2019 est.) $39,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $250.631 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 2.1% (2018 est.) 2.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2018) Moody's rating: Aa3 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.) industry: 36.9% (2017 est.) services: 60.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 47.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 79.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, maize, pork, triticale, poultry Industries: motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.222 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 38% services: 59.2% (2015) Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2019 est.) 3.18% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8% male: 7.2% female: 9.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 10.1% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 24.9 (2017 est.) 25.1 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.7% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 87.37 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 83.92 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 34.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 40.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$678 million (2019 est.) $1.259 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $174.92 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $186.54 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $191.69 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 31%, Slovakia 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, seating (2019) Imports: $157.95 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $171.43 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $176.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 27%, China 12%, Poland 9%, Slovakia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, cars and vehicle parts, office machinery/parts, computers, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $148 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $85.73 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $191.871 billion (2019 est.) $200.197 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 21.76636 (2020 est.) 23.0629 (2019 est.) 22.71439 (2018 est.) 24.599 (2014 est.) 20.758 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 22.485 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 60.814 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 23.521 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 13.368 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.117 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 47% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 33.806 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 37.212 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1.885 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 3.795 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 2.927 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 6,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 219,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 150,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 177,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 52,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 83,860 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 189.185 million cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 8,815,133,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 7,590,318,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 3.964 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 99.533 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 57.268 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 25.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 16.739 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 161.972 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,335,224 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 12,999,812 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom market has attracted investment from among the key regional telcos, including Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, and Vodafone, as also investors such as PPF Group; O2 Czech Republic remains the dominant telco in all segments, though there is effective competition, particularly in the mobile sector; telcos in the Czech Republic have become multi-service providers, offering a full range of fixed and mobile services; O2 CR has struggled to improve revenue growth in recent years, and in response it has transitioned itself to face market challenges; among the changes was its reorganization into separate business divisions and the spinning off of CETIN as a separate unit to manage the fixed and mobile networks while also operating as a national wholesale network provider; CETIN’s owner, PPF Group, in early 2021 considered an IPO for CETIN; the mobile sector is concentrated among the three MNOs, despite the regulator having made efforts to facilitate the entry of a new market player by providing spectrum at the multi-band auction held in November 2020; the auction has enabled the licensees to expand the reach of their 5G networks; this process has also been assisted by them closing down 3G networks and refarming spectrum for 5G and LTE use. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 22 TV stations operate nationally, with 17 of them in private hands; publicly operated Czech Television has 5 national channels; throughout the country, there are some 350 TV channels in operation, many through cable, satellite, and IPTV subscription services; 63 radio broadcasters are registered, operating over 80 radio stations, including 7 multiregional radio stations or networks; publicly operated broadcaster Czech Radio operates 4 national, 14 regional, and 4 Internet stations; both Czech Radio and Czech Television are partially financed through a license fee (2019) Internet country code: .cz Internet users: total: 8,665,265 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3,845,426 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,727,200 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 25.23 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OK Airports: total: 128 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 61 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 7,160 km gas, 675 km oil, 94 km refined products (2016) Railways: total: 9,408 km (2017) standard gauge: 9,385 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (3,218 km electrified) narrow gauge: 23 km (2017) 0.760-m gauge Roadways: total: 55,744 km (2019) (includes urban and category I, II, III roads) paved: 55,744 km (2019) (includes 1,252 km of expressways) Waterways: 664 km (2010) (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Prague (Vltava) Decin, Usti nad Labem (Elbe) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Czech Armed Forces: Land Forces; Air Forces; Cyber Forces; Special Forces (2022) Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020) 1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $4.05 billion) 1.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $3.8 billion) 1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.4 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 26,000 active personnel (20,000 Army; 6,000 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Czech military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern equipment, mostly of Western European origin; since 2010, the leading suppliers of military equipment to Czechia are Austria and Spain (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-28 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 Military deployments: up to 130 Lithuania (NATO); 130 Slovakia (NATO) (2022) note: 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: Czechia 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 409,008 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 2022) stateless persons: 1,498 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: manufacture of methamphetamine continues to be mostly based on pseudoephedrine from  Poland or Turkey.  manufacture of methamphetamine continues to be mostly based on pseudoephedrine from  Poland or Turkey. 

20220901

field-military-and-security-service-personnel-strengths

This entry provides estimates of military and security services personnel strengths. The numbers are based on a wide-range of publicly available information. Unless otherwise noted, military estimates focus on the major services (army, navy, air force, and where applicable, gendarmeries) and do not account for activated reservists or delineate military service members assigned to joint staffs or defense ministries.This entry provides estimates of military and security services personnel strengths. The numbers are based on a wide-range of publicly available information. Unless otherwise noted, military estimates focus on the major services (army, navy, air force, and where applicable, gendarmeries) and do not account for activated reservists or delineate military service members assigned to joint staffs or defense ministries. Topic: Afghanistanin May 2022, the de facto Ministry of Defense announced that approximately 130,000 troops had been recruited for a new "National Army" (2022) note: as of 2022, there were also up to 10,000 foreign fighters in Afghanistan, most of whom were aligned with the Taliban Topic: Albaniaapproximately 7,000 total active duty personnel (5,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Algeriaapproximately 140,000 ANP personnel (120,000 Army; 6,000 Navy; 14,000 Air Force); approximately 130,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 200,000 General Directorate of National Security (2022) Topic: Angolaapproximately 101,000 active troops (95,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force); est. 10,000 Rapid Reaction Police (2021) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaapproximately 200 active military personnel (2022) Topic: Argentinaapproximately 82,000 active duty personnel (50,000 Army; 18,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines); 14,000 Air Force); estimated 20,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Topic: Armeniaapproximately 45,000 active troops (42,000 ground; 3,000 air/defense) (2021) Topic: Australiathe Australian Defense Force has approximately 60,000 total active troops (30,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Austriaapproximately 25,000 total active duty personnel (20,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Azerbaijaninformation varies; approximately 65,000 total active troops (55,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force); approximately 15,000 Ministry of Internal Affairs troops (2021) Topic: Bahamas, Theapproximately 1,500 total personnel (2022) Topic: Bahraininformation varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); est. 3,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Bangladeshinformation varies; approximately 165,000 total active personnel (135,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Barbadosapproximately 600 active personnel (2022) Topic: Belarusapproximately 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) Topic: Belgiumthe Belgian Armed Forces have approximately 25,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Land Component; 1,500 Marine Component; 5,000 Air Force Component; 1,500 Medical Service; 7,000 other, including joint staff, support, and training schools) (2022) Topic: Belizeapproximately 1,300 BDF personnel; approximately 300 Belize Coast Guard (2022) Topic: Beninthe Benin Armed Forces (FAB) are comprised of approximately 7,000 active duty troops; est. 5,000 Republican Police (2021) Topic: Bermudathe Royal Bermuda Regiment has about 350 troops (2021) Topic: Bhutanthe Royal Bhutan Army has an estimated 8,000 personnel (2022) Topic: Boliviainformation varies widely; approximately 40,000 active troops (28,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 7,000 Air Force); note - a considerable portion of the Navy personnel are marines and naval police; approximately 40,000 National Police (2022) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaapproximately 9,000 active duty personnel (2022) Topic: Botswanathe Botswana Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 9,000 active personnel (2021) Topic: Brazilapproximately 360,000 active military personnel (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Bruneiapproximately 6,000 total active troops (4,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Bulgariaapproximately 28,000 active duty personnel (17,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 7,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Burkina Fasoapproximately 12,000 personnel (7,000 Army; 500 Air Force; 4,500 National Gendarmerie) (2021) Topic: Burmaestimates vary widely, from approximately 300,000 to as many as 400,000 active duty personnel (2022) Topic: Burundiapproximately 25,000 active duty troops, the majority of which are ground forces (2021) Topic: Cabo Verdeapproximately 1,200 personnel including about 100 in the Coast Guard (2022) Topic: Cambodiainformation varies; approximately 110,000 total active troops including about 3,000 Navy and 1,000 Air Force; est. 10,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Topic: Camerooninformation varies widely; approximately 40,000 active duty troops; (25,000 ground forces, including the BIR and Presidential Guard; 2,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 12,000 Gendarmerie) (2021) Topic: Canadaapproximately 70,000 total active personnel (23,000 Army; 12,000 Navy; 12,000 Air Force; 23,000 other) (2022) note: the Army also has approximately 19,000 part-time volunteer soldiers in the Reserve Force, including about 5,500 Rangers Topic: Central African Republicinformation varies; approximately 8,000 FACA troops; up to 2,000 Gendarmerie; approximately 2,000 Mixed Special Security Units (2021) Topic: Chadlimited and varied information; approximately 30,000 active personnel (20-25,000 Ground Forces; 300 Air Force; 5-10,000 General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions); approximately 5,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 3,000 National Nomadic Guard of Chad (2021) Topic: Chileapproximately 70,000 active armed forces personnel (40,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 Carabineros (2022) Topic: Chinaapproximately 2 million 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) Topic: Colombiaapproximately 260,000 total active troops (200,000 Army; 45,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 14,000 Air Force); approximately 170,000 National Police (2022) Topic: ComorosComoran Defense Force has an estimated 600 personnel; est. 500 Comoran Federal Police (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thelimited and widely varied information; approximately 100,000 active troops (mostly Army, but includes several thousand Navy and Air Force personnel, as well as about 10,000 Republican Guard; note -  Navy personnel includes naval infantry) (2021) Topic: Congo, Republic of thethe Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) have approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2021) Topic: Costa Rica12,500 Public Force personnel; approximately 500-600 Air, 500-600 Coast Guard, and 300-400 Border Police personnel (2022) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireapproximately 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 (2022) Topic: Croatiaapproximately 15,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air force; 2,000 joint/other) (2022) Topic: Cubalimited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (approximately 40,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Cyprusapproximately 13,000 total active duty personnel (2022) Topic: Czechiaapproximately 26,000 active personnel (20,000 Army; 6,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Denmarkapproximately 17,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 3,500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Djiboutithe Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) have approximately 10,500 active troops (8,000 Army; 250 Naval; 250 Air; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2021) Topic: Dominican Republicinformation varies; approximately 60,000 active personnel (30,000 Army; 13,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force); approximately 30,000 National Police (2022) Topic: Ecuadorapproximately 40,000 active military personnel (25,000 Army; 9,000 Navy; 6,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Egyptinformation varies; approximately 450,000 total active personnel (325,000 Army; 18,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force; 75,000 Air Defense Command); approximately 300,000 Central Security Forces (2022) Topic: El Salvadorapproximately 21,000 active military personnel (17,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2022) note: in 2021, El Salvador announced intentions to double the size of the military, although no time frame was given Topic: Equatorial Guineaapproximately 2,000 active duty troops; approximately 400 Gendarmerie (2021) Topic: Eritrealimited available information; estimated 150,000-200,000 personnel, including about 2,000 in the naval and air forces (2021) Topic: Estoniaapproximately 7,000 active duty personnel; approximately 15,000 Defense League (2022) Topic: Eswatiniapproximately 3,000 active personnel (2021) Topic: Ethiopiainformation varies; prior to the 2020-21 Tigray conflict, approximately 150,000 active duty troops, including about 3,000 Air Force personnel (no personnel numbers available for the newly-established Navy) (2021) Topic: Fijiapproximately 4,000 active personnel (2022) Topic: Finlandapproximately 22,000 total active duty personnel (15,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Franceapproximately 205,000 active duty troops (115,000 Army; 35,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force; 15,000 other, such as joint staffs, administration, logistics, procurement, medical service, etc.); approximately 100,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 75,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Gabonapproximately 6,500 active duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2021) Topic: Gambia, Theinformation varies; approximately 2,000 total active troops (2021) Topic: Gaza Stripthe military wing of HAMAS has an estimated 20-25,000 fighters (2021) Topic: Georgiainformation varies; approximately 30,000 troops, including active National Guard forces (2021) Topic: Germanyapproximately 184,000 active duty personnel (63,000 Army; 16,000 Navy; 27,000 Air Force; 27,000 Joint Support Service; 20,000 Medical Service, 16,000 Cyber and Information Space Command; 15,000 other, including central staff, support, etc.) (2022) note: Germany in 2020 announced it planned to increase the size of the military to about 200,000 troops by 2025 Topic: Ghanaapproximately 14,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Greeceapproximately 125,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force); approximately 35,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Guatemalainformation varies; approximately 20,000 active military personnel (18,000 Land Forces; 1,000 Naval Forces; 1,000 Air Forces); approximately 30,000 National Civil Police (2022) Topic: GuineaGuinean National Armed Forces are comprised of approximately 12,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 400 Navy; 800 Air Force; 300 BASP; 1,500 Gendarmerie) (2022) Topic: Guinea-Bissauapproximately 4,000 total active troops, including a few hundred air and naval personnel (2022) Topic: Guyanaapproximately 4,000 active military personnel (2022) Topic: Haitiapproximately 1,200 FAdH troops (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel); approximately 16,000 National Police (2022) Topic: Hondurasapproximately 16,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,500 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 2,000 Air Force; 5,000 Military Police of Public Order); approximately 18,000 National Police (2022) Topic: Hungaryapproximately 21,000 active duty troops (16,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2022) note: in 2017, Hungary announced plans to increase the number of active soldiers to around 37,000, but did not give a timeline Topic: Icelandthe Icelandic Coast Guard has approximately 250 personnel (2022) Topic: Indiainformation varies; approximately 1.45 million active personnel (est. 1.25 million Army; 65,000 Navy; 140,000 Air Force; 12,000 Coast Guard) (2022) Topic: Indonesiaapproximately, 400,000 active duty troops (300,000 Army; 60,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 30,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Iraninformation varies; approximately 550-600,000 total active personnel; approximately 400,000 Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (350,000 Ground Forces; 18,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force/Air Defense Forces); approximately 150-190,000 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (100-150,000 Ground Forces; 20,000 Navy; 15,000 Aerospace Force; 5-15,000 Qods Force); est. 90,000 active Basij Paramilitary Forces (2021) Topic: Iraqinformation varies; approximately 200,000 personnel under the Ministry of Defense (190,000 Army/Aviation Command/Special Forces; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air/Air Defense Forces); approximately 25,000 National-Level Security Forces (10,000 Iraqi Counterterrorism Service; 10,000 Presidential Brigades; 5,000 Prime Minister’s Special Forces Division); Ministry of Peshmerga: approximately 150,000-plus (45-50,000 Regional Guard Brigades; 40-45,000 Unit 70 Forces; 65-70,000 Unit 80 Forces); estimated 100-160,000 Popular Mobilization Forces (2022) Topic: Irelandapproximately 8,500 active duty personnel (6,800 Army; 900 Naval Service; 800 Air Corps) (2022) Topic: Israelapproximately 173,000 active personnel (130,000 Ground Forces; 9,000 Naval; 34,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Italyapproximately 170,000 active personnel (100,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force); approximately 108,000 Carabinieri (2022) Topic: Jamaicaapproximately 4,000 total active personnel (2022) Topic: Japanapproximately 244,000 active personnel (150,000 Ground; 45,000 Maritime; 45,000 Air; 4,000 Joint Forces); 14,000 Coast Guard (2022) Topic: Jordanapproximately 90,000 active JAF personnel (77,000 Army; 500 Navy; 12,500 Air Force); approximately 15,000 Gendarmerie Forces (2022) Topic: Kazakhstaninformation varies; approximately 40,000 active duty personnel (25,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Naval Forces; 12,000 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2022) Topic: Kenyaapproximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Korea, Northinformation varies widely; estimated 1.15 million active troops (950,000 Army; 120,000 Air Force; 60,000 Navy; 10,000 Strategic Missile Forces); estimated 200,000 internal security forces (2022) Topic: Korea, Southapproximately 555,000 active duty personnel (420,000 Army; 70,000 Navy, including about 30,000 Marines; 65,000 Air Force) (2022) note: South Korea intended to reduce the size of its military to about 522,000 by 2022 Topic: Kosovothe Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has approximately 3,500 personnel; note - Kosovo plans for the KSF to eventually number around 5,000 troops (2021) Topic: Kuwaitthe Kuwaiti Armed Forces have approximately 17,000 active personnel (12,500 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force); approximately 6,500 National Guard; note – Army figures include the Kuwait Amiri Guard Authority (estimated 500 personnel) and the 25th Commando Brigade (strength not available) (2022) Topic: Kyrgyzstanapproximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,500 Land Forces; 2,500 Air Force/Air Defense; 1,000 National Guard) (2022) Topic: Laosinformation is limited and estimates vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Latviaapproximately 7,500 active duty troops (6,500 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force; note - some Land Forces are considered joint forces); 8,200 National Guard (2022) Topic: Lebanonapproximately 80,000 active troops (77,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Lesothoapproximately 2,000 personnel (2021) Topic: Liberiaapproximately 2,000 personnel (2021) Topic: Libyaestimates not available Topic: Lithuaniaapproximately 17,000 active duty personnel (13,500 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces; 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc); estimated 11,000 Riflemen Union (2022) Topic: Luxembourgapproximately 900 active personnel (2022) Topic: Madagascarapproximately 13,000 personnel (12,000 Army; 500 Navy; 500 Air Force); est. 10,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Topic: Malawiinformation varies; approximately 8,000 total personnel (including about 200 air and 200 marine forces) (2021) Topic: Malaysiaapproximately 115,000 active duty troops (80,000 Army; 18,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Maldivesapproximately 2,500 personnel (2022) Topic: Maliinformation varies; approximately 20,000 active FAMa personnel (includes up to 2,000 Air Force); estimated 5,000 Gendarmerie; estimated 10,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Maltaapproximately 2,000 active duty personnel (2021) Topic: Mauritaniaapproximately 16,000 active personnel (15,000 Army; 700 Navy; 300 Air Force); est. 3,000 Gendarmerie; est. 2,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Mauritiusapproximately 1,700 Special Mobile Force; approximately 800 National Coast Guard (2022) Topic: Mexicoinformation 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 personnel (2022) Topic: Moldovaapproximately 6,000 active troops (2021) Topic: Mongoliaestimates vary; approximately 9,000 active duty troops (2022) Topic: Montenegroapproximately 2,000 active duty troops (2022) Topic: Moroccoapproximately 200,000 active personnel (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force); est. 20,000 Gendarmerie; est. 5,000 Mobile Intervention Corps (2021) Topic: Mozambiqueinformation limited and varied; approximately 12,000 personnel (11,000 Army and about 1,000 Air Force and Navy) (2021) Topic: Namibiainformation varies; approximately 12,500 personnel (11,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2021) Topic: Nepalapproximately 95,000 active troops (including a small air wing of about 500 personnel) (2022) Topic: Netherlandsapproximately 40,000 active duty personnel (20,000 Army; 7,500 Navy; 6,500 Air Force; 6,000 Constabulary) (2022) note: the Navy includes about 2,300 marines Topic: New Zealandthe New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has about 9,500 active duty troops (4,700 Army; 2,300 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Nicaraguaapproximately 12,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,200 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Nigerinformation varies; approximately 12,000 active troops (est. 8,000 Army; 200 Air Force; 4,000 Gendarmerie); est. 3,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Nigeriainformation varies; approximately 135,000 active personnel (100,000 Army; 20,000 Navy/Coast Guard; 15,000 Air Force); est. 80,000 Security and Civil Defense Corps (2022) Topic: North Macedoniaapproximately 6,000 active duty personnel (2022) Topic: Norwayapproximately 23,000 active personnel (8,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 4,000 Air Force; 7,000 other, including special operations, cyber, joint staff, intelligence, logistics support, active Home Guard, etc.); approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2022) Topic: Omanapproximately 40,000 total active troops (25,000 Army, 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 5,000 Royal Guard) (2022) Topic: Pakistaninformation varies; approximately 630,000 active personnel (550,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 50,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers (2022) Topic: Panamaapproximately 20,000 National Police; 4,000 National Border Service; 3,000 National Air-Naval Service (2022) Topic: Papua New Guineaapproximately 3,000 active duty troops (2022) Topic: Paraguayapproximately 15,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Peruinformation varies; approximately 95,000 active personnel (60,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 4,000 naval infantry and 1,000 Coast Guard; 10,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Philippinesapproximately 130,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Polandapproximately 120,000 active duty personnel (65,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force; 3,000 Special Forces; 25,000 joint service/other; 5,000 Territorial Defense Forces); approximately 25,000 other Territorial Defense Forces (reserves) (2022) note: in June 2019, the Polish Government approved a plan to increase the size of the military over a period of 10 years to over 200,000 troops, including doubling the size of the Territorial Defense Forces; in 2021, it announced additional plans to increase the size of military to over 300,000 personnel Topic: Portugalthe Portuguese Armed Forces have approximately 27,000 active duty personnel (14,000 Army; 7,000 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 6,000 Air Force); 24,500 National Republican Guard (military personnel) (2022) Topic: Qatarinformation varies; approximately 15,000 active personnel (10,000 Land Force, including Emiri Guard; 3,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Romaniaapproximately 75,000 active duty personnel (58,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 10,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Russiainformation varies; approximately 850,000 total active duty troops (300,000 Ground Troops; 40,000 Airborne Troops; 150,000 Navy; 160,000 Aerospace Forces; 70,000 Strategic Rocket Forces; approximately 20,000 special operations forces; approximately 100,000 other uniformed personnel (command and control, cyber, support, logistics, security, etc.); estimated 200-250,000 Federal National Guard Troops (2021) Topic: Rwandathe Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) has approximately 33,000 active personnel (32,000 Army; 1,000 Air Force) (2021) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisthe SKNDF has approximately 400 personnel (2021) Topic: Sao Tome and Principethe FASTP has approximately 400-500 personnel (2021) Topic: Saudi Arabiathe 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 Topic: Senegalapproximately 19,000 active personnel (12,000 Army; 1,000 Navy/Coast Guard; 1,000 Air Force; 5,000 National Gendarmerie) (2022) Topic: Serbiainformation varies; approximately 25,000 active duty troops (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other); approximately 3,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Topic: Seychellesapproximately 500 personnel (2022) Topic: Sierra Leoneapproximately 9,000 personnel, mostly ground forces (2022) Topic: Singaporeinformation varies; approximately 60,000 active duty troops (45,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Slovakiaapproximately 14,000 active duty personnel (8,000 Land Forces; 4,000 Air Forces; 2,000 other, including staff, special operations, and support forces) (2022) Topic: Sloveniaapproximately 6,000 active duty troops (2022) Topic: Somaliaestimates vary widely, from a low of about 10,000 to a high of some 25,000 due to inconsistent internal reporting and the ongoing attempts to integrate various militias (2021) note 1: in 2017, the Somali Government announced a plan for the SNA to eventually number about 18,000 troops; the same plan called for 32,000 federal and regional police note 2: estimates for the number of militia forces operating in the country run as high as 50,000 Topic: South Africathe 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) Topic: South Sudanestimated 150-200,000 active personnel, mostly ground forces with small contingents of air and riverine forces (2022) note: some active SSPDF personnel may be militia; the National Unified Forces will have about 80,000 troops from the SSPDF and armed opposition groups when it is formed Topic: Spainapproximately 120,000 active duty troops (75,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 5,000 marines; 20,000 Air Force); 80,000 Guardia Civil (2022) Topic: Sri Lankaapproximately 240,000 total personnel (170,000 Army; 40,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force); approximately 11,000 Special Task Force personnel (2022) Topic: Sudaninformation varies widely; estimated 100-125,000 SAF troops; approximately 30-40,000 Rapid Support Forces (2022) Topic: Surinameapproximately 2,000 total personnel (2022) Topic: Swedenapproximately 15,000 continuous service/full-time troops (7,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including staff, logistics, support, medical, cyber, intelligence, etc); approximately 21,000 Home Guard; approximately 12,000 temporary service personnel (2022) note: Swedish Armed Forces' (SAF) personnel are divided into continuously serving (full-time) and temporary service troops (part-timers who serve periodically and have another main employer or attend school); additional personnel have signed service agreements with the SAF and mostly serve in the Home Guard; the SAF also has about 9,000 civilian employees Topic: Switzerlandthe Swiss Armed Forces maintain a full-time professional cadre of about 4,000 personnel along with approximately 18-20,000 conscripts brought in annually for 18-23 weeks of training; approximately 120,000 reserve forces (2021) Topic: Syriacurrent estimates not available; since the start of the civil war in 2011, the Syrian Armed Forces (SAF) have taken significant losses in personnel due to casualties and desertions; prior to the civil war, the SAF had approximately 300,000 active duty troops, including 200-225,000 Army, plus about 300,000 reserve forces (2022) note: pro-government and pro-Iranian militias probably number in the tens of thousands Topic: Taiwanapproximately 170,000 active duty troops (90,000 Army; 40,000 Navy, including approximately 10,000 marines; 40,000 Air Force) (2022) note: Taiwan trains about 120,000 reservists annually, but in 2022 announced intentions to increase that figure to 260,000 Topic: Tajikistanapproximately 9,500 active troops (8,000 Land and Mobile Forces; 1,500 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2022) Topic: Tanzaniaapproximately 25,000 active personnel (21,000 Land Forces; 1,000 Naval Forces; 3,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Thailandestimates vary widely; approximately 300,000 active duty personnel (200,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force); estimated 20,000 Thai Rangers; estimated 5,000 Internal Security Operations Command personnel (2022) Topic: Timor-Lesteapproximately 2,000 personnel (2022) Topic: Togoapproximately 10-11,000 personnel (7,000 Army; 500 Air and Navy; 3,000 Gendarmerie) (2022) note: in January 2022, the Togolese Government announced its intent to boost the size of the FAT to more than 20,000 by 2025 Topic: Tongaapproximately 650 personnel (2022) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoapproximately 4,500 TTDF personnel (2022) Topic: Tunisiaapproximately 35,000 active personnel (25,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force); est. 10,000 National Guard (2022) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)approximately 445,000 active duty personnel (350,000 Army; 45,000 Navy; 50,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Topic: Turkmenistaninformation varies; estimated 30,000 active troops (est. 25,000 National Army; 1,000 Navy; 4,000 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2022) Topic: Ugandainformation varies; approximately 45-50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel; approximately 20-30,000 personnel in the Local Defense Units (2022) Topic: Ukraineprior to the Russian invasion, 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 (Feb 2022) Topic: United Arab Emiratesapproximately 65,000 total active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2022) Topic: United Kingdomapproximately 153,000 regular forces (81,000 Army; 34,000 Navy, including about 7,000 Royal Marines; 38,000 Air Force) (2022) note: the military also has approximately 40-45,000 reserves and other personnel on active duty Topic: United Statesthe US Armed Forces have approximately 1.39 million active duty personnel (475,000 Army; 345,000 Navy; 335,000 Air Force (includes about 8,000 Space Force); 180,000 Marine Corps; 40,000 Coast Guard); 335,000 Army National Guard; 105,000 Air National Guard (2022) Topic: Uruguayapproximately 22,000 active personnel (14,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2022) Topic: Uzbekistaninformation varies; approximately 60,000 total active troops, including 10-15,000 Air Force (2022) Topic: Venezuelainformation varies; approximately 125-150,000 active personnel, including about 25-30,000 National Guard; approximately 200-225,000 Bolivarian Militia (2022) Topic: Vietnaminformation is limited and estimates vary; approximately 470,000 active duty troops (400,000 ground; 40,000 naval; 30,000 air); estimated 40,000 Border Defense Force and Coast Guard (2022) Topic: West Bankthe Palestinian Authority Security Forces have approximately 30,000 active personnel (2022) Topic: Worldestimated 20 million active duty military (2021) Topic: Yemeninformation limited and widely varied; ROYG: up to 300,000 estimated military, paramilitary, and militia forces; UAE- and Saudi-backed forces: estimated 150-200,000 trained fighters; Huthis: up to 200,000 estimated fighters (2021) Topic: Zambiathe Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has approximately 17,000 active troops (15,000 Army; 2,000 Air) (2022) Topic: Zimbabweinformation varies; approximately 30,000 active duty troops, including about 4,000 Air Force personnel (2022)

20220901

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Topic: Photos of World Topic: Introduction Background: Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about environmental degradation including deforestation, energy and water shortages, declining biological diversity, and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820 to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, and 7 billion in 2012. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine and agriculture) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Geographic overview: The surface of the Earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large bodies termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Because of their immense size, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are generally divided at the equator into the North and South Pacific Oceans and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, thus creating seven major water bodies - the so-called "Seven Seas." Some 97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. Of the 2.5% that is fresh, about two-thirds is frozen mostly locked up in the Antarctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers worldwide. If all the surface ice on earth fully melted, the sea level would rise about 70 m (230 ft). In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere. Groundwater can take 50 years to just traverse 1 km (0.6 mi). Earth's land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents. Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if the Eurasia designation is used). North America is commonly understood to include the island of Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Portions of five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey - fall within both Europe and Asia, but in every instance the larger section is in Asia. These countries are considered part of both continents. Armenia and Cyprus, which lie completely in Western Asia, are geopolitically European countries. Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass" termed Oceania or Australasia. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa. Although the above groupings are the most common, different continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural spheres rather than physical geographic considerations. Based on the seven-continent model, and grouping islands with adjacent continents, Africa has the most countries with 54. Europe contains 49 countries and Asia 48, but these two continents share five countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. North America consists of 23 sovereign states, Oceania has 14, and South America 12. countries by continent: Africa (54): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Europe (49): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia*, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan*, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, Ukraine, United Kingdom (* indicates part of the country is also in Asia); Asia (48): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia*, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia*, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey*, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen (* indicates part of the country is also in Europe); North America (23): Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States; Oceania (14): Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; South America (12): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela Three of the states described above – France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – consist of smaller political entities that are referred to as countries. France considers French Polynesia an overseas country; the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to all four of its constituent parts (Netherlands [proper], and the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten) as countries; and the United Kingdom comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. While not recognized as sovereign states, The World Factbook does includes descriptive entries for the French and Dutch island "countries." the world from space: Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to have water in its three states of matter: liquid (oceans, lakes, and rivers), solid (ice), and gas (water vapor in clouds); from a distance, Earth would be the brightest of the eight planets in the Solar System; this luminous effect would be because of the sunlight reflected by the planet's water Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System known to be active with earthquakes and volcanoes; these events form the landscape, replenish carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and erase impact craters caused by meteors Earth has a slight equatorial bulge - a difference between its equatorial and polar diameters - because of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the planet about its axis. The equatorial diameter is 12,756 km, but the polar diameter is 12,714 km. This results in the Earth's circumference at the equator being 40,075 km, while the polar circumference is 40,008 km.The surface of the Earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large bodies termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Because of their immense size, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are generally divided at the equator into the North and South Pacific Oceans and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, thus creating seven major water bodies - the so-called "Seven Seas."Some 97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. Of the 2.5% that is fresh, about two-thirds is frozen mostly locked up in the Antarctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers worldwide. If all the surface ice on earth fully melted, the sea level would rise about 70 m (230 ft). In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere. Groundwater can take 50 years to just traverse 1 km (0.6 mi).Earth's land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents. Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if the Eurasia designation is used).North America is commonly understood to include the island of Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Portions of five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey - fall within both Europe and Asia, but in every instance the larger section is in Asia. These countries are considered part of both continents. Armenia and Cyprus, which lie completely in Western Asia, are geopolitically European countries.Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass" termed Oceania or Australasia. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa.Although the above groupings are the most common, different continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural spheres rather than physical geographic considerations.Based on the seven-continent model, and grouping islands with adjacent continents, Africa has the most countries with 54. Europe contains 49 countries and Asia 48, but these two continents share five countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. North America consists of 23 sovereign states, Oceania has 14, and South America 12.countries by continent: Africa (54): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe;Europe (49): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia*, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan*, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, Ukraine, United Kingdom (* indicates part of the country is also in Asia);Asia (48): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia*, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia*, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey*, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen (* indicates part of the country is also in Europe);North America (23): Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States;Oceania (14): Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu;South America (12): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela Three of the states described above – France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – consist of smaller political entities that are referred to as countries. France considers French Polynesia an overseas country; the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to all four of its constituent parts (Netherlands [proper], and the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten) as countries; and the United Kingdom comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. While not recognized as sovereign states, The World Factbook does includes descriptive entries for the French and Dutch island "countries." the world from space: Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to have water in its three states of matter: liquid (oceans, lakes, and rivers), solid (ice), and gas (water vapor in clouds); from a distance, Earth would be the brightest of the eight planets in the Solar System; this luminous effect would be because of the sunlight reflected by the planet's water Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System known to be active with earthquakes and volcanoes; these events form the landscape, replenish carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and erase impact craters caused by meteors Earth has a slight equatorial bulge - a difference between its equatorial and polar diameters - because of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the planet about its axis. The equatorial diameter is 12,756 km, but the polar diameter is 12,714 km. This results in the Earth's circumference at the equator being 40,075 km, while the polar circumference is 40,008 km. Map references: Physical Map of the World Area: total: 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 Area - comparative: land area about 16 times the size of the USland area about 16 times the size of the US Area - rankings: top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km top ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2,834,000 sq km; Bering Sea 2,520,000 sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2,469,000 sq km top ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30,065,000 sq km; North America 24,473,000 sq km; South America 17,819,000 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Europe 9,948,000 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq km top ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km top ten longest mountain ranges (land-based): Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) 7,000 km; Rocky Mountains (Canada, US) 4,830 km; Great Dividing Range (Australia) 3,700 km; Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica) 3,500 km; Kunlun Mountains (China) 3,000 km; Ural Mountains (Russia, Kazakhstan) 2,640 km; Atlas Mountains (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) 2,500 km; Appalachian Mountains (Canada, US) 2,400 km; Himalayas (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan) 2,300 km; Altai Mountains (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia) 2,000 km; note - lengths are approximate; if oceans are included, the Mid-Ocean Ridge is by far the longest mountain range at 40,389 km top ten largest forested countries (sq km and percent of land): Russia 8,149,310 (49.8%); Brazil 4,935,380 (58.9%); Canada 3,470,690 (38.2%); United States 3,103,700 (33.9%); China 2,098,640 (22.3%); Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,522,670 (67.2%); Australia 1,250,590 (16.3%); Indonesia 903,250 (49.9%); Peru 738,054 (57.7%); India 708,600 (23.8%) (2016 est.) top ten most densely forested countries (percent of land): Suriname (98.3%), Federated States of Micronesia (91.9%), Gabon (90%), Seychelles (88.4%), Palau (87.6%), Guyana (83.9%), Laos (82.1%), Solomon Islands (77.9%), Papua New Guinea (74.1%), Finland (73.1%) (2016 est.) top ten largest (non-polar) deserts: Sahara (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia) 9,200,000 sq km; Arabian (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) 2,330,000 sq km; Gobi (China, Mongolia) 1,295,000 sq km; Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) 900,000 sq km; Patagonian (Argentina) 673,000 sq km; Syrian (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) 500,000 sq km; Chihuahuan (Mexico) 362,000 sq km; Kara-Kum (Turkmenistan) 350,000 sq km; Great Victoria (Australia) 348,750 sq km; Great Basin (United States) 343,169 sq km; note - if the two polar deserts are included, they would rank first and second: Antarctic Desert 14,200,000 sq km and Arctic Desert 13,900,000 sq km ten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km; Maldives 298 sq km; Malta 316 sq kmtop fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq kmtop ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2,834,000 sq km; Bering Sea 2,520,000 sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2,469,000 sq kmtop ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30,065,000 sq km; North America 24,473,000 sq km; South America 17,819,000 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Europe 9,948,000 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq kmtop ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq kmtop ten longest mountain ranges (land-based): Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) 7,000 km; Rocky Mountains (Canada, US) 4,830 km; Great Dividing Range (Australia) 3,700 km; Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica) 3,500 km; Kunlun Mountains (China) 3,000 km; Ural Mountains (Russia, Kazakhstan) 2,640 km; Atlas Mountains (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) 2,500 km; Appalachian Mountains (Canada, US) 2,400 km; Himalayas (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan) 2,300 km; Altai Mountains (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia) 2,000 km; note - lengths are approximate; if oceans are included, the Mid-Ocean Ridge is by far the longest mountain range at 40,389 kmtop ten largest forested countries (sq km and percent of land): Russia 8,149,310 (49.8%); Brazil 4,935,380 (58.9%); Canada 3,470,690 (38.2%); United States 3,103,700 (33.9%); China 2,098,640 (22.3%); Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,522,670 (67.2%); Australia 1,250,590 (16.3%); Indonesia 903,250 (49.9%); Peru 738,054 (57.7%); India 708,600 (23.8%) (2016 est.)top ten most densely forested countries (percent of land): Suriname (98.3%), Federated States of Micronesia (91.9%), Gabon (90%), Seychelles (88.4%), Palau (87.6%), Guyana (83.9%), Laos (82.1%), Solomon Islands (77.9%), Papua New Guinea (74.1%), Finland (73.1%) (2016 est.)top ten largest (non-polar) deserts: Sahara (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia) 9,200,000 sq km; Arabian (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) 2,330,000 sq km; Gobi (China, Mongolia) 1,295,000 sq km; Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) 900,000 sq km; Patagonian (Argentina) 673,000 sq km; Syrian (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) 500,000 sq km; Chihuahuan (Mexico) 362,000 sq km; Kara-Kum (Turkmenistan) 350,000 sq km; Great Victoria (Australia) 348,750 sq km; Great Basin (United States) 343,169 sq km; note - if the two polar deserts are included, they would rank first and second: Antarctic Desert 14,200,000 sq km and Arctic Desert 13,900,000 sq kmten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km; Maldives 298 sq km; Malta 316 sq km Land boundaries: the land boundaries in The World Factbook total 279,035.5 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries note 1: the total is actually misleading in terms of accuracy, since one cannot accurately measure every river meander along a boundary; a number rounded slightly higher - to 280,000 km - makes more sense and has been coordinated with and approved by the US State Department note 2: 46 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked note 3: worldwide, some one-quarter of interior (non-coastal) borders are rivers; South America with 43% leads the continents, followed by North America with 32%, Africa with 30%, Europe with 23%, and Asia with 18%; Australia has no interior national river bordersthe land boundaries in The World Factbook total 279,035.5 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries note 1: the total is actually misleading in terms of accuracy, since one cannot accurately measure every river meander along a boundary; a number rounded slightly higher - to 280,000 km - makes more sense and has been coordinated with and approved by the US State Departmentnote 2: 46 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked note 3: worldwide, some one-quarter of interior (non-coastal) borders are rivers; South America with 43% leads the continents, followed by North America with 32%, Africa with 30%, Europe with 23%, and Asia with 18%; Australia has no interior national river borders Coastline: 356,000 km note: 95 nations and other entities are islands that border no other countries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Baker Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cabo Verde, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island, Jersey, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, Navassa Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, Taiwan, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna Maritime claims: a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nma variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates, bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates Ten Driest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in) Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in) Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in) Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in) Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in) Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in) El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in) Ten Wettest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in) Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in) Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in) Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in) San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in) Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in) Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in) Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in) Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in) Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in) Ten Coldest Places on Earth (Lowest Average Monthly Temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February Ten Hottest Places on Earth (Highest Average Monthly Temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June Terrain: tremendous variation of terrain on each of the continents; check the World "Elevation" entry for a compilation of terrain extremes; the world's ocean floors are marked by mid-ocean ridges while the ocean surfaces form a dynamic, continuously changing environment; check the "Terrain" field and its 'major surface currents' and 'ocean zones' subfields under each of the five ocean entries (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern) for further information on oceanic environs Ten Cave Superlatives: compiled from "Geography - note(s)" under various country entries where more details may be found largest cave: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave (but not yet officially); when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume largest ice cave: the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, Austria is the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) longest cave: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 mi) of surveyed passageways longest salt cave: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom in Israel is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase longest underwater cave: the Sac Actun cave system in Mexico at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide longest lava tube cave: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep deepest cave: Veryovkina Cave in the Caucasus country of Georgia is the world's deepest cave, plunging down 2,212 m (7,257 ft) deepest underwater cave: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep largest cave chamber: the Miao Room in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume largest bat cave: Bracken Cave outside of San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave; it is the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals Elevation: highest point: Mount Everest 8,849 m lowest point: Denman Glacier (Antarctica) more than -3,500 m (in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean) mean elevation: 840 m top ten highest mountains (measured from sea level): Mount Everest (China-Nepal) 8,849 m; K2 (Pakistan) 8,611 m; Kanchenjunga (India-Nepal) 8,598 m; Lhotse (Nepal) 8,516 m; Makalu (China-Nepal) 8,463 m; Cho Oyu (China-Nepal) 8,201 m; Dhaulagiri (Nepal) 8,167 m; Manaslu (Nepal) 8,163 m; Nanga Parbat (Pakistan) 8,125 m; Anapurna (Nepal) 8,091 m; note - Mauna Kea (United States) is the world's tallest mountain as measured from base to summit; the peak of this volcanic colossus lies on the island of Hawaii, but its base begins more than 70 km offshore and at a depth of about 6,000 m; total height estimates range from 9,966 m to 10,203 m top ten highest island peaks: Puncak Jaya (New Guinea) 4,884 m (Indonesia)*; Mauna Kea (Hawaii) 4,207 m (United States); Gunung Kinabalu (Borneo) 4,095 m (Malaysia)*; Yu Shan (Taiwan) 3,952 (Taiwan)*; Mount Kerinci (Sumatra) 3,805 m (Indonesia); Mount Erebus (Ross Island) 3,794 (Antarctica); Mount Fuji (Honshu) 3,776 m (Japan)*; Mount Rinjani (Lombok) 3,726 m (Indonesia); Aoraki-Mount Cook (South Island) 3,724 m (New Zealand)*; Pico de Teide (Tenerife) 3,718 m (Spain)*; note - * indicates the highest peak for that Factbook entry highest point on each continent: Asia - Mount Everest (China-Nepal) 8,849 m; South America - Cerro Aconcagua (Argentina) 6,960 m; North America - Denali (Mount McKinley) (United States) 6,190 m; Africa - Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) 5,895 m; Europe - El'brus (Russia) 5,633 m; Antarctica - Vinson Massif 4,897 m; Australia - Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m highest capital on each continent: South America - La Paz (Bolivia) 3,640 m; Africa - Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 2,355 m; Asia - Thimphu (Bhutan) 2,334 m; North America - Mexico City (Mexico) 2,240 m; Europe - Andorra la Vella (Andorra) 1,023 m; Australia - Canberra (Australia) 605 m lowest point on each continent: Antarctica - Denman Glacier more than -3,500 m; Asia - Dead Sea (Israel-Jordan) -431 m; Africa - Lac Assal (Djibouti) -155 m; South America - Laguna del Carbon (Argentina) -105 m; North America - Death Valley (United States) -86 m; Europe - Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Russia) -28 m; Australia - Lake Eyre -15 lowest capital on each continent: Asia - Baku (Azerbaijan) -28 m; Europe - Amsterdam (Netherlands) -2 m; Africa - Banjul (Gambia); Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Conakry (Guinea), Djibouti (Djibouti), Libreville (Gabon), Male (Maldives), Monrovia (Liberia), Tunis (Tunisia), Victoria (Seychelles) 0 m; North America - Basseterre (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Kingstown (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Panama City (Panama), Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), Roseau (Dominica), Saint John's (Antigua and Barbuda), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) 0 m; South America - Georgetown (Guyana) 0 m; Australia - Canberra (Australia) 605 m Natural resources: the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality pose serious long-term problems Irrigated land: 3,242,917 sq km (2012 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): top ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world Major rivers (by length in km): top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 km note: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes Major watersheds (area sq km): summary 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 Major aquifers: summary 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 Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is easily the most populous continent with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15% of the earth's populace, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation Natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note"large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note" Geography - note: note 1: the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13.8-billion-year age estimated for the universe; the earliest widely accepted date for life appearing on earth is 3.48 billion years ago, but this date is conservative and may get pushed back further note 2: although earthquakes can strike anywhere at any time, the vast majority occur in three large zones of the earth; the world's greatest earthquake belt, the Circum-Pacific Belt (popularly referred to as the Ring of Fire), is the zone of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; about 90% of the world's earthquakes (81% of the largest earthquakes) and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; the belt extends northward from Chile, along the South American coast, through Central America, Mexico, the western US, southern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, to Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, island groups in the southwestern Pacific, and New Zealand the second prominent belt, the Alpide, extends from Java to Sumatra, northward along the mountains of Burma, then eastward through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic Ocean; it accounts for about 17% of the world's largest earthquakes; the third important belt follows the long Mid-Atlantic Ridge note 3: information on the origin sites for many of the world's major food crops may be found in the "Geography - note" for the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, and the United Statesnote 1: the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13.8-billion-year age estimated for the universe; the earliest widely accepted date for life appearing on earth is 3.48 billion years ago, but this date is conservative and may get pushed back furthernote 2: although earthquakes can strike anywhere at any time, the vast majority occur in three large zones of the earth; the world's greatest earthquake belt, the Circum-Pacific Belt (popularly referred to as the Ring of Fire), is the zone of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; about 90% of the world's earthquakes (81% of the largest earthquakes) and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; the belt extends northward from Chile, along the South American coast, through Central America, Mexico, the western US, southern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, to Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, island groups in the southwestern Pacific, and New Zealand the second prominent belt, the Alpide, extends from Java to Sumatra, northward along the mountains of Burma, then eastward through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic Ocean; it accounts for about 17% of the world's largest earthquakes; the third important belt follows the long Mid-Atlantic Ridge note 3: information on the origin sites for many of the world's major food crops may be found in the "Geography - note" for the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States Map description: World map shown in a cylindrical equal area projection, oblique case view with each of the seven continents labeled. Topic: People and Society Population: 7,905,336,896 (July 2022 est.) top ten most populous countries (in millions): China 1410.54; India 1389.37; United States 337.34; Indonesia 277.33; Pakistan 242.92; Nigeria 225.08; Brazil 217.24; Bangladesh 165.65; Russia 142.02; Mexico 129.15 ten least populous countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 1,000; Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,257; Montserrat 5,414; Saint Barthelemy 7,103; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan de Cunha 7,925; Cook Islands 8,128; Nauru 9,811; Tuvalu 11,544; Wallis and Futuna 15,891; Anguilla 18,741 ten most densely populated countries (population per sq km): Macau 22,689; Monaco 15,700; Singapore 8,351.5; Hong Kong 6,781.5; Gaza Strip 5,548.1; Gibraltar 4,224.7; Bahrain 2,027; Malta 1,468.9; Bermuda 1,339.6; Maldives 1,327.2 ten least densely populated countries (population per sq km): Greenland .026; Falkland Islands .26; Mongolia 2.1; Namibia 3.3; Australia 3.4; Iceland 3.6; Guyana 4; Mauritania 4; Suriname 4.1; Libya 4.1 Languages: most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.) most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.) most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020) Religions: Christian 31.1%, Muslim 24.9%, Hindu 15.2%, Buddhist 6.6%, folk religions 5.6%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated 15.6% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.18% (male 1,010,373,278/female 946,624,579) 15-24 years: 15.29% (male 614,046,344/female 574,513,854) 25-54 years: 40.6% (male 1,597,805,095/female 1,557,807,873) 55-64 years: 9.23% (male 351,094,945/female 366,240,730) 65 years and over: 9.69% (2021 est.) male 337,244,947/female 415,884,753) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.3 youth dependency ratio: 39 elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31 years male: 30.3 years female: 31.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.03% (2021 est.) note: this rate results in about 154 net additions to the worldwide population every minute or 2.6 people every second Birth rate: 18.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.) note: this rate results in about 259 worldwide births per minute or 4.3 births every second Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.) note: this rate results in about 108 worldwide deaths per minute or 1.8 deaths every second Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is easily the most populous continent with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15% of the earth's populace, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: ten largest urban agglomerations: Tokyo (Japan) - 37,393,000; New Delhi (India) - 30,291,000; Shanghai (China) - 27,058,000; Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 22,043,000; Mexico City (Mexico) - 21,782,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 21,006,000; Cairo (Egypt) - 20,901,000; Beijing (China) - 20,463,000; Mumbai (India) - 20,411,000;  Osaka (Japan) - 19,165,000 (2020) ten largest urban agglomerations, by continent: Africa - Cairo (Egypt) - 20,901,000; Lagos (Nigeria) - 134,368,000; Kinshasha (DRC) - 14,342,000; Luanda (Angola) - 8,330,000; Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - 6,702,000; Khartoum (Sudan) - 5,829,000; Johannesburg (South Africa) - 5,783,000; Alexandria (Egypt) - 5,281,000; Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) - 5,203,000; Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) - 4,794,000 Asia - Tokyo (Japan) - 37,393,000; New Delhi (India) - 30,291,000; Shanghai (China) - 27,058,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 21,006,000; Beijing (China) - 20,463,000; Mumbai (India) - 20,411,000; Osaka (Japan) - 19,165,000; Karachi (Pakistan) - 16,094,000; Chongqing (China) - 15,872,000; Istanbul (Turkey) - 15,190,000 Europe - Moscow (Russia) - 12,538,000; Paris (France) - 11,017,000; London (United Kingdom) - 9,304,000; Madrid (Spain) - 6,618,000; Barcelona (Spain) - 5,586,000, Saint Petersburg (Russia) -  5,468,000; Rome (Italy) - 4,257,000; Berlin (Germany) - 3,562,000; Athens (Greece) - 3,153,000; Milan (Italy) - 3,140,000 North America - Mexico City (Mexico) - 21,782,000; New York-Newark (United States) - 18,804,000; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (United States) - 12,447,000; Chicago (United States) - 8,865,000; Houston (United States) - 6,371,000; Dallas-Fort Worth (United States) - 6,301,000; Toronto (Canada) - 6,197,000; Miami (United States) - 6,122,000; Atlanta (United States) - 5,803,000; Philadelphia (United States) - 5,717,000 Oceania - Melbourne (Australia) - 4,968,000, Sydney (Australia) - 4,926,000; Brisbane (Australia) - 2,406,000; Perth (Australia) - 2,042,000; Auckland (New Zealand) - 1,607,000; Adelaide (Australia) - 1,336,000; Gold Coast-Tweed Head (Australia) - 699,000; Canberra (Australia) - 457,000; Newcastle-Maitland (Australia) - 450,000; Wellington (New Zealand) - 415,000 South America - Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 22,043,000; Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 15,154,000; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) - 13,458,000; Bogota (Colombia) - 10,978,000; Lima (Peru) - 10,719,000; Santiago (Chile) - 6,767,000; Belo Horizonte (Brazil) - 6,084,000; Brasilia (Brazil) - 4,646,000; Porto Alegre (Brazil) - 4,137,000; Recife (Brazil) - 4,127,000 (2020) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 211 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.5 years male: 68.4 years female: 72.6 years (2020 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.5% of population rural: 84.7% of population total: 91.1% of population unimproved: urban: 3.5% of population rural: 15.3% of population total: 8.9% of population (2015 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 10% (2016) Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 82.3% of population rural: 50.5% of population total: 67.7% of population unimproved: urban: 17.7% of population rural: 49.5% of population total: 32.3% of population (2015 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 37.7 million (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 680,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally; older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease; some health care systems are becoming overwhelmed and there may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas; many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice; US residents may have difficulty returning to the United States; as of 18 August 2022, 590,659,276 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,440,163 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization; as of 17 August 2022, 67.41% of the World population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.7% male: 90.1% female: 83.3% (2020) note: more than three quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two thirds are women (2016) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of biodiversity; soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; ozone layer depletion; waste disposal; global warming becoming a greater concern Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates, bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates Ten Driest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in) Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in) Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in) Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in) Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in) Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in) El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in) Ten Wettest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in) Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in) Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in) Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in) San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in) Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in) Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in) Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in) Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in) Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in) Ten Coldest Places on Earth (Lowest Average Monthly Temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February Ten Hottest Places on Earth (Highest Average Monthly Temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally; older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease; some health care systems are becoming overwhelmed and there may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas; many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice; US residents may have difficulty returning to the United States; as of 18 August 2022, 590,659,276 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,440,163 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization; as of 17 August 2022, 67.41% of the World population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Major lakes (area sq km): top ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world Major rivers (by length in km): top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 km note: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes Major watersheds (area sq km): summary 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 Major aquifers: summary 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 Total renewable water resources: 53,789.29 cubic meters (2011) Topic: Government Country name: note: countries with names connected to animals include: Albania "Land of the Eagles"; Anguilla (the name means "eel"); Bhutan "Land of the Thunder Dragon"; Cameroon (the name derives from "prawns"); Cayman Islands (named after the caiman, a marine crocodile); Faroe Islands (from Old Norse meaning "sheep"); Georgia "Land of the Wolves"; Italy "Land of Young Cattle"; Kosovo "Field of Blackbirds"; Sierra Leone "Lion Mountains"; Singapore "Lion City" Capital: time difference: there are 21 World entities (20 countries and 1 dependency) with multiple time zones: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, France, Greenland (part of the Danish Kingdom), Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Spain, United States note 1: in some instances, the time zones pertain to portions of a country that lie overseas note 2: in 1851, the British set their prime meridian (0° longitude) through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England; this meridian became the international standard in 1884 and thus the basis for the standard time zones of the world; today, GMT is officially known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is also referred to as "Zulu time"; UTC is the basis for all civil time, with the world divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC note 3: each time zone is based on 15° starting from the prime meridian; in theory, there are 24 time zones based on the solar day, but there are now upward of 40 because of fractional hour offsets that adjust for various political and physical geographic realities; see the Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the World and Regional Maps daylight saving time: some 67 countries - including most of the world's leading industrialized nations - use daylight savings time (DST) in at least a portion of the country; China, Japan, India, and Russia are major industrialized countries that do not use DST; Asia and Africa generally do not observe DST and it is generally not observed near the equator, where sunrise and sunset times do not vary enough to justify it; some countries observe DST only in certain regions; for example, only southeastern Australia observes it; in fact, only a minority of the world's population - about 20% - uses DST Administrative divisions: 195 countries, 71 dependent areas and other entities Dependent areas: Australia dependencies: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island France dependencies: Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna New Zealand dependencies: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Norway dependencies: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard United Kingdom dependencies: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands United States dependencies: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island Legal system: the legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including English and US law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic sharia law); an additional type of legal system - international law - governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another International law organization participation: all members of the UN are parties to the statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court; states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICCt) are those countries that have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Court; as of May 2019, a total of 122 countries have accepted jurisdiction of the ICCt (see Appendix B for a clarification on the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt) Executive branch: chief of state: there are 27 countries with royal families in the world, most are in Asia (13) and Europe (10), three are in Africa, and one in Oceania; monarchies by continent are as follows: Asia (Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates); Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom); Africa (Eswatini, Lesotho, Morocco); Oceania (Tonga); note that Andorra and the Holy See (Vatican) are also monarchies of a sort, but they are not ruled by royal houses; Andorra has two co-princes (the president of France and the bishop of Urgell) and the Holy See is ruled by an elected pope; note too that the sovereign of Great Britain is also the monarch for many of the countries (including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand) that make up the Commonwealth Legislative branch: there are 230 political entities with legislative bodies; of these 144 are unicameral (a single “house”) and 86 are bicameral (both upper and lower houses); note - while there are 195 countries in the world, 35 territories, possessions, or other special administrative units also have their own governing bodiesthere are 230 political entities with legislative bodies; of these 144 are unicameral (a single “house”) and 86 are bicameral (both upper and lower houses); note - while there are 195 countries in the world, 35 territories, possessions, or other special administrative units also have their own governing bodies Flag description: while a "World" flag does not exist, the flag of the United Nations (UN) - adopted on 7 December 1946 - has been used on occasion to represent the entire planet; technically, however, it only represents the international organization itself; the flag displays the official emblem of the UN in white on a blue background; the emblem design shows a map of the world in an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on the North Pole, the image is flanked by two olive branches crossed below; blue was selected as the color to represent peace, in contrast to red usually associated with war; the map projection chosen includes all of the continents except Antarctica note 1: the flags of 12 nations: Austria, Botswana, Georgia, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Micronesia, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and Thailand have no top or bottom and may be flown with either long edge on top without any notice being taken note 2: the most common colors found on national flags are: red (including deep red; ~75%), white (~70%), and blue (including light blue; ~50%); these three colors are so prevalent that there are only two countries, Jamaica and Sri Lanka, that do not include one of them on their flag; the next three most popular colors are: yellow/gold and green (both ~45%) and black (~30%) note 3: flags composed of three colors are by far the most common type and, of those, the red-white-blue combination is the most widespread National anthem: name: virtually every country has a national anthem; most (but not all) anthems have lyrics, which are usually in the national or most common language of the country; states with more than one national language may offer several versions of their anthem note: the world's oldest national anthem is the "Het Wilhelmus" (The William) of the Netherlands, which dates to the 17th century; the first national anthem to be officially adopted (1795) was "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) of France; Japan claims to have the world's shortest national anthem, entitled "Kimigayo" (The Emperor's Reign), it consists of 11 measures of music (the lyrics are also the world's oldest, dating to the 10th century or earlier); the world's longest national anthem is that of Greece, "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty) with 158 stanzas - only two of which are used; both Denmark and New Zealand have two official national anthems National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1154 (897 cultural, 218 natural, 39 mixed) (2022) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The international financial crisis of 2008-09 led to the first downturn in global output since 1946 and presented the world with a major new challenge: determining what mix of fiscal and monetary policies to follow to restore growth and jobs, while keeping inflation and debt under control. Financial stabilization and stimulus programs that started in 2009-11, combined with lower tax revenues in 2009-10, required most countries to run large budget deficits. Treasuries issued new public debt - totaling $9.1 trillion since 2008 - to pay for the additional expenditures. To keep interest rates low, most central banks monetized that debt, injecting large sums of money into their economies - between December 2008 and December 2013 the global money supply increased by more than 35%. Governments are now faced with the difficult task of spurring current growth and employment without saddling their economies with so much debt that they sacrifice long-term growth and financial stability. When economic activity picks up, central banks will confront the difficult task of containing inflation without raising interest rates so high they snuff out further growth. Fiscal and monetary data for 2013 are currently available for 180 countries, which together account for 98.5% of world GDP. Of the 180 countries, 82 pursued unequivocally expansionary policies, boosting government spending while also expanding their money supply relatively rapidly - faster than the world average of 3.1%; 28 followed restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, reducing government spending and holding money growth to less than the 3.1% average; and the remaining 70 followed a mix of counterbalancing fiscal and monetary policies, either reducing government spending while accelerating money growth, or boosting spending while curtailing money growth. (For more information, see attached spreadsheet.) In 2013, for many countries the drive for fiscal austerity that began in 2011 abated. While 5 out of 6 countries slowed spending in 2012, only 1 in 2 countries slowed spending in 2013. About 1 in 3 countries actually lowered the level of their expenditures. The global growth rate for government expenditures increased from 1.6% in 2012 to 5.1% in 2013, after falling from a 10.1% growth rate in 2011. On the other hand, nearly 2 out of 3 central banks tightened monetary policy in 2013, decelerating the rate of growth of their money supply, compared with only 1 out of 3 in 2012. Roughly 1 of 4 central banks actually withdrew money from circulation, an increase from 1 out of 7 in 2012. Growth of the global money supply, as measured by the narrowly defined M1, slowed from 8.7% in 2009 and 10.4% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011, 4.6% in 2012, and 3.1% in 2013. Several notable shifts occurred in 2013. By cutting government expenditures and expanding money supplies, the US and Canada moved against the trend in the rest of the world. France reversed course completely. Rather than reducing expenditures and money as it had in 2012, it expanded both. Germany reversed its fiscal policy, sharply expanding federal spending, while continuing to grow the money supply. South Korea shifted monetary policy into high gear, while maintaining a strongly expansionary fiscal policy. Japan, however, continued to pursue austere fiscal and monetary policies. Austere economic policies have significantly affected economic performance. The global budget deficit narrowed to roughly $2.7 trillion in 2012 and $2.1 trillion in 2013, or 3.8% and 2.5% of World GDP, respectively. But growth of the world economy slipped from 5.1% in 2010 and 3.7% in 2011, to just 3.1% in 2012, and 2.9% in 2013. Countries with expansionary fiscal and monetary policies achieved significantly higher rates of growth, higher growth of tax revenues, and greater success reducing the public debt burden than those countries that chose contractionary policies. In 2013, the 82 countries that followed a pro-growth approach achieved a median GDP growth rate of 4.7%, compared to 1.7% for the 28 countries with restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, a difference of 3 percentage points. Among the 82, China grew 7.7%, Philippines 6.8%, Malaysia 4.7%, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia 3.6%, Argentina 3.5%, South Korea 2.8%, and Russia 1.3%, while among the 28, Brazil grew 2.3%, Japan 2.0%, South Africa 2.0%, Netherlands -0.8%, Croatia -1.0%, Iran -1.5%, Portugal -1.8%, Greece -3.8%, and Cyprus -8.7%. Faster GDP growth and lower unemployment rates translated into increased tax revenues and a less cumbersome debt burden. Revenues for the 82 expansionary countries grew at a median rate of 10.7%, whereas tax revenues fell at a median rate of 6.8% for the 28 countries that chose austere economic policies. Budget balances improved for about three-quarters of the 28, but, for most, debt grew faster than GDP, and the median level of their public debt as a share of GDP increased 9.1 percentage points, to 59.2%. On the other hand, budget balances deteriorated for most of the 82 pro-growth countries, but GDP growth outpaced increases in debt, and the median level of public debt as a share of GDP increased just 1.9%, to 39.8%. The world recession has suppressed inflation rates - world inflation declined 1.0 percentage point in 2012 to about 4.1% and 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in 2013. In 2013 the median inflation rate for the 82 pro-growth countries was 1.3 percentage points higher than that for the countries that followed more austere fiscal and monetary policies. Overall, the latter countries also improved their current account balances by shedding imports; as a result, current account balances deteriorated for most of the countries that pursued pro-growth policies. Slow growth of world income continued to hold import demand in check and crude oil prices fell. Consequently, the dollar value of world trade grew just 1.3% in 2013. Beyond the current global slowdown, the world faces several long standing economic challenges. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, waste-disposal, epidemics, water-shortages, famine, over-fishing of oceans, deforestation, desertification, and depletion of non-renewable resources. The nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, services, funds, and technology. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, has created economic risks because the participating nations have varying income levels and growth rates, and hence, require a different mix of monetary and fiscal policies. Governments, especially in Western Europe, face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries are unable to devote sufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a growing risk to global prosperity - the diversion of resources away from capital investments to counter-terrorism programs. Despite these vexing problems, the world economy also shows great promise. Technology has made possible further advances in a wide range of fields, from agriculture, to medicine, alternative energy, metallurgy, and transportation. Improved global communications have greatly reduced the costs of international trade, helping the world gain from the international division of labor, raise living standards, and reduce income disparities among nations. Much of the resilience of the world economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis resulted from government and central bank leaders around the globe working in concert to stem the financial onslaught, knowing well the lessons of past economic failures.The international financial crisis of 2008-09 led to the first downturn in global output since 1946 and presented the world with a major new challenge: determining what mix of fiscal and monetary policies to follow to restore growth and jobs, while keeping inflation and debt under control. Financial stabilization and stimulus programs that started in 2009-11, combined with lower tax revenues in 2009-10, required most countries to run large budget deficits. Treasuries issued new public debt - totaling $9.1 trillion since 2008 - to pay for the additional expenditures. To keep interest rates low, most central banks monetized that debt, injecting large sums of money into their economies - between December 2008 and December 2013 the global money supply increased by more than 35%. Governments are now faced with the difficult task of spurring current growth and employment without saddling their economies with so much debt that they sacrifice long-term growth and financial stability. When economic activity picks up, central banks will confront the difficult task of containing inflation without raising interest rates so high they snuff out further growth.Fiscal and monetary data for 2013 are currently available for 180 countries, which together account for 98.5% of world GDP. Of the 180 countries, 82 pursued unequivocally expansionary policies, boosting government spending while also expanding their money supply relatively rapidly - faster than the world average of 3.1%; 28 followed restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, reducing government spending and holding money growth to less than the 3.1% average; and the remaining 70 followed a mix of counterbalancing fiscal and monetary policies, either reducing government spending while accelerating money growth, or boosting spending while curtailing money growth.(For more information, see attached spreadsheet.)In 2013, for many countries the drive for fiscal austerity that began in 2011 abated. While 5 out of 6 countries slowed spending in 2012, only 1 in 2 countries slowed spending in 2013. About 1 in 3 countries actually lowered the level of their expenditures. The global growth rate for government expenditures increased from 1.6% in 2012 to 5.1% in 2013, after falling from a 10.1% growth rate in 2011. On the other hand, nearly 2 out of 3 central banks tightened monetary policy in 2013, decelerating the rate of growth of their money supply, compared with only 1 out of 3 in 2012. Roughly 1 of 4 central banks actually withdrew money from circulation, an increase from 1 out of 7 in 2012. Growth of the global money supply, as measured by the narrowly defined M1, slowed from 8.7% in 2009 and 10.4% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011, 4.6% in 2012, and 3.1% in 2013. Several notable shifts occurred in 2013. By cutting government expenditures and expanding money supplies, the US and Canada moved against the trend in the rest of the world. France reversed course completely. Rather than reducing expenditures and money as it had in 2012, it expanded both. Germany reversed its fiscal policy, sharply expanding federal spending, while continuing to grow the money supply. South Korea shifted monetary policy into high gear, while maintaining a strongly expansionary fiscal policy. Japan, however, continued to pursue austere fiscal and monetary policies.Austere economic policies have significantly affected economic performance. The global budget deficit narrowed to roughly $2.7 trillion in 2012 and $2.1 trillion in 2013, or 3.8% and 2.5% of World GDP, respectively. But growth of the world economy slipped from 5.1% in 2010 and 3.7% in 2011, to just 3.1% in 2012, and 2.9% in 2013.Countries with expansionary fiscal and monetary policies achieved significantly higher rates of growth, higher growth of tax revenues, and greater success reducing the public debt burden than those countries that chose contractionary policies. In 2013, the 82 countries that followed a pro-growth approach achieved a median GDP growth rate of 4.7%, compared to 1.7% for the 28 countries with restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, a difference of 3 percentage points. Among the 82, China grew 7.7%, Philippines 6.8%, Malaysia 4.7%, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia 3.6%, Argentina 3.5%, South Korea 2.8%, and Russia 1.3%, while among the 28, Brazil grew 2.3%, Japan 2.0%, South Africa 2.0%, Netherlands -0.8%, Croatia -1.0%, Iran -1.5%, Portugal -1.8%, Greece -3.8%, and Cyprus -8.7%.Faster GDP growth and lower unemployment rates translated into increased tax revenues and a less cumbersome debt burden. Revenues for the 82 expansionary countries grew at a median rate of 10.7%, whereas tax revenues fell at a median rate of 6.8% for the 28 countries that chose austere economic policies. Budget balances improved for about three-quarters of the 28, but, for most, debt grew faster than GDP, and the median level of their public debt as a share of GDP increased 9.1 percentage points, to 59.2%. On the other hand, budget balances deteriorated for most of the 82 pro-growth countries, but GDP growth outpaced increases in debt, and the median level of public debt as a share of GDP increased just 1.9%, to 39.8%.The world recession has suppressed inflation rates - world inflation declined 1.0 percentage point in 2012 to about 4.1% and 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in 2013. In 2013 the median inflation rate for the 82 pro-growth countries was 1.3 percentage points higher than that for the countries that followed more austere fiscal and monetary policies. Overall, the latter countries also improved their current account balances by shedding imports; as a result, current account balances deteriorated for most of the countries that pursued pro-growth policies. Slow growth of world income continued to hold import demand in check and crude oil prices fell. Consequently, the dollar value of world trade grew just 1.3% in 2013.Beyond the current global slowdown, the world faces several long standing economic challenges. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, waste-disposal, epidemics, water-shortages, famine, over-fishing of oceans, deforestation, desertification, and depletion of non-renewable resources. The nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, services, funds, and technology. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, has created economic risks because the participating nations have varying income levels and growth rates, and hence, require a different mix of monetary and fiscal policies. Governments, especially in Western Europe, face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries are unable to devote sufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a growing risk to global prosperity - the diversion of resources away from capital investments to counter-terrorism programs.Despite these vexing problems, the world economy also shows great promise. Technology has made possible further advances in a wide range of fields, from agriculture, to medicine, alternative energy, metallurgy, and transportation. Improved global communications have greatly reduced the costs of international trade, helping the world gain from the international division of labor, raise living standards, and reduce income disparities among nations. Much of the resilience of the world economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis resulted from government and central bank leaders around the globe working in concert to stem the financial onslaught, knowing well the lessons of past economic failures. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $127.8 trillion (2017 est.) $123.3 trillion (2016 est.) $119.5 trillion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.7% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) 3.3% (2014 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,500 (2017 est.) $17,000 (2016 est.) $16,800 (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $80.27 trillion (2017 est.) SGWP (gross world product) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.) developed countries: 1.9% (2017 est.) 0.9% (2016 est.) developing countries: 8.8% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.) note: the above estimates are weighted averages; inflation in developed countries is 0% to 4% typically, in developing countries, 4% to 10% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases; inflation rates have declined for most countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing international competition from several low wage countries and by soft demand due to the world financial crisis GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.4% (2017 est.) industry: 30% (2017 est.) services: 63% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 56.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2017 est.) Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problemsdominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problems Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.432 billion (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31% industry: 23.5% services: 45.5% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2017 est.) 7.5% (2016 est.) note: combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment (2007 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.9 (2012 est.) 37.9 (2005 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.2% (2008 est.) Budget: revenues: 21.68 trillion (2017 est.) expenditures: 23.81 trillion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 67.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Exports: $17.31 trillion (2017 est.) $15.82 trillion (2016 est.) Exports - commodities: the 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.) Imports: $20.01 trillion (2018 est.) $16.02 trillion (2017 est.) Imports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: see listing for exportsthe whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and servicestop ten - share of world trade: see listing for exports Debt - external: $76.56 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) $75.09 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt, both public and private Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 90% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 96% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 85% (2019) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 60.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 17% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 88.4 million bbl/day (2014 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 29.66 million bbl/day (2014 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 28.62 million bbl/day (2014 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 35,551,713,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 15,587,834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12,195,793,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 7,768,086,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 901,317,598 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2021 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7.8 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general 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: economic impact - 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 infrastructure - as of 2021, 428 submarine cables have been laid worldwide with a further 36 planned; the undersea cables connect to 1,245 landing stations Internet users: total: 4.9 billion (2021 est.) percent of population: 63% (2021 est.) top ten countries by Internet usage (in millions): 730.7 China; 374.3 India; 246.8 United States; 122.8 Brazil; 116.6 Japan; 108.8 Russia; 73.3 Mexico; 72.3 Germany; 65.5 Indonesia; 61 United Kingdom (2017) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1.23 billion (2020 est.) ;the number of fixed broadband subscriptions has been higher than that of fixed telephony since 2017 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2021 est.) Communications - note: data centers consist of a dedicated space within a building or a group of buildings used to house computing resources and other components, such as telecommunications and storage systems; the ongoing worldwide boom in data generation is responsible for the mushrooming of data centers; the three largest data center facilities by area as of the first half of 2022 are:   no. 1. - the China Telecom data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, reportedly covers 1 million sq m (10.7 million sq ft); the largest Internet data center in the world, it has over 50% market share in the Chinese data center market, with an extensive network of over 400 data centers located in prime regions in mainland China and overseas markets no. 2. - the China Mobile data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, covers 720,000 sq m (7.7 million sq ft); it is one of the world's biggest cloud computing data centers no. 3. - The Citadel data center owned by US-based Switch, in Tahoe Reno, Nevada, covers 670,000 sq m (7.2 million sq ft); called the world’s largest technology ecosystem, the facility runs on 100% renewable (solar and wind) energy Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 41,820 (2021) top ten by passengers (2021): Atlanta (ATL) - 75,704,760; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 62,465,756; Denver, CO (DEN) 58,828,552; Chicago, IL (ORD) 54,020,399; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 48,007,284; Charlotte, NC (CLT) 43,302,230; Orlando, FL (MCO) 40,351,068; Guangzhou (CAN) 40,259,401; Chengdu (CTU) 40,117,496;  Las Vegas, NV (LAS) 39,754,366 (2021) top ten by passengers (2020): Guangzhou (CAN) 43,767,558; Atlanta (ATL) - 42,918,685; Chengdu (CTU) 40,741,509; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 39,364,990; Shenzhen (SZX) 37,916,054; Beijing (PEK) - 34,513,827; Denver, CO (DEN) 33,741,129; Kunming (KMG) 32,990,805; Shanghai (PVG) 31,165,641; Xi'an (XIY)  31,073,924 (2020) note - 2020 numbers included to allow for a comparison with the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on international air travel in 2020 top ten by cargo (metric tons): Hong Kong (HKG) - 5,025,495; Memphis, TN (MEM) - 4,480,465; Shanghai (PVG) - 3,982,616; Anchorage, AK (ANC) - 3,555,160; Incheon (ICN) - 3,329,292; Louisville, KY (SDF) - 3,052,269; Taipei (TPE) - 2,812,065; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 2,691,830; Tokyo (NRT) 2,644,074; Doha, Qatar (DOH) 2,620,095 (2021) Heliports: 6,524 (2021) Railways: total: 1,148,186 km (2013) Waterways: 2,293,412 km (2017) top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,693 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,238 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,981 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,569 km; Yangtze (Asia) 5,525 km; Yellow (Asia) 4,671 km; Amur (Asia) 4,352 km; Lena (Asia) 4,345 km; Congo (Africa) 4,344 km note 1: rivers are not necessarily navigable along the entire length; if measured by volume, the Amazon is the largest river in the world, responsible for about 20% of the Earth's freshwater entering the ocean note 2: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya); 1 in the Americas (Bahamas); 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen); 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes top ten largest natural lakes (by surface area): Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 372,960 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,414 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 69,490 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,596 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,441 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,890 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,800 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,494 sq km; Lake Nyasa (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 30,044 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,400 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world note 3: the deepest lake in the world (1,620 m), and also the largest freshwater lake by volume (23,600 cu km), is Lake Baikal in Russia Merchant marine: total: 98,202 by type: bulk carrier 12,319, container ship 5,428, general cargo 18,993, oil tanker 11,243, other 50,219 (2021) Ports and terminals: top twenty container ports as measured by Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) throughput: Shanghai (China) - 43,303,000; Singapore (Singapore) - 37,195,636; Ningbo (China) - 27,530,000; Shenzhen (China) - 25,770,000; Guangzhou (China) - 23,236,200; Busan (South Korea) - 21,992,001; Qingdao (China) - 21,010,000; Hong Kong (China) - 18,361,000; Tianjin (China) - 17,264,000; Rotterdam (Netherlands) - 14,810,804; Dubai (UAE) - 14,111,000; Port Kelang (Malaysia) - 13,580,717; Antwerp (Belgium) - 11,860,204; Xiamen (China) - 11,122,200; Kaohsiung (Taiwan) - 10,428,634; Los Angeles (US) - 9,337,632; Hamburg (Germany) - 9,274,215; Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) - 9,100,000; Dalian (China) - 8,760,000; Laem Chabang (Thailand) - 8,106,928 (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2018 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2017 est.) Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 20 million active duty military (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: from 2010-2020, the US was assessed to be the world's leading arms exporter, followed by Russia; India and Saudi Arabia were the top arms importers for the same period Military deployments: as of early 2022, there were about 75,000 UN peacekeepers deployed worldwide Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that 2021 saw a decrease in global pirate activities; in 2021, pirates attacked a total of 132 ships worldwide including boarding 115 ships, hijacking one ship, and firing on five; this activity is a decrease from 195 incidents in 2020 and the lowest number recorded since 1994; in 2021, the number of hostages taken was eight, and the number of seafarers kidnapped for ransom decreased to 57 compared with 135 in 2020, with all taken off West Africa the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa the Horn of Africa saw one incident of pirate activity in 2021, up from no attacks in 2020; the decrease in successful pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa since the peak in 2007 was due, in part, to anti-piracy operations by international naval forces, the hardening of vessels, and the increased use of armed security teams aboard merchant ships; despite these preventative measures, the assessed risk remains high West Africa remains a dangerous area for piracy in the world, but saw a dramatic decrease in incidents with 34 attacks in 2021 compared to 81 in 2020, including one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon; Nigerian pirates are very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore and kidnapping 57 mariners in seven incidents accounting for all crew kidnappings world-wide; attacks against ships underway in the Singapore Straits increased 50% to 35 incidents in 2021; there were nine attacks in Indonesian waters in 2021 compared to 26 in 2020, primarily to ships anchored or berthed; the majority (71%) of global attacks against shipping have occurred in the offshore waters of eight countries - Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, and Sao Tome and Principe (2021) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: stretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 31.7 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2021; approximately 429,300 refugees were repatriated during 2021; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradationstretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 31.7 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2021; approximately 429,300 refugees were repatriated during 2021; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradation Refugees and internally displaced persons: the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2021 there were 89.3 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 53.2 million IDPs, 27.1 million refugees, 4.6 million asylum seekers, and 4.4 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently more than 4.3 million stateless persons as of year-end 2021the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2021 there were 89.3 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 53.2 million IDPs, 27.1 million refugees, 4.6 million asylum seekers, and 4.4 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently more than 4.3 million stateless persons as of year-end 2021 Trafficking in persons: current situation: approximately 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked annually across national borders, not including millions trafficked within their own countries; at least 80% of the victims are female and up to 50% are minors; 75% of all victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation; almost two-thirds of the global victims are trafficked intra-regionally within East Asia and the Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and Europe and Eurasia (170,000 to 210,000 people) Tier 2 Watch List:  (44 countries) Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia Tier 3:  (19 countries) Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Burma, Burundi, China, Comoros, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Lesotho, Nicaragua, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Venezuela (2020) Illicit drugs: cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020 opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin (2015)cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020 opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin

20220901

antarctica

20220901

countries-new-zealand-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand sometime between A.D. 1250 and 1300. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Great Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand sometime between A.D. 1250 and 1300. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Great Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Topic: Geography Area: total: 268,838 sq km land: 264,537 sq km water: 4,301 sq km Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Topic: People and Society Population: 5,053,004 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.) Languages: English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.) Religions: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.) Population growth rate: 1.17% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Wellington Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Grant ROBERTSON (since 2 November 2020) Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats for 2020-23 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 48 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: high-income Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and energy sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; sustained growth; low unemployment; high living standards; sharp growth post COVID-19 lockdownhigh-income Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and energy sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; sustained growth; low unemployment; high living standards; sharp growth post COVID-19 lockdown Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $215.6 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $42,400 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots Industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism Exports: $50.43 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: China 28%, Australia 14%, United States 9%, Japan 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: dairy products, sheep/goat meats, lumber, beef products, fresh fruits (2019) Imports: $47.86 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: China 18%, Australia 15%, United States 9%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, gas turbines (2019) Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022

20220901

field-legal-system

This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An additional type of legal system - international law, which governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another - is also addressed below. The following list describes these legal systems, the countries or world regions where these systems are enforced, and a brief statement on the origins and major features of each. Civil Law - The most widespread type of legal system in the world, applied in various forms in approximately 150 countries. Also referred to as European continental law, the civil law system is derived mainly from the Roman Corpus Juris Civilus, (Body of Civil Law), a collection of laws and legal interpretations compiled under the East Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I between A.D. 528 and 565. The major feature of civil law systems is that the laws are organized into systematic written codes. In civil law the sources recognized as authoritative are principally legislation - especially codifications in constitutions or statutes enacted by governments - and secondarily, custom. The civil law systems in some countries are based on more than one code. Common Law - A type of legal system, often synonymous with "English common law," which is the system of England and Wales in the UK, and is also in force in approximately 80 countries formerly part of or influenced by the former British Empire. English common law reflects Biblical influences as well as remnants of law systems imposed by early conquerors including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. Some legal scholars attribute the formation of the English common law system to King Henry II (r.1154-1189). Until the time of his reign, laws customary among England's various manorial and ecclesiastical (church) jurisdictions were administered locally. Henry II established the king's court and designated that laws were "common" to the entire English realm. The foundation of English common law is "legal precedent" - referred to as stare decisis, meaning "to stand by things decided." In the English common law system, court judges are bound in their decisions in large part by the rules and other doctrines developed - and supplemented over time - by the judges of earlier English courts. Customary Law - A type of legal system that serves as the basis of, or has influenced, the present-day laws in approximately 40 countries - mostly in Africa, but some in the Pacific islands, Europe, and the Near East. Customary law is also referred to as "primitive law," "unwritten law," "indigenous law," and "folk law." There is no single history of customary law such as that found in Roman civil law, English common law, Islamic law, or the Napoleonic Civil Code. The earliest systems of law in human society were customary, and usually developed in small agrarian and hunter-gatherer communities. As the term implies, customary law is based upon the customs of a community. Common attributes of customary legal systems are that they are seldom written down, they embody an organized set of rules regulating social relations, and they are agreed upon by members of the community. Although such law systems include sanctions for law infractions, resolution tends to be reconciliatory rather than punitive. A number of African states practiced customary law many centuries prior to colonial influences. Following colonization, such laws were written down and incorporated to varying extents into the legal systems imposed by their colonial powers. European Union Law - A sub-discipline of international law known as "supranational law" in which the rights of sovereign nations are limited in relation to one another. Also referred to as the Law of the European Union or Community Law, it is the unique and complex legal system that operates in tandem with the laws of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). Similar to federal states, the EU legal system ensures compliance from the member states because of the Union's decentralized political nature. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), established in 1952 by the Treaty of Paris, has been largely responsible for the development of EU law. Fundamental principles of European Union law include: subsidiarity - the notion that issues be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized competent authority; proportionality - the EU may only act to the extent needed to achieve its objectives; conferral - the EU is a union of member states, and all its authorities are voluntarily granted by its members; legal certainty - requires that legal rules be clear and precise; and precautionary principle - a moral and political principle stating that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action. French Law - A type of civil law that is the legal system of France. The French system also serves as the basis for, or is mixed with, other legal systems in approximately 50 countries, notably in North Africa, the Near East, and the French territories and dependencies. French law is primarily codified or systematic written civil law. Prior to the French Revolution (1789-1799), France had no single national legal system. Laws in the northern areas of present-day France were mostly local customs based on privileges and exemptions granted by kings and feudal lords, while in the southern areas Roman law predominated. The introduction of the Napoleonic Civil Code during the reign of Napoleon I in the first decade of the 19th century brought major reforms to the French legal system, many of which remain part of France's current legal structure, though all have been extensively amended or redrafted to address a modern nation. French law distinguishes between"public law" and "private law." Public law relates to government, the French Constitution, public administration, and criminal law. Private law covers issues between private citizens or corporations. The most recent changes to the French legal system - introduced in the 1980s - were the decentralization laws, which transferred authority from centrally appointed government representatives to locally elected representatives of the people. International Law - The law of the international community, or the body of customary rules and treaty rules accepted as legally binding by states in their relations with each other. International law differs from other legal systems in that it primarily concerns sovereign political entities. There are three separate disciplines of international law: public international law, which governs the relationship between provinces and international entities and includes treaty law, law of the sea, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law; private international law, which addresses legal jurisdiction; and supranational law - a legal framework wherein countries are bound by regional agreements in which the laws of the member countries are held inapplicable when in conflict with supranational laws. At present the European Union is the only entity under a supranational legal system. The term "international law" was coined by Jeremy Bentham in 1780 in his Principles of Morals and Legislation, though laws governing relations between states have been recognized from very early times (many centuries B.C.). Modern international law developed alongside the emergence and growth of the European nation-states beginning in the early 16th century. Other factors that influenced the development of international law included the revival of legal studies, the growth of international trade, and the practice of exchanging emissaries and establishing legations. The sources of International law are set out in Article 38-1 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice within the UN Charter. Islamic Law - The most widespread type of religious law, it is the legal system enforced in over 30 countries, particularly in the Near East, but also in Central and South Asia, Africa, and Indonesia. In many countries Islamic law operates in tandem with a civil law system. Islamic law is embodied in the sharia, an Arabic word meaning"the right path." Sharia covers all aspects of public and private life and organizes them into five categories: obligatory, recommended, permitted, disliked, and forbidden. The primary sources of sharia law are the Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, and the Sunnah, the teachings of the Prophet and his works. In addition to these two primary sources, traditional Sunni Muslims recognize the consensus of Muhammad's companions and Islamic jurists on certain issues, called ijmas, and various forms of reasoning, including analogy by legal scholars, referred to as qiyas. Shia Muslims reject ijmas and qiyas as sources of sharia law. Mixed Law - Also referred to as pluralistic law, mixed law consists of elements of some or all of the other main types of legal systems - civil, common, customary, and religious. The mixed legal systems of a number of countries came about when colonial powers overlaid their own legal systems upon colonized regions but retained elements of the colonies' existing legal systems. Napoleonic Civil Code - A type of civil law, referred to as the Civil Code or Code Civil des Francais, forms part of the legal system of France, and underpins the legal systems of Bolivia, Egypt, Lebanon, Poland, and the US state of Louisiana. The Civil Code was established under Napoleon I, enacted in 1804, and officially designated the Code Napoleon in 1807. This legal system combined the Teutonic civil law tradition of the northern provinces of France with the Roman law tradition of the southern and eastern regions of the country. The Civil Code bears similarities in its arrangement to the Roman Body of Civil Law (see Civil Law above). As enacted in 1804, the Code addressed personal status, property, and the acquisition of property. Codes added over the following six years included civil procedures, commercial law, criminal law and procedures, and a penal code. Religious Law - A legal system which stems from the sacred texts of religious traditions and in most cases professes to cover all aspects of life as a seamless part of devotional obligations to a transcendent, imminent, or deep philosophical reality. Implied as the basis of religious law is the concept of unalterability, because the word of God cannot be amended or legislated against by judges or governments. However, a detailed legal system generally requires human elaboration. The main types of religious law are sharia in Islam, halakha in Judaism, and canon law in some Christian groups. Sharia is the most widespread religious legal system (see Islamic Law), and is the sole system of law for countries including Iran, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia. No country is fully governed by halakha, but Jewish people may decide to settle disputes through Jewish courts and be bound by their rulings. Canon law is not a divine law as such because it is not found in revelation. It is viewed instead as human law inspired by the word of God and applying the demands of that revelation to the actual situation of the church. Canon law regulates the internal ordering of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Roman Law - A type of civil law developed in ancient Rome and practiced from the time of the city's founding (traditionally 753 B.C.) until the fall of the Western Empire in the 5th century A.D. Roman law remained the legal system of the Byzantine (Eastern Empire) until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Preserved fragments of the first legal text, known as the Law of the Twelve Tables, dating from the 5th century B.C., contained specific provisions designed to change the prevailing customary law. Early Roman law was drawn from custom and statutes; later, during the time of the empire, emperors asserted their authority as the ultimate source of law. The basis for Roman laws was the idea that the exact form - not the intention - of words or of actions produced legal consequences. It was only in the late 6th century A.D. that a comprehensive Roman code of laws was published (see Civil Law above). Roman law served as the basis of law systems developed in a number of continental European countries. Roman-Dutch Law - A type of civil law based on Roman law as applied in the Netherlands. Roman-Dutch law serves as the basis for legal systems in seven African countries, as well as Guyana, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. This law system, which originated in the province of Holland and expanded throughout the Netherlands (to be replaced by the French Civil Code in 1809), was instituted in a number of sub-Saharan African countries during the Dutch colonial period. The Dutch jurist/philosopher Hugo Grotius was the first to attempt to reduce Roman-Dutch civil law into a system in his Jurisprudence of Holland (written 1619-20, commentary published 1621). The Dutch historian/lawyer Simon van Leeuwen coined the term "Roman-Dutch law" in 1652. Spanish Law - A type of civil law, often referred to as the Spanish Civil Code, it is the present legal system of Spain and is the basis of legal systems in 12 countries mostly in Central and South America, but also in southwestern Europe, northern and western Africa, and southeastern Asia. The Spanish Civil Code reflects a complex mixture of customary, Roman, Napoleonic, local, and modern codified law. The laws of the Visigoth invaders of Spain in the 5th to 7th centuries had the earliest major influence on Spanish legal system development. The Christian Reconquest of Spain in the 11th through 15th centuries witnessed the development of customary law, which combined canon (religious) and Roman law. During several centuries of Hapsburg and Bourbon rule, systematic recompilations of the existing national legal system were attempted, but these often conflicted with local and regional customary civil laws. Legal system development for most of the 19th century concentrated on formulating a national civil law system, which was finally enacted in 1889 as the Spanish Civil Code. Several sections of the code have been revised, the most recent of which are the penal code in 1989 and the judiciary code in 2001. The Spanish Civil Code separates public and private law. Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, process law, financial and tax law, and international public law. Private law includes civil law, commercial law, labor law, and international private law. United States Law - A type of common law, which is the basis of the legal system of the United States and that of its island possessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific. This legal system has several layers, more possibly than in most other countries, and is due in part to the division between federal and state law. The United States was founded not as one nation but as a union of 13 colonies, each claiming independence from the British Crown. The US Constitution, implemented in 1789, began shifting power away from the states and toward the federal government, though the states today retain substantial legal authority. US law draws its authority from four sources: constitutional law, statutory law, administrative regulations, and case law. Constitutional law is based on the US Constitution and serves as the supreme federal law. Taken together with those of the state constitutions, these documents outline the general structure of the federal and state governments and provide the rules and limits of power. US statutory law is legislation enacted by the US Congress and is codified in the United States Code. The 50 state legislatures have similar authority to enact state statutes. Administrative law is the authority delegated to federal and state executive agencies. Case law, also referred to as common law, covers areas where constitutional or statutory law is lacking. Case law is a collection of judicial decisions, customs, and general principles that began in England centuries ago, that were adopted in America at the time of the Revolution, and that continue to develop today. Topic: Afghanistanbefore the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. (2021)before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. Topic: Akrotirilaws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters Topic: Albaniacivil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" is still present Topic: Algeriamixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices Topic: American Samoamixed legal system of US common law and customary law Topic: Andorramixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law Topic: Angolacivil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation Topic: Anguillacommon law based on the English model Topic: AntarcticaAntarctica is administered through annual meetings - known as Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings - which include consultative member nations, non-consultative member nations, observer organizations, and expert organizations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; more generally, the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees south latitude, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty; note - US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extraterritoriality; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities unless authorized by regulation or statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 2665, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact antarctica@state.gov Topic: Antigua and Barbudacommon law based on the English model Topic: Argentinacivil 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 Topic: Armeniacivil law system Topic: Arubacivil law system based on the Dutch civil code Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsthe laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply Topic: Australiacommon law system based on the English model Topic: Austriacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court Topic: Azerbaijancivil law system Topic: Bahamas, Thecommon law system based on the English model Topic: Bahrainmixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law Topic: Bangladeshmixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law Topic: BarbadosEnglish common law; no judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Belaruscivil 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 Topic: Belgiumcivil law system based on the French Civil Code; note - Belgian law continues to be modified in conformance with the legislative norms mandated by the European Union; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: BelizeEnglish common law Topic: Benincivil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law Topic: BermudaEnglish common law Topic: Bhutancivil law based on Buddhist religious law Topic: Boliviacivil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinacivil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts Topic: Botswanamixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law Topic: Bouvet Islandthe laws of Norway apply where applicable Topic: Brazilcivil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorythe laws of the UK apply where applicable Topic: British Virgin IslandsEnglish common law Topic: Bruneimixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in April 2019, the full sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with present common law codes Topic: Bulgariacivil law Topic: Burkina Fasocivil law based on the French model and customary law; in mid-2019, the National Assembly amended the penal code Topic: Burmamixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law Topic: Burundimixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law Topic: Cabo Verdecivil law system of Portugal Topic: Cambodiacivil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia) customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law Topic: Cameroonmixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law Topic: Canadacommon law system except in Quebec, where civil law based on the French civil code prevails Topic: Cayman IslandsEnglish common law and local statutes Topic: Central African Republiccivil law system based on the French model Topic: Chadmixed legal system of civil and customary law Topic: Chilecivil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Tribunal Topic: Chinacivil 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 Topic: Christmas Islandlegal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law Topic: Clipperton Islandthe laws of France apply Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandscommon law based on the Australian model Topic: Colombiacivil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes Topic: Comorosmixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecivil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law Topic: Congo, Republic of themixed legal system of French civil law and customary law Topic: Cook Islandscommon law similar to New Zealand common law Topic: Coral Sea Islandsthe common law legal system of Australia applies where applicable Topic: Costa Ricacivil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court Topic: Cote d'Ivoirecivil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court Topic: Croatiacivil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary; note - Croatian law was fully harmonized with the European Community acquis as of the June 2010 completion of EU accession negotiations Topic: Cubacivil law system based on Spanish civil code Topic: Curacaobased on Dutch civil lawbased on Dutch civil law Topic: Cyprusmixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy Topic: Czechianew civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 - based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory - and reintroducing former Czech legal terminology Topic: Denmarkcivil law; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Dhekelialaws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters Topic: Djiboutimixed legal system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law Topic: Dominicacommon law based on the English model Topic: Dominican Republiccivil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system Topic: Ecuadorcivil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities Topic: Egyptmixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; judicial review of the constitutionality of laws by the Supreme Constitutional Court Topic: El Salvadorcivil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court Topic: Equatorial Guineamixed system of civil and customary law Topic: Eritreamixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law Topic: Estoniacivil law system Topic: Eswatinimixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law Topic: Ethiopiacivil law system Topic: European Unionunique supranational law system in which, according to an interpretive declaration of member-state governments appended to the Treaty of Lisbon, "the Treaties and the law adopted by the Union on the basis of the Treaties have primacy over the law of Member States" under conditions laid down in the case law of the Court of Justice; key principles of EU law include fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and as resulting from constitutional traditions common to the EU's 27 member states; EU law is divided into 'primary' and 'secondary' legislation; primary legislation is derived from the consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and are the basis for all EU action; secondary legislation - which includes directives, regulations, and decisions - is derived from the principles and objectives set out in the treaties Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)English common law and local statutes Topic: Faroe Islandsthe laws of Denmark apply where applicable Topic: Fijicommon law system based on the English model Topic: Finlandcivil law system based on the Swedish model Topic: Francecivil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts Topic: French Polynesiathe laws of France, where applicable, apply Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsthe laws of France, where applicable, apply Topic: Gabonmixed legal system of French civil law and customary law Topic: Gambia, Themixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law Topic: Georgiacivil law system Topic: Germanycivil law system Topic: Ghanamixed system of English common law and customary law Topic: Gibraltarthe laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Topic: Greececivil legal system based on Roman law Topic: Greenlandthe laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas Topic: Grenadacommon law based on English model Topic: Guamcommon law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply Topic: Guatemalacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Guernseycustomary legal system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law Topic: Guineacivil law system based on the French model Topic: Guinea-Bissaumixed 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 Topic: Guyanacommon law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence Topic: Haiticivil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsthe laws of Australia apply where applicable Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)religious legal system based on canon (religious) law Topic: Hondurascivil law system Topic: Hong Kongmixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure); PRC imposition of National Security Law incorporates elements of Chinese civil law Topic: Hungarycivil legal system influenced by the German model Topic: Icelandcivil law system influenced by the Danish model Topic: Indiacommon law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Indonesiacivil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law Topic: Iranreligious legal system based on secular and Islamic law Topic: Iraqmixed legal system of civil and Islamic law Topic: Irelandcommon law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court Topic: Isle of Manthe laws of the UK apply where applicable and include Manx statutes Topic: Israelmixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws Topic: Italycivil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court Topic: Jamaicacommon law system based on the English model Topic: Jan Mayenthe laws of Norway apply where applicable  Topic: Japancivil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court Topic: Jerseythe laws of the UK apply where applicable; includes local statutes Topic: Jordanmixed system developed from codes instituted by the Ottoman Empire (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law Topic: Kazakhstancivil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation Topic: Kenyamixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in the new Supreme Court established by the new constitution Topic: KiribatiEnglish common law supplemented by customary law Topic: Korea, Northcivil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory Topic: Korea, Southmixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought Topic: Kosovocivil 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 Topic: Kuwaitmixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law Topic: Kyrgyzstancivil law system, which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws Topic: Laoscivil law system similar in form to the French system Topic: Latviacivil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices Topic: Lebanonmixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities Topic: Lesothomixed legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal Topic: Liberiamixed legal system of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law Topic: LibyaLibya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities Topic: Liechtensteincivil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law Topic: Lithuaniacivil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court Topic: Luxembourgcivil law system Topic: Macaucivil law system based on the Portuguese model Topic: Madagascarcivil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation Topic: Malawimixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal Topic: Malaysiamixed legal system of English common law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Court at request of supreme head of the federation Topic: MaldivesIslamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters Topic: Malicivil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court Topic: Maltamixed legal system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law Topic: Marshall Islandsmixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes Topic: Mauritaniamixed legal system of Islamic and French civil law Topic: Mauritiuscivil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law Topic: Mexicocivil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofmixed legal system of common and customary law Topic: Moldovacivil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts Topic: Monacocivil law system influenced by French legal tradition Topic: Mongoliacivil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Montenegrocivil law Topic: MontserratEnglish common law Topic: Moroccomixed legal system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court Topic: Mozambiquemixed 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 Topic: Namibiamixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law Topic: Naurumixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law Topic: Navassa Islandthe laws of the US apply where applicable Topic: NepalEnglish common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018 Topic: Netherlandscivil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General Topic: New Caledoniacivil law system based on French civil law Topic: New Zealandcommon law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori Topic: Nicaraguacivil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts Topic: Nigermixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law Topic: Nigeriamixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law Topic: NiueEnglish common law Topic: Norfolk IslandEnglish common law and the laws of Australia Topic: North Macedoniacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsthe laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation Topic: Norwaymixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts Topic: Omanmixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law Topic: Pakistancommon law system with Islamic law influence Topic: Palaumixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law Topic: Panamacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice Topic: Papua New Guineamixed legal system of English common law and customary law Topic: Paraguaycivil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice Topic: Perucivil law system Topic: Philippinesmixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law Topic: Pitcairn Islandslocal island by-laws Topic: Polandcivil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final Topic: Portugalcivil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts Topic: Puerto Ricocivil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system Topic: Qatarmixed legal system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters) Topic: Romaniacivil law system Topic: Russiacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: Rwandamixed legal system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court Topic: Saint BarthelemyFrench civil law Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaEnglish common law and local statutes Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisEnglish common law Topic: Saint LuciaEnglish common law Topic: Saint MartinFrench civil law Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench civil law Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesEnglish common law Topic: Samoamixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen Topic: San Marinocivil law system with Italian civil law influences Topic: Sao Tome and Principemixed legal system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law Topic: Saudi ArabiaIslamic (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 Topic: Senegalcivil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court Topic: Serbiacivil law system Topic: Seychellesmixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law Topic: Sierra Leonemixed legal system of English common law and customary law Topic: SingaporeEnglish common law Topic: Sint Maartenbased on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influencebased on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence Topic: Slovakiacivil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Topic: Sloveniacivil law system Topic: Solomon Islandsmixed legal system of English common law and customary law Topic: Somaliamixed legal system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer) Topic: South Africamixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsthe laws of the UK, where applicable, apply Topic: Spaincivil law system with regional variations Topic: Sri Lankamixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law Topic: Sudanmixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law; note - in mid-July 2020, Sudan amended 15 provisions of its 1991 penal code Topic: Surinamecivil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - a new criminal code was enacted in 2017 Topic: Svalbardthe laws of Norway where applicable apply; only the laws of Norway made explicitly applicable to Svalbard have effect there; the Svalbard Act and the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations, apply only to Svalbard; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations; as of June 2017, 45 nations had ratified the Svalbard Treaty Topic: Swedencivil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law Topic: Switzerlandcivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character Topic: Syriamixed legal system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts) Topic: Taiwancivil law system Topic: Tajikistancivil law system Topic: TanzaniaEnglish common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation Topic: Thailandcivil law system with common law influences Topic: Timor-Lestecivil law system based on the Portuguese model; note - penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively Topic: Togocustomary law system Topic: Tokelaucommon law system of New Zealand Topic: TongaEnglish common law Topic: Trinidad and TobagoEnglish common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court Topic: Tunisiamixed 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 Topic: Turkeycivil law system based on various European legal systems, notably the Swiss civil code Topic: Turkmenistancivil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsmixed legal system of English common law and civil law Topic: Tuvalumixed legal system of English common law and local customary law Topic: Ugandamixed legal system of English common law and customary law Topic: Ukrainecivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: United Arab Emiratesmixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law Topic: United Kingdomcommon law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 Topic: United Statescommon law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law, except Louisiana, where state law is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesthe laws of the US apply where applicable Topic: Uruguaycivil law system based on the Spanish civil code Topic: Uzbekistancivil law system; note - in early 2020, the president signed an amendment to the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility Topic: Vanuatumixed legal system of English common law, French law, and customary law Topic: Venezuelacivil law system based on the Spanish civil code Topic: Vietnamcivil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law Topic: Virgin IslandsUS common law Topic: Wake IslandUS common law Topic: Wallis and FutunaFrench civil law Topic: Worldthe legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including English and US law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic sharia law); an additional type of legal system - international law - governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another Topic: Yemenmixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law Topic: Zambiamixed legal system of English common law and customary law Topic: Zimbabwemixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law

20220901

countries-timor-leste-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries and by the 14th century exported aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. By mid-16th century, the Portuguese had colonized the island. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries and by the 14th century exported aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. By mid-16th century, the Portuguese had colonized the island. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. Topic: Geography Area: total: 14,874 sq km land: 14,874 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble Topic: People and Society Population: 1,445,006 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority Languages: Tetun Prasa 30.6%, Mambai 16.6%, Makasai 10.5%, Tetun Terik 6.1%, Baikenu 5.9%, Kemak 5.8%, Bunak 5.5%, Tokodede 4%, Fataluku 3.5%, Waima'a 1.8%, Galoli 1.4%, Naueti 1.4%, Idate 1.2%, Midiki 1.2%, other 4.5% (2015 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 97.6%, Protestant/Evangelical 2%, Muslim 0.2%, other 0.2% (2015 est.) Population growth rate: 2.15% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Dili Executive branch: chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since May 2022); note - the president is commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Taur Matan RUAK (since 22 June 2018) Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: lower middle-income Southeast Asian economy; government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns; endemic corruption undermines growth; foreign aid-dependent; wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracylower middle-income Southeast Asian economy; government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns; endemic corruption undermines growth; foreign aid-dependent; wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.19 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,200 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: rice, maize, vegetables, coffee, roots/tubers nes, other meats, cassava, pork, beans, mangoes/guavas Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth Exports: $60 million (2020 est.) Exports - partners: Singapore 51%, China 20%, Japan 9%, Indonesia 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, various vegetables, scrap iron (2019) Imports: $850 million (2020 est.) Imports - partners: Indonesia 39%, China 27%, Singapore 10%, Malaysia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, cement, delivery trucks, motorcycles (2019)Page last updated: Tuesday, Aug 02, 2022

20220901

countries-australia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Australia. 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 required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [61] (02) 6214-5600; US Embassy in Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Australia; https://au.usembassy.gov/; AskEmbassyCanberra@state.gov Telephone Code: 61 Local Emergency Phone: 000 (112 on cell phone) 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 arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Currency (Code): Dollars (AUD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): I Major Languages: English 72.7%, other minority languages Major Religions: Protestant 23.1%, Roman Catholic 22.6%, other Christian 4.2%, other minority religions Time Difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October, ends first Sunday in April; Australia has four time zones, including Lord Howe Island (UTC+10:30) UTC +8, +9, +10 Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Sydney (includes Opera House & Harbour Bridge); Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (aka Ayers Rock-the Olgas); Blue Mountains National Park; Bondi Beach; Daintree National Park; Fraser Island; Kakadu National Park; Darling Harbour; Australian National Maritime Museum; the Outback; Port Campbell National Park Major Sports: Australian football Cultural Practices: Australians often greet each other with "G' day," or "G' day, mate," but if a foreigner were to use this phrase it might come across as patronizing. Tipping Guidelines: Restaurant prices are required by law to include tax and service charges. Rounding up the bill to the nearest $5-10 (AUD) would be appropriate for exceptional service. Try to leave cash, since it is common for servers not to receive credit card tips. Round up the fare for taxi driver's tip. Souvenirs: Boomerangs and other indigenous carved items, stuffed toy native animals (such as kangaroo, koala, wombat, and platypus), jewelry, woolen goods, vegemitePlease 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

20220901

countries-curacao

Topic: Photos of Curacao Topic: Introduction Background: The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on the island from South America in about A.D. 1000, were largely enslaved by the Spanish early in the 16th century and forcibly relocated to other colonies where labor was needed. Curacao was seized by the Dutch from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao was hard hit economically by the Dutch abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oilfields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean colonies were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 12 10 N, 69 00 W12 10 N, 69 00 W Map references: Central America and the CaribbeanCentral America and the Caribbean Area: total: 444 sq km land: 444 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: more than twice the size of Washington, DCmore than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 Coastline: 364 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/yeartropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year Terrain: generally low, hilly terraingenerally low, hilly terrain Elevation: highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springscalcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs Land use: agricultural land: 10% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018) other: 90% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest Natural hazards: Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatenedCuracao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened Geography - note: Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser AntillesCuracao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles Map description: Curacao map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea.Curacao map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 152,379 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Curacaoan adjective: Curacaoan; Dutch Ethnic groups: Curacaoan 75.4%, Dutch 6%, Dominican 3.6%, Colombian 3%, Bonairean, Sint Eustatian, Saban 1.5%, Haitian 1.2%, Surinamese 1.2%, Venezuelan 1.1%, Aruban 1.1%, other 5%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.) Languages: Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 80%, Dutch (official) 8.8%, Spanish 5.6%, English (official) 3.1%, other 2.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.) note: data represent most spoken language in household Religions: Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.68% (male 15,227/female 14,553) 15-24 years: 13.38% (male 10,438/female 9,806) 25-54 years: 36.55% (male 27,733/female 27,589) 55-64 years: 13.88% (male 9,130/female 11,873) 65 years and over: 16.52% (2020 est.) (male 10,127/female 14,869) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.9 youth dependency ratio: 28.3 elderly dependency ratio: 27.5 potential support ratio: 3.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 36.7 years male: 34.4 years female: 39.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.32% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest Urbanization: urban population: 89% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 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.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.42 years male: 77.09 years female: 81.87 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% 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: 4.9% of GDP (2013 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 18 years female: 18 years (2013) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.3% male: 25.4% female: 34.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: problems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; the refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela; it has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls; the release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly closeproblems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; the refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela; it has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls; the release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly close Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 5.39 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/yeartropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year Land use: agricultural land: 10% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018) other: 90% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 89% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.57% 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: 24,704 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 494 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2013 est.) Total renewable water resources: NA Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Country of Curacao conventional short form: Curacao local long form: Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento) local short form: Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento) former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies etymology: the most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning "Island of the Cure" or "Island of Healing") or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale's function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen Government type: parliamentary democracyparliamentary democracy 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: Willemstad geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 55 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Prince William II of Orange (1626-1650), who served as stadtholder (Dutch head of state) from 1647 to 1650, shortly after the the Dutch captured Curacao from the Spanish in 1634 Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: Curacao is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maartennone (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 SundayKing'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 Constitution: history: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands Legal system: based on Dutch civil lawbased on Dutch civil law 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 Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet sworn-in by the governor elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; next election scheduled for 2016 Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament of Curacao (21 seats; members directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - MFK 28.1%, PAR 14.1%, PNP 12.6%, MAN 6.5%, KEM 5.4%, TPK 5.3%; seats by party - MFK 9, PAR 4, PNP 4, MAN 2, KEM 1, TPK 1; composition - NA 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" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life subordinate courts: first instance courts, appeals court; specialized courts Political parties and leaders: Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT [Amparo dos SANTOS] Korsou Esun Miho or KEM [Michelangelo MARTINES] Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gilmar PISAS] Movementu Progresivo or MP [Marylin MOSES] Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN [Hensley KOEIMAN] Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR [Eugene RHUGGENAATH] Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN [Suzanne CAMELIA-ROMER] Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP [Ruthmilda LARMONIE-CECILIA] Pueblo Soberano or PS [Ben WHITEMAN]  Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK [Rennox CALMES]  Un Korsou Hustu [Omayra LEEFLANG] International organization participation: Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPUCaricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Margy BOND (since January 2022); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten embassy: P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1 mailing address: 3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC  20521-3160 telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489 email address and website: ACSCuracao@state.gov https://cw.usconsulate.gov/ Flag description: on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive National symbol(s): laraha (citrus tree); national colors: blue, yellow, white National anthem: name: "Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao) lyrics/music: Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad Topic: Economy Economic overview: Most of Curacao's GDP results from services. Tourism, petroleum refining and bunkering, offshore finance, and transportation and communications are the mainstays of this small island economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Curacao has limited natural resources, poor soil, and inadequate water supplies, and budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and education systems. Although GDP grew only slightly during the past decade, Curacao enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared to other countries in the region. Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers, and the port of Willemstad hosts a free trade zone and a dry dock. Venezuelan state-owned oil company PdVSA, under a contract in effect until 2019, leases the single refinery on the island from the government, directly employing some 1,000 people. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US and Asia. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Venezuela being the major suppliers. The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade. Curacao is an Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) of the European Union. Nationals of Curacao are citizens of the European Union, even though it is not a member. Based on its OCT status, products that originate in Curacao have preferential access to the EU and are exempt from import duties. Curacao is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and, as a result, products originating in Curacao can be imported tax free into the US if at least 35% has been added to the value of these products in Curacao. The island has state-of-the-art information and communication technology connectivity with the rest of the world, including a Tier IV datacenter. With several direct satellite and submarine optic fiber cables, Curacao has one of the best Internet speeds and reliability in the Western Hemisphere.Most of Curacao's GDP results from services. Tourism, petroleum refining and bunkering, offshore finance, and transportation and communications are the mainstays of this small island economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Curacao has limited natural resources, poor soil, and inadequate water supplies, and budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and education systems. Although GDP grew only slightly during the past decade, Curacao enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared to other countries in the region.Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers, and the port of Willemstad hosts a free trade zone and a dry dock. Venezuelan state-owned oil company PdVSA, under a contract in effect until 2019, leases the single refinery on the island from the government, directly employing some 1,000 people. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US and Asia. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Venezuela being the major suppliers.The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade. Curacao is an Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) of the European Union. Nationals of Curacao are citizens of the European Union, even though it is not a member. Based on its OCT status, products that originate in Curacao have preferential access to the EU and are exempt from import duties. Curacao is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and, as a result, products originating in Curacao can be imported tax free into the US if at least 35% has been added to the value of these products in Curacao. The island has state-of-the-art information and communication technology connectivity with the rest of the world, including a Tier IV datacenter. With several direct satellite and submarine optic fiber cables, Curacao has one of the best Internet speeds and reliability in the Western Hemisphere. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $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.) Real GDP growth rate: 3.6% (2012 est.) 2% (2011 est.) 0.1% (2010 est.) Real GDP per capita: $24,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $25,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $25,475 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $5.6 billion (2012 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2013 est.) 2.8% (2012 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2012 est.) industry: 15.5% (2012 est.) services: 83.8% (2012 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.9% (2016 est.) government consumption: 33.6% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.4% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 17.5% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.5% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 73,010 (2013) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 16.9% services: 81.8% (2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 13% (2013 est.) 9.8% (2011 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.3% male: 25.4% female: 34.5% (2018 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.4% (of GDP) (2012 est.) Public debt: 33.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 40.6% of GDP (2011 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.) Current account balance: -$400 million (2011 est.) -$600 million (2010 est.) Exports: $1.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 27%, United States 17%, Spain 14%, Ecuador 7%, India 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, precious metal scraps, petroleum coke, frozen fish, coal tar oil (2019) Imports: $2.33 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.75 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 35%, Netherlands 24%, China 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, perfumes (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $0 (31 December 2017 est.) 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) Refined petroleum products - production: 189,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 167,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 45,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 54,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 182,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 2 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .cw.cw Internet users: total: 107,060 (2019 est.) percent of population: 68% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 55,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PJ Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 550 km Merchant marine: total: 63 by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 56 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Willemstad oil terminal(s): Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal) bulk cargo port(s): Fuik Bay (phosphate rock) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Curaçao Militia (CURMIL) (2022) Military - note: defense 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 (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 14,200 (Venezuela) (2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Curacao; undocumented migrants, including the growing population of Venezuelans, are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking; Curacaoan and foreign women and girls, mostly Dominican and Venezuelan, are exploited in sex trafficking; migrants from other Caribbean countries, South America, China, and India are subject to forced labor in construction, domestic servitude, landscaping, minimarkets, retail, and restaurants tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Curacao does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but it is making significant efforts to do so; the government prosecuted and convicted more traffickers than in the previous reporting period; however, authorities identified fewer victims, and assistance to victims was contingent upon their cooperation with law enforcement in prosecuting traffickers; victims who were in the country illegally, including Venezuelans, were at risk of deportation if they did not participate in trials against their traffickers; the government did not operate centers for trafficking victims but provided some funding to NGOs and international organizations to care for victims (2020) Illicit drugs: northbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe  northbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe 

20220901

field-national-heritage

World Heritage Sites are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural, historic, scientific, and natural heritage sites around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This entry includes two subfields: total World Heritage Sites and selected World Heritage Site locales. The former consists of natural sites, cultural sites, and mixed (natural and cultural) sites in a country; the latter presents a representative sample of the sites found within a country. Topic: Afghanistantotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam, Buddhas of Bamyan Topic: Albaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Butrint, Historic Berat and Gjirokastër, Primeval Beech Forests, Lake Ohrid Region Topic: Algeriatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Beni Hammad Fort (c), Djémila (c), Casbah of Algiers (c), M'zab Valley (c), Tassili n'Ajjer (m), Timgad (c), Tipasa (c) Topic: Andorratotal World Heritage Sites:  1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley Topic: Angolatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mbanza-Kongo Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Naval Dockyard  Topic: Argentinatotal 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: Armeniatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley, Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin Topic: Australiatotal World Heritage Sites: 20 (4 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed); note - includes one site on Heard Island and McDonald Islands selected World Heritage Site locales: Great Barrier Reef (n), Greater Blue Mountains Area (n), Fraser Island (n), Gondwana Rainforests (n), Lord Howe Island Group (n), Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (c), Shark Bay (n), Sydney Opera House (c), Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (m), Kakadu National Park (m) Topic: Austriatotal World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n) Topic: Azerbaijantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Walled City of Baku, Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, Historic Center of Sheki Topic: Bahraintotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds, Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun, Bahrain Pearling Path Topic: Bangladeshtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c), Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c), Sundarbans (n) Topic: Barbadostotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison Topic: Belarustotal 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: Belgiumtotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (14 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c) Topic: Belizetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System Topic: Benintotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n) Topic: Bermudatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the UK entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications Topic: Boliviatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Potosi (c), El Fuerte de Samaipata (c), Historic Sucre (c), Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (c), Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (n), Tiahuanacu (c),  Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c), Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge (c), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c), Primeval Beech Forests - Janj Forest (n) Topic: Botswanatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c), Okavango Delta (n) Topic: Braziltotal World Heritage Sites: 23 (15 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c), Historic Salvador de Bahia (c), Historic Ouro Preto (c), Historic Olinda (c), Iguaçu National Park (n), Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c), Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c), Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n), Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n) Topic: Bulgariatotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c), Madara Rider (c), Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c), Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c), Rila Monastery (c), Ancient City of Nessebar (c), Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c), Srebarna Nature Reserve (n), Pirin National Park (n), Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n) Topic: Burkina Fasototal 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: Burmatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Pyu Ancient Cities, Bagan Topic: Cabo Verdetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha, Historic Center of Ribeira Grande Topic: Cambodiatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Angkor, Temple of Preah Vihear, Sambor Prei Kuk Topic: Cameroontotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve, Sangha Trinational Forest Topic: Canadatotal World Heritage Sites: 20 (9 cultural, 10 natural, 1 mixed) (2021) selected World Heritage Site locales: L'Anse aux Meadows (c), Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (n), Dinosaur Provincial Park (n), Historic District of Old Quebec (c), Old Town Lunenburg (c), Wood Buffalo National Park (n), Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (c), Gros Morne National Park (n) Topic: Central African Republictotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park, Sangha Trinational Forest Topic: Chadtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m) Topic: Chiletotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rapa Nui National Park; Churches of Chiloe; Historic Valparaiso; Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Sewell Mining Town; Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System; Chinchorro archeological sites Topic: Chinatotal 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) Topic: Colombiatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Chiribiquete National Park (m), Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c), Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c), Los Katíos National Park (n), Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n), Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c), San Agustín Archaeological Park (c), Colonial Cartagena (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Garamba National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Salonga National Park, Virunga National Park Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sangha Trinational Forest Topic: Costa Ricatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Guanacaste Conservation Area (n), Cocos Island National Park (n), Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c), La Amistad International Park (n) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal 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: Croatiatotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n), Historic Split (c), Old City of Dubrovnik (c), Euphrasian Basilica, Historic Trogir (c), Šibenik Cathedral (c), Stari Grad Plain (c), Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c), Primeval Beech Forests (n), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c) Topic: Cubatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c) Topic: Curacaototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad Topic: Cyprustotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos, Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, Choirokoitia Topic: Czechiatotal World Heritage Sites: 16 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Prague; Historic Telč; Historic Český Krumlov; Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape; Historic Kutná Hora; Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc; Karlovy Vary Spa  Topic: Denmarktotal World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c) Topic: Dominicatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area Topic: Dominican Republictotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Colonial City of Santo Domingo Topic: Ecuadortotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Quito (c), Galápagos Islands (n), Historic Cuenca (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c), Sangay National Park (n) Topic: Egypttotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Memphis and its Necropolis (c), Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (c), Nubian Monuments (c), Saint Catherine Area (c), Abu Mena (c), Historic Cairo (c), Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) (n) Topic: El Salvadortotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site Topic: Eritreatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City Topic: Estoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn,  Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Ethiopiatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Axum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c) Topic: Fijitotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Levuka Historical Port Town Topic: Finlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c), Old Rauma (c), Petäjävesi Old Church (c), Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c), Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c), High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n), Struve Geodetic Arc (c) Topic: Francetotal World Heritage Sites: 49 (43 cultural, 5 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in New Caledonia and one site in French Polynesia selected World Heritage Site locales: Chartres Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Versailles (c); Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (c); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (c); Paris, Banks of the Seine (c); The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (c); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (c); Amiens Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (c); Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (c) Topic: French Polynesiatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the France entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Taputapuātea Topic: Gabontotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m), Ivindo National Park (n) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, Stone Circles of Senegambia Topic: Georgiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gelati Monastery (c), Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c), Upper Svaneti (c), Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n) Topic: Germanytotal World Heritage Sites: 51 (48 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (c); Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Upper Middle Rhine Valley (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar, and Upper Harz Water Management System (c); Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); Old Town of Regensburg (c) Topic: Ghanatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings Topic: Greecetotal World Heritage Sites: 18 (16 cultural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c), Archaeological site of Delphi (c), Meteora (m), Medieval City of Rhodes (c), Archaeological site of Olympia (c), Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c), Old Town of Corfu (c), Mount Athos (m), Delos (c), Archaeological Site of Philippi (c) Topic: Greenlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c) Topic: Guatemalatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Guatemala (c), Tikal National Park (m), Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua (c) Topic: Guineatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve Topic: Haititotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the Australia entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Heard Island and McDonald Islands Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City Topic: Hondurastotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Maya Site of Copan (c), Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (n) Topic: Hungarytotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue (c); Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (c); Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (c); Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (c); Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (c) Topic: Icelandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c), Surtsey (n), Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n) Topic: Indiatotal 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: Indonesiatotal 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: Irantotal World Heritage Sites: 26 (24 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Persepolis (c), Tchogha Zanbil (c), Bam and its Cultural Landscape (c), Golestan Palace (c), Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (c), Pasargadae (c), Hyrcanian Forests (n), Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (c), Meidan Emam, Esfahan (c), Bisotun (c) Topic: Iraqtotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (c), Babylon (c), Erbil Citadel (c), Hatra (c), Samarra Archaeological City (c), The Ahwar (Marshland) of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (m) Topic: Irelandtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne, Sceilg Mhichíl Topic: Israeltotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Bahá’i Holy Places; Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel; Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin; Necropolis of Bet She’arim Topic: Italytotal 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: Jamaicatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains Topic: Japantotal 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: Jordantotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Petra (c), Quseir Amra (c), Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) (c), Wadi Rum Protected Area (m), Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (c), As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality (c) Topic: Kazakhstantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c), Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c), Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n), Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c), Western Tien-Shan (n) Topic: Kenyatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (4 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c) Topic: Kiribatitotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area Topic: Korea, Northtotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Koguryo Tombs Complex, Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong Topic: Korea, Southtotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (n); Changdeokgung Palace Complex (c); Jongmyo Shrine (c); Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (c); Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (c); Gyeongju Historic Areas (c); Namhansanseong (c); Baekje Historic Areas (c); Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (c); Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (c) Topic: Kosovototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n) Topic: Laostotal 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: Latviatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga, Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Lebanontotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre, Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) Topic: Lesothototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park Topic: Libyatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus, Old Town of Ghadamès Topic: Lithuaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center, Curonian Spit, Kernavė Archaeological Site, Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Luxembourgtotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Luxembourg City Old Quarters and Fortifications Topic: Madagascartotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n), Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c), Atsinanana Rainforests  (n) Topic: Malawitotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n), Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c) Topic: Malaysiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Malacca and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c) Topic: Malitotal 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: Maltatotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta, Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Megalithic Temples of Malta Topic: Marshall Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site Topic: Mauritaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Banc d'Arguin National Park (n); Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c) Topic: Mauritiustotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat, Le Morne Cultural Landscape Topic: Mexicototal 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: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia Topic: Moldovatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Mongoliatotal 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: Montenegrototal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c), Durmitor National Park (n), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c), Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c) Topic: Moroccototal World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez, Medina of Marrakesh, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Historic City of Meknes, Archaeological Site of Volubilis, Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin), Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador), Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida), Historic and Modern Rabat Topic: Mozambiquetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique Topic: Namibiatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c), Namib Sand Sea (n) Topic: Nepaltotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c) Topic: Netherlandstotal World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural); note - includes one site in Curacao selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c) Topic: New Caledoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia Topic: New Zealandtotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n), Tongariro National Park (m), New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n) Topic: Nicaraguatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of León Viejo, León Cathedral Topic: Nigertotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n), Historic Agadez (c) Topic: Nigeriatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove Topic: North Macedoniatotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region, Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians Topic: Norwaytotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bryggen (c), Urnes Stave Church (c), Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c), Rock Art of Alta (c), Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c), Struve Geodetic Arc (c), West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n), Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c) Topic: Omantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat Topic: Pakistantotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort Topic: Palautotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Topic: Panamatotal 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: Papua New Guineatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site Topic: Paraguaytotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue Topic: Perutotal World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c), Machu Picchu (m), Chavin (c), Historic Lima (c), Huascarán National Park (n), Chan Chan (c), Manú National Park (n), Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c), Rio Abiseo National Park (m), Historic Arequipa (c), Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) Topic: Philippinestotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c), Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n), Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c), Historic Vigan (c), Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n), Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n) Topic: Polandtotal World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c) Topic: Portugaltotal 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: Puerto Ricototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site Topic: Qatartotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site Topic: Romaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n), Churches of Moldavia (c), Monastery of Horezu (c), Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c), Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c), Historic Center of Sighişoara (c), Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n), Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c) Topic: Russiatotal World Heritage Sites: 30 (19 cultural, 11 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (c); Historic Saint Petersburg (c); Novodevichy Convent (c); Historic Monuments of Novgorod (c); Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (c); Volcanoes of Kamchatka (n); Lake Baikal (n); Central Sikhote-Alin (n); Historic Derbent (c); Kazan Kremlin (c) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Topic: Saint Luciatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area Topic: San Marinototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal 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: Senegaltotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c) Topic: Serbiatotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards Topic: Seychellestotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll, Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve Topic: Singaporetotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens Topic: Slovakiatotal 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: Sloveniatotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n), Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c), Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c), The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: East Rennell Topic: South Africatotal 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: Spaintotal World Heritage Sites: 49 (43 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c);  Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); El Escorial (c) Topic: Sri Lankatotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c), Ancient City of Sigiriya (c), Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c), Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c), Sacred City of Kandy (c), Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n), Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c), Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n) Topic: Sudantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c), Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c), Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n) Topic: Surinametotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n), Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c) Topic: Swedentotal World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c), Laponian Area (m), High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n), Birka and Hovgården (c), Hanseatic Town of Visby (c), Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c), Naval Port of Karlskrona (c), Rock Carvings in Tanum (c), Engelsberg Ironworks (c), Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c) Topic: Switzerlandtotal World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c), Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n), Monte San Giorgio (n), Abbey of St Gall (c), Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c), Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c), La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c), Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c), Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c), Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c) Topic: Syriatotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Damascus, Ancient City of Bosra, Site of Palmyra, Ancient City of Aleppo, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria Topic: Tajikistantotal World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c), Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n) Topic: Tanzaniatotal World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m), Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c), Serengeti National Park (n), Selous Game Reserve (n), Kilimanjaro National Park (n), Stone Town of Zanzibar (c), Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c) Topic: Thailandtotal World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Ayutthaya (c), Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c), Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n), Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c), Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n), Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n) Topic: Togototal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba Topic: Tunisiatotal 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: Turkey (Turkiye)total World Heritage Sites: 19 (17 cultural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Troy (c), Ephesus (c), Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (c), Hierapolis-Pamukkale (m), Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (m), Göbekli Tepe (c), Historic Areas of Istanbul (c), Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (c), Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (c), Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (c) Topic: Turkmenistantotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Merv, Kunya-Urgench, Parthian Fortresses of Nisa Topic: Ugandatotal 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: Ukrainetotal 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: United Arab Emiratestotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas) Topic: United Kingdomtotal World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n), Ironbridge Gorge (c), Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c), Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c), Blenheim Palace (c), City of Bath (c), Tower of London (c), St Kilda (m), Maritime Greenwich (c), Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c), The English Lake District (c) Topic: United Statestotal World Heritage Sites: 24 (11 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico selected World Heritage Site locales: Yellowstone National Park (n), Grand Canyon National Park (n), Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (c), Independence Hall (c), Statue of Liberty (c), Yosemite National Park (n), Papahānaumokuākea (m), Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (c), The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (c), Mesa Verde National Park (c), Mammoth Cave National Park (n), Monticello (c), Olympic National Park (n) Topic: Uruguaytotal World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento, Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape, The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida Topic: Uzbekistantotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c), Historic Bukhara (c), Historic Shakhrisyabz (c), Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c), Western Tien Shan (n) Topic: Vanuatutotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain Topic: Venezuelatotal 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: Vietnamtotal World Heritage Sites: 8 (5 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Complex of Hué Monuments (c), Ha Long Bay (n), Hoi An Ancient Town (c), My Son Sanctuary (c), Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (n), Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (c), Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (c), Trang An Landscape Complex (m) Topic: Worldtotal World Heritage Sites: 1154 (897 cultural, 218 natural, 39 mixed) Topic: Yementotal World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c), Old City of Sana'a (c), Historic Town of Zabid (c), Socotra Archipelago (n) Topic: Zambiatotal World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Topic: Zimbabwetotal World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas (n), Great Zimbabwe National Monument (c), Khami Ruins National Monument (c), Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (n), Matobo Hills (c)

20220901

countries-azerbaijan

Topic: Photos of Azerbaijan Topic: Introduction Background: Azerbaijan - a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan remains involved in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh was a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed which sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War that took place from September-November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it had occupied and also the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the culturally and historically important city that Azerbaijanis call Shusha and Armenians call Shushi. Despite Azerbaijan’s territorial gains, peace in the region remains elusive because of unsettled issues concerning the delimitation of borders, the opening of regional transportation and communication links, the status of ethnic enclaves near border regions, and the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh to supervise the cease-fire for a minimum five-year term have not prevented the outbreak of sporadic, low-level military clashes along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in 2021. In the three decades following its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has succeeded in significantly reducing the poverty rate and has directed revenues from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism, pointing to elections that are neither free nor fair, state control of the media, and the systematic abuse of human rights targeting individuals and groups who are perceived as threats to the administration. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, formerly the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president in the midst of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. Heydar ALIYEV groomed his son to succeed him, and Ilham ALIYEV subsequently became president in 2003. As a result of two national referendums that eliminated presidential term limits and extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, President ALIYEV secured a fourth term in April 2018 in an election that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms are underway to diversify the country’s economy away from its dependence on oil and gas; additional reforms are needed to address weaknesses in government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors, and the court system.Azerbaijan - a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan remains involved in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh was a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed which sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories.Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War that took place from September-November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it had occupied and also the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the culturally and historically important city that Azerbaijanis call Shusha and Armenians call Shushi. Despite Azerbaijan’s territorial gains, peace in the region remains elusive because of unsettled issues concerning the delimitation of borders, the opening of regional transportation and communication links, the status of ethnic enclaves near border regions, and the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh to supervise the cease-fire for a minimum five-year term have not prevented the outbreak of sporadic, low-level military clashes along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in 2021. In the three decades following its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has succeeded in significantly reducing the poverty rate and has directed revenues from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism, pointing to elections that are neither free nor fair, state control of the media, and the systematic abuse of human rights targeting individuals and groups who are perceived as threats to the administration. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, formerly the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president in the midst of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. Heydar ALIYEV groomed his son to succeed him, and Ilham ALIYEV subsequently became president in 2003. As a result of two national referendums that eliminated presidential term limits and extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, President ALIYEV secured a fourth term in April 2018 in an election that international observers noted had serious shortcomings. Reforms are underway to diversify the country’s economy away from its dependence on oil and gas; additional reforms are needed to address weaknesses in government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors, and the court system.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 86,600 sq km 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 Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: total: 2,468 km border countries (5): Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: dry, semiarid steppe Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea Elevation: highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m mean elevation: 384 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 14,277 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population Natural hazards: droughts Geography - note: both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked Map description: Azerbaijan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caspian Sea.Azerbaijan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caspian Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 10,353,296 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezghin 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4% (2009 est.) note: the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan on the basis of the borders recognized when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians; Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.) major-language sample(s): Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Russian is widely spoken Religions: Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.) note: religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, percentages for actual practicing adherents are probably much lower Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.84% (male 1,235,292/female 1,095,308) 15-24 years: 13.17% (male 714,718/female 629,494) 25-54 years: 45.29% (male 2,291,600/female 2,330,843) 55-64 years: 11.41% (male 530,046/female 634,136) 65 years and over: 7.29% (2020 est.) (male 289,604/female 454,769) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 43.4 youth dependency ratio: 33.7 elderly dependency ratio: 9.7 potential support ratio: 10.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.6 years male: 31.1 years female: 34.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.67% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.59 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population Urbanization: urban population: 57.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh Major urban areas - population: 2.401 million BAKU (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 24 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.15 years male: 71.08 years female: 77.41 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.9% (2011) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 93.3% of population total: 97.1% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 6.7% of population total: 2.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4% (2019) Physicians density: 3.17 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: (2020 est.) NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,900 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 24% (2020 est.) male: 47.9% (2020 est.) female: 0.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2013) Education expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 10.9% female: 14.2% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton; surface and underground water are polluted by untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 37.62 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 44.87 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: dry, semiarid steppe Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 57.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Nagorno-Karabakh Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,930,349 tons (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 449.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.062 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 9.27 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 34.675 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Baku (Baki, Baky) geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time etymology: the name derives from the Persian designation of the city "bad-kube" meaning "wind-pounded city" and refers to the harsh winds and severe snow storms that can hit the city note: at approximately 28 m below sea level, Baku's elevation makes it the lowest capital city in the world Administrative divisions: 66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular); rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardabcities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax Independence: 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan) National holiday: Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2009, 2016 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; 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 Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum expanded the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice-president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president (11 April 2018) in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9% note: OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held early on 9 February 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - YAP 69, CSP 3, AVP 1, CUP 1, ADMP 1, PDR 1, Great Order 1, National Front Party 1, REAL 1, VP 1, Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front 1, party unknown 1, independent 41; composition - men 103, women 22, percent of women 17.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP [Elshan MASAYEV] Civic Solidarity Party or VHP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLI] Civic Unity Party or CUP [Sabir HAJIYEV] Great Order Party [Fazil MUSTAFA] Islamic Party of Azerbaijan or AiP [Mavsum SAMADOV] Musavat [Arif HAJILI] Popular Front Party [Ali KARIMLI] Motherland Party or AVP [Fazail AGAMALI] National Front Party [Razi NURULLAYEV] National Revival Movement Party [Faraj GULIYEV] Party for Democratic Reforms or PDR [Asim MOLLAZADE] Republican Alternative Party or REAL [Ilgar MAMMADOV] Social Democratic Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV] Social Prosperity Party [Asli KAZIMOVA] Unity Party or VP [Tahir KARIMLI] Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [Gudrat HASANGULIYEV] New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyasi) or YAP [Ilham ALIYEV] International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lee LITZENBERGER (since 12 March 2019) embassy: 111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku mailing address: 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300 FAX: [994] (12) 488-3330 email address and website: BakuACS@state.gov https://az.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent moon and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent the eight Turkic peoples of the world National symbol(s): flames of fire; national colors: blue, red, green National anthem: name: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan) lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV note: adopted 1992; although originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, "Azerbaijan Marsi" did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki Topic: Economy Economic overview: Prior to the decline in global oil prices since 2014, Azerbaijan's high economic growth was attributable to rising energy exports and to some non-export sectors. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk, and the Baku-Supsa Pipelines remain the main economic driver, but efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. The expected completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. First gas to Turkey through the SGC is expected in 2018 with project completion expected by 2020-21.   Declining oil prices caused a 3.1% contraction in GDP in 2016, and a 0.8% decline in 2017, highlighted by a sharp reduction in the construction sector. The economic decline was accompanied by higher inflation, a weakened banking sector, and two sharp currency devaluations in 2015. Azerbaijan’s financial sector continued to struggle. In May 2017, Baku allowed the majority state-owed International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), the nation’s largest bank, to default on some of its outstanding debt and file for restructuring in Azerbaijani courts; IBA also filed in US and UK bankruptcy courts to have its restructuring recognized in their respective jurisdictions.   Azerbaijan has made limited progress with market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. The government has, however, made efforts to combat corruption, particularly in customs and government services. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress, including the need for more foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics remains important, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is seeking new markets for non-oil/gas exports - mainly in the agricultural sector - with Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, the US, and others. It is also improving Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat for use as a regional transportation and logistics hub.   Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to develop export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to improve the business environment and diversify the economy. In late 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms that identified key non-energy segments of the economy for development, such as agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the long-awaited Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, began limited service.Prior to the decline in global oil prices since 2014, Azerbaijan's high economic growth was attributable to rising energy exports and to some non-export sectors. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, the Baku-Novorossiysk, and the Baku-Supsa Pipelines remain the main economic driver, but efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. The expected completion of the geopolitically important Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) between Azerbaijan and Europe will open up another source of revenue from gas exports. First gas to Turkey through the SGC is expected in 2018 with project completion expected by 2020-21. Declining oil prices caused a 3.1% contraction in GDP in 2016, and a 0.8% decline in 2017, highlighted by a sharp reduction in the construction sector. The economic decline was accompanied by higher inflation, a weakened banking sector, and two sharp currency devaluations in 2015. Azerbaijan’s financial sector continued to struggle. In May 2017, Baku allowed the majority state-owed International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), the nation’s largest bank, to default on some of its outstanding debt and file for restructuring in Azerbaijani courts; IBA also filed in US and UK bankruptcy courts to have its restructuring recognized in their respective jurisdictions. Azerbaijan has made limited progress with market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. The government has, however, made efforts to combat corruption, particularly in customs and government services. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress, including the need for more foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. While trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics remains important, Azerbaijan has expanded trade with Turkey and Europe and is seeking new markets for non-oil/gas exports - mainly in the agricultural sector - with Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, the US, and others. It is also improving Baku airport and the Caspian Sea port of Alat for use as a regional transportation and logistics hub. Long-term prospects depend on world oil prices, Azerbaijan's ability to develop export routes for its growing gas production, and its ability to improve the business environment and diversify the economy. In late 2016, the president approved a strategic roadmap for economic reforms that identified key non-energy segments of the economy for development, such as agriculture, logistics, information technology, and tourism. In October 2017, the long-awaited Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, stretching from the Azerbaijani capital to Kars in north-eastern Turkey, began limited service. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $138.51 billion (2020 est.) $144.74 billion (2019 est.) $141.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.1% (2017 est.) -3.1% (2016 est.) 0.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $13,700 (2020 est.) $14,400 (2019 est.) $14,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $48.104 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2019 est.) 2.3% (2018 est.) 12.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2016) Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.1% (2017 est.) industry: 53.5% (2017 est.) services: 40.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, cotton, apples, maize, onions Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles Industrial production growth rate: -3.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.939 million (2019 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 37% industry: 14.3% services: 48.9% (2014) Unemployment rate: 5% (2017 est.) 5% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 10.9% female: 14.2% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 4.9% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.7 (2008) 36.5 (2001) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.4% (2008) Budget: revenues: 9.556 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 10.22 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 54.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 23.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $1.685 billion (2017 est.) -$1.363 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $15.21 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $23.63 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $25.48 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Italy 28%, Turkey 15%, Israel 7%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2017) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, tomatoes, gold (2019) Imports: $15.54 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $17.71 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $17.71 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Kingdom 17%, Russia 17%, Turkey 12%, China 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: gold, cars, refined petroleum, wheat, packaged medical supplies (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.142 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $17.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $13.83 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 1.723 (2017 est.) 1.5957 (2016 est.) 1.5957 (2015 est.) 1.0246 (2014 est.) 0.7844 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 7.677 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 21,026,630,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 1.491 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 137 million kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.226 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 94.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 4.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 19,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 19,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 711,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 679,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 7 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 46,480 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,576 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 23,075,077,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 11,467,681,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 11,586,357,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 1,233,225,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 1,699,008,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 35.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 29,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 22.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 64.416 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,652,688 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10,344,300 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: in spite of the telecom sector being one of the major contributors to Azerbaijan’s non-oil GDP, overall development, growth, and investment in the sector has been held back by years of political and civil unrest coupled with endemic corruption; mobile subscription rates reached 100% as far back as 2011, but have largely stagnated since then; the MNOs are slowly extending the reach of their LTE networks around the country, and this increased coverage (along with access to faster data-based services) is expected to produce a moderate resurgence for both mobile and mobile broadband over the next few years as customers migrate from 3G to 4G; 5G services are still some ways off, as the demand for high-speed data and fast broadband can easily be met by existing capacity on LTE networks; fixed-line teledensity continues to drop down each year as customers consolidate their telecommunications services around the mobile platform; the rate of decline is comparatively slow to other countries, since Azerbaijan has a relatively high proportion of (87%) of fixed-line broadband customers still on DSL; fibre (12% of fixed broadband connections) is gradually being rolled out in urban areas, and this makes up the bulk of the (limited) growth being seen in the overall fixed broadband market. DSL’s predominance, however, will serve to keep Azerbaijan’s average access speeds in the sub-10Mbps range for the future. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 3 state-run and 1 public TV channels; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; note - all broadcast media is pro-government, and most private broadcast media outlets are owned by entities directly linked to the government Internet country code: .az Internet users: total: 8,579,153 (2020 est.) percent of population: 85% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,995,474 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 42 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,279,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 44.09 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4K Airports: total: 23 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 89 km condensate, 3,890 km gas, 2,446 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 2,944.3 km (2017) broad gauge: 2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified) Roadways: total: 24,981 km (2013) note: total roadway length has increased significantly and continues to grow due to the recovery of Armenian-held territories and related reconstruction efforts. No updated figure is currently available. Merchant marine: total: 305 by type: general cargo 38, oil tanker 43, other 224 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces (Combined Arms Army), Air Forces, Navy Forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs: State Border Service (includes Coast Guard), Internal Security Troops (2022) Military expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $3.4 billion) 3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $3.2 billion) 3.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $3.26 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 65,000 active armed forces (55,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force); approximately 15,000 Ministry of Internal Affairs troops (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Azerbaijan military is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems with a small mix of equipment from other countries, including Israel and Turkey (2022) Military service age and obligation: men 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 Military - note: since 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 6,500 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high in 2022, 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: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (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: Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders. Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex. Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling. Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian.Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders. Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex. Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling. Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian. Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 655,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2021) stateless persons: 3,585 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Azerbaijan and exploit Azerbaijanis abroad; Azerbaijani men and boys experience forced labor domestically and in Qatar, Russia, and the UAE; Azerbaijani women and children are subjected to sex trafficking domestically and in Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE; Azerbaijan is a destination country for sex and forced labor trafficking victims from China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; some children are exploited domestically for forced begging and forced labor as roadside vendors and at tea houses and wedding venues tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Azerbaijan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; more traffickers were convicted and judges received guidance to issue stricter sentences; the government significantly increased funding for victim protection by establishing grants for civil society; however, authorities identified fewer victims than in the previous year, did not regularly screen vulnerable populations, and continued to lack proactive identification methods, resulting in victims being penalized for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit (2020) Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

20220901

countries-nepal-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: During the late 18th and 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1990 a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy was established.During the late 18th and 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1990 a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy was established. Topic: Geography Area: total: 147,181 sq km land: 143,351 sq km water: 3,830 sq km Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore Topic: People and Society Population: 30,666,598 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19% (2011 est.) Languages: Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Bajjika 3%, Magar 3%, Doteli 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, Baitadeli 1%, other 6.4%, unspecified 0.2%; note - 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2011 national census; many in government and business also speak English (2011 est.) Religions: Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) Population growth rate: 0.78% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Kathmandu Executive branch: chief of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (since 29 October 2015); Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 13 July 2021); deputy prime ministers Ishwar POKHREL, Upendra YADAV (since 1 June 2018) (an) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: National Assembly (59 seats; 56 members, including at least 3 women, 1 Dalit, 1 member with disabilities, or 1 minority indirectly elected by an electoral college of state and municipal government leaders, and 3 members, including 1 woman, nominated by the president of Nepal on the recommendation of the government; members serve 6-year terms with renewal of one-third of the membership every 2 years) House of Representatives (275 seats; 165 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a threshold of 3% overall valid vote to be allocated a seat; members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Representatives was dissolved on 22 May 2021, but on 13 July, the Supreme Court directed its reinstatement Topic: Economy Economic overview: low-income South Asian economy; post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability; COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism; widening current account deficits; environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes; growing Chinese relations and investmentslow-income South Asian economy; post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability; COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism; widening current account deficits; environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes; growing Chinese relations and investments Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $110.72 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,800 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, sugar cane, potatoes, maize, wheat, buffalo milk, milk, fruit, mangoes/guavas Industries: tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production Exports: $1.79 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: India 68%, United States 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: palm oil, clothing and apparel, carpets, soybean oil, flavored water (2019) Imports: $10.68 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: India 70%, China 15% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, iron, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, rice (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022

20220901

countries-bosnia-and-herzegovina

Topic: Photos of Bosnia and Herzegovina Topic: Introduction Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that ended three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently, EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a security assistance and training capacity.Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that ended three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995).The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently, EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a security assistance and training capacity.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 51,197 sq km land: 51,187 sq km water: 10 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,543 km border countries (3): Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km Coastline: 20 km Maritime claims: NA Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast Terrain: mountains and valleys Elevation: highest point: Maglic 2,386 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 500 m Natural resources: coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes Geography - note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east Map description: Bosnia and Herzegovina map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Adriatic Sea.Bosnia and Herzegovina map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Adriatic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,816,459 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian Ethnic groups: Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.) note: Republika Srpska authorities dispute the methodology and refuse to recognize the results; Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Bosnian/Montenegrin) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.18% (male 261,430/female 244,242) 15-24 years: 10.83% (male 214,319/female 201,214) 25-54 years: 44.52% (male 859,509/female 848,071) 55-64 years: 15.24% (male 284,415/female 300,168) 65 years and over: 16.22% (2020 est.) (male 249,624/female 372,594) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48 youth dependency ratio: 21.5 elderly dependency ratio: 26.5 potential support ratio: 3.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 44.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.22% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.41 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated Urbanization: urban population: 49.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 344,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.7 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.98 years male: 75.02 years female: 81.15 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 45.8% (2011/12) Drinking water source: 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.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.1% (2019) Physicians density: 2.16 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: NA total: (2020 est.) NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2018) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <500 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.9% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 35% (2020 est.) male: 42% (2020 est.) female: 28% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2012) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.5% female: 97.5% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2014) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 36.6% male: 32.5% female: 42.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; land mines left over from the 1992-95 civil strife are a hazard in some areas Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 27.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 21.85 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.92 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 49.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.49% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,248,718 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0% (2015 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 360.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 71.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 37.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina abbreviation: BiH etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the German word "herzog," meaning "duke," and the ending "-ovina," meaning "land," forming the combination denoting "dukedom" Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Sarajevo geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 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: the name derives from the Turkish noun "saray," meaning "palace" or "mansion," and the term "ova," signifying "plain(s)," to give a meaning of "palace plains" or "the plains about the palace" Administrative divisions: 3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb) Independence: 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia); note - referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992 National holiday: Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity note: there is no national-level holiday Constitution: history: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords); note - each of the political entities has its own constitution amendments: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2009 Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court 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: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Sefik DZAFEROVIC (chairman since 20 March 2022; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Bosniak seat); Zeljko KOMSIC  (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Milorad DODIK (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Serb seat) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran TEGELTIJA  (since 5 December 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman, approved by the state-level House of Representatives elections/appointments: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held on 2 October 2022); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives election results: 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat 2014: percent of vote - Mladen IVANIC (PDP) 48.7% - Serb seat; Dragan COVIC (HDZ-BiH) 52.2% - Croat seat; Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (SDA) 32.9% - Bosniak seat note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko CAVARA (since 9 February 2015); Vice Presidents Melika MAHMUTBEGOVIC (since 9 February 2015), Milan DUNOVIC (since 9 February 2015); President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (since 18 November 2018); Vice Presidents Ramiz SALKIC (since 24 November 2014), Josip JERKOVIC (since 24 November 2014) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of: House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members designated by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's House of Peoples and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats to include 28 seats allocated to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 to the Republika Srpska; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature that consists of the House of Peoples (58 seats - 17 Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other) and the House of Representatives (98 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); Republika Srpska's unicameral legislature is the National Assembly (83 directly elected delegates serve 4-year terms) elections: House of Peoples - last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held on 2 October 2022) House of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held on 2 October 2022) election results: House of Peoples - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 12, women 3, percent of women 20% House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - SDA 17%, SNSD 16%, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 9.8%, SDP 9.1%, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU 9.1%, DF, 5.8%, PDP 5.1%, DNS 4.2%, SBB BiH 4.2%, NS/HC 2.9%, NB 2.5%, PDA 2.3%, SP 1.9%, A-SDA 1.8%, other 17.4%; seats by coalition/party - SDA 9, SNSD 6, SDP 5, HDZ-BiH/HSS/HKDU/HSP-AS BiH/HDU 5, SDS/NDP/NS/SRS-VS 3, DF 3, PDP 2, SBB BiH 2, NS/HC 2, DNS 1, NB 1 PDA 1, SP 1, A-SDA 1; composition - men 31, women 11, percent of women 26.2%; note - total Parliamentary Assembly percent of women 24.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); Court of BiH (consists of 44 national judges and 7 international judges organized into 3 divisions - Administrative, Appellate, and Criminal, which includes a War Crimes Chamber) judge selection and term of office: BiH Constitutional Court judges - 4 selected by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, 2 selected by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and 3 non-Bosnian judges selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights; Court of BiH president and national judges appointed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council; Court of BiH president appointed for renewable 6-year term; other national judges appointed to serve until age 70; international judges recommended by the president of the Court of BiH and appointed by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; international judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: the Federation has 10 cantonal courts plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has a supreme court, 5 district courts, and a number of municipal courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance for a Better Future of BiH or SBB BiH [Fahrudin RADONCIC] Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK] Alternative Party for Democratic Activity or A-SDA [Nermin OGRESEVIC] (merged with Independent Bosnian Herzegovinian List to form NES) Croat Peasants' Party or HSS [Mario KARAMATIC] Croatian Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Ivanka BARIC] Croatian Democratic Union or HDU [Miro GRABOVAC-TITAN] Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH [Dragan COVIC] Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ-1990 [Ilija CVITANOVIC] Croatian Party of Rights dr. Ante Starcevic or HSP-AS Bih [Stanko PRIMORAC] Democratic Alliance or DEMOS [Nedeljko CUBRILOVIC] Democratic Front of DF [Zeljko KOMSIC] Democratic Peoples' Alliance or DNS [Nenad NESIC] Independent Bloc or NB [Senad SEPIC] Movement for Democratic Action or PDA [Elzina PIRIC] National Democratic Movement or NDP [Dragan CAVIC] Our Party or NS/HC [Edin FORTO] Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Bakir IZETBEGOVIC] Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Branislav BORENOVIC] People and Justice Party or NiP [Elmedin KONAKOVIC] People's European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or NES [Nermin OGRESEVIC] Progressive Srpska or NS [Goran DORDIC] Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Mirko SAROVIC] Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Vojislav SESELJ] (merged with PDP) Social Democratic Party or SDP [Nermin NIKSIC] Socialist Party or SP [Petar DOKIC] United Srpska or US [Nenad STEVANDIC] International organization participation: BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. MURPHY (since 23 February 2022) embassy: 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: 7130 Sarajevo Place, Washington DC  20521-7130 telephone: [387] (33) 704-000 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 email address and website: sarajevoACS@state.gov https://ba.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar Flag description: a wide blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle; the triangle approximates the shape of the country and its three points stand for the constituent peoples - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe and are meant to be continuous (thus the half stars at top and bottom); the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are often associated with neutrality and peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu National symbol(s): golden lily; national colors: blue, yellow, white National anthem: name: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina) lyrics/music: none officially; Dusan SESTIC and Benjamin ISOVIC/Dusan SESTIC note: music adopted 1999; lyrics proposed in 2009 and others in 2016 were not approved; a parliamentary committee launched a new initiative for lyrics in February 2018 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge (c); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Janj Forest (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina has a transitional economy with limited market reforms. The economy relies heavily on the export of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture as well as on remittances and foreign aid. A highly decentralized government hampers economic policy coordination and reform, while excessive bureaucracy and a segmented market discourage foreign investment. The economy is among the least competitive in the region. Foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, control much of the banking sector, though the largest bank is a private domestic one. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) - the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro through a currency board arrangement, which has maintained confidence in the currency and has facilitated reliable trade links with European partners. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. In 2016, Bosnia began a three-year IMF loan program, but it has struggled to meet the economic reform benchmarks required to receive all funding installments.   Bosnia and Herzegovina's private sector is growing slowly, but foreign investment dropped sharply after 2007 and remains low. High unemployment remains the most serious macroeconomic problem. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a steady source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray-market activity, though public perceptions of government corruption and misuse of taxpayer money has encouraged a large informal economy to persist. National-level statistics have improved over time, but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded.   Bosnia and Herzegovina's top economic priorities are: acceleration of integration into the EU; strengthening the fiscal system; public administration reform; World Trade Organization membership; and securing economic growth by fostering a dynamic, competitive private sector.Bosnia and Herzegovina has a transitional economy with limited market reforms. The economy relies heavily on the export of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture as well as on remittances and foreign aid. A highly decentralized government hampers economic policy coordination and reform, while excessive bureaucracy and a segmented market discourage foreign investment. The economy is among the least competitive in the region. Foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, control much of the banking sector, though the largest bank is a private domestic one. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark) - the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro through a currency board arrangement, which has maintained confidence in the currency and has facilitated reliable trade links with European partners. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007. In 2016, Bosnia began a three-year IMF loan program, but it has struggled to meet the economic reform benchmarks required to receive all funding installments. Bosnia and Herzegovina's private sector is growing slowly, but foreign investment dropped sharply after 2007 and remains low. High unemployment remains the most serious macroeconomic problem. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a steady source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray-market activity, though public perceptions of government corruption and misuse of taxpayer money has encouraged a large informal economy to persist. National-level statistics have improved over time, but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded. Bosnia and Herzegovina's top economic priorities are: acceleration of integration into the EU; strengthening the fiscal system; public administration reform; World Trade Organization membership; and securing economic growth by fostering a dynamic, competitive private sector. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $47.05 billion (2020 est.) $49.17 billion (2019 est.) $47.82 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) 3.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $14,300 (2020 est.) $14,900 (2019 est.) $14,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $20.078 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (2017 est.) -1.1% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B3 (2012) Standard & Poors rating: B (2011) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.) industry: 28.9% (2017 est.) services: 64.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 77.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, wheat, plums/sloes, apples, barley, cabbages, poultry Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 806,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 30.4% services: 51.7% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 33.28% (2019 est.) 35.97% (2018 est.) note: official rate; actual rate is lower as many technically unemployed persons work in the gray economy Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 36.6% male: 32.5% female: 42.8% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 16.9% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33 (2011 est.) 33.1 (2007) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.8% (2011 est.) Budget: revenues: 7.993 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 7.607 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 2.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 39.5% 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. Taxes and other revenues: 44% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$873 million (2017 est.) -$821 million (2016 est.) Exports: $6.81 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.17 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 14%, Italy 12%, Croatia 11%, Serbia 11%, Austria 9%, Slovenia 8% (2019) Exports - commodities: electricity, seating, leather shoes, furniture, insulated wiring (2019) Imports: $9.71 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $11.15 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $11.55 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Croatia 15%, Serbia 13%, Germany 10%, Italy 9%, Slovenia 7%, China 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, coal, electricity (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.474 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $5.137 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $10.87 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $10.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.729 (2017 est.) 1.7674 (2016 est.) 1.7674 (2015 est.) 1.7626 (2014 est.) 1.4718 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.775 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 11,657,450,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 7.316 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 3.266 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.257 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 62.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 35.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 6.966 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 7.752 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 525,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1.366 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 34,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 13,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 4,603 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 18,280 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 218.266 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 218.266 million cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.209 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.923 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.871 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 415,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 71.815 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 706,135 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,509,674 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom market has been liberalized and a regulatory framework created based on the EU’s regulatory framework for communications; although Bosnia-Herzegovina remains an EU candidate country, in July 2017 it applied amended mobile roaming charges to fit in with changes introduced across the Union; further roaming agreements were made in 2019 with other western Balkan countries; the largest operator BH Telecom is the dominant provider, while Telekom Srpske operates in Republika Srpska and HT Mostar is active in Herzegovina;  these three incumbent operators control 99% of the market; all three are subject to specific obligations designed to improve competition; the fixed-line broadband network is comparatively underdeveloped, with the result that investments made in mobile upgrades by BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske are facilitating broadband connectivity in the country to a greater extent than is common elsewhere in Europe; internet services are available through the incumbents and a number of alternative operators; DSL and cable are the main platforms for fixed-line connectivity, while fiber broadband as yet has only a small market presence; the three MNOs, each affiliated with one of the incumbent fixed-line operators, provide national coverage with 3G, though LTE coverage is only about 89%; their upgraded networks are helping to support broadband in rural areas where fixed-line infrastructure is insufficient; mobile data and mobile broadband offers will provide future revenue growth given the limited potential of mobile voice services; the MNOs tested LTE services under trial licenses from 2013, commercial launches were delayed until the award of spectrum in early 2019; the regulator stipulated that licenses must provide national coverage within five years; trials of 5G technology have been undertaken, though there are no plans to launch services commercially in the short term, given that the MNOs can continue to exploit the capacity of their existing LTE networks. (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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Republika Srpska Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 3 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV broadcasting stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .ba Internet users: total: 2,394,995 (2020 est.) percent of population: 73% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 770,424 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,070 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 87 (2015) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T9 Airports: total: 24 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2021) Heliports: 6 (2021) Pipelines: 147 km gas, 9 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 965 km (2014) standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified) Roadways: total: 22,926 km (2010) paved: 19,426 km (2010) (4,652 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 3,500 km (2010) Waterways: 990 km (2022) (Sava River on northern border; open to shipping but use limited) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, Brcko, Orasje (Sava River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH or Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Operations Command (includes Army, Air, and Air Defense units), Support Command (2022) Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020) 0.8% of GDP (2019) (approximately $370 million) 0.9% of GDP (2018) (approximately $370 million) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $360 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 9,000 active duty personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina includes mainly Soviet-era weapons systems with a small and varied mix of older European and US equipment (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 35 or after 15 years of service for junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-4), mandatory retirement at age 50 and 30 years of service for non-commissioned officers (E-5 to E-9), mandatory retirement at age 55 and 30 years of service for all commissioned officers; conscription abolished in 2005 (2021) note: as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Military - note: 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 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 2022, 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 2022, 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: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/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: Bosnia and Herzegovina-Serbia: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute. Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia: none identified Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro: none identifiedBosnia and Herzegovina-Serbia: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute. Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia: none identified Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro: none identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,112 (Croatia) (2020) IDPs: 92,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2021) stateless persons: 149 (mid-year 2021) note: 95,674 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnians and Herzegovinians abroad; Bosnian and foreign women and girls are sex trafficked within the country; Bosnians are also exploited through forced labor in construction and other industries in neighboring Balkan countries and throughout Europe; thousands of migrants and refugees smuggled through Bosnia and Herzegovina are vulnerable to trafficking, especially women and unaccompanied minors; Romani children are victims of forced begging, sex trafficking, and domestic servitude tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Bosnia and Herzegovina does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; because the government devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet minimum standards, Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted a waiver from being downgraded to Tier 3; the government adopted a national strategy in January 2020; the State Prosecutor’s Office appointed a prosecutor to the anti-trafficking strike force, the only mechanism to coordinate law enforcement efforts across entities on trafficking cases; the government identified more trafficking victims and revised the structure and guidelines of regional coordinating teams to increase effectiveness; however, the lack of an approved state budget delayed funding for anti-trafficking efforts; law enforcement continued to regularly investigate trafficking under lesser offenses, while judges continued to issue sentences below the minimum penalty; the government continued to penalize victims and did not disburse annual funds to NGOs for victim protection (2020) Illicit drugs: drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European markets

20220901

references-country-summaries

Topic: Afghanistan Topic: Albania Topic: Algeria Topic: American Samoa Topic: Andorra Topic: Angola Topic: Anguilla Topic: Antigua and Barbuda Topic: Argentina Topic: Armenia Topic: Aruba Topic: Australia

20220901

field-transportation-note

This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere. Topic: AntarcticaUS coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E) and Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only; all ships are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the Antarctic Treaty regulating the Antarctic Treaty area have to be complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA), a commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area Topic: Arctic Oceansparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways Topic: Atlantic OceanKiel 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: Chinaseven of the world’s ten largest container ports are in China Topic: Francebegun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe Topic: Saint Barthelemynearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhathe 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: Saint Martinnearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten Topic: Southern OceanDrake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal Topic: United Kingdombegun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe Topic: Wake Islandthere are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available

20220901

countries-netherlands

Topic: Photos of Netherlands Topic: Introduction Background: The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In February 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.In February 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 5 46 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 41,543 sq km land: 33,893 sq km water: 7,650 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 1,053 km border countries (2): Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km Coastline: 451 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast Elevation: highest point: Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) 862 m lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m mean elevation: 30 m note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 4,860 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Rhine river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Population distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, though sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country Natural hazards: floodingvolcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640;; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as The Quill, is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean;; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenadafloodingvolcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640;; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as The Quill, is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean;; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada Geography - note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level Map description: Netherlands map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Sea.Netherlands map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 17,400,824 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch Ethnic groups: Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.) Languages: Dutch (official); note - Frisian is an official language in Fryslan province; Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.11% (male 1,425,547/female 1,358,894) 15-24 years: 11.91% (male 1,049,000/female 1,008,763) 25-54 years: 38.47% (male 3,334,064/female 3,313,238) 55-64 years: 13.69% (male 1,177,657/female 1,188,613) 65 years and over: 19.82% (2020 est.) (male 1,558,241/female 1,866,380) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.6 youth dependency ratio: 24.4 elderly dependency ratio: 31.2 potential support ratio: 3.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.8 years male: 41.6 years female: 44 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.36% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.99 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.24 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, though sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country Urbanization: urban population: 92.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.166 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.015 million Rotterdam (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.2 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.16 years male: 79.93 years female: 84.49 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 73% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-45 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: 10.1% (2019) Physicians density: 4.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 3.2 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: 24,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.4% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 22.2% (2020 est.) male: 24.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.9% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1% male: 9.2% female: 9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water and air pollution are significant environmental problems; pollution of the country's rivers from industrial and agricultural chemicals, including heavy metals, organic compounds, nitrates, and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities 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-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 Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 170.78 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.79 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 92.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.59% 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.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.855 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,179,216 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.6% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Rhine river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.26 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 14.74 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 76.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland abbreviation: NL etymology: the country name literally means "the lowlands" and refers to the geographic features of the land being both flat and down river from higher areas (i.e., at the estuaries of the Scheldt, Meuse, and Rhine Rivers; only about half of the Netherlands is more than 1 meter above sea level) Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: name: Amsterdam; note - The Hague is the seat of government geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 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 time zone note: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4 etymology: the original Dutch name, Amstellerdam, meaning "a dam on the Amstel River," dates to the 13th century; over time the name simplified to Amsterdam Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) note 1: the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are all islands in the Caribbean; while all four parts are considered equal partners, in practice, most of the Kingdom's affairs are administered by the Netherlands, which makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population note 2: although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of the Netherlands under the broad designation of "public entities," Dutch Government sources regularly apply to them the more descriptive term of "special municipalities"; Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands Independence: 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581, they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence) 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; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday Constitution: history: many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983 amendments: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king; amended many times, last in 2018 Legal system: civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General 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 the Netherlands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013); Heir Apparent Princess Catharina-Amalia (daughter of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER, born 7 December 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Sigrid KAAG and Wopke HOEKSTRA (since 10 January 2022) and Carola SCHOUTEN (since 26 October 2017); note - Mark RUTTE heads his fourth cabinet cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers are appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: description: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of: Senate or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial council members by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve up to 4-year terms) elections: First Chamber - last held on 27 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2023) Second Chamber - last held on 15-17 March 2021 (next to be held on 31 March 2025) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 16%, CDA 12%, GL 10.7%, D66 9.3%, PvdA 8%, PVV 6.7%, SP 5.3%, CU 5.3%, PvdD 4%, SGP 2.7%, 50 Plus 2.7%, FvD 1.3%, other 16%; seats by party - VVD 12, CDA 9, GL 8, D66 7, PvdA 6, PVV 5, SP 4, CU 4, PvdD 3, SGP 2, 50 Plus 2, FvD 1, other 12; composition (as of September 2021) - men 52, women 23, percent of women 30.7% Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 21.9%, D66 15%, PVV 10.8%, CDA 9.5%, SP 9.1%, PvdA 5.7%, GL 5.2%, FvD 5%, PvdD 3.8%, CU 3.4%, other 13.7%; seats by party - VVD 34, D66 24, PVV 17, CDA 15, GL 8, FvD 8, PvdD 6, PvdA 9, SP 9, CU 5, Denk 3, SGP 3, 50 Plus 1, other 6; composition (as of September 2021) - men 89, women 61, percent of women 40.7%; note - total States General percent of women 37.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices or raadsheren, and 3 justices in exceptional service, referred to as buitengewone dienst); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the Second Chamber of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Wopke HOEKSTRA] Christian Union or CU [Gert-Jan SEGERS] Democrats 66 or D66 [Sigrid KAAG] Denk [Farid AZARKAN] 50 Plus [Martin van ROOIJEN] Forum for Democracy or FvD [Thierry BAUDET] Green Left or GL [Jesse KLAVER] Labor Party or PvdA [Attje KUIKEN] Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS] Party for the Animals or PvdD [Esther OUWENHAND] People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE] Reformed Political Party or SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ] Socialist Party or SP [Lilian MARIJNISSEN] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marja VERLOOP (since 17 January 2021) embassy: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar mailing address: 5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC  20521-5780 telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209 FAX: [31] (70) 310-2207 email address and website: AmsterdamUSC@state.gov https://nl.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Amsterdam Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (bright vermilion; top), white, and blue (cobalt); similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were derived from those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because its dye tended to turn red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use National symbol(s): lion, tulip; national color: orange National anthem: name: "Het Wilhelmus" (The William) lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown note: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the oldest national anthem in the world; also known as "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader of the Dutch Revolt National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural); note - includes one site in Curacao selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Netherlands, the sixth-largest economy in the European Union, plays an important role as a European transportation hub, with a consistently high trade surplus, stable industrial relations, and low unemployment. Industry focuses on food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for food-processing and underpins the country’s status as the world’s second largest agricultural exporter.   The Netherlands is part of the euro zone, and as such, its monetary policy is controlled by the European Central Bank. The Dutch financial sector is highly concentrated, with four commercial banks possessing over 80% of banking assets, and is four times the size of Dutch GDP.   In 2008, during the financial crisis, the government budget deficit hit 5.3% of GDP. Following a protracted recession from 2009 to 2013, during which unemployment doubled to 7.4% and household consumption contracted for four consecutive years, economic growth began inching forward in 2014. Since 2010, Prime Minister Mark RUTTE’s government has implemented significant austerity measures to improve public finances and has instituted broad structural reforms in key policy areas, including the labor market, the housing sector, the energy market, and the pension system. In 2017, the government budget returned to a surplus of 0.7% of GDP, with economic growth of 3.2%, and GDP per capita finally surpassed pre-crisis levels. The fiscal policy announced by the new government in the 2018-2021 coalition plans for increases in government consumption and public investment, fueling domestic demand and household consumption and investment. The new government’s policy also plans to increase demand for workers in the public and private sector, forecasting a further decline in the unemployment rate, which hit 4.8% in 2017.The Netherlands, the sixth-largest economy in the European Union, plays an important role as a European transportation hub, with a consistently high trade surplus, stable industrial relations, and low unemployment. Industry focuses on food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for food-processing and underpins the country’s status as the world’s second largest agricultural exporter. The Netherlands is part of the euro zone, and as such, its monetary policy is controlled by the European Central Bank. The Dutch financial sector is highly concentrated, with four commercial banks possessing over 80% of banking assets, and is four times the size of Dutch GDP. In 2008, during the financial crisis, the government budget deficit hit 5.3% of GDP. Following a protracted recession from 2009 to 2013, during which unemployment doubled to 7.4% and household consumption contracted for four consecutive years, economic growth began inching forward in 2014. Since 2010, Prime Minister Mark RUTTE’s government has implemented significant austerity measures to improve public finances and has instituted broad structural reforms in key policy areas, including the labor market, the housing sector, the energy market, and the pension system. In 2017, the government budget returned to a surplus of 0.7% of GDP, with economic growth of 3.2%, and GDP per capita finally surpassed pre-crisis levels. The fiscal policy announced by the new government in the 2018-2021 coalition plans for increases in government consumption and public investment, fueling domestic demand and household consumption and investment. The new government’s policy also plans to increase demand for workers in the public and private sector, forecasting a further decline in the unemployment rate, which hit 4.8% in 2017. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $945.48 billion (2020 est.) $982.22 billion (2019 est.) $966.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.63% (2019 est.) 2.32% (2018 est.) 3.02% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $54,200 (2020 est.) $56,600 (2019 est.) $56,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $907.042 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2019 est.) 1.7% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (1994) Moody's rating: Aaa (1986) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 17.9% (2017 est.) services: 70.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 44.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 83% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, sugar beet, pork, onions, wheat, poultry, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 8.907 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 17.2% services: 81.6% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.41% (2019 est.) 3.84% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1% male: 9.2% female: 9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 13.6% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 28.5 (2017 est.) 25.1 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 24.9% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 361.4 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 352.4 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 56.5% 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 Taxes and other revenues: 43.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $90.207 billion (2019 est.) $98.981 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $719.78 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $755.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $773.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 20%, Belgium 12%, United Kingdom 9%, France 7%, United States 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, photography equipment, computers (2019) Imports: $622.66 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $661.18 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $677.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 15%, China 11%, Belgium 9%, United States 8%, Russia 7%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $38.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $38.21 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $4,345,413,000,000 (2019 est.) $4,625,016,000,000 (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: installed generating capacity: 43.409 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 109.796 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 22.433 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 19.773 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.059 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 68.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 13.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 1.879 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 8.241 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 20.164 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 21.552 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 497 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 76,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 915,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 8,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,096,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 137.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.282 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 2.406 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2.148 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 32,857,597,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 44,752,918,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 42,827,461,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 55,767,276,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 214.416 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 116.24 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 75.027 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 219.606 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4.937 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 21.415 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Telecom infrastructure in the Netherlands continues to be upgraded as modernization schemes undertaken by telcos make steady progress; KPN is replacing its copper access network with fiber, either through its own investment program or in conjunction with the wholesale fiber access provider Glaspoort, in which it has a half-share alongside the pension company APG. KPN expected that about 80% of all premises in the country would be covered by its FttP service by 2026; other fiber providers have been supported by regulatory measures which have encouraged municipal governments to intervene with telcos’ fiber builds, facilitating open access networks in a bid to make rollouts cheaper, and completed sooner; while the MNOs are also closing down their GSM and 3G networks and re purposing their spectrum and physical assets for LTE and 5G, the regulator has also encouraged GSM/3G roaming in the interim, thus safeguarding services such as M2M and other low data-use applications while individual MNOs disable their own GSM/3G networks. T-Mobile Netherlands has delayed switching off GSM until June 2023, given that the network is still used for M2M connections and other applications; the country has one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world, with effective cross-platform competition between DSL, HFC, and fiber networks; in the third quarter of 2020 the number of cable broadband connections fell for the first time, while the DSL segment has long been eclipsed by fiber; by the end of 2021, over a quarter of fixed broadband connections were on fiber infrastructure, while DSL accounted for only about 29%; almost 49% of fixed connections provided data above 100Mb/s, while an additional 43.7% provided data of at least 30Mb/s; under regulatory measures, the telcos KPN and Vodafone Ziggo are obliged to offer wholesale access to competitors. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and local markets; 2 major nationwide commercial television companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage Internet country code: .nl Internet users: total: 15,871,765 (2020 est.) percent of population: 91% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,525,016 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 238 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 43,996,044 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,886,510,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PH Airports: total: 29 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 14,000 km gas, 2,500 km oil and refined products, 3,000 km chemicals (2017) Railways: total: 3,058 km (2016) standard gauge: 3,058 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,314 km electrified) Roadways: total: 139,124 km (2016) (includes 3,654 km of expressways) Waterways: 6,237 km (2012) (navigable by ships up to 50 tons) Merchant marine: total: 1,199 by type: bulk carrier 10, container ship 40, general cargo 559, oil tanker 26, other 564 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): IJmuiden, Vlissingen container port(s) (TEUs): Rotterdam (14,810,804) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Gate (Rotterdam) river port(s): Amsterdam (Nordsee Kanaal); Moerdijk (Hollands Diep River); Rotterdam (Rhine River); Terneuzen (Western Scheldt River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2022) note: the Netherlands Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard are civilian in nature but managed by the Royal Netherlands Navy Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020) 1.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $13.6 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $12.3 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $11.3 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active duty personnel (20,000 Army; 7,500 Navy; 6,500 Air Force; 6,000 Constabulary) (2022) note: the Navy includes about 2,300 marines Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Netherlands Armed Forces consists of a mix of domestically-produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of weapons systems to the Netherlands; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2021) Military service age and obligation: 17 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 Military deployments: 270 Lithuania (NATO); 125 Slovakia (NATO) (2022) note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including the Netherlands, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: the 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 force; a Dutch Army airmobile infantry brigade and a mechanized infantry brigade have been integrated into the German Army since 2014 and 2016 respectively 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: none identifiednone identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 37,792 (Syria), 14,787 (Eritrea), 8,368 (Somalia), 6,636 (Iraq), 5,346 (Iran) (mid-year 2021); 68,050 (Ukraine) (as of 5 July 2022) stateless persons: 2,087 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: a significant transit country for illicit drugs, especially cocaine from South America destined for Europe; one of the largest sources of synthetic drugs for international markets; numerous methamphetamine laboratories; traffickers use postage companies to send cocaine, ecstasy or methamphetamines distribute narcotics to global customersa significant transit country for illicit drugs, especially cocaine from South America destined for Europe; one of the largest sources of synthetic drugs for international markets; numerous methamphetamine laboratories; traffickers use postage companies to send cocaine, ecstasy or methamphetamines distribute narcotics to global customers

20220901

countries-laos-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens RECONSIDER TRAVEL to Laos due to COVID-19-related restrictions. 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: [856] 21-48-7000; US Embassy Vientiane, Ban Somvang Thai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Laos; CONSLAO@state.gov; https://la.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 856 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Currency (Code): Kips (LAK) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, E, F Major Languages: Lao, French, English, various ethnic languages Major Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7% Time Difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Elephant Village Sanctuary; Four Thousand Islands (includes Khone Pha Pheng Waterfall); Kong Lor Caves; Wat Phu;; Vientiane; Luang Prabang (former royal city); Plain of Jars Major Sports: Soccer, sepak takraw (kick volleyball), muay lao (martial art) Cultural Practices: It is considered very rude to touch another person's head or to touch their body with your feet. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not customary except in tourist-oriented restaurants where 10% of the bill is appreciated, but only if a service charge has not already been added. Tour guides and day-long drivers expect $10-15 (USD) per day for a gratuity. Tip hotel staff $2-3 (USD) per day for their service .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

20220901

countries-cambodia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Cambodia. Some areas have increased risks. 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: [855] (23) 728-000; US Embassy in Phnom Penh, #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; https://kh.usembassy.gov/; ACSPhnomPenh@state.gov Telephone Code: 855 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 118; Police: 117 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; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation Currency (Code): Riels (KHR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, C, G Major Languages: Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, other minority languages Major Religions: Buddhist 97.9%, Muslim 1.1%, Christian 0.5% Time Difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Angkor Wat; Bayon Temple; Banteay Srei; Kratie; Royal Palace Phnom Penh; Angkor Thom; Prasat Bayong; Preah Khan; Bokor Hill Station Major Sports: Soccer, basketball Cultural Practices: In Cambodia, traditional greetings consist of a bow combined with a bringing of the hands together at the chest. The more respect intended, the lower the bow and the higher the placement of the hands. Tipping Guidelines: A tip of 10% is appropriate at restaurants. If you are staying in a hotel, give the bellman around $1 (USD) per bag and housekeeping $1 (USD) per day. Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Souvenirs: Krama scarves, silk items, carved statues, jewelry, silver boxes and bowls Traditional Cuisine: A mok trei (fish amok) — a steamed fish curry with a mousse-like consistencyPlease 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, July 20, 2022

20220901

south-america

20220901

field-literacy

This entry includes a definition of literacy and UNESCO's percentage estimates for populations aged 15 years and over, including total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world. Topic: Afghanistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.3% male: 52.1% female: 22.6% (2021) Topic: Albaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.1% male: 98.5% female: 97.8% (2018) Topic: Algeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.4% male: 87.4% female: 75.3% (2018) Topic: Andorradefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2016) Topic: Angoladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.1% male: 82% female: 60.7% (2015) Topic: Antigua and Barbudadefinition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 99% male: 98.4% female: 99.4% (2015) Topic: Argentinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 98.9% female: 99.1% (2018) Topic: Armeniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2020) Topic: Arubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 97.8% female: 97.8% (2018) Topic: Azerbaijandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2019) Topic: Bahraindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 99.9% female: 94.9% (2018) Topic: Bangladeshdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.9% male: 77.8% female: 72% (2020) Topic: Barbadosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.6% female: 99.6% (2014) Topic: Belarusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2019) Topic: Benindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.4% male: 54% female: 31.1% (2018) Topic: Bhutandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.6% male: 75% female: 57.1% (2017) Topic: Boliviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 96.5% female: 88.6% (2015) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.5% female: 97.5% (2015) Topic: Botswanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 88% female: 88.9% (2015) Topic: Brazildefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93% female: 93.4% (2018) Topic: Bruneidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 98.1% female: 93.4% (2018) Topic: Bulgariadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.7% female: 98.1% (2015) Topic: Burkina Fasodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.3% male: 49.2% female: 31% (2018) Topic: Burmadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 92.4% female: 86.3% (2019) Topic: Burundidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.4% male: 76.3% female: 61.2% (2017) Topic: Cabo Verdedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.8% male: 91.7% female: 82% (2015) Topic: Cambodiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80.5% male: 86.5% female: 75% (2015) Topic: Cameroondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.1% male: 82.6% female: 71.6% (2018) Topic: Central African Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.4% male: 49.5% female: 25.8% (2018) Topic: Chaddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 22.3% male: 31.3% female: 14% (2016) Topic: Chiledefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.4% male: 96.3% female: 96.3% (2017) Topic: Chinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.8% male: 98.5% female: 95.2% (2018) Topic: Colombiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 95.4% female: 95.9% (2020) Topic: Comorosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.8% male: 64.6% female: 53% (2018) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba total population: 77% male: 88.5% female: 66.5% (2016) Topic: Congo, Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80.3% male: 86.1% female: 74.6% (2018) Topic: Costa Ricadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 97.8% female: 97.9% (2018) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiredefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 93.1% female: 86.7% (2019) Topic: Croatiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.3% male: 99.7% female: 98.9% (2015) Topic: Cubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.8% (2015) Topic: Cyprusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.5% female: 98.7% (2015) Topic: Czechiadefinition: NA total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2011) Topic: Dominican Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93.8% female: 93.8% (2016) Topic: Ecuadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.6% male: 94.8% female: 92.5% (2020) Topic: Egyptdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.2% male: 76.5% female: 65.5% (2017) Topic: El Salvadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 91.3% female: 87.3% (2019) Topic: Equatorial Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.3% male: 97.4% female: 93% (2015) Topic: Eritreadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.6% male: 84.4% female: 68.9% (2018) Topic: Estoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2015) Topic: Eswatinidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.4% male: 88.3% female: 88.5% (2018) Topic: Ethiopiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.8% male: 57.2% female: 44.4% (2017) Topic: Fijitotal population: 99.1% male: 99.1% female: 99.1% (2018) Topic: Gabondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.7% male: 85.9% female: 83.4% (2018) Topic: Gambia, Thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.8% male: 61.8% female: 41.6% (2015) Topic: Gaza Stripdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.8% female: 96.2% (2020) note: estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Georgiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.5% (2019) Topic: Ghanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 83.5% female: 74.5% (2018) Topic: Greecedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.5% female: 97.4% (2018) Topic: Greenlanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2015) Topic: Grenadadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 98.6% female: 98.6% (2014 est.) Topic: Guatemaladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80.8% male: 85.3% female: 76.7% (2018) Topic: Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.6% male: 54.4% female: 27.7% (2018) Topic: Guinea-Bissaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 59.9% male: 71.8% female: 48.3% (2015) Topic: Guyanadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 88.5% male: 87.2% female: 89.8% (2015) Topic: Haitidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.7% male: 65.3% female: 58.3% (2016) Topic: Hondurasdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 88.2% female: 88.7% (2019) Topic: Hungarydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.1% female: 99% (2015) Topic: Indiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.4% male: 82.4% female: 65.8% (2018) Topic: Indonesiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97.4% female: 94.6% (2020) Topic: Irandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.5% male: 90.4% female: 80.8% (2016) Topic: Iraqdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.6% male: 91.2% female: 79.9% (2017) Topic: Israeldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98.7% female: 96.8% (2011) Topic: Italydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.2% male: 99.4% female: 99% (2018) Topic: Jamaicadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 88.7% male: 84% female: 93.1% (2015) Topic: Jordandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.2% male: 98.6% female: 97.8% (2018) Topic: Kazakhstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2018) Topic: Kenyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.5% male: 85% female: 78.2% (2018) Topic: Korea, Northdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2015) Topic: Korea, Southdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019) Topic: Kuwaitdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.5% male: 97.1% female: 95.4% (2020) Topic: Kyrgyzstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.5% (2018) Topic: Laosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.7% male: 90% female: 79.4% (2015) Topic: Latviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2018) Topic: Lebanondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.1% male: 96.9% female: 93.3% (2018) Topic: Lesothodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 70.1% female: 88.3% (2015) Topic: Liberiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.3% male: 62.7% female: 34.1% (2017) Topic: Libyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 96.7% female: 85.6% (2015) Topic: Lithuaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2015) Topic: Macaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.5% male: 98.2% female: 95% (2016) Topic: Madagascardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.7% male: 78.4% female: 75.1% (2018) Topic: Malawidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.1% male: 69.8% female: 55.2% (2015) Topic: Malaysiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 96.2% female: 93.6% (2019) Topic: Maldivesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.7% male: 97.3% female: 98.1% (2016) Topic: Malidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 46.2% female: 25.7% (2018) Topic: Maltadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 93% female: 96% (2018) Topic: Marshall Islandsdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.3% male: 98.3% female: 98.2% (2011) Topic: Mauritaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 53.5% male: 63.7% female: 43.4% (2017) Topic: Mauritiusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 93.4% female: 89.4% (2018) Topic: Mexicodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male: 96.1% female: 94.5% (2020) Topic: Moldovadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.4% male: 99.7% female: 99.1% (2015) Topic: Mongoliadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.2% male: 99.1% female: 99.2% (2020) Topic: Montenegrodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.3% (2018) Topic: Moroccodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.8% male: 83.3% female: 64.6% (2018) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.7% male: 72.6% female: 50.3% (2017) Topic: Namibiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.5% male: 91.6% female: 91.4% (2018) Topic: Nepaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78.6% female: 59.7% (2018) Topic: New Caledoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.9% male: 97.3% female: 96.5% (2015) Topic: Nicaraguadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 82.4% female: 82.8% (2015) Topic: Nigerdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.1% male: 43.6% female: 26.7% (2018) Topic: Nigeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62% male: 71.3% female: 52.7% (2018) Topic: North Macedoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 99.1% female: 97.6% (2020) Topic: Omandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 97% female: 92.7% (2018) Topic: Pakistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 69.3% female: 46.5% (2019) Topic: Palaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.6% male: 96.8% female: 96.3% (2015) Topic: Panamadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 98.8% female: 95.4% (2019) Topic: Papua New Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.2% male: 65.6% female: 62.8% (2015) Topic: Paraguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 94.9% female: 94.2% (2020) Topic: Perudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 97% female: 92% (2020) Topic: Philippinesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.3% male: 95.7% female: 96.9% (2019) Topic: Polanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2015) Topic: Portugaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 97.4% female: 95.1% (2018) Topic: Puerto Ricodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.4% male: 92.4% female: 92.4% (2017) Topic: Qatardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.5% male: 92.4% female: 94.7% (2017) Topic: Romaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.1% female: 98.6% (2018) Topic: Russiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.7% (2018) Topic: Rwandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.2% male: 77.6% female: 69.4% (2018) Topic: Samoadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99% female: 99.2% (2018) Topic: San Marinototal population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2018) Topic: Sao Tome and Principedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.8% male: 96.2% female: 89.5% (2018) Topic: Saudi Arabiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98.6% female: 96% (2020) Topic: Senegaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.9% male: 64.8% female: 39.8% (2017) Topic: Serbiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.9% female: 99.1% (2019) Topic: Seychellesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.9% male: 95.4% female: 96.4% (2018) Topic: Sierra Leonedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 43.2% male: 51.6% female: 39.8% (2018) Topic: Singaporedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.9% female: 96.1% (2019) Topic: Sloveniadefinition: NA total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.7% (2015) Topic: South Africadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 95.5% female: 94.5% (2019) Topic: South Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34.5% male: 40.3% female: 28.9% (2018) Topic: Spaindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99% female: 98.2% (2020) Topic: Sri Lankadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.3% male: 93% female: 91.6% (2019) Topic: Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.7% male: 65.4% female: 56.1% (2018) Topic: Surinamedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.4% male: 96.1% female: 92.7% (2018) Topic: Syriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 91.7% female: 81% (2015) Topic: Taiwandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.7% female: 97.3% (2014) Topic: Tajikistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2015) Topic: Tanzaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 77.9% male: 83.2% female: 73.1% (2015) Topic: Thailanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 95.2% female: 92.4% (2018) Topic: Timor-Lestedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.1% male: 71.9% female: 64.2% (2018) Topic: Togodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.5% male: 80% female: 55.1% (2019) Topic: Tongadefinition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 99.4% male: 99.4% female: 99.5% (2018) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99.2% female: 98.7% (2015) Topic: Tunisiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.8% male: 89.6% female: 74.2% (2015) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 99.1% female: 94.4% (2019) Topic: Turkmenistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.6% (2015) Topic: Ugandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.5% male: 82.7% female: 70.8% (2018) Topic: Ukrainedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2015) Topic: United Arab Emiratesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98% female: 96.9% (2019) Topic: Uruguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 98.5% female: 99% (2019) Topic: Uzbekistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2019) Topic: Vanuatudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.5% male: 88.3% female: 86.7% (2018) Topic: Venezueladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.1% male: 97% female: 97.2% (2016) Topic: Vietnamdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.8% male: 97% female: 94.6% (2019) Topic: West Bankdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.8% female: 96.2% (2020) note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank Topic: Worlddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.7% male: 90.1% female: 83.3% (2020) note: more than three-quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two-thirds are women (2016) Topic: Yemendefinition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.1% male: 85.1% female: 55% (2015) Topic: Zambiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 86.7% male: 90.6% female: 83.1% (2018) Topic: Zimbabwedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 86.5% male: 88.5% female: 84.6% (2015)

20220901

countries-albania-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Albania due to crime. 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 you do not stay in the country more than a year. US Embassy/Consulate: [355] 4 2247-285; US Embassy Tirana, Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana, Albania; https://al.usembassy.gov/; ACSTirana@state.gov Telephone Code: 355 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 17; Fire: 18; Police: 19 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: Mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear summers; interior is cooler and wetter Currency (Code): Leke (ALL) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Albanian 98.8% (official), Greek 0.5%, other minority languages Major Religions: Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, other minority religions Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard 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: Porto Palermo Castle; Valbona Valley; Apollonia; Saranda; Tirana; Himare; Berat; Shkodra; Pindus Mts. & Dinaric Alps; Kruje; Butrint; Gjirokastra Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball, boxing Cultural Practices: Albanians will usually save gifts to open in private. Wrapping them nicely is a good idea. Tipping Guidelines: Rounding up the bill at restaurants is fine, unless the service was outstanding, in which case, a good tip will be much appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but if they help with your luggage and provide you with tourist information, a tip would be appreciated. Tipping the housekeeping staff is not necessary but appreciated. Souvenirs: Woven kilim rugs, alabaster, copper crafts, leather footwear, perfumesPlease 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

20220901

countries-ethiopia

Topic: Photos of Ethiopia Topic: Introduction Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936 to 1941. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. In November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) issued specific coordinates as virtually demarcating the border and pronounced its work finished. Alleging that the EEBC acted beyond its mandate in issuing the coordinates, Ethiopia did not accept them and maintained troops in previously contested areas pronounced by the EEBC as belonging to Eritrea. This intransigence resulted in years of heightened tension between the two countries. In August 2012, longtime leader Prime Minister MELES Zenawi died in office and was replaced by his Deputy Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn, marking the first peaceful transition of power in decades. Following a wave of popular dissent and anti-government protest that began in 2015, HAILEMARIAM resigned in February 2018 and ABIY Ahmed Ali took office in April 2018 as Ethiopia's first ethnic Oromo prime minister. In June 2018, ABIY announced Ethiopia would accept the border ruling of 2000, prompting rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea that was marked with a peace agreement in July 2018 and a reopening of the border in September 2018. In November 2019, Ethiopia's nearly 30-year ethnic-based ruling coalition - the EPRDF - merged into a single unity party called the Prosperity Party, however, one of the four constituent parties (the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front or TPLF) refused to join. In November 2020, a military conflict erupted between forces aligned with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopia’s national military, the Ethiopian National Defense Force. The conflict, which has continued throughout 2021, has exacerbated ethnic violence and has largely centered in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regional states.Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936 to 1941. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,104,300 sq km 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 Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,925 km border countries (6): Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley Elevation: highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m mean elevation: 1,330 m Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 2,900 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;  Major rivers (by length in km): Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Population distribution: highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakirgeologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir Geography - note: note 1: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; Ethiopia is, therefore, the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia note 2: three major crops may have originated in Ethiopia: coffee (almost certainly), grain sorghum, and castor bean Map description: Ethiopia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Ethiopia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 113,656,596 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian Ethnic groups: Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.) Languages: Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 est.) major-language sample(s): Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu’uraawaatiif baay’ee barbaachisaa ta’e. (Oromo) የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.) Demographic profile: Ethiopia is a predominantly agricultural country – more than 80% of the population lives in rural areas – that is in the early stages of demographic transition. Infant, child, and maternal mortality have fallen sharply over the past decade, but the total fertility rate has declined more slowly and the population continues to grow. The rising age of marriage and the increasing proportion of women remaining single have contributed to fertility reduction. While the use of modern contraceptive methods among married women has increased significantly from 6 percent in 2000 to 27 percent in 2012, the overall rate is still quite low.Ethiopia’s rapid population growth is putting increasing pressure on land resources, expanding environmental degradation, and raising vulnerability to food shortages. With more than 40 percent of the population below the age of 15 and a fertility rate of over 5 children per woman (and even higher in rural areas), Ethiopia will have to make further progress in meeting its family planning needs if it is to achieve the age structure necessary for reaping a demographic dividend in the coming decades.Poverty, drought, political repression, and forced government resettlement have driven Ethiopia’s internal and external migration since the 1960s. Before the 1974 revolution, only small numbers of the Ethiopian elite went abroad to study and then returned home, but under the brutal Derg regime thousands fled the country, primarily as refugees. Between 1982 and 1991 there was a new wave of migration to the West for family reunification. Since the defeat of the Derg in 1991, Ethiopians have migrated to escape violence among some of the country’s myriad ethnic groups or to pursue economic opportunities. Internal and international trafficking of women and children for domestic work and prostitution is a growing problem.Ethiopia is a predominantly agricultural country – more than 80% of the population lives in rural areas – that is in the early stages of demographic transition. Infant, child, and maternal mortality have fallen sharply over the past decade, but the total fertility rate has declined more slowly and the population continues to grow. The rising age of marriage and the increasing proportion of women remaining single have contributed to fertility reduction. While the use of modern contraceptive methods among married women has increased significantly from 6 percent in 2000 to 27 percent in 2012, the overall rate is still quite low.Ethiopia’s rapid population growth is putting increasing pressure on land resources, expanding environmental degradation, and raising vulnerability to food shortages. With more than 40 percent of the population below the age of 15 and a fertility rate of over 5 children per woman (and even higher in rural areas), Ethiopia will have to make further progress in meeting its family planning needs if it is to achieve the age structure necessary for reaping a demographic dividend in the coming decades.Poverty, drought, political repression, and forced government resettlement have driven Ethiopia’s internal and external migration since the 1960s. Before the 1974 revolution, only small numbers of the Ethiopian elite went abroad to study and then returned home, but under the brutal Derg regime thousands fled the country, primarily as refugees. Between 1982 and 1991 there was a new wave of migration to the West for family reunification. Since the defeat of the Derg in 1991, Ethiopians have migrated to escape violence among some of the country’s myriad ethnic groups or to pursue economic opportunities. Internal and international trafficking of women and children for domestic work and prostitution is a growing problem. Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.81% (male 21,657,152/female 21,381,628) 15-24 years: 19.47% (male 10,506,144/female 10,542,128) 25-54 years: 32.92% (male 17,720,540/female 17,867,298) 55-64 years: 4.42% (male 2,350,606/female 2,433,319) 65 years and over: 3.38% (2020 est.) (male 1,676,478/female 1,977,857) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 76.8 youth dependency ratio: 70.6 elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 potential support ratio: 16 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.8 years male: 19.6 years female: 20.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.46% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 30.49 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 22.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 5.228 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.3 years (2019 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 401 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 33.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 38.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 28.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.25 years male: 66.12 years female: 70.44 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.99 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 37% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.5% of population rural: 70.2% of population total: 76.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population rural: 29.8% of population total: 23.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.2% (2019) Physicians density: 0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 52.5% of population rural: 8.1% of population total: 17.7% of population unimproved: urban: 47.5% of population rural: 91.9% of population total: 82.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 620,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (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 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; Ethiopia 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: 4.5% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 5.1% (2020 est.) male: 8.8% (2020 est.) female: 1.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 14.1% women married by age 18: 40.3% men married by age 18: 5% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.8% male: 57.2% female: 44.4% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2012) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 3.5% male: 2.7% female: 4.5% (2013 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution 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, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 34.36 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 14.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 114.21 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 22.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 5.81% 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 and dengue fever 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; Ethiopia 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: widespread lack of access: due to civil conflict and drought - more than 16 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the May−June 2021 period; the high levels of food insecurity are mainly due to the lingering impact of the measures implemented in 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID‑19 pandemic, macro‑economic challenges resulting in high food prices, localized but significant locust‑induced crop and pasture losses, the negative impact on crop and livestock production of erratic rains in the first half of the year and to the intensification of inter‑communal violence since 2020 in several areas and the ongoing conflict in Tigray Region (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 6,532,787 tons (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;  Major rivers (by length in km): Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 122 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE etymology: the country name derives from the Greek word "Aethiopia," which in classical times referred to lands south of Egypt in the Upper Nile region Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Addis Ababa geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name in Amharic means "new flower" and was bestowed on the city in 1889, three years after its founding Administrative divisions: 11 ethnically based regional states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 chartered cities* (astedader akabibiwach, singular - astedader akabibi); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sidama, Sumale (Somali), Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples) Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.) National holiday: Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 amendments: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils Legal system: civil law 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 Ethiopia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President SAHLE-WORK Zewde (since 25 October 2018) head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018); Deputy Prime Minister DEMEKE Mekonnen Hassen (since 29 November 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election held on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (the scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed by Prime Minister ABIY due to the COVID-19 pandemic); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections election results: 2021: SAHLE-WORK elected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021) 2018: SAHLE-WORK elected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); note - snap election held on 25 October 2018 due to resignation of President MULATA Teshome note: SAHLE-WORK Zewde is the first female elected head of state in Ethiopia; she is currently the only female president in Africa. Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Federation or Yefedereshein Mikir Bete (153 seats maximum; 144 seats current; members indirectly elected by state assemblies to serve 5-year terms) House of People's Representatives or Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete (547 seats maximum; 470 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; 22 seats reserved for minorities; all members serve 5-year terms) elections: House of Federation - last held 4 October 2021 (next expected 31 October 2026) House of People's Representatives - last held in two parts on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (next election expected 30 June 2026) election results: House of Federation - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - NA; composition - men 100, women 44, percent of women 30.6% House of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by coalition/party - Prosperity Party 410, NAMA 5, EZEMA 4, Gedeo People's Democratic organization 2, Independents 4; composition - men 275, women 195, percent of women  41.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 38.9% notes: House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation; percent of vote percentages are calculated on the number of members actually seated versus on the constitutional maximums Judicial branch: highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges); note - the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues judge selection and term of office: president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60 subordinate courts: federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts Political parties and leaders: national parties: All Ethiopian Unity Organization Alliance for Multination Democratic Federalism  National Movement of Amhara or NAMA Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA [BERHANU Nega]  Ethiopian Democratic Union Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum or MEDREK Ethiopian Freedom Party Ethiopian National Unity Party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party Ethiopian Social Democratic Party Federalist Democratic Forum Freedom and Equality Party Hedase Party Hiber Ethiopia Democratic Party Mother Party New Generation Party Oromo Federalist Congress Prosperity Party or PP regional parties: Afar Liberation Front Party or ANDF Afar People’s Justice Democratic Party Afar People’s Party or APP Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front Agew National Congress Amhara Democratic Force Movement Arena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty Argoba People’s Democratic Organization or APDO Argoba Nationality Democratic Movement Balderas for True Democracy Benishangul People’s Freedom Movement for Peace and Democracy Organization Benishangul People's Liberation Movement Boro Democratic Party Donga People’s Democratic Organization Gambella People’s Freedom Democratic Movement Gambella People’s Freedom Movement Gambella People Justice, Peace and Development Democratic Movement Gambella People’s Liberation Movement Gamo Democratic Party or GDP Gedio People Democratic Organization Harari Democratic Organization Kafa Green Party Kafa Peoples Democratic Union Kimant Democratic Party Kucha People's Democratic Party Mocha Democratic Party National Movement of Amhara National Movement of Wolaita Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF Oromo Freedom Movement Oromo Liberation Front Qucha People Democratic Party Raya Rayuma Democratic Party Renaissance Party  Sidama Freedom Movement or Sidama Liberation Movement Sidama Hadicho People’s Democratic Organization Sidama People’s Unity Democratic Organization Sidama Unity Party Tigray Democratic Party Union of Tigrians for Democracy and Sovereignty West Somali Democratic Party Wolayta National Movement Wolayta People’s Democratic Front Wolene People's Democratic Party (2020) notes - Ethiopia has over fifty national-level and regional-level political parties. The ruling party, the Prosperity Party, was created by Prime Minister ABIY in November 2019 from member parties of the former Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which included the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP), Oromo Democratic Party (ODP), Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM), plus other EPRDF-allied parties such as the Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP), Benishangul Gumuz People’s Democratic Party (BGPDP), Gambella People’s Democratic Movement (GPDM), Somali People’s Democratic Party (SPDP), and the Harari National League (HNL). Once the Prosperity Party was created, the various ethnically-based parties that comprised or were affiliated with the EPRDF were subsequently disbanded; in January 2021, the Ethiopian electoral board de-registered the Tigray People’s Liberation Front or TPLF; national level parties are qualified to register candidates in multiple regions across Ethiopia; regional parties can register candidates for both national and regional parliaments, but only in one region of Ethiopia International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SELESHI Bekele Awulachew (since 7 June 2022) 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON (since 25 February 2022) embassy: Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa mailing address: 2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC  20521-2030 telephone: [251] 111-30-60-00 FAX: [251] 111-24-24-01 email address and website: AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often appropriated by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996 National symbol(s): Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by current government); national colors: green, yellow, red National anthem: name: "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia) lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu note: adopted 1992 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Axum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Ethiopia - the second most populous country in Africa - is a one-party state with a planned economy. For more than a decade before 2016, GDP grew at a rate between 8% and 11% annually – one of the fastest growing states among the 188 IMF member countries. This growth was driven by government investment in infrastructure, as well as sustained progress in the agricultural and service sectors. More than 70% of Ethiopia’s population is still employed in the agricultural sector, but services have surpassed agriculture as the principal source of GDP.   Ethiopia has the lowest level of income-inequality in Africa and one of the lowest in the world, with a Gini coefficient comparable to that of the Scandinavian countries. Yet despite progress toward eliminating extreme poverty, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, due both to rapid population growth and a low starting base. Changes in rainfall associated with world-wide weather patterns resulted in the worst drought in 30 years in 2015-16, creating food insecurity for millions of Ethiopians.   The state is heavily engaged in the economy. Ongoing infrastructure projects include power production and distribution, roads, rails, airports and industrial parks. Key sectors are state-owned, including telecommunications, banking and insurance, and power distribution. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to tenants. Title rights in urban areas, particularly Addis Ababa, are poorly regulated, and subject to corruption.   Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings are led by the services sector - primarily the state-run Ethiopian Airlines - followed by exports of several commodities. While coffee remains the largest foreign exchange earner, Ethiopia is diversifying exports, and commodities such as gold, sesame, khat, livestock and horticulture products are becoming increasingly important. Manufacturing represented less than 8% of total exports in 2016, but manufacturing exports should increase in future years due to a growing international presence.   The banking, insurance, telecommunications, and micro-credit industries are restricted to domestic investors, but Ethiopia has attracted roughly $8.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), mostly from China, Turkey, India and the EU; US FDI is $567 million. Investment has been primarily in infrastructure, construction, agriculture/horticulture, agricultural processing, textiles, leather and leather products.   To support industrialization in sectors where Ethiopia has a comparative advantage, such as textiles and garments, leather goods, and processed agricultural products, Ethiopia plans to increase installed power generation capacity by 8,320 MW, up from a capacity of 2,000 MW, by building three more major dams and expanding to other sources of renewable energy. In 2017, the government devalued the birr by 15% to increase exports and alleviate a chronic foreign currency shortage in the country.Ethiopia - the second most populous country in Africa - is a one-party state with a planned economy. For more than a decade before 2016, GDP grew at a rate between 8% and 11% annually – one of the fastest growing states among the 188 IMF member countries. This growth was driven by government investment in infrastructure, as well as sustained progress in the agricultural and service sectors. More than 70% of Ethiopia’s population is still employed in the agricultural sector, but services have surpassed agriculture as the principal source of GDP. Ethiopia has the lowest level of income-inequality in Africa and one of the lowest in the world, with a Gini coefficient comparable to that of the Scandinavian countries. Yet despite progress toward eliminating extreme poverty, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, due both to rapid population growth and a low starting base. Changes in rainfall associated with world-wide weather patterns resulted in the worst drought in 30 years in 2015-16, creating food insecurity for millions of Ethiopians. The state is heavily engaged in the economy. Ongoing infrastructure projects include power production and distribution, roads, rails, airports and industrial parks. Key sectors are state-owned, including telecommunications, banking and insurance, and power distribution. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to tenants. Title rights in urban areas, particularly Addis Ababa, are poorly regulated, and subject to corruption. Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings are led by the services sector - primarily the state-run Ethiopian Airlines - followed by exports of several commodities. While coffee remains the largest foreign exchange earner, Ethiopia is diversifying exports, and commodities such as gold, sesame, khat, livestock and horticulture products are becoming increasingly important. Manufacturing represented less than 8% of total exports in 2016, but manufacturing exports should increase in future years due to a growing international presence. The banking, insurance, telecommunications, and micro-credit industries are restricted to domestic investors, but Ethiopia has attracted roughly $8.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), mostly from China, Turkey, India and the EU; US FDI is $567 million. Investment has been primarily in infrastructure, construction, agriculture/horticulture, agricultural processing, textiles, leather and leather products. To support industrialization in sectors where Ethiopia has a comparative advantage, such as textiles and garments, leather goods, and processed agricultural products, Ethiopia plans to increase installed power generation capacity by 8,320 MW, up from a capacity of 2,000 MW, by building three more major dams and expanding to other sources of renewable energy. In 2017, the government devalued the birr by 15% to increase exports and alleviate a chronic foreign currency shortage in the country. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $264.05 billion (2020 est.) $248.97 billion (2019 est.) $229.76 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 10.9% (2017 est.) 8% (2016 est.) 10.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,300 (2020 est.) $2,200 (2019 est.) $2,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $92.154 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.7% (2019 est.) 13.9% (2018 est.) 10.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2014) Moody's rating: B2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 34.8% (2017 est.) industry: 21.6% (2017 est.) services: 43.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 69.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 43.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 8.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, cereals, wheat, sorghum, milk, barley, sweet potatoes, roots/tubers nes, sugar cane, millet Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 52.82 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 72.7% industry: 7.4% services: 19.9% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 17.5% (2012 est.) 18% (2011 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 3.5% male: 2.7% female: 4.5% (2013 est.) Population below poverty line: 23.5% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35 (2015 est.) 30 (2000) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (2005) Budget: revenues: 11.24 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.79 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 54.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 13.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 8 July - 7 July Current account balance: -$6.551 billion (2017 est.) -$6.574 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $7.62 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.814 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 17%, United States 16%, United Arab Emirates 8%, Saudi Arabia 6%, South Korea 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: coffee, sesame seeds, gold, cut flowers, zinc (2019) Imports: $19.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $14.69 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 27%, India 9%, United Arab Emirates 9%, France 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: aircraft, gas turbines, packaged medicines, electric filament, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.013 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.022 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $27.27 billion (2019 est.) $26.269 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: birr (ETB) per US dollar - 25 (2017 est.) 21.732 (2016 est.) 21.732 (2015 est.) 21.55 (2014 est.) 19.8 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 96% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 34% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.856 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 9,778,100,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 1 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.374 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 95.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 689,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 528,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 400,000 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 69,970 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.798 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.474 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.324 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 3.219 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.252 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 44.5 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the slow process to open up Ethiopia’s telecom market was completed with the licensing of the Safaricom-led Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium; the country had been one of the last in Africa to allow its national telco a monopoly on all telecom services including fixed, mobile, internet and data communications; this has stifled innovation, restricted network expansion, and limited the scope of services on offer; the consortium was in some respects a proxy for the wider influence over Ethiopia’s telecom sector between the interests of the US and China; only one of the two licenses on offer was secured, with uncertainty as to the timetable for issuing the second license; the government in mid-2021 began the process of selling a 45% stake in the incumbent telco Ethio Telecom; the World Bank in early 2021 provided a $200 million loan to help develop the country’s digital transformation, while the government has embarked on its 2020-2030 program as well as its Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, both aimed at making better use of digital technologies to promote socioeconomic development; the country’s mobile platform has mostly been provided by ZTE and Huawei, which have offered vendor financing; Ethio Telecom has placed the expansion of LTE services as a cornerstone of its investment program to 2022; the new licensee has been barred from contracting Chinese vendors, thus opening the door to western vendors. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 6 public TV stations broadcasting nationally and 10 public radio broadcasters; 7 private radio stations and 19 community radio stations (2017) Internet country code: .et Internet users: total: 27,591,260 (2020 est.) percent of population: 24% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 212,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 75 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,501,244 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,089,280,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ET Airports: total: 57 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Railways: total: 659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) standard gauge: 659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge note: electric railway with redundant power supplies; under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia and managed by a Chinese contractor Roadways: total: 120,171 km (2018) Merchant marine: total: 11 by type: general cargo 9, oil tanker 2 (2020) Ports and terminals: Ethiopia is landlocked and uses the ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and Berbera in Somalia Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian Air Force (Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF) (2022) note 1: in January 2020 the Ethiopian Government announced it had re-established a navy, which was disbanded in 1996; in March 2019 Ethiopia signed a defense cooperation agreement with France which stipulated that France would support the establishment of an Ethiopian navy, which will reportedly be based out of Djibouti note 2: in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit responsible to the Prime Minister for protecting senior officials Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $970 million) 0.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $950 million) 0.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $930 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; prior to the 2020-21 Tigray conflict, approximately 150,000 active duty troops, including about 3,000 Air Force personnel (no personnel numbers available for the newly-established Navy) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ENDF's inventory is comprised mostly of Soviet-era equipment from the 1970s; since 2010, the ENDF has received arms from a variety of countries, with China, Russia, and Ukraine as the leading suppliers; Ethiopia has a modest industrial defense base centered on small arms and production of armored vehicles (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 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; the order also recalled retired military officers to active duty Military deployments: 5-10,000 Somalia (4,500 for ATMIS; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with Somalia; note - bilateral figures are prior to the conflict with Tigray); 250 Sudan (UNISFA); 1,475 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2022) Military - note: each 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; the fighting included heavy civilian and military casualties with widespread abuses reported; in March 2022, the Ethiopian Government declared a  truce to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into the Tigray region; the TPLF reciprocated with a truce of its own; since the announcement, both sides have reportedly observed the truce, although tensions remained high; in June 2022, ABIY announced that the Ethiopian Government had set up a committee to negotiate with the TPLF 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 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (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: Ethiopia-Eritrea: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement Ethiopia-Somalia: While border clashes continue in the al-Fashqa (Fashaga) area,  the US views the 1902 boundary treaty between Ethiopia and Sudan as being in force; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia;  Ethiopia-Sudan: Ethiopia's construction of a large dam (the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile since 2011 has become a focal point of relations with Egypt and Sudan; as of 2020, four years of three-way talks between the three capitals over operating the dam and filling its reservoir had made little progress; Ethiopia began filling the dam in July 2020; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with EthiopiaEthiopia-Eritrea: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement Ethiopia-Somalia: While border clashes continue in the al-Fashqa (Fashaga) area,  the US views the 1902 boundary treaty between Ethiopia and Sudan as being in force; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia;  Ethiopia-Sudan: Ethiopia's construction of a large dam (the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile since 2011 has become a focal point of relations with Egypt and Sudan; as of 2020, four years of three-way talks between the three capitals over operating the dam and filling its reservoir had made little progress; Ethiopia began filling the dam in July 2020; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 403,802 (South Sudan), 249,573 (Somalia), 161,640 (Eritrea), 47,826 (Sudan) (2022) IDPs: 2,114,653 (includes conflict- and climate-induced IDPs, excluding unverified estimates from the Amhara region; border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Somali and Oromia regions; natural disasters; intercommunal violence; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2021) Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center

20220901

countries-tajikistan-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s. In 1929, the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s. In 1929, the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Topic: Geography Area: total: 144,100 sq km land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains Natural resources: hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold Topic: People and Society Population: 9,119,347 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.) Languages: Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.) Religions: Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.) Population growth rate: 1.4% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Dushanbe Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of: National Assembly or Majlisi Milli (34 seats; 25 members indirectly elected by local representative assemblies or majlisi, 8 appointed by the president, and 1 reserved for each living former president; members serve 5-year terms) Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by 2-round absolute majority vote and 22 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: lower middle-income Central Asian economy; key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter; declining poverty; sustained high growth; very limited private sector; substantial illicit drug trade; significant remittances; environmentally fragilelower middle-income Central Asian economy; key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter; declining poverty; sustained high growth; very limited private sector; substantial illicit drug trade; significant remittances; environmentally fragile Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $34.88 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,700 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, cotton, carrots/turnips, beef Industries: aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil Exports: $1.41 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: Turkey 24%, Switzerland 22%, Uzbekistan 16%, Kazakhstan 12%, China 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, aluminum, cotton, zinc, antimony, lead (2019) Imports: $3.13 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: China 40%, Russia 38%, Kazakhstan 19%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, natural gas, bauxite, aircraft (2019)Page last updated: Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022

20220901

field-merchant-marine-country-comparison

20220901

countries-qatar

Topic: Photos of Qatar Topic: Introduction Background: Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and by 2007 had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public, for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo by some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in March 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In June 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. They restored ties in January 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.  Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and by 2007 had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public, for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo by some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 11,586 sq km land: 11,586 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 87 km border countries (1): Saudi Arabia 87 km Coastline: 563 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert Elevation: highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 28 m Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 130 sq km (2012) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Population distribution: most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common Geography - note: the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits Map description: Qatar map showing major population centers and neighboring countries of this peninsular country that extends into the Persian Gulf.Qatar map showing major population centers and neighboring countries of this peninsular country that extends into the Persian Gulf. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,508,182 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari Ethnic groups: non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.) Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.84% (male 158,702/female 155,211) 15-24 years: 11.78% (male 203,703/female 84,323) 25-54 years: 70.66% (male 1,439,364/female 287,575) 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 66,561/female 19,600) 65 years and over: 1.19% (2020 est.) (male 19,067/female 10,068) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 18.1 youth dependency ratio: 16.1 elderly dependency ratio: 2 potential support ratio: 50.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 33.7 years male: 35 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.04% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.33 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula Urbanization: urban population: 99.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: Ar-Rayyan 779,000, 652,000 DOHA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.81 years male: 77.7 years female: 81.96 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 37.5% (2012) Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.9% (2019) Physicians density: 2.49 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 1.3 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: (2020 est.) <200 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 35.1% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 11.8% (2020 est.) male: 21.7% (2020 est.) female: 1.9% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.5% male: 92.4% female: 94.7% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 15 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 0.4% male: 0.2% female: 1.5% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air, land, and water pollution are significant environmental issues; limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities; other issues include conservation of oil supplies and preservation of the natural wildlife heritage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 90.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 103.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.34 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 99.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.66% 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: 1,000,990 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 30,030 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2014 est.) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 477.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 143.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 291.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 58 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it dates back at least 2,000 years since a term "Catharrei" was used to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.), and a "Catara" peninsula is depicted on a map by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation is gat-tar or cot-tar Government type: absolute monarchy Capital: name: Doha geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derives from the Arabic term "dohat," meaning "roundness," and refers to the small rounded bays along the area's coastline Administrative divisions: 8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal Independence: 3 September 1971 (from the UK) National holiday: National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971) Constitution: history: previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 amendments: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters) 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 Qatar dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013) head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh KHALID bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani (since 28 January 2020);  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Mohamed AL Attiyah (since 14 November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MOHAMED bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (since 14 November 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the amir Legislative branch: description: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote for 4-year re-electable terms; 15 members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council elections: first election held for 30 elected members on 2 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025); date of appointed members - 14 October 2021 (next appointments - NA) election results: 30 nonpartisan members elected; composition - men 30, women 0 15 appointed members; composition men 13, women 2, percent of women 13.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the Amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally Political parties and leaders: political parties are banned International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Evyenia SIDEREAS embassy: 22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha mailing address: 6130 Doha Place, Washington DC  20521-6130 telephone: [974] 4496-6000 FAX: [974] 4488-4298 email address and website: PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted National symbol(s): a maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white National anthem: name: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Amiri Salute) lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN note: adopted 1996; anthem first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site Topic: Economy Economic overview: Qatar’s oil and natural gas resources are the country’s main economic engine and government revenue source, driving Qatar’s high economic growth and per capita income levels, robust state spending on public entitlements, and booming construction spending, particularly as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup in 2022. Although the government has maintained high capital spending levels for ongoing infrastructure projects, low oil and natural gas prices in recent years have led the Qatari Government to tighten some spending to help stem its budget deficit.   Qatar’s reliance on oil and natural gas is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Proved natural gas reserves exceed 25 trillion cubic meters - 13% of the world total and, among countries, third largest in the world. Proved oil reserves exceed 25 billion barrels, allowing production to continue at current levels for about 56 years. Despite the dominance of oil and natural gas, Qatar has made significant gains in strengthening non-oil sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and financial services, leading non-oil GDP to steadily rise in recent years to just over half the total.   Following trade restriction imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt in 2017, Qatar established new trade routes with other countries to maintain access to imports.Qatar’s oil and natural gas resources are the country’s main economic engine and government revenue source, driving Qatar’s high economic growth and per capita income levels, robust state spending on public entitlements, and booming construction spending, particularly as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup in 2022. Although the government has maintained high capital spending levels for ongoing infrastructure projects, low oil and natural gas prices in recent years have led the Qatari Government to tighten some spending to help stem its budget deficit. Qatar’s reliance on oil and natural gas is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. Proved natural gas reserves exceed 25 trillion cubic meters - 13% of the world total and, among countries, third largest in the world. Proved oil reserves exceed 25 billion barrels, allowing production to continue at current levels for about 56 years. Despite the dominance of oil and natural gas, Qatar has made significant gains in strengthening non-oil sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and financial services, leading non-oil GDP to steadily rise in recent years to just over half the total. Following trade restriction imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt in 2017, Qatar established new trade routes with other countries to maintain access to imports. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $245.66 billion (2020 est.) $255.01 billion (2019 est.) $253.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2017 est.) 2.1% (2016 est.) 3.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $85,300 (2020 est.) $90,000 (2019 est.) $91,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $191.29 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (2019 est.) 0.2% (2018 est.) 0.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2017) Moody's rating: Aa3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) industry: 50.3% (2017 est.) services: 49.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 24.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 43.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 51% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: tomatoes, dates, camel milk, sheep milk, goat milk, pumpkins/gourds, mutton, poultry, milk, eggplants Industries: liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.953 million (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.9% (2017 est.) 11.1% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 0.4% male: 0.2% female: 1.5% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 41.1 (2007) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 35.9% (2007) Budget: revenues: 44.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 53.82 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 53.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 46.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $6.426 billion (2017 est.) -$8.27 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $70.93 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $92.05 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $102.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Japan 17%, South Korea 16%, India 14%, China 13%, Singapore 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, ethylene polymers, fertilizers (2019) Imports: $59.06 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $66.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $65.81 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 15%, France 13%, United Kingdom 9%, China 9%, Germany 5%, Italy 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: aircraft, gas turbines, cars, jewelry, iron piping (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $15.01 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $31.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $167.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $157.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.641 (2020 est.) 3.641 (2019 est.) 3.641 (2018 est.) 3.64 (2014 est.) 3.64 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 10.633 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 44,116,984,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.772 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 1,815,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 293,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,264,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 273,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 485,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 12,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 167,460,996,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 37,701,809,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 126,749,621,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 23,860,500,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 111.922 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 33.44 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 78.482 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 723.582 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 454,701 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,798,514 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Qatar had developed a mature telecom sector which has been able to absorb the additional data demands made on it during the pandemic; mobile services based on LTE are universally available, and this has helped the two operators Ooredoo Qatar and Vodafone Qatar to migrate to 5G; in combination with a strong fiber rollout, the country is aiming to provide gigabit services nationally; 5G services are largely based on 3.5GHz spectrum made available following an auction in early 2019. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha; in August 2013, Qatar's satellite company Es'hailSat launched its first communications satellite Es'hail 1 (manufactured in the US), which entered commercial service in December 2013 to provide improved television broadcasting capability and expand availability of voice and Internet; Es'hailSat launched its second commercial satellite in 2018 with aid of SpaceX (2019) Internet country code: .qa Internet users: total: 2,881,060 (2020 est.) percent of population: 100% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 296,126 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 251 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 29,178,923 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,666,710,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A7 Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 288 km condensate, 221 km condensate/gas, 2,383 km gas, 90 km liquid petroleum gas, 745 km oil, 103 km refined products (2013) Roadways: total: 7,039 km (2016) Merchant marine: total: 129 by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 5, other 107 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Doha, Musay'id, Ra's Laffan LNG terminal(s) (export): Ras Laffan Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF); Internal Security Forces: Mobile Gendarmerie (2022) Military expenditures: 4% of GDP (2021 est.) 4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $8.44 billion) 3.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $8.23 billion) 3.4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $8.22 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 15,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Land Force, including Emiri Guard; 3,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Qatari military's inventory includes a broad mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from the US and Europe; in the 2010s, Qatar embarked on an extensive military expansion and modernization program with large air, ground, and naval equipment purchases; since 2010, France and the US are the top suppliers (2022) Military service age and obligation: conscription 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 (2022) note: as of 2020, the military incorporated about 2,000 conscripts annually Military - note: Qatar hosts 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 hosts as many as 5,000 Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 Qatar 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: none identifiednone identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 1,200 (mid-year 2021)

20220901

countries-virgin-islands

Topic: Photos of Virgin Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.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 of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 188 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land Elevation: highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2012) Population distribution: while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes Geography - note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean Map description: Virgin Islands map showing the three major islands that make up the US territory in the Caribbean Sea.Virgin Islands map showing the three major islands that make up the US territory in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 105,413 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander Ethnic groups: Black 76%, White 15.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 4.9%, mixed 2.1% (2010 est.) note: 17.4% self-identify as Latino Languages: English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.) Religions: Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.71% (male 10,671/female 10,192) 15-24 years: 10.16% (male 5,219/female 5,535) 25-54 years: 36.07% (male 17,844/female 20,342) 55-64 years: 14.24% (male 7,222/female 7,859) 65 years and over: 19.82% (2021 est.) (male 9,424/female 11,562) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 66 youth dependency ratio: 32 elderly dependency ratio: 34 potential support ratio: 2.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 41.8 years male: 40.6 years female: 42.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.45% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.63 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: while overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix Urbanization: urban population: 96.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 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.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.27 years male: 77.08 years female: 83.65 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 98.7% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.6% 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: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 96.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: VI etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes) Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches Dependency status: unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior Capital: name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King Christian V’s wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714) Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917) Constitution: history: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory amendments: amended several times, last in 2012 Legal system: US common law Citizenship: see United States Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019), Lieutenant Governor Tregenza ROACH (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2018 with a runoff on 20 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022) election results: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3%Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislature of the Virgin Islands (15 seats; senators directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 2-year terms) the Virgin Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term elections: Legislature of the Virgin Islands last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) US House of Representatives last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020) election results: Legislature of the Virgin Islands - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 13, independents 2; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7% delegate to US House of Representatives - seat by party - Democratic Party 1; composition - 1 woman note: the Virgin Islands to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); note - court established by the US Congress in 2004 and assumed appellate jurisdiction in 2007 judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Stacey PLASKELL] Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Dale BLYDEN] Republican Party [John CANEGATA] International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US) Flag description: white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel; white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands National anthem: name: Virgin Islands March lyrics/music: multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr. note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tourism, trade, other services, and rum production are the primary economic activities of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), accounting for most of its GDP and employment. The USVI receives between 2.5 and 3 million tourists a year, mostly from visiting cruise ships. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms, as evidenced by the destruction from two major hurricanes in 2017. Recovery and rebuilding have continued, but full recovery from these back-to-back hurricanes is years away. The USVI government estimates it will need $7.5 billion, almost twice the territory’s GDP, to rebuild the territory.   The agriculture sector is small and most food is imported. In 2016, government spending (both federal and territorial together) accounted for about 27% of GDP while exports of goods and services, including spending by tourists, accounted for nearly 47%. Federal programs and grants, including rum tax cover-over totaling $482.3 million in 2016, contributed 32.2% of the territory’s total revenues. The economy picked up 0.9% in 2016 and had appeared to be progressing before the 2017 hurricanes severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and the economy.Tourism, trade, other services, and rum production are the primary economic activities of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), accounting for most of its GDP and employment. The USVI receives between 2.5 and 3 million tourists a year, mostly from visiting cruise ships. The islands are vulnerable to damage from storms, as evidenced by the destruction from two major hurricanes in 2017. Recovery and rebuilding have continued, but full recovery from these back-to-back hurricanes is years away. The USVI government estimates it will need $7.5 billion, almost twice the territory’s GDP, to rebuild the territory. The agriculture sector is small and most food is imported. In 2016, government spending (both federal and territorial together) accounted for about 27% of GDP while exports of goods and services, including spending by tourists, accounted for nearly 47%. Federal programs and grants, including rum tax cover-over totaling $482.3 million in 2016, contributed 32.2% of the territory’s total revenues. The economy picked up 0.9% in 2016 and had appeared to be progressing before the 2017 hurricanes severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and the economy. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.872 billion (2016 est.) $3.759 billion (2015 est.) $3.622 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2013 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.9% (2016 est.) 0.3% (2015 est.) -1% (2014 est.) Real GDP per capita: $37,000 (2016 est.) $35,800 (2015 est.) $34,500 (2014 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $5.182 billion (2016 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2012 est.) industry: 20% (2012 est.) services: 78% (2012 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.2% (2016 est.) government consumption: 26.8% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 15% (2016 est.) NA exports of goods and services: 46.7% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -64.3% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle Industries: tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 48,550 (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) Unemployment rate: 10.4% (2017 est.) 11% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 28.9% (2002 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 1.496 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: 1.518 billion (2016 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 53.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 45.9% of GDP (2014 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 28.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Exports: $1.81 billion (2016 est.) $1.537 billion (2015 est.) Exports - partners: Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019) Imports: $2.489 billion (2016 est.) $1.549 billion (2015 est.) Imports - partners: India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 704 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 654.7 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 325,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 98% 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: 2% 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: 1,240 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 3,285 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 23,480 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: 76,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 59,121 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 204.5 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general 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 Broadcast media: about a dozen TV broadcast stations including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; 24 radio stations Internet country code: .vi Internet users: total: 68,268 (2019 est.) percent of population: 64% (2019 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,260 km (2008) Merchant marine: total: 1,868 by type: bulk carrier 91, container ship 39, general cargo 1,205, oil tanker 118, other 415 (2019) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified

20220901

countries-andorra-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions when traveling to Andorra. 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 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: US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; Barcelonaacs@state.gov Telephone Code: 376 Local Emergency Phone: Europe-wide emergency response number 112; Ambulance: 118; Fire: 118; Police: 110 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese Major Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8% 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: Andorra la Vella; Vallnord; Sant Joan de Caselles Church; Centre Termolúdic Caldea; Ordino (includes Casa d'Areny-Plandolit); Sant Martí de la Cortinada Church; Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley; Pyrenees Mountains Major Sports: Soccer, rugby, basketball Cultural Practices: Andorrans shake hands upon greeting. Men will shake with two hands, placing their left hand on the right forearm of the other person. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is optional, but welcome. Leave a 10% tip at restaurants and for taxi drivers. Round up the bill at pubs and for hotel staff. Souvenirs: Wood, leather, and metal carved "musicature"; ironwork; pinewood furniture; glazed pottery Traditional Cuisine: Escudella i carn d'olla — a traditional Catalan meat and vegetable stew and soupPlease 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, July 20, 2022

20220901

east-and-southeast-asia

20220901

countries-uzbekistan

Topic: Photos of Uzbekistan Topic: Introduction Background: Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia. The country has a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan’s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in September 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan’s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in October 2021 with 80% of the vote.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km Area - comparative: about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California Land boundaries: total: 6,893 km border countries (5): Afghanistan 144 km; Kazakhstan 2,330 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km; Tajikistan 1,312 km; Turkmenistan 1,793 km Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked) Climate: mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west Elevation: highest point: Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong location and name of the high elevation lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Irrigated land: 42,150 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, while the central and western deserts are sparsely populated Natural hazards: earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world Map description: Uzbekistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries.  Uzbekistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries.  Topic: People and Society Population: 31,104,937 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani Ethnic groups: Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.9% (2017 est.) Languages: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% major-language sample(s): Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: in the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, both the Karakalpak language and Uzbek have official status Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.19% (male 3,631,693/female 3,456,750) 15-24 years: 16.63% (male 2,601,803/female 2,481,826) 25-54 years: 45.68% (male 6,955,260/female 7,006,172) 55-64 years: 8.63% (male 1,245,035/female 1,392,263) 65 years and over: 5.87% (2020 est.) (male 768,769/female 1,025,840) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 43.4 elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 potential support ratio: 13.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 30.1 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.83% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, while the central and western deserts are sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 50.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.574 million TASHKENT (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.7 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 18.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.29 years male: 72.27 years female: 78.5 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.6% of population rural: 96.1% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population rural: 3.9% of population total: 2.2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.6% (2019) Physicians density: 2.37 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 4 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: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 58,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1,000 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 17.6% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 1.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2017) Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: shrinkage of the Aral Sea has resulted in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification and respiratory health problems; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 25.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 91.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 96.16 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 50.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2016 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.41 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.13 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 54.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 48.87 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi local short form: O'zbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: a combination of the Turkic words "uz" (self) and "bek" (master) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) to give the meaning "Land of the Free" Government type: presidential republic; highly authoritarian Capital: name: Tashkent (Toshkent) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: "tash" means "stone" and "kent" means "city" in Turkic languages, so the name simply denotes "stone city" Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Tashkent Province], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2017 Legal system: civil law system; note - in early 2020, the president signed an amendment to the criminal code, criminal procedure code, and code of administrative responsibility 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 Uzbekistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (interim president from 8 September 2016; formally elected president on 4 December 2016 to succeed longtime President Islom KARIMOV, who died on 2 September 2016; reelected president on 24 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) 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; previously a 5-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to 7 years, and reverted to 5 years in 2011); election last held on 24 October 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister nominated by majority party in legislature since 2011, but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president election results: 2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.1%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4% 2016: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 88.6%, Hotamjon KETMONOV (PDP) 3.7%, Narimon UMAROV (Adolat) 3.5%, Sarvar OTAMURODOV (National Revival Democratic Party) 2.4%, other 1.8% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 84 members indirectly elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) Legislative Chamber or Qonunchilik Palatasi (150 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 16-17 January 2020 (next to be held in 2025) Legislative Chamber - last held on 22 December 2019 and 5 January 2020 (next to be held in December 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 77, women 23, percent of women 23% Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 53, National Revival Democratic Party 36, Adolat 24, PDP 22, Ecological Movement 15; composition - men 83, women, 17, percent of women 17% note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 67 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and economic sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges of the highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for initial 5-year term and can be reappointed for subsequent 10-year and lifetime terms subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts Political parties and leaders: Ecological Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Ekologik Partivasi) [Narzullo OBLOMURODOV] Justice (Adolat) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan [Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV] Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Liberal-Demokratik Partiyasi) or LDPU [Aktam HAITOV] National Revival Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O'zbekiston Milliy Tiklanish Demokratik Partiyasi) [Alisher QODIROV] People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (Xalq Demokratik Partiyas) or PDP [Ulugbek Ilyosovich INOYATOV] (formerly Communist Party) International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EEU (observer), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROSENBLUM (since 24 May 2019) embassy: 3 Moyqorghon, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093 Tashkent mailing address: 7110 Tashkent Place, Washington DC  20521-7110 telephone: [998] 78-120-5450 FAX: [998] 78-120-6335 email address and website: ACSTashkent@state.gov https://uz.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a vertical, white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white, five-pointed stars shifted to the hoist on the top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky, white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth; the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar National symbol(s): khumo (mythical bird); national colors: blue, white, red, green National anthem: name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan) lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV note: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet Republic but adopted new lyrics National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c), Historic Bukhara (c), Historic Shakhrisyabz (c), Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c), Western Tien Shan (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in which 51% of the population lives in urban settlements; the agriculture-rich Fergana Valley, in which Uzbekistan’s eastern borders are situated, has been counted among the most densely populated parts of Central Asia. Since its independence in September 1991, the government has largely maintained its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production, prices, and access to foreign currency. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbek agriculture remains largely centered on cotton; Uzbekistan is the world's fifth-largest cotton exporter and seventh-largest producer. Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments, and export of natural gas, gold, and cotton provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings.   Recently, lower global commodity prices and economic slowdowns in neighboring Russia and China have hurt Uzbekistan's trade and investment and worsened its foreign currency shortage. Aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government is taking incremental steps to reform the business sector and address impediments to foreign investment in the country. Since the death of first President Islam KARIMOV and election of President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, emphasis on such initiatives and government efforts to improve the private sector have increased. In the past, Uzbek authorities accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek laws and have frozen and seized their assets.   As a part of its economic reform efforts, the Uzbek Government is looking to expand opportunities for small and medium enterprises and prioritizes increasing foreign direct investment. In September 2017, the government devalued the official currency rate by almost 50% and announced the loosening of currency restrictions to eliminate the currency black market, increase access to hard currency, and boost investment.Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in which 51% of the population lives in urban settlements; the agriculture-rich Fergana Valley, in which Uzbekistan’s eastern borders are situated, has been counted among the most densely populated parts of Central Asia. Since its independence in September 1991, the government has largely maintained its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production, prices, and access to foreign currency. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, Uzbek agriculture remains largely centered on cotton; Uzbekistan is the world's fifth-largest cotton exporter and seventh-largest producer. Uzbekistan's growth has been driven primarily by state-led investments, and export of natural gas, gold, and cotton provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Recently, lower global commodity prices and economic slowdowns in neighboring Russia and China have hurt Uzbekistan's trade and investment and worsened its foreign currency shortage. Aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government is taking incremental steps to reform the business sector and address impediments to foreign investment in the country. Since the death of first President Islam KARIMOV and election of President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, emphasis on such initiatives and government efforts to improve the private sector have increased. In the past, Uzbek authorities accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek laws and have frozen and seized their assets. As a part of its economic reform efforts, the Uzbek Government is looking to expand opportunities for small and medium enterprises and prioritizes increasing foreign direct investment. In September 2017, the government devalued the official currency rate by almost 50% and announced the loosening of currency restrictions to eliminate the currency black market, increase access to hard currency, and boost investment. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $239.42 billion (2020 est.) $235.54 billion (2019 est.) $222.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.3% (2017 est.) 7.8% (2016 est.) 7.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $7,000 (2020 est.) $7,000 (2019 est.) $6,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $57.789 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.5% (2017 est.) 8% (2016 est.) note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 22% in 2012 Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB- (2018) Moody's rating: B1 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 17.9% (2017 est.) industry: 33.7% (2017 est.) services: 48.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 59.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 19% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -20% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, tomatoes, vegetables, grapes, onions, watermelons Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 13.273 million (2018 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 25.9% industry: 13.2% services: 60.9% (2012 est.) Unemployment rate: 5% (2017 est.) 5.1% (2016 est.) note: official data; another 20% are underemployed Population below poverty line: 14.1% (2013 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.8 (2003) 44.7 (1998) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003) Budget: revenues: 15.22 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 15.08 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 24.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 31.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $1.713 billion (2017 est.) $384 million (2016 est.) Exports: $14.52 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $16.99 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $14.14 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 19%, United Kingdom 17%, Russia 15%, China 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 8%, Kyrgyzstan 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, natural gas, cotton fibers, copper, ethylene polymers (2019) Imports: $22.56 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $26.55 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $23.44 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 23%, Russia 18%, South Korea 11%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, aircraft, construction vehicles (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $16 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $14 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $16.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $16.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 3,906.1 (2017 est.) 2,966.6 (2016 est.) 2,966.6 (2015 est.) 2,569.6 (2014 est.) 2,311.4 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: Installed generating capacity: 16.042 million kW (2020 est.) Consumption: 57,605,687,000 kWh (2019 est.) Exports: 2.067 billion kWh (2019 est.) Imports: 3.379 billion kWh (2019 est.) Transmission/distribution losses: 3.858 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: Fossil fuels: 88.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Hydroelectricity: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: Production: 3.98 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.668 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.995 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: Total petroleum production: 5,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) Refined petroleum consumption: 98,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 24,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 61,740 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 3,977 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: Production: 46,968,227,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) Consumption: 43,882,007,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) Exports: 13,283,524,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) Imports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1,840,592,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 102.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From coal and metallurgical coke: 7.816 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From petroleum and other liquids: 11.53 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From consumed natural gas: 83.619 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 57.709 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,550,069 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 33.387 million (2022) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Uzbekistan’s telecom markets both wireline and wireless have been playing "catch up" in terms of their development following the country's independence from the former Soviet Union; the government has formally adopted the principles of operating as a market economy, many elements of the old centrally planned economic model remain; this has had the effect of reducing the level of interest from foreign companies and investors in building out the necessary underlying infrastructure, which in turn has constrained the rate of growth in the country’s telecoms sector; the last five years has seen an upswing in prospects for the sector as fiber network roll outs continue beyond the main urban centers, while the mobile market experiences some consolidation for stronger, more efficient competitors; the fixed line market is dominated by the incumbent state owned provider Uztelecom, which has 98% of the market share; with teledensity at 11%, the fixed line segment remains relatively underdeveloped; Uztelecom has been diligently expanding its fiber footprint across the country, and so utilization is increasing as consumers are able to take on VoIP services as part of their fiber packages;  growth is present in the fixed broadband segment thanks to that same network expansion with penetration projected to reach 24% by 2027 (a 5-year CAGR of 6.2%); despite the promising signs in the fixed markets, it is the mobile segment that continues to dominate Uzbekistan’s telecoms sector in terms of penetration, revenue, and growth;  there are four major operators providing a modicum of competition; three of the four are government owned entities although private operator Beeline Uzbekistan has been able to capture up to a third of the market; the mobile market is expected to reach 100% penetration in 2023 a 50% increase in the last five years.  (2022) 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 Broadcast media: the government controls media; 17 state-owned broadcasters - 13 TV and 4 radio - provide service to virtually the entire country; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast to local markets; privately owned TV stations are required to lease transmitters from the government-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation; in 2019, the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information was reorganized into the Agency of Information and Mass Communications and became part of the Uzbek Presidential Administration with recent appointment of the Uzbek President's elder daughter as it deputy director (2019) Internet country code: .uz Internet users: total: 24,304,756 (2020 est.) percent of population: 71% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,820,009 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,056,558 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 89.43 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: UK Airports: total: 53 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 18 (2021) Pipelines: 13,700 km gas, 944 km oil (2016) Railways: total: 4,642 km (2018) broad gauge: 4,642 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified) Roadways: total: 86,496 km (2000) paved: 75,511 km (2000) unpaved: 10,985 km (2000) Waterways: 1,100 km (2012) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Termiz (Amu Darya) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard; Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards (2022) note - the National Guard, also under the Ministry of Defense, ensures public order and security of diplomatic missions, radio and television broadcasting, and other state entities Military expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $3 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.88 billion) 2.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $2.65 billion) 2.5% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $2.49 billion) 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $2.4 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 60,000 total active troops, including 10-15,000 Air Force (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia has been the leading supplier of arms, followed by China (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 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 (2022) Military - note: the 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 2022, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreement as of 2022, 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 2022, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreementas of 2022, 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: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) 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: Uzbekistan-Afghanistan: none identified Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan: field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; disputed territory is held by Uzbekistan but the overwhelming majority of residents are ethnic Kazakhs; the two countries agreed on draft final demarcation documents in March 2022 and plan to hold another meeting in April 2022 Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan: border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas; in 2021, border talks between Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials raised the possibility of a land swap arrangement, but a deal was not finalized Uzbekistan-Tajikistan: none identified Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan: prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; in 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to create a joint intergovernmental commission to oversee water managementUzbekistan-Afghanistan: none identifiedUzbekistan-Kazakhstan: field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; disputed territory is held by Uzbekistan but the overwhelming majority of residents are ethnic Kazakhs; the two countries agreed on draft final demarcation documents in March 2022 and plan to hold another meeting in April 2022Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan: border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas; in 2021, border talks between Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials raised the possibility of a land swap arrangement, but a deal was not finalizedUzbekistan-Tajikistan: none identifiedUzbekistan-Turkmenistan: prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; in 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to create a joint intergovernmental commission to oversee water management Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 59,136 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; adults are victims of government-organized forced labor during Uzbekistan’s annual cotton harvest; local officials in some instances force teachers, students (including children), private businesses employees, and others to work in construction and other forms of non-cotton agriculture and to clean parks, streets, and buildings; traffickers exploit Uzbek women and children in sex trafficking in the Middle East, Eurasia, and Asia, and internally in brothels, clubs, and private residences; traffickers subject Uzbek men, and to a lesser extent women, to forced labor in Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, Turkey, and in other Asian, Middle Eastern, and European countries in the construction, oil and gas, agricultural, retail, and food sectors tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Uzbekistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included addressing the use of forced adult labor during the cotton harvest by increasing pay to laborers and improving working conditions for voluntary workers and ceasing the forced use of students, teachers, and health care workers; third-party monitors were allowed access to the harvest to view changes; the government created a National Commission on Trafficking chaired by the regional governor in every area of the country; however, reports continued of corrupt officials requiring public sector employees to pick cotton or pay for a replacement worker with extorted penalties paid to them; fewer cases of traffickers were investigated and prosecuted, fewer victims of trafficking were identified, and fewer convictions carried a prison sentence; authorities conducted no investigations against corrupt officials extorting money during the cotton harvest (2020) Illicit drugs: transit country for Afghan opium and heroin destined for Russia and the European Union; also transit country for hashish, cannabis products, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; cannabis and poppy are cultivated in small amounts for personal use and local saletransit country for Afghan opium and heroin destined for Russia and the European Union; also transit country for hashish, cannabis products, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; cannabis and poppy are cultivated in small amounts for personal use and local sale

20220901

countries-iceland

Topic: Photos of Iceland Topic: Introduction Background: Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, fueled primarily by a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W Map references: Arctic Region Area: total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 4,970 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords Elevation: highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 557 m Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activityvolcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjarearthquakes and volcanic activityvolcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar Geography - note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe Map description: Iceland map showing the North Atlantic Ocean island and its major population centers.Iceland map showing the North Atlantic Ocean island and its major population centers. Topic: People and Society Population: 357,603 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic Ethnic groups: Icelandic 81.3%, Polish 5.6%, Danish 1%, other 12.1% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth Languages: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 62.3%, Roman Catholic 4%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.7%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 2%, pagan worship 1.4%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.1%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 19%, none 7.6% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.31% (male 36,394/female 34,837) 15-24 years: 12.85% (male 22,748/female 22,317) 25-54 years: 39.44% (male 70,227/female 68,095) 55-64 years: 11.94% (male 20,762/female 21,111) 65 years and over: 15.47% (2020 est.) (male 25,546/female 28,697) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 54 youth dependency ratio: 29.9 elderly dependency ratio: 24.1 potential support ratio: 4.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 37.1 years male: 36.6 years female: 37.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.93% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.96 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 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.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.7 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 1.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 1.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.64 years male: 81.41 years female: 85.97 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.95 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: 8.6% (2019) Physicians density: 4.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019) 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: 0.1% (2020) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020) <500 note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020) <100 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.9% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 12% (2020 est.) male: 11.9% (2020 est.) female: 12% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 7.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 20 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10% male: 11.1% female: 9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 5.94 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.06 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.59 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% 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: 525,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 293,003 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.8% (2013 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 170 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lydveldid Island local short form: Island etymology: Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island (9th century), applied the name "Land of Ice" after spotting a fjord full of drift ice to the north and spending a bitter winter on the island; he eventually settled on the island, however, after he saw how it greened up in the summer and that it was, in fact, habitable Government type: unitary parliamentary republic Capital: name: Reykjavik geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area Administrative divisions: 69 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akrahreppur, Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Blonduosbaer, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Helgafellssveit, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunavatnshreppur, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Skutustadhahreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhshreppur, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur Independence: 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944) Constitution: history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence) amendments: proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum; amended many times, last in 2013 Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Danish model 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 Iceland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (since 30 November 2017) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister election results: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 25 September 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - IP 25.4%, PP 20.6%, LGM 12.7%, SDA 9.5%, People's Party 9.5%, Pirate Party 9.5%, Reform Party 7.9%. CP 4.8%; seats by party - IP 16, PP 13, LGM 8, SDA 6, People's Party 6, Pirate Party 6, Reform Party 5, CP 3; composition - men 33, women 30; percent of women 47.6%percent of vote by party - IP 25.4%, PP 20.6%, LGM 12.7%, SDA 9.5%, People's Party 9.5%, Pirate Party 9.5%, Reform Party 7.9%. CP 4.8%; seats by party - IP 16, PP 13, LGM 8, SDA 6, People's Party 6, Pirate Party 6, Reform Party 5, CP 3; composition - men 33, women 30; percent of women 47.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court Political parties and leaders: Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON] Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]  Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR] People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) [Inga SAELAND] Pirate Party (Piratar) [Halldora MOGENSEN] Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON] Reform Party (Vidreisn) [Thorgerdur Katrin GUNNARSDOTTIR] Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON]Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON] Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]  Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR] People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) [Inga SAELAND] Pirate Party (Piratar) [Halldora MOGENSEN] Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON] Reform Party (Vidreisn) [Thorgerdur Katrin GUNNARSDOTTIR] Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON] International organization participation: Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Michelle YERKIN (since June 2021) embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 telephone: [354] 595-2200 FAX: [354] 562-9118 email address and website: ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean National symbol(s): gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red National anthem: name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise) lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON note: adopted 1944; also known as "O, Gud vors lands" (O, God of Our Land), the anthem was originally written and performed in 1874 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Iceland's economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has in recent years achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of tourism, software production, and biotechnology. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy.   Tourism, aluminum smelting, and fishing are the pillars of the economy. For decades the Icelandic economy depended heavily on fisheries, but tourism has now surpassed fishing and aluminum as Iceland’s main export industry. Tourism accounted for 8.6% of Iceland’s GDP in 2016, and 39% of total exports of merchandise and services. From 2010 to 2017, the number of tourists visiting Iceland increased by nearly 400%. Since 2010, tourism has become a main driver of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists reaching 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. Iceland remains sensitive to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports, and to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Icelandic Krona.   Following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s, domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled nearly nine times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have majority ownership by the state, which intends to re-privatize them.   Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included stabilizing the krona, implementing capital controls, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, addressing high household debt, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Capital controls were lifted in March 2017, but some financial protections, such as reserve requirements for specified investments connected to new inflows of foreign currency, remain in place.Iceland's economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has in recent years achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of tourism, software production, and biotechnology. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy. Tourism, aluminum smelting, and fishing are the pillars of the economy. For decades the Icelandic economy depended heavily on fisheries, but tourism has now surpassed fishing and aluminum as Iceland’s main export industry. Tourism accounted for 8.6% of Iceland’s GDP in 2016, and 39% of total exports of merchandise and services. From 2010 to 2017, the number of tourists visiting Iceland increased by nearly 400%. Since 2010, tourism has become a main driver of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists reaching 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. Iceland remains sensitive to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports, and to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Icelandic Krona. Following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s, domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled nearly nine times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have majority ownership by the state, which intends to re-privatize them. Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included stabilizing the krona, implementing capital controls, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, addressing high household debt, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Capital controls were lifted in March 2017, but some financial protections, such as reserve requirements for specified investments connected to new inflows of foreign currency, remain in place. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $19.16 billion (2020 est.) $20.52 billion (2019 est.) $20.01 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.94% (2019 est.) 3.88% (2018 est.) 4.57% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $52,300 (2020 est.) $56,900 (2019 est.) $56,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $24.614 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2019 est.) 2.6% (2018 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2017) Moody's rating: A2 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: A (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.8% (2017 est.) industry: 19.7% (2017 est.) services: 74.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 23.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 47% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, mutton, poultry, potatoes, barley, pork, eggs, beef, other meat, sheep skins Industries: tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 200,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 22.2% services: 73% (2008) Unemployment rate: 3.62% (2019 est.) 2.73% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10% male: 11.1% female: 9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 8.8% (2017 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 26.8 (2015 est.) 25 (2005) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 10.39 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 10.02 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 40% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 42.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $1.496 billion (2019 est.) $814 million (2018 est.) Exports: $7.43 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $11.01 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $12.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Netherlands 23%, United Kingdom 9%, Germany 9%, Spain 8%, United States 7%, France 7%, Canada 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: aluminum and aluminum products, fish products, aircraft, iron alloys, animal meal (2019) Imports: $7.55 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.76 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $11.34 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Norway 11%, Netherlands 10%, Germany 8%, Denmark 8%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 6%, China 6%, Sweden 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aluminum oxide, carbon/graphite electronics, cars, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $19.422 billion (2019 est.) $22.055 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 127.05 (2020 est.) 121.68 (2019 est.) 121.86 (2018 est.) 131.92 (2014 est.) 116.77 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 2.967 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 17,912,066,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 519 million kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 67.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 32.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 142,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 136,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 2,530 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,220 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.337 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 459,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 107,032 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 421,384 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Iceland has one of the smallest yet most progressive telecom markets in Europe; the country in 2020 became the top in Europe for fiber subscriptions; it aims to provide a fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s to 99.9% of the population by the end of 2021, an ambitious target by international standards and one which it is likely to achieve given the progress which operators have made in extending the reach of fiber networks; there is effective competition in the mobile and broadband markets, with a number of players having emerged to challenge the dominance of the two leading operators Síminn and Sýn, which have interests across the telecom sectors; Sýn was formerly Vodafone Iceland before being rebranded to reflect the company’s move into broadband and broadcasting following its December 2017 acquisition of most of the telecoms and media interests of 365 Media; Nova has become the leading player in the mobile market and has quickly expanded its presence in the fixed-line segment, particularly in fiber; the telecom market has shown some resilience in recent years following the significant economic downturn a decade ago, supported by continuing investment in mobile and fixed-line broadband infrastructure by operators and well as by the government’s Telecommunications Fund which is supporting Next Generation Access networks, particularly in rural areas; Síminn contracts Ericsson to build its 5G RAN, aiming for national 5G coverage by end-2022 (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally (RUV and RUV 2, though RUV 2 is used less frequently);  RUV broadcasts nationally, every household in Iceland is required to have RUV as it doubles as the emergency broadcast network; RUV also operates stringer offices in the north (Akureyri) and the east (Egilsstadir) but operations are all run out of RUV headquarters in Reykjavik;  there are 3 privately owned TV stations;  Stod 2 (Channel 2) is owned by Syn, following 365 Media and Vodafone merger, and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  Syn also operates 4 sports channels under Stod 2;  N4 is the only television station headquartered outside of Reykjavik, in Akureyri, with local programming for the north, south, and east of Iceland;  Hringbraut is the newest station and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  all of these television stations have nationwide penetration as 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections RUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide);  there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country.  In addition there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally (2019)RUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide);  there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country.  In addition there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally Internet country code: .is Internet users: total: 362,798 (2020 est.) percent of population: 99% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 141,816 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 63 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,819,740 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 163.65 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TF Airports: total: 96 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 89 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 60 (2021) Roadways: total: 12,898 km (2012) paved/oiled gravel: 5,647 km (2012) (excludes urban roads) unpaved: 7,251 km (2012) Merchant marine: total: 41 by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Icelandic Coast Guard (includes both air and maritime elements); Icelandic National Police (2022) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Icelandic Coast Guard has approximately 250 personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Icelandic Coast Guard's inventory consists of equipment from mostly European suppliers (2022) Military - note: Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositorsIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 73 (mid-year 2021)

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countries-congo-republic-of-the

Topic: Photos of Congo, Republic of the Topic: Introduction Background: Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992, and sparked a short period of ethnic and political unrest that was resolved by a peace agreement in late 1999. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and elections arranged shortly thereafter installed SASSOU-Nguesso. Following a year of renewed fighting, President SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reeelected in 2009 and, after passing a referendum allowing him to run for a third term, was reelected again in 2016. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida Land boundaries: total: 5,554 km border countries (5): Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km Coastline: 169 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin Elevation: highest point: Mont Nabeba 1,020 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 430 m Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Ubangi (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Major aquifers: Congo Basin Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: seasonal flooding Geography - note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them Map description: Republic of the Congo map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.Republic of the Congo map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,546,307 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo Ethnic groups: Kongo 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, foreigner 8.2%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele 4.4%, Punu 4.3%, Pygmy 1.6%, Oubanguiens 1.6%, Duma 1.5%, Makaa 1.3%, other and unspecified 1% (2014-15 est.) Languages: French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.) Demographic profile: The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of Congolese living in urban areas.  The population is concentrated in the southwest of the country, mainly in the capital Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and along the railway line that connects the two.  The tropical jungles in the north of the country are sparsely populated.  Most Congolese are Bantu, and most belong to one of four main ethnic groups, the Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, and Sangha, which consist of over 70 subgroups. The Republic of Congo is in the early stages of a demographic transition, whereby a population shifts from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates associated with industrialized societies.  Its total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children born per woman, remains high at 4.4.  While its TFR has steadily decreased, the progress slowed beginning in about 1995.  The slowdown in fertility reduction has delayed the demographic transition and Congo’s potential to reap a demographic dividend, the economic boost that can occur when the share of the working-age population is larger than the dependent age groups.  The TFR differs significantly between urban and rural areas – 3.7 in urban areas versus 6.5 in rural areas.  The TFR also varies among regions.  The urban regions of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have much lower TFRs than other regions, which are predominantly or completely rural.  The gap between desired fertility and actual fertility is also greatest in rural areas.  Rural families may have more children to contribute to agricultural production and/or due to a lack of information about and access to contraception.  Urban families may prefer to have fewer children because raising them is more expensive and balancing work and childcare may be more difficult.  The number of births among teenage girls, the frequency of giving birth before the age of fifteen, and a lack of education are the most likely reasons for higher TFRs in rural areas.  Although 90% of school-age children are enrolled in primary school, repetition and dropout rates are high and the quality of education is poor.  Congolese women with no or little education start having children earlier and have more children in total than those with at least some secondary education.  The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of Congolese living in urban areas.  The population is concentrated in the southwest of the country, mainly in the capital Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and along the railway line that connects the two.  The tropical jungles in the north of the country are sparsely populated.  Most Congolese are Bantu, and most belong to one of four main ethnic groups, the Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, and Sangha, which consist of over 70 subgroups.The Republic of Congo is in the early stages of a demographic transition, whereby a population shifts from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates associated with industrialized societies.  Its total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children born per woman, remains high at 4.4.  While its TFR has steadily decreased, the progress slowed beginning in about 1995.  The slowdown in fertility reduction has delayed the demographic transition and Congo’s potential to reap a demographic dividend, the economic boost that can occur when the share of the working-age population is larger than the dependent age groups. The TFR differs significantly between urban and rural areas – 3.7 in urban areas versus 6.5 in rural areas.  The TFR also varies among regions.  The urban regions of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have much lower TFRs than other regions, which are predominantly or completely rural.  The gap between desired fertility and actual fertility is also greatest in rural areas.  Rural families may have more children to contribute to agricultural production and/or due to a lack of information about and access to contraception.  Urban families may prefer to have fewer children because raising them is more expensive and balancing work and childcare may be more difficult.  The number of births among teenage girls, the frequency of giving birth before the age of fifteen, and a lack of education are the most likely reasons for higher TFRs in rural areas.  Although 90% of school-age children are enrolled in primary school, repetition and dropout rates are high and the quality of education is poor.  Congolese women with no or little education start having children earlier and have more children in total than those with at least some secondary education.  Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.57% (male 1,110,484/female 1,089,732) 15-24 years: 17.14% (male 454,981/female 452,204) 25-54 years: 33.5% (male 886,743/female 886,312) 55-64 years: 4.59% (male 125,207/female 117,810) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2020 est.) (male 75,921/female 93,676) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 78.7 youth dependency ratio: 73.7 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.5 years male: 19.3 years female: 19.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.34% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 31.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 68.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.553 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.295 million Pointe-Noire (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: 1.01 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.) 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: 378 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 47.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 52.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.1 years male: 60.65 years female: 63.61 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 30.1% (2014/15) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.5% of population rural: 56.4% of population total: 84.2% of population unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population rural: 43.6% of population total: 15.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.1% (2019) Physicians density: 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 73.4% of population rural: 15.1% of population total: 54.7% of population unimproved: urban: 26.6% of population rural: 84.9% of population total: 45.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3.3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 6,100 (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; the Republic of the Congo 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, the 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: 9.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 14.5% (2020 est.) male: 26.8% (2020 est.) female: 2.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.3% (2014/15) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8.4% women married by age 18: 29.1% men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80.3% male: 86.1% female: 74.6% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2012) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection 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, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 38.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.24 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator Land use: agricultural land: 31.1% (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.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.17% 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 note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; the Republic of the Congo 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, the 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 floods - on 29 November 2021, a state of emergency was declared due to floods in northern areas that caused crop and livestock losses, and displaced people, particularly in Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette and Plateaux departments; it is estimated that about 71,700 people have been affected, (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 451,200 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 118,214 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.2% (2005 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Ubangi (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Major aquifers: Congo Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 63.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 24 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 832 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: Congo former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Brazzaville geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who promoted French colonial interests in central Africa and worked against slavery and the abuse of African laborers Administrative divisions: 12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1960) Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country’s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable Legal system: mixed legal system of French civil 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 the Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 24 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister (2019) 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 (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 21 March 2021 (next to be held on 21 March 2026) election results: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, other 3.6%  (2021) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by local, district, and regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every 3 years) National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections:   Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022) election results:   Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts Political parties and leaders: Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] Citizen's Rally or RC [Claude Alphonse NSILOU] Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA] Prospects and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP Republican and Liberal Party or PRL [Bonaventure MIZIDY] Union for the Republic or UR Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR many smaller parties International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eugene S. YOUNG (since 2022) embassy: 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville mailing address: 2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090 telephone: [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700 email address and website: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia National symbol(s): lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red National anthem: name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese) lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sangha Trinational Forest Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Republic of the Congo’s economy is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and shares a common currency – the Central African Franc – with five other member states in the region.   The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices that began in 2014 has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. The fiscal deficit amounted to 11% of GDP in 2017. The government’s inability to pay civil servant salaries has resulted in multiple rounds of strikes by many groups, including doctors, nurses, and teachers. In the wake of a multi-year recession, the country reached out to the IMF in 2017 for a new program; the IMF noted that the country’s continued dependence on oil, unsustainable debt, and significant governance weakness are key impediments to the country’s economy. In 2018, the country’s external debt level will approach 120% of GDP. The IMF urged the government to renegotiate debts levels to sustainable levels before it agreed to a new macroeconomic adjustment package.The Republic of the Congo’s economy is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and shares a common currency – the Central African Franc – with five other member states in the region. The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices that began in 2014 has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. The fiscal deficit amounted to 11% of GDP in 2017. The government’s inability to pay civil servant salaries has resulted in multiple rounds of strikes by many groups, including doctors, nurses, and teachers. In the wake of a multi-year recession, the country reached out to the IMF in 2017 for a new program; the IMF noted that the country’s continued dependence on oil, unsustainable debt, and significant governance weakness are key impediments to the country’s economy. In 2018, the country’s external debt level will approach 120% of GDP. The IMF urged the government to renegotiate debts levels to sustainable levels before it agreed to a new macroeconomic adjustment package. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $19.03 billion (2020 est.) $20.68 billion (2019 est.) $20.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -3.1% (2017 est.) -2.8% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,400 (2020 est.) $3,800 (2019 est.) $3,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $8.718 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2019 est.) 1.1% (2018 est.) 0.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2019) Moody's rating: Caa2 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.3% (2017 est.) industry: 51% (2017 est.) services: 39.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 47.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 9.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 42.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -62.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, cassava leaves, bananas, plantains, roots/tubers, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes Industrial production growth rate: -3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.055 million (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 35.4% industry: 20.6% services: 44% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 36% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 40.9% (2011 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 48.9 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.1% (2005) Budget: revenues: 1.965 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.578 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 130.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 22.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.128 billion (2017 est.) -$5.735 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $4.193 billion (2017 est.) $4.116 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 49%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, copper, lumber, ships, refined petroleum (2019) Imports: $2.501 billion (2017 est.) $5.639 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 15%, France 12%, Belgium 6%, Angola 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: ships, chicken products, refined petroleum, processed fish, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $505.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $727.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $4.605 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.721 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 579.8 (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: 72% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 89% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 36% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 629,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 2,065,580,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 44 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 23 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.623 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 270,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 12,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 331,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 15,760 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 5,766 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,162 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 1,400,209,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 1,400,209,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 283.989 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 4.523 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.777 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.747 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 16.156 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 17,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4.89 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available Internet country code: .cg Internet users: total: 484,245 (2019 est.) percent of population: 9% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.02 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 333,899 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.6 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TN Airports: total: 27 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 232 km gas, 4 km liquid petroleum gas, 982 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 510 km (2014) narrow gauge: 510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge Roadways: total: 23,324 km (2017) paved: 3,111 km (2017) unpaved: 20,213 km (2017) note: road network in Congo is composed of 23,324 km of which 17,000 km are classified as national, departmental, and routes of local interest: 6,324 km are non-classified routes Waterways: 1,120 km (2011) (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubangui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe-Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) Merchant marine: total: 11 by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 9 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Pointe-Noire oil terminal(s): Djeno river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo) Impfondo (Oubangui) Ouesso (Sangha) Oyo (Alima) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, Gendarmerie (2022) Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $350 million) 2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $330 million) 3.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $580 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAC is armed with mostly ageing Russian and Soviet-era weapons, with a smaller mix of French and South African equipment; the leading supplier of arms to the FAC since 2010 is South Africa (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the armed forces (2021) Military - note: as of 2022, the 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 2022, the 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Republic of the Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Republic of the Congo-Angola: (Kabinda Exclave) None identifiedRepublic of the Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Republic of the Congo-Angola: (Kabinda Exclave) None identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 29,185 (Central African Republic), 22,133 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) IDPs: 159,830 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2022)

20220901

field-citizenship

This entry provides information related to the acquisition and exercise of citizenship; it includes four subfields: citizenship by birth describes the acquisition of citizenship based on place of birth, known as Jus soli, regardless of the citizenship of parents. citizenship by descent only describes the acquisition of citizenship based on the principle of Jus sanguinis, or by descent, where at least one parent is a citizen of the state and being born within the territorial limits of the state is not required. The majority of countries adhere to this practice. In some cases, citizenship is conferred through the father or mother exclusively. dual citizenship recognized indicates whether a state permits a citizen to simultaneously hold citizenship in another state. Many states do not permit dual citizenship and the voluntary acquisition of citizenship in another country is grounds for revocation of citizenship. Holding dual citizenship makes an individual legally obligated to more than one state and can negate the normal consular protections afforded to citizens outside their original country of citizenship. residency requirement for naturalization lists the length of time an applicant is required to live in a state before applying for naturalization. In most countries citizenship can be acquired through the legal process of naturalization. The requirements for naturalization vary by state but generally include no criminal record, good health, economic wherewithal, and a period of authorized residency in the state. This time period can vary enormously among states and is often used to make the acquisition of citizenship difficult or impossible. Topic: Afghanistancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Albaniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Algeriacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: American Samoasee United States Note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens Topic: Andorracitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years Topic: Angolacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Anguillasee United Kingdom Topic: Antigua and Barbudacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Argentinacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years Topic: Armeniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Arubasee the Netherlands Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandssee Australia Topic: Australiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Topic: Austriacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Azerbaijancitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Bahamas, Thecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 6-9 years Topic: Bahraincitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bahrain dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals Topic: Bangladeshcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bangladesh dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Barbadoscitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Belaruscitizenship 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 Topic: Belgiumcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Belizecitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Benincitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Bermudacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the UK dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Bhutancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Boliviacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Botswanacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Brazilcitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Topic: British Virgin Islandssee United Kingdom Topic: Bruneicitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Brunei dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years Topic: Bulgariacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Burkina Fasocitizenship 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 Topic: Burmacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Burma dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: none note: an applicant for naturalization must be the child or spouse of a citizen Topic: Burundicitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Cabo Verdecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Cambodiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cambodia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Camerooncitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Canadacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: minimum of 3 of last 5 years resident in Canada Topic: Cayman Islandssee United Kingdom Topic: Central African Republiccitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years Topic: Chadcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Topic: Chilecitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Chinacitizenship 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 Topic: Christmas Islandsee Australia Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandssee Australia Topic: Colombiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Comoroscitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Congo, Republic of thecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Coral Sea Islandssee Australia Topic: Costa Ricacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Cote d'Ivoirecitizenship 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 Topic: Croatiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Cubacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Curacaosee the Netherlands Topic: Cypruscitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Czechiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Czechia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Denmarkcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Djibouticitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Dominicacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Dominican Republiccitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years Topic: Ecuadorcitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Egyptcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: El Salvadorcitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Equatorial Guineacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Eritreacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years Topic: Estoniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Eswatinicitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Eswatini dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Ethiopiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)see United Kingdom Topic: Faroe Islandssee Denmark Topic: Fijicitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application Topic: Finlandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years Topic: Francecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: French Polynesiasee France Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landssee France Topic: Gaboncitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Gambia, Thecitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Georgiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Germanycitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a German citizen or a resident alien who has lived in Germany at least 8 years dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from government residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Ghanacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Gibraltarsee United Kingdom Topic: Greececitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Greenlandsee Denmark Topic: Grenadacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state Topic: Guamsee United States Topic: Guatemalacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year Topic: Guernseysee United Kingdom Topic: Guineacitizenship 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 Topic: Guinea-Bissaucitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Guyanacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: na Topic: Haiticitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: no dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance, citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously held Topic: Hondurascitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years Topic: Hong Kongsee China Topic: Hungarycitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Hungary dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Icelandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years Topic: Indiacitizenship 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 Topic: Indonesiacitizenship 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 Topic: Irancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Iran dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Iraqcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Irelandcitizenship by birth: no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 of the previous 8 years Topic: Isle of Mansee United Kingdom Topic: Israelcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel dual citizenship recognized: yes, but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship residency requirement for naturalization: 3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization note: Israeli law (Law of Return, 5 July 1950) provides for the granting of citizenship to any Jew - defined as a person being born to a Jewish mother or having converted to Judaism while renouncing any other religion - who immigrates to and expresses a desire to settle in Israel on the basis of the Right of aliyah; the 1970 amendment of this act extended the right to family members including the spouse of a Jew, any child or grandchild, and the spouses of children and grandchildren Topic: Italycitizenship 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 Topic: Jamaicacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years Topic: Japancitizenship 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 Topic: Jerseysee United Kingdom Topic: Jordancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Jordan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Topic: Kazakhstancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Kenyacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years Topic: Kiribaticitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Korea, Northcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Korea, Southcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Kosovocitizenship 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 Topic: Kuwaitcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: not specified Topic: Kyrgyzstancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan dual citizenship recognized: yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Laoscitizenship 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 Topic: Latviacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Lebanoncitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Lebanon dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Lesothocitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Liberiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years Topic: Libyacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years Topic: Liechtensteincitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Lithuaniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Luxembourgcitizenship by birth: limited to situations where the parents are either unknown, stateless, or when the nationality law of the parents' state of origin does not permit acquisition of citizenship by descent when the birth occurs outside of national territory citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Luxembourg dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Macausee China Topic: Madagascarcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Malawicitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Malaysiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 out 12 years preceding application Topic: Maldivescitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Malicitizenship 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 Topic: Maltacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Marshall Islandscitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Mauritaniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Mauritiuscitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months Topic: Mexicocitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: not specified residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Moldovacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Monacocitizenship 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 Topic: Mongoliacitizenship 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 Topic: Montenegrocitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Montserratsee United Kingdom Topic: Moroccocitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Mozambiquecitizenship 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 Topic: Namibiacitizenship 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 Topic: Nepalcitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Topic: Netherlandscitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: New Caledoniasee France Topic: New Zealandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Nicaraguacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Topic: Nigercitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Nigeriacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Topic: Norfolk Islandsee Australia Topic: North Macedoniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Northern Mariana Islandssee United States Topic: Norwaycitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Omancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Oman dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Topic: Pakistancitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application Topic: Palaucitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization Topic: Panamacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Papua New Guineacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Paraguaycitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Perucitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years Topic: Philippinescitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Pitcairn Islandssee United Kingdom Topic: Polandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Poland dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Portugalcitizenship 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 Topic: Puerto Ricosee United States Topic: Qatarcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Qatar dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national Topic: Romaniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Russiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Russia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years Topic: Rwandacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Saint Barthelemysee France Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhasee United Kingdom Topic: Saint Kitts and Neviscitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years Topic: Saint Luciacitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Saint Martinsee France Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonsee France Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinescitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Samoacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: San Marinocitizenship 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 Topic: Sao Tome and Principecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Saudi Arabiacitizenship 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 Topic: Senegalcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Serbiacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Serbia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Topic: Seychellescitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Sierra Leonecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Singaporecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Sint Maartensee the Netherlands Topic: Slovakiacitizenship 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 Topic: Sloveniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous Topic: Solomon Islandscitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Solomon Islands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Somaliacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Somalia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: South Africacitizenship 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 Topic: South Sudancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Sudan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Spaincitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain Topic: Sri Lankacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Sudancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Surinamecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Svalbardsee Norway Topic: Swedencitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Switzerlandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application Topic: Syriacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Taiwancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan dual citizenship recognized: yes, except that citizens of Taiwan are not recognized as dual citizens of the People's Republic of China residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Tajikistancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application Topic: Tanzaniacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Thailandcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Timor-Lestecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Togocitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Tokelausee New Zealand Topic: Tongacitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Trinidad and Tobagocitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Topic: Tunisiacitizenship 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 Topic: Turkeycitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkey dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Turkmenistancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandssee United Kingdom Topic: Tuvalucitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: na Topic: Ugandacitizenship 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 Topic: Ukrainecitizenship 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 Topic: United Arab Emiratescitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years Topic: United Kingdomcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the United Kingdom dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: United Statescitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Uruguaycitizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years Topic: Uzbekistancitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Vanuatucitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Venezuelacitizenship 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 Topic: Vietnamcitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Topic: Virgin Islandssee United States Topic: Wake Islandsee United States Topic: Wallis and Futunasee France Topic: Yemencitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Topic: Zambiacitizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required Topic: Zimbabwecitizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Zimbabwe; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

20220901

field-constitution

This entry provides information on a country’s constitution and includes two subfields. The history subfield includes the dates of previous constitutions and the main steps and dates in formulating and implementing the latest constitution. For countries with 1-3 previous constitutions, the years are listed; for those with 4-9 previous, the entry is listed as “several previous,” and for those with 10 or more, the entry is “many previous.” The amendments subfield summarizes the process of amending a country’s constitution – from proposal through passage – and the dates of amendments, which are treated in the same manner as the constitution dates. Where appropriate, summaries are composed from English-language translations of non-English constitutions, which derive from official or non-official translations or machine translators. The main steps in creating a constitution and amending it usually include the following steps: proposal, drafting, legislative and/or executive branch review and approval, public referendum, and entry into law. This process is lengthy in many countries. Terms commonly used to describe constitutional changes are “amended,” “revised,” or “reformed.” In countries such as South Korea and Turkmenistan, sources differ as to whether changes are stated as new constitutions or are amendments/revisions to existing ones. A few countries including Canada, Israel, and the UK, have no single constitution document, but have various written and unwritten acts, statutes, common laws, and practices that, when taken together, describe a body of fundamental principles or established precedents as to how their countries are governed. Some special regions (Hong Kong, Macau) and countries (Oman, Saudi Arabia) use the term “basic law” instead of constitution. A number of self-governing dependencies and territories, such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Gibraltar (UK), Greenland and Faroe Islands (Denmark), Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten (Netherlands), and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (US), have their own constitutions. Topic: Afghanistanhistory: last ratified in 2004 amendments: formerly proposed by a commission formed by presidential decree followed by the convention of a Grand Council (Loya Jirga) decreed by the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Loya Jirga membership and endorsement by the president Topic: Akrotirihistory: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 serves as a basic legal document) amendments: amended 1966 Topic: Albaniahistory: several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998 amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required only if approved by two-thirds of the Assembly; amendments approved by referendum effective upon declaration by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2020 Topic: Algeriahistory: several previous; latest approved by referendum November 2020 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens’ liberties and rights cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2008, 2016; last in 2020 Topic: American Samoahistory: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967 amendments: proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of  the US Congress; amended several times, last in 2021 Topic: Andorrahistory: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 amendments: proposed by the coprinces jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the coprinces Topic: Angolahistory: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic Topic: Anguillahistory: several previous; latest 1 April 1982 amendments: amended 1990, 2012, 2017, 2019 Topic: Antigua and Barbudahistory: 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 Topic: Argentinahistory: 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 Topic: Armeniahistory: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, by the National Assembly, and by a referendum with at least 25% registered voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable; amended 2005, 2015, last in 2020; note - a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for 4 May 2020 was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020, the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the fall of 2020, and the postwar political crisis of early 2021 Topic: Arubahistory: previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: Australiahistory: approved in a series of referenda from 1898 through 1900 and became law 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires approval of a referendum bill by absolute majority vote in both houses of Parliament, approval in a referendum by a majority of voters in at least four states and in the territories, and Royal Assent; proposals that would reduce a state’s representation in either house or change a state’s boundaries require that state’s approval prior to Royal Assent; amended several times, last in 1977 Topic: Austriahistory: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945 amendments: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Azerbaijanhistory: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2009, 2016 Topic: Bahamas, Thehistory: previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973 amendments: proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; passage of amendments to articles such as the organization and composition of the branches of government requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of the membership of both houses of Parliament and majority approval in a referendum; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, the powers, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, or changes to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of the membership of both houses and majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2016 Topic: Bahrainhistory: adopted 14 February 2002 amendments: proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended; amended 2012, 2017 Topic: Bangladeshhistory: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986 amendments: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2018 Topic: Barbadoshistory: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966;  Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2021 note - following the transition to a republic on 30 November 2021, the Government of Barbados plans a consultation on drafting a new constitution Topic: Belarushistory: 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 Topic: Belgiumhistory: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state) amendments: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament; amended many times, last in 2019 Topic: Belizehistory: previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981 amendments: proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2017 Topic: Beninhistory: previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 amendments: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended; amended 2019 Topic: Bermudahistory: several previous (dating to 1684); latest entered into force 8 June 1968 (Bermuda Constitution Order 1968) amendments: proposal procedure - NA; passage by an Order in Council in the UK; amended several times, last in 2012 Topic: Bhutanhistory: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 amendments: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king Topic: Boliviahistory: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009 amendments: proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and approval in a referendum; amended 2013 Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinahistory: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords); note - each of the political entities has its own constitution amendments: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2009 Topic: Botswanahistory: previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2016 Topic: Brazilhistory: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988 amendments: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2021 (2021) Topic: British Virgin Islandshistory: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007) amendments: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015 Topic: Bruneihistory: drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984 amendments: proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council; amended several times, last in 2010 Topic: Bulgariahistory: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings; amended several times, last in 2015 Topic: Burkina Fasohistory: 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. Topic: Burmahistory: previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest drafted 9 April 2008, approved by referendum 29 May 2008 amendments: proposals require at least 20% approval by the Assembly of the Union membership; passage of amendments to sections of the constitution on basic principles, government structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment procedures requires 75% approval by the Assembly and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of registered voters; passage of amendments to other sections requires only 75% Assembly approval; military granted 25% of parliamentary seats by default; amended 2015 Topic: Burundihistory: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1) Topic: Cabo Verdehistory: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992 amendments: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended; revised 1995, 1999, 2010 Topic: Cambodiahistory: previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993 amendments: proposed by the monarch, by the prime minister, or by the president of the National Assembly if supported by one fourth of the Assembly membership; passage requires two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the multiparty democratic form of government and the monarchy cannot be amended; amended 1999, 2008, 2014, 2018, and 2021 Topic: Cameroonhistory: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008 Topic: Canadahistory: consists of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions dating from 1763; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982 amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament or by the provincial legislative assemblies; there are 5 methods for passage though most require approval by both houses of Parliament, approval of at least two thirds of the provincial legislative assemblies and assent and formalization as a proclamation by the governor general in council; the most restrictive method is reserved for amendments affecting fundamental sections of the constitution, such as the office of the monarch or the governor general, and the constitutional amendment procedures, which require unanimous approval by both houses and by all the provincial assemblies, and assent of the governor general in council; amended 11 times, last in 2011 (Fair Representation Act, 2011) Topic: Cayman Islandshistory: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) amendments: amended 2016, 2020 Topic: Central African Republichistory: several previous; latest (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016 amendments: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials Topic: Chadhistory: several previous; latest approved 30 April 2018 by the National Assembly, entered into force 4 May 2018; suspended 21 April 2021 (2021) amendments: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly (2021) Topic: Chilehistory: many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; a referendum held on 25 October 2020 approved forming a convention to draft a new constitution, and on 15-16 May 2021, a referendum was held to elect members to the convention; the convention will finalize in July 2022, and Chileans will vote on the new constitution in a 4 September referendum  amendments: proposed by members of either house of the National Congress or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of the membership in both houses and approval by the president; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, the Constitutional Tribunal, electoral justice, the Council of National Security, or the constitutional amendment process, requires at least two-third majority vote by both houses of Congress and approval by the president; the president can opt to hold a referendum when Congress and the president disagree on an amendment; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Chinahistory: 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 Topic: Christmas Islandhistory: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958) amendments: amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandshistory: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955) amendments: amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Colombiahistory: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Comoroshistory: previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018 amendments: proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum note: a referendum held on 30 July 2018 - boycotted by the opposition - overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that allows for 2 consecutive 5-year presidential terms and revises the rotating presidency within the islands Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thehistory: several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended; amended 2011 Topic: Congo, Republic of thehistory: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country’s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable Topic: Cook Islandshistory: 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 Topic: Costa Ricahistory: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Cote d'Ivoirehistory: 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 Topic: Croatiahistory: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990 amendments: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2014 (2021) Topic: Cubahistory: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended Topic: Curacaohistory: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: Cyprushistory: ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution amendments: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended many times, last in 2020; constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014 Topic: Czechiahistory: previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993 amendments: passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence of members present in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2021 Topic: Denmarkhistory: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 amendments: proposed by the Folketing with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession) Topic: Dhekeliahistory: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document); amended 1966 (2021) Topic: Djiboutihistory: approved by referendum 4 September 1992 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent at least one third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot by amended; amended 2006, 2008, 2010 Topic: Dominicahistory: 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 Topic: Dominican Republichistory: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015 amendments: proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum Topic: Ecuadorhistory: many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed; amended 2011, 2015, 2018 Topic: Egypthistory: several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by one fifth of the House of Representatives members; a decision to accept the proposal requires majority vote by House members; passage of amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by House members and passage by majority vote in a referendum; articles of reelection of the president and principles of freedom are not amendable unless the amendment "brings more guarantees;" amended 2019 (2021) Topic: El Salvadorhistory: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983 amendments: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003, 2009, 2014 Topic: Equatorial Guineahistory: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012 Topic: Eritreahistory: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (not fully implemented) amendments: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly Topic: Estoniahistory: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992 amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015 Topic: Eswatinihistory: previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006 amendments: proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king Topic: Ethiopiahistory: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 amendments: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils Topic: European Unionhistory: none; note - the EU legal order relies primarily on two consolidated texts encompassing all provisions as amended from a series of past treaties: the Treaty on European Union (TEU), as modified by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty states in Article 1 that "the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES establish among themselves a EUROPEAN UNION ... on which the Member States confer competences to attain objectives they have in common"; Article 1 of the TEU states further that the EU is "founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as 'the Treaties')," both possessing the same legal value; Article 6 of the TEU provides that a separately adopted Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union "shall have the same legal value as the Treaties" amendments: European Union treaties can be amended in several ways: 1) Ordinary Revision Procedure (for key amendments to the treaties); initiated by an EU country’s government, by the European Parliament, or by the European Commission; following adoption of the proposal by the European Council, a convention is formed of national government representatives to review the proposal and subsequently a conference of government representatives also reviews the proposal; passage requires ratification by all EU member states; 2) Simplified Revision Procedure (for amendment of EU internal policies and actions); passage of a proposal requires unanimous European Council vote following European Council consultation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Central Bank (if the amendment concerns monetary matters) and requires ratification by all EU member states; 3) Passerelle Clause (allows the alteration of a legislative procedure without a formal amendment of the treaties); 4) Flexibility Clause (permits the EU to decide in subject areas where EU competences have not been explicitly granted in the Treaties but are necessary to the attainment of the objectives set out in the Treaty); note - the Treaty of Lisbon (signed in December 2007 and effective in December 2009) amended the two treaties that formed the EU - the Maastricht Treaty (1993) and the Treaty of Rome (1958), known in updated form as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008) Topic: Faroe Islandshistory: 5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm amendments: see entry for Denmark Topic: Fijihistory: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013 amendments: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president Topic: Finlandhistory: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Francehistory: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament’s National Assembly; amended many times, last in 2008; note - in May 2018, the prime minister submitted a bill to the National Assembly to amend several provisions of the constitution Topic: French Polynesiahistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply Topic: Gabonhistory: previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2020 Topic: Gambia, Thehistory: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - in early 2018, the "Constitutional Review Commission," was established to draft  and assist in instituting a new constitution; a second draft completed in March 2020 was rejected by the National Assembly in September amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2018 Topic: Georgiahistory: previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995 amendments: proposed as a draft law supported by more than one half of the Parliament membership or by petition of at least 200,000 voters; passage requires support by at least three fourths of the Parliament membership in two successive sessions three months apart and the signature and promulgation by the president of Georgia; amended several times, last in 2020 (legislative electoral system revised) Topic: Germanyhistory: previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10-23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage and enactment into law require two-thirds majority vote by both the Bundesrat (upper house) and the Bundestag (lower house) of Parliament; articles including those on basic human rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2020; note - in early 2021, the German federal government introduced a bill to incorporate children’s rights into the constitution Topic: Ghanahistory: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendments: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996 Topic: Gibraltarhistory: 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 Topic: Greecehistory: many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975 amendments: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended; amended 1986, 2001, 2008, 2019 Topic: Greenlandhistory: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act) (2021) Topic: Grenadahistory: previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution but restored in 1983 amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership in both houses and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections, such as personal rights and freedoms, the structure, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, or the procedure for amending the constitution, also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended 1991, 1992 Topic: Guamhistory: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution) amendments: amended many times, last in 2015 Topic: Guatemalahistory: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by agreement of 10 or more deputies of Congress, by the Constitutional Court, or by public petition of at least 5,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Congress membership and approval by public referendum, referred to as "popular consultation"; constitutional articles such as national sovereignty, the republican form of government, limitations on those seeking the presidency, or presidential tenure cannot be amended; amended 1993 Topic: Guernseyhistory: 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 Topic: Guineahistory: 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 Topic: Guinea-Bissauhistory: 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 Topic: Guyanahistory: several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval; amended many times, last in 2016 Topic: Haitihistory: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012; note – the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”   amendments: proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2012  Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)history: previous 1929, 1963; latest adopted 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State); note - in October 2013, Pope Francis instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisors to reform the administrative apparatus of the Holy See (Roman Curia) to include writing a new constitution; on 13 June 2018, Pope Francis approved the Council of Cardinals' first draft of the new constitution, Predicatae Evangelium, which will replace "Pastor Bonus, the current governing document of the Roman Curia amendments: note - although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope Topic: Hondurashistory: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982 amendments: proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2021 Topic: Hong Konghistory: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, or the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC Topic: Hungaryhistory: previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following the collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by parliamentary committee, or by Parliament members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament members and approval by the president; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Icelandhistory: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence) amendments: proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum; amended many times, last in 2013 Topic: Indiahistory: 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 Topic: Indonesiahistory: 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 Topic: Iranhistory: previous 1906; latest adopted 24 October 1979, effective 3 December 1979 amendments: proposed by the supreme leader – after consultation with the Exigency Council – and submitted as an edict to the "Council for Revision of the Constitution," a body consisting of various executive, legislative, judicial, and academic leaders and members; passage requires absolute majority vote in a referendum and approval of the supreme leader; articles including Iran’s political system, its religious basis, and its form of government cannot be amended; amended 1989 Topic: Iraqhistory: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic and the Council of Minsters collectively, or by one fifth of the Council of Representatives members; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Council of Representatives, approval by referendum, and ratification by the president; passage of amendments to articles on citizen rights and liberties requires two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by the president Topic: Irelandhistory: previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937 amendments: proposed as bills by Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidential signature; amended many times, last in 2019 Topic: Isle of Manhistory: development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century amendments: proposed as a bill in the House of Keys, by the "Government," by a "Member of the House," or through petition to the House or Legislative Council; passage normally requires three separate readings and approval of at least 13 House members; following both House and Council agreement, assent is required by the lieutenant governor on behalf of the Crown; the constitution has been expanded and amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Israelhistory: no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as amended) amendments: proposed by Government of Israel ministers or by the Knesset; passage requires a majority vote of Knesset members and subject to Supreme Court judicial review; 11 of the 13 Basic Laws have been amended at least once, latest in 2020 (Basic Law: the Knesset) Topic: Italyhistory: 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 Topic: Jamaicahistory: several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence) amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017 Topic: Japanhistory: 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 Topic: Jerseyhistory: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendments: proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval of the British monarch (Royal Assent) Topic: Jordanhistory: previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952 amendments: constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; no amendment of the constitution affecting the rights of the king and the succession to the throne is permitted during the regency period; amended several times, last in 2016 Topic: Kazakhstanhistory: previous 1937, 1978 (preindependence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995 amendments: introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president; amended several times, last in 2019 Topic: Kenyahistory: current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010 (2021) amendments: amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president Topic: Kiribatihistory: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence) amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Korea, Northhistory: previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era) amendments: proposed by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership; revised several times, last in 2019 Topic: Korea, Southhistory: several previous; latest passed by National Assembly 12 October 1987, approved in referendum 28 October 1987, effective 25 February 1988 amendments: proposed by the president or by majority support of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum by more than one half of the votes by more than one half of eligible voters, and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1987 Topic: Kosovohistory: 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 Topic: Kuwaithistory: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999 amendments: proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended Topic: Kyrgyzstanhistory: previous 1993; latest adopted by referendum 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010; note - constitutional amendments that bolstered some presidential powers and transferred others from the president to the prime minister were passed in late 2017 amendments: proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president; amended 2017, 2021; note - voters approved a constitutional referendum in April 2021 that transitioned Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and implemented changes that allow the president to serve for two five-year terms rather that one six-year term, reduces the number of seats in Kyrgyzstan's legislature from 120 to 90, and establishes a Kurultay - a public advisory council Topic: Laoshistory: 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 Topic: Latviahistory: several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993 amendments: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019 Topic: Lebanonhistory: drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 2004 Topic: Lesothohistory: previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version) amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2011 Topic: Liberiahistory: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986 amendments: proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters; amended 2011, 2020 Topic: Libyahistory: previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law in a session with contested reports of the quorum needed to pass the vote, and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constitutional referendum Topic: Liechtensteinhistory: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921 amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Lithuaniahistory: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 amendments: proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2019 Topic: Luxembourghistory: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868 amendments: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Macauhistory: previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, under Portuguese authority); latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution) amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Macau Special Administrative Region; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Assembly of Macau, approval by two thirds of Macau's deputies to the NPC, and consent of the Macau chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC; amended 2005, 2012 Topic: Madagascarhistory: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities, cannot be amended Topic: Malawihistory: previous 1953 (preindependence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2017 Topic: Malaysiahistory: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957 amendments: proposed as a bill by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in the bill’s second and third readings; a number of constitutional sections are excluded from amendment or repeal; amended many times, last in 2019 Topic: Maldiveshistory: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015 Topic: Malihistory: 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 Topic: Maltahistory: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964 amendments: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Marshall Islandshistory: effective 1 May 1979 amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Mauritaniahistory: previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament; amended 2006, 2012, 2017 Topic: Mauritiushistory: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government, requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2016 Topic: Mexicohistory: 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 Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofhistory: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979 amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states; amended 1990; note – at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended many times, last in 2019 (approval by referendum to hold a constitutional convention) Topic: Moldovahistory: previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994 amendments: proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2018 Topic: Monacohistory: 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 Topic: Mongoliahistory: 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 Topic: Montenegrohistory: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007 amendments: proposed by the president of Montenegro, by the government, or by at least 25 members of the Assembly; passage of draft proposals requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, followed by a public hearing; passage of draft amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; changes to certain constitutional articles, such as sovereignty, state symbols, citizenship, and constitutional change procedures, require three-fifths majority vote in a referendum; amended 2013 Topic: Montserrathistory: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010) amendments: amended 2011, 2020 Topic: Moroccohistory: several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011; note - sources disagree on whether the 2011 referendum was for a new constitution or for reforms to the previous constitution amendments: proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum Topic: Mozambiquehistory: 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 Topic: Namibiahistory: 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 Topic: Nauruhistory: effective 29 January 1968 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also requires two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Nepalhistory: several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015 amendments: proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended; amended 2016, 2020 Topic: Netherlandshistory: many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983 amendments: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king; amended many times, last in 2018 Topic: New Caledoniahistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply Topic: New Zealandhistory: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions amendments: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Nicaraguahistory: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021 Topic: Nigerhistory: several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended; amended 2011, 2017 Topic: Nigeriahistory: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Niuehistory: 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 Topic: Norfolk Islandhistory: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979 amendments: amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: North Macedoniahistory: several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2019 Topic: Northern Mariana Islandshistory: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement) amendments: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote; amended several times, last in 2012 Topic: Norwayhistory: drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814 amendments: proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in the next elected Parliament; amended over 400 times, last in 2020 Topic: Omanhistory: promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011 amendments: promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree; amended by royal decree 2011, 2021 Topic: Pakistanhistory: several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times) amendments: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses; amended many times, last in 2018 Topic: Palauhistory: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981 amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020 Topic: Panamahistory: 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 Topic: Papua New Guineahistory: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975 amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority; amended many times, last in 2016 Topic: Paraguayhistory: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992 amendments: proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; amended 2011 Topic: Peruhistory: several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993 amendments: proposed by Congress, by the president of the republic with the approval of the "Cabinet, " or by petition of at least 0.3% of voters; passage requires absolute majority approval by the Congress membership, followed by approval in a referendum; a referendum is not required if Congress approves the amendment by greater than two-thirds majority vote in each of two successive sessions; amended many times, last in 2021 Topic: Philippineshistory: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987 amendments: proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1987 Topic: Pitcairn Islandshistory: several previous; latest drafted 10 February 2010, presented 17 February 2010, effective 4 March 2010 amendments: Reviewed 10 Jun '21; NC Topic: Polandhistory: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997 amendments: proposed by at least one fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum; amended 2006, 2009 Topic: Portugalhistory: 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) Topic: Puerto Ricohistory: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952 amendments: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952 Topic: Qatarhistory: previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 amendments: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended Topic: Romaniahistory: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 Topic: Russiahistory: several previous (during Russian Empire and Soviet era); latest drafted 12 July 1993, adopted by referendum 12 December 1993, effective 25 December 1993 amendments: proposed by the president of the Russian Federation, by either house of the Federal Assembly, by the government of the Russian Federation, or by legislative (representative) bodies of the Federation's constituent entities; proposals to amend the government’s constitutional system, human and civil rights and freedoms, and procedures for amending or drafting a new constitution require formation of a Constitutional Assembly; passage of such amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of its total membership; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of valid votes; approval of proposed amendments to the government structure, authorities, and procedures requires approval by the legislative bodies of at least two thirds of the Russian Federation's constituent entities; amended several times, last in 2020 Topic: Rwandahistory: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015 Topic: Saint Barthelemyhistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhahistory: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevishistory: several previous (preindependence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis Topic: Saint Luciahistory: previous 1958, 1960 (preindependence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2008 Topic: Saint Martinhistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonhistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshistory: previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979) amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections on fundamental rights and freedoms, citizen protections, various government functions and authorities, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum of at least two thirds of the votes cast, and assent of the governor general Topic: Samoahistory: several previous (preindependence); latest 1 January 1962 amendments: proposed as an act by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the third reading - provided at least 90 days have elapsed since the second reading, and assent of the chief of state; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on customary land or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2020 Topic: San Marinohistory: 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 Topic: Sao Tome and Principehistory: approved 5 November 1975 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum; revised several times, last in 2006 Topic: Saudi Arabiahistory: 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 Topic: Senegalhistory: previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable; amended several times, last in 2019 Topic: Serbiahistory: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendments: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum Topic: Seychelleshistory: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Sierra Leonehistory: several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016 Topic: Singaporehistory: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Sint Maartenhistory: 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 Topic: Slovakiahistory: 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 Topic: Sloveniahistory: previous 1974 (preindependence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991 amendments: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016 Topic: Solomon Islandshistory: adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; note - in late 2017, provincial leaders agreed to adopt a new federal constitution, with passage expected in 2018, but it has been postponed indefinitely amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage of constitutional sections, including those on fundamental rights and freedoms, the legal system, Parliament, alteration of the constitution and the ombudsman, requires three-fourths majority vote by Parliament and assent of the governor general; passage of other amendments requires two-thirds majority vote and assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2018; note - a new constitution was drafted in mid-2009 and the latest version drafted in 2013 Topic: Somaliahistory: previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012 (provisional) amendments: proposed by the federal government, by members of the state governments, the Federal Parliament, or by public petition; proposals require review by a joint committee of Parliament with inclusion of public comments and state legislatures’ comments; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament and approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; constitutional clauses on Islamic principles, the federal system, human rights and freedoms, powers and authorities of the government branches, and inclusion of women in national institutions cannot be amended; note - in late December 2020, the president signed a decree blocking the approval of amendments (2021) Topic: South Africahistory: 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 Topic: South Sudanhistory: previous 2005 (preindependence); latest signed 7 July 2011, effective 9 July 2011 (Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011); note - new constitution pending establishment under the 2018 peace agreement amendments: proposed by the National Legislature or by the president of the republic; passage requires submission of the proposal to the Legislature at least one month prior to consideration, approval by at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature, and assent of the president; amended 2013, 2015, 2018 (2021) Topic: Spainhistory: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2011 Topic: Sri Lankahistory: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes; amended many times, last in 2020 Topic: Sudanhistory: history: previous 1973, 1998; 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," or “2019 Constitutional Declaration” was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019 amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan; the military suspended several provisions of the Constitutional Declaration in October 2021 amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan Topic: Surinamehistory: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership; amended 1992 Topic: Swedenhistory: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991) amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2018 Topic: Switzerlandhistory: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000 amendments: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2018 Topic: Syriahistory: several previous; latest issued 15 February 2012, passed by referendum and effective 27 February 2012; note - UN-sponsored talks, which began in late 2019 between delegates from government and opposition forces to draft a new constitution, are ongoing; delegates met twice in 2021 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by one third of the People’s Assembly members; following review by a special Assembly committee, passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and approval by the president Topic: Taiwanhistory: previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947 amendments: proposed by at least one fourth of the Legislative Yuan membership; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote of at least three fourths of the Legislative Yuan membership and approval in a referendum by more than half of eligible voters; revised several times, last in 2005 Topic: Tajikistanhistory: several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan’s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended; amended 1999, 2003, 2016 Topic: Tanzaniahistory: several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977; note - progress enacting a new constitution drafted in 2014 by the Constituent Assembly has stalled amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required; amended several times, last in 2017 (2021) Topic: Thailandhistory: many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king 6 April 2017 amendments: amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least 1/5 of opposition House members and 1/3 of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king; Thailand's 2017 constitution was amended in November 2021 to increase the number of constituency members of parliament (MPs) from 350 to 400, reduce the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, and change the election to a two-ballot system Topic: Timor-Lestehistory: drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002 amendments: proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum Topic: Togohistory: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2007, last in 2019 when the National Assembly unanimously approved a package of amendments, including setting presidential term limits of two 5-year mandates Topic: Tokelauhistory: many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948) amendments: proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono; amended several times, last in 2007 Topic: Tongahistory: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016 amendments: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013 Topic: Trinidad and Tobagohistory: 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 Topic: Tunisiahistory: 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 Topic: Turkeyhistory: several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982 amendments: proposed by written consent of at least one third of Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) members; adoption of draft amendments requires two debates in plenary TBMM session and three-fifths majority vote of all GNA members; the president of the republic can request TBMM reconsideration of the amendment and, if readopted by two-thirds majority TBMM vote, the president may submit the amendment to a referendum; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended several times, last in 2017 Topic: Turkmenistanhistory: several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016 amendments: proposed by the Mejlisi; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2020 (changed legislature to bicameral) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandshistory: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011) amendments: NA Topic: Tuvaluhistory: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986 amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading; amended 2007, 2010, 2013; note - in 2016, the United Nations Development Program and the Tuvaluan Government initiated a review of the country's constitution, which was ongoing as of early 2021 Topic: Ugandahistory: 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) Topic: Ukrainehistory: 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 Topic: United Arab Emirateshistory: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 Topic: United Kingdomhistory: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendments: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent); many previous, last in 2020 -  The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (2021) Topic: United Stateshistory: previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine of the 13 states 21 June 1788, effective 4 March 1789 amendments: proposed as a "joint resolution" by Congress, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by at least two thirds of the state legislatures; passage requires ratification by three fourths of the state legislatures or passage in state-held constitutional conventions as specified by Congress; the US president has no role in the constitutional amendment process; amended many times, last in 1992 Topic: Uruguayhistory: several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule amendments: initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004 Topic: Uzbekistanhistory: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2017 Topic: Vanuatuhistory: draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence amendments: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2013 Topic: Venezuelahistory: 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 Topic: Vietnamhistory: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014 amendments: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, or by at least two thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens’ opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum Topic: Virgin Islandshistory: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory amendments: amended several times, last in 2012 Topic: Wallis and Futunahistory: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply Topic: Yemenhistory: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National  Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process amendments: amended several times, last in 2009 Topic: Zambiahistory: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly; amended 1996, 2015, 2016; note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly Topic: Zimbabwehistory: previous 1965 (at Rhodesian independence), 1979 (Lancaster House Agreement), 1980 (at Zimbabwean independence); latest final draft completed January 2013, approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013, effective 22 May 2013 amendments: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; amendments to constitutional chapters on fundamental human rights and freedoms and on agricultural lands also require approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017

20220901

countries-united-arab-emirates-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of missile or drone attacks. 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 you do not stay in the country more than 30 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [971] (2) 414-2200; US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; abudhabiacs@state.gov; https://ae.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 971 Local Emergency Phone: 998, 999 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Desert; cooler in eastern mountains Currency (Code): Emirati dirhams (AED) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G Major Languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Malayam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian Major Religions: Muslim 76%, Christian 9%, other ( Hindu and Buddhist) 15% Time Difference: UTC+4 (9 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: Dubai (includes Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building), Burj-al-Arab Hotel (world's tallest hotel), Dubai Creek Dhow Ride, Dubai Museum); Jebel Hafeet; Bastakia; Al-Bidyah Mosque; Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; Al Ain Major Sports: Soccer, cricket, tennis, table tennis Cultural Practices: The sole of the foot is considered the lowliest part of the body; it is therefore considered very rude to use the foot to point or to move around objects. Tipping Guidelines: Even if there is a service charge, tip the waiter 10-15% of the total bill. Many Dubai residents choose to tip taxi and hail-riding services 5-10 dirhams or to round up the fare. Souvenirs: Silk pashminas, leather goods, perfumes, gold and silver items Traditional Cuisine: Kabsa (or Al Machboos) — chopped meat, fried onions, salt, other spices, and dried lemon served with rice cooked in the broth from the meat mixture 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, July 20, 2022

20220901

field-net-migration-rate

This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. The net migration rate does not distinguish between economic migrants, refugees, and other types of migrants nor does it distinguish between lawful migrants and undocumented migrants. Topic: Afghanistan-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Albania-3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Algeria-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: American Samoa-29.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Andorra0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Angola-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Anguilla10.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Argentina-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Armenia-5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Aruba8.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Australia6.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Austria3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bahrain-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bangladesh-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Barbados-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belarus0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belgium4.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Belize-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Benin0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bermuda1.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bhutan0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bolivia-0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Botswana2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Brazil-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islands13.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Brunei2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Bulgaria-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burma-1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Burundi7.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cambodia-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cameroon-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Canada5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands12.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US Topic: Central African Republic-3.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Chad-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Chile0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: China-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Comoros-2.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cook Islands-27.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Costa Rica0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Croatia-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cuba-2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Curacao-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Cyprus6.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Czechia2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Denmark2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Djibouti4.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Dominica-5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic-2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ecuador0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Egypt-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: El Salvador-6.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea13.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Eritrea-10.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Estonia-2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Eswatini-6.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ethiopia-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: European Union-2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe Islands0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Fiji-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Finland2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: France1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: French Polynesia-0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gabon3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gambia, The-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip-4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Georgia0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Germany1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ghana-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Gibraltar-3.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Greece1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Greenland-5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Grenada-2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guam-10.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guatemala-1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guernsey1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau-3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Guyana-7.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Haiti-1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Honduras-1.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Hong Kong1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Hungary1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iceland2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: India0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Indonesia-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iran-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Iraq-0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ireland3.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Isle of Man4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Israel2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Italy3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jamaica-7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Japan0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jersey1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Jordan-11.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kenya-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kiribati-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, North-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Korea, South2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kosovo-1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kuwait-3.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan-4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Laos-1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Latvia-5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lebanon-0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lesotho-4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Liberia-2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Libya-1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Liechtenstein4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Lithuania-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Luxembourg12.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Macau3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Madagascar0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malawi0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malaysia1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Maldives-12.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mali-3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Malta5.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands-4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritania-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mauritius0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mexico-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of-20.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Moldova-8.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Monaco10.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Mongolia-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Montenegro-4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Montserrat0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Morocco-1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Namibia0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nauru-10.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nepal-4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Netherlands1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: New Caledonia3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia Topic: New Zealand5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nicaragua-2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Niger-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Nigeria-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: North Macedonia0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands-13.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Norway3.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Oman-0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Pakistan-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Palau0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Panama3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Paracel Islands-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Topic: Paraguay-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Peru-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Philippines0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Poland-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Portugal0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico-11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Qatar2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Romania-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Russia1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Rwanda-3.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Barthelemy-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Martin-6.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon-7.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Samoa-7.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: San Marino6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe-7.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Senegal-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Serbia0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Seychelles0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Singapore4.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sint Maarten5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Slovakia0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Slovenia1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands-1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Somalia-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: South Africa0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population Topic: South Sudan20.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Spain4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Sudan-1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Suriname2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Svalbard-5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Topic: Sweden3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Switzerland4.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Syria40.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) NA Topic: Taiwan0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tajikistan-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tanzania-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Thailand-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste-3.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Togo-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tokelau-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Topic: Tonga-18.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago-1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tunisia-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan-1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands8.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Tuvalu-6.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Uganda-3.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Ukraine-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates-3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United Kingdom3.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: United States3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Uruguay-0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan-1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Vanuatu-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Venezuela13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Vietnam-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Virgin Islands-7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futuna-3.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia Topic: West Bank-4.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Yemen-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Zambia0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

20220901

countries-dominican-republic-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Spain and France colonized and divided the island of Hispaniola.  The western third became Haiti.  The remainder became the Dominican Republic in 1844. Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.Spain and France colonized and divided the island of Hispaniola.  The western third became Haiti.  The remainder became the Dominican Republic in 1844. Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. Topic: Geography Area: total: 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land Topic: People and Society Population: 10,694,700 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.) Languages: Spanish (official) Religions: Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4%, other 1.8%, atheist 0.2%, none 29.4%, unspecified 2% (2018 est.) Population growth rate: 0.91% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Santo Domingo Executive branch: chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (32 seats; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 6 members indirectly elected based upon province-wide party plurality votes for its candidates to the Chamber of Deputies; all members serve 4-year terms; note - in 2019, the Central Election Commission changed the electoral system for seats in26 constituencies to direct simple majority but retained indirect election for the remaining 6 constituencies; previously all 32 members were indirectly elected; the change had been challenged by the ruling and opposition parties) House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; 178 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method, 5 members in a nationwide constituency and 7 diaspora members directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; COVID-19 disrupted economic growth; major foreign direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining povertytourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; COVID-19 disrupted economic growth; major foreign direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining poverty Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $184.45 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,000 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice, plantains, milk, avocados, fruit, pineapples, coconuts Industries: tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices Exports: $14.44 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019) Imports: $20.19 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: United States 50%, China 13% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2019) Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2022

20220901

field-roadways

This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 34,903 km (2017) paved: 17,903 km (2017) unpaved: 17,000 km (2017) Topic: Albaniatotal: 3,945 km (2018) Topic: Algeriatotal: 104,000 km (2015) paved: 71,656 km (2015) unpaved: 32,344 km (2015) Topic: American Samoatotal: 241 km (2016) Topic: Andorratotal: 320 km (2019) Topic: Angolatotal: 26,000 km (2018) paved: 13,600 km (2018) unpaved: 12,400 km (2018) Topic: Anguillatotal: 175 km (2004) paved: 82 km (2004) unpaved: 93 km (2004) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 1,170 km (2011) paved: 386 km (2011) unpaved: 784 km (2011) Topic: Argentinatotal: 281,290 km (2017) paved: 117,616 km (2017) unpaved: 163,674 km (2017) Topic: Armeniatotal: 7,700 km (2019) urban: 3,780 km non-urban: 3,920 km Topic: Arubatotal: 1,000 km (2010) Topic: Australiatotal: 873,573 km (2015) urban: 145,928 km (2015) non-urban: 727,645 km (2015) Topic: Austriatotal: 137,039 km (2018) paved: 137,039 km (2018) (includes 2,232 km of expressways) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 24,981 km (2013) note: total roadway length has increased significantly and continues to grow due to the recovery of Armenian-held territories and related reconstruction efforts, respectively; no updated figure is currently available Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 2,700 km (2011) paved: 1,620 km (2011) unpaved: 1,080 km (2011) Topic: Bahraintotal: 4,122 km (2010) paved: 3,392 km (2010) unpaved: 730 km (2010) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 369,105 km (2018) paved: 110,311 km (2018) unpaved: 258,794 km (2018) Topic: Barbadostotal: 1,700 km (2015) paved: 1,700 km (2015) Topic: Belarustotal: 86,600 km (2017) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 118,414 km (2015) paved: 118,414 km (2015) (includes 1,747 km of expressways) Topic: Belizetotal: 3,281 km (2017) paved: 601 km (2017) unpaved: 2,680 km (2017) Topic: Benintotal: 16,000 km (2006) paved: 1,400 km (2006) unpaved: 14,600 km (2006) Topic: Bermudatotal: 447 km (2010) paved: 447 km (2010) note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads Topic: Bhutantotal: 12,205 km (2017) urban: 437 km (2017) Topic: Boliviatotal: 90,568 km (2017) paved: 9,792 km (2017) unpaved: 80,776 km (2017) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 22,926 km (2010) paved: 19,426 km (2010) (4,652 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 3,500 km (2010) Topic: Botswanatotal: 31,747 km (2017) paved: 9,810 km (2017) unpaved: 21,937 km (2017) Topic: Braziltotal: 2 million km (2018) paved: 246,000 km (2018) unpaved: 1.754 million km (2018) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorynote: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcianote: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 200 km (2007) paved: 200 km (2007) Topic: Bruneitotal: 2,976 km (2014) paved: 2,559 km (2014) unpaved: 417 km (2014) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 19,512 km (2011) paved: 19,235 km (2011) (includes 458 km of expressways) unpaved: 277 km (2011) note: does not include Category IV local roads Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 15,304 km (2014) paved: 3,642 km (2014) unpaved: 11,662 km (2014) Topic: Burmatotal: 157,000 km (2013) paved: 34,700 km (2013) unpaved: 122,300 km (2013) Topic: Burunditotal: 12,322 km (2016) paved: 1,500 km (2016) unpaved: 10,822 km (2016) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 1,350 km (2013) paved: 932 km (2013) unpaved: 418 km (2013) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 47,263 km (2013) paved: 12,239 km (2013) unpaved: 35,024 km (2013) Topic: Cameroontotal: 77,589 km (2016) paved: 5,133 km (2016) unpaved: 72,456 km (2016) Topic: Canadatotal: 1,042,300 km (2011) paved: 415,600 km (2011) (includes 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2011) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 785 km (2007) paved: 785 km (2007) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 24,000 km (2018) paved: 700 km (2018) unpaved: 23,300 km (2018) Topic: Chadtotal: 40,000 km (2018) note: consists of 25,000 km of national and regional roads and 15,000 km of local roads; 206 km of urban roads are paved Topic: Chiletotal: 77,801 km (2016) Topic: Chinatotal: 45.2 million km (2020) paved: 4.578 million km (2020) (includes 168000 km of expressways) unpaved: 622,000 km (2017) Topic: Christmas Islandtotal: 142 km (2011) paved: 32 km (2011) unpaved: 110 km (2011) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal: 22 km (2007) paved: 10 km (2007) unpaved: 12 km (2007) Topic: Colombiatotal: 205,379 km (2019) Topic: Comorostotal: 880 km (2002) paved: 673 km (2002) unpaved: 207 km (2002) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 152,373 km (2015) paved: 3,047 km (2015) unpaved: 149,326 km (2015) urban: 7,400 km (2015) non-urban: 144,973 km Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 23,324 km (2017) paved: 3,111 km (2017) unpaved: 20,213 km (2017) note: road network in Congo is composed of 23,324 km of which 17,000 km are classified as national, departmental, and routes of local interest: 6,324 km are non-classified routes Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 295 km (2018) paved: 207 km (2018) unpaved: 88 km (2018) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 5,035 km (2017) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 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 Topic: Croatiatotal: 26,958 km (2015) (includes 1,416 km of expressways) Topic: Cubatotal: 71,140 km (2015) paved: 20,000 km (2001) unpaved: 40,000 km (2001) Topic: Curacaototal: 550 km Topic: Cyprustotal: 19,901 km (2016) government control: 12,901 km (2016) (includes 272 km of expressways) paved: 8,631 km (2016) unpaved: 4,270 km (2016) Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km (2011) Topic: Czechiatotal: 55,744 km (2019) (includes urban and category I, II, III roads) paved: 55,744 km (2019) (includes 1,252 km of expressways) Topic: Denmarktotal: 74,558 km (2017) paved: 74,558 km (2017) (includes 1,205 km of expressways) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 2,893 km (2013) Topic: Dominicatotal: 1,512 km (2018) paved: 762 km (2018) unpaved: 750 km (2018) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 19,705 km (2002) paved: 9,872 km (2002) unpaved: 9,833 km (2002) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 43,950 km (2022) paved: 8,895 km (2022) unpaved: 35,055 km (2022) Topic: Egypttotal: 65,050 km (2018) paved: 48,000 km (2018) unpaved: 17,050 km (2018) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 9,012 km (2017) paved: 5,341 km (2017) unpaved: 3,671 km (2017) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 2,880 km (2017) Topic: Eritreatotal: 16,000 km (2018) paved: 1,600 km (2000) unpaved: 14,400 km (2000) Topic: Estoniatotal: 58,412 km (2011) (includes urban roads) paved: 10,427 km (2011) (includes 115 km of expressways) unpaved: 47,985 km (2011) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 3,769 km (2019) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 120,171 km (2018) Topic: European Uniontotal: (2013) 10,582,653 km Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 440 km (2008) paved: 50 km (2008) unpaved: 390 km (2008) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 960 km (2017) paved: 500 km (2017) unpaved: 460 km (2017) note: those islands not connected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL; 28 km of tunnels Topic: Fijitotal: 3,440 km (2011) paved: 1,686 km (2011) unpaved: 1,754 km (2011) Topic: Finlandtotal: 454,000 km (2012) highways: 78,000 km (2012) (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) private and forest roads: 350,000 km (2012) urban: 26,000 km (2012) Topic: Francetotal: 1,053,215 km (2011) urban: 654,201 km (2011) non-urban: 399,014 km (2011) Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 2,590 km (1999) paved: 1,735 km (1999) unpaved: 855 km (1999) Topic: Gabontotal: 14,300 km (2001) paved: 900 km (2001) unpaved: 13,400 km (2001) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 2,977 km (2011) paved: 518 km (2011) unpaved: 2,459 km (2011) Topic: Gaza Stripnote: see entry for the West Banknote: see entry for the West Bank Topic: Georgiatotal: 20,295 km (2018) Topic: Germanytotal: 625,000 km (2017) paved: 625,000 km (2017) (includes 12,996 km of expressways) note: includes local roads Topic: Ghanatotal: 94,203 km (2021) paved: 14,948 km (2021) unpaved: 50,777 km (2021) urban: 28,480 km 27% total paved 73% total unpaved Topic: Gibraltartotal: 29 km (2007) paved: 29 km (2007) Topic: Greecetotal: 117,000 km (2018) Topic: Greenlandnote: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by airnote: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air Topic: Grenadatotal: 1,127 km (2017) paved: 902 km (2017) unpaved: 225 km (2017) Topic: Guamtotal: 1,045 km (2008) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 17,440 km (2020) paved: 7,458 km (2020) unpaved: 9,982 km (2020) (includes 4,548 km of rural roads) Topic: Guernseytotal: 260 km (2017) Topic: Guineatotal: 44,301 km (2018) paved: 3,346 km (2018) unpaved: 40,955 km (2018) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 4,400 km (2018) paved: 453 km (2018) unpaved: 3,947 km (2018) Topic: Guyanatotal: 3,995 km (2019) paved: 799 km (2019) unpaved: 3,196 km (2019) Topic: Haititotal: 4,102 km (2011) paved: 600 km (2011) unpaved: 3,502 km (2011) Topic: Hondurastotal: 14,742 km (2012) paved: 3,367 km (2012) unpaved: 11,375 km (2012) (1,543 km summer only) note: an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 2,193 km (2021) paved: 2,193 km (2021) Topic: Hungarytotal: 203,601 km (2014) paved: 77,087 km (2014) (includes 1,582 km of expressways) unpaved: 126,514 km (2014) Topic: Icelandtotal: 12,898 km (2012) paved/oiled gravel: 5,647 km (2012) (excludes urban roads) unpaved: 7,251 km (2012) Topic: Indiatotal: 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 Topic: Indonesiatotal: 496,607 km (2011) paved: 283,102 km (2011) unpaved: 213,505 km (2011) Topic: Irantotal: 223,485 km (2018) paved: 195,485 km (2018) unpaved: 28,000 km (2018) Topic: Iraqtotal: 59,623 km (2012) paved: 59,623 km (2012) (includes Kurdistan region) Topic: Irelandtotal: 99,830 km (2018) paved: 99,830 km (2018) (includes 2,717 km of expressways) Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 500 km (2008) Topic: Israeltotal: 19,555 km (2017) paved: 19,555 km (2017) (includes 449 km of expressways) Topic: Italytotal: 487,700 km (2007) paved: 487,700 km (2007) (includes 6,700 km of expressways) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 22,121 km (2011) (includes 44 km of expressways) paved: 16,148 km (2011) unpaved: 5,973 km (2011) Topic: Japantotal: 1,218,772 km (2015) paved: 992,835 km (2015) (includes 8,428 km of expressways) unpaved: 225,937 km (2015) Topic: Jerseytotal: 576 km (2010) Topic: Jordantotal: 7,203 km (2011) paved: 7,203 km (2011) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 95,767 km (2021) paved: 83,813 km (2021) unpaved: 12,354 km (2021) Topic: Kenyatotal: 177,800 km (2018) paved: 14,420 km (2017) (8,500 km highways, 1,872 urban roads, and 4,048 rural roads) unpaved: 147,032 km (2017) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 670 km (2017) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 25,554 km (2006) paved: 724 km (2006) unpaved: 24,830 km (2006) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 100,428 km (2016) paved: 92,795 km (2016) (includes 4,193 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,633 km (2016) Topic: Kosovototal: 2,012 km (2015) paved: 1,921 km (2015) (includes 78 km of expressways) unpaved: 91 km (2015) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 5,749 km (2018) paved: 4,887 km (2018) unpaved: 862 km (2018) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 34,000 km (2022) Topic: Laostotal: 39,586 km (2009) paved: 5,415 km (2009) unpaved: 34,171 km (2009) Topic: Latviatotal: 70,244 km (2018) paved: 15,158 km (2018) unpaved: 55,086 km (2018) Topic: Lebanontotal: 21,705 km (2017) Topic: Lesothototal: 5,940 km (2011) paved: 1,069 km (2011) unpaved: 4,871 km (2011) Topic: Liberiatotal: 10,600 km (2018) paved: 657 km (2018) unpaved: 9,943 km (2018) Topic: Libyatotal: 37,000 km (2010) paved: 34,000 km (2010) unpaved: 3,000 km (2010) Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 630 km (2019) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 84,166 km (2012) paved: 72,297 km (2012) (includes 312 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,869 km (2012) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 2,875 km (2019) Topic: Macautotal: 428 km (2017) paved: 428 km (2017) Topic: Madagascartotal: 31,640 km (2018) Topic: Malawitotal: 15,452 km (2015) paved: 4,074 km (2015) unpaved: 11,378 km (2015) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 144,403 km (2010) (excludes local roads) paved: 116,169 km (2010) (includes 1,821 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,234 km (2010) Topic: Maldivestotal: 93 km (2018) paved: 93 km (2018) - 60 km in Malée; 16 km on Addu Atolis; 17 km on Laamu note: island roads are mainly compacted coral Topic: Malitotal: 139,107 km (2018) Topic: Maltatotal: 2,254 km (2001) paved: 1,973 km (2001) unpaved: 281 km (2001) urban: 1,422 km (2001) non-urban: 832 km (2001) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 2,028 km (2007) paved: 75 km (2007) unpaved: 1,953 km Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 12,253 km (2018) paved: 3,988 km (2018) unpaved: 8,265 km (2018) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 2,428 km (2015) paved: 2,379 km (2015) (includes 99 km of expressways) unpaved: 49 km (2015) Topic: Mexicototal: 817,966 km (2017) paved: 175,526 km (2017) (includes 10,845 km of expressways) unpaved: 529,358 km (2017) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofnote - paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved Topic: Moldovatotal: 9,352 km (2012) paved: 8,835 km (2012) unpaved: 517 km (2012) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 113,200 km (2017) paved: 10,600 km (2017) unpaved: 102,600 km (2017) Topic: Montenegrototal: 7,762 km (2010) paved: 7,141 km (2010) unpaved: 621 km (2010) Topic: Montserratnote: 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 Topic: Moroccototal: 57,300 km (2018) Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 31,083 km (2015) paved: 7,365 km (2015) unpaved: 23,718 km (2015) Topic: Namibiatotal: 48,875 km (2018) paved: 7,893 km (2018) unpaved: 40,982 km (2018) Topic: Naurutotal: 30 km (2002) paved: 24 km (2002) unpaved: 6 km (2002) Topic: Nepaltotal: 27,990 km (2016) paved: 11,890 km (2016) unpaved: 16,100 km (2016) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 139,124 km (2016) (includes 3,654 km of expressways) Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 5,622 km (2006) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 94,000 km (2017) paved: 61,600 km (2017) (includes 199 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,400 km (2017) Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 23,897 km (2014) paved: 3,346 km (2014) unpaved: 20,551 km (2014) Topic: Nigertotal: 18,949 km (2010) paved: 3,912 km (2010) unpaved: 15,037 km (2010) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 195,000 km (2017) paved: 60,000 km (2017) unpaved: 135,000 km (2017) Topic: Niuetotal: 234 km (2017) paved: 210 km (2017) unpaved: 24 km Topic: Norfolk Islandtotal: 80 km (2008) paved: 53 km (2008) unpaved: 27 km (2008) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 14,182 km (2017) (includes 290 km of expressways) paved: 9,633 km (2017) unpaved: 4,549 km (2017) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 536 km (2008) Topic: Norwaytotal: 94,902 km (2018) (includes 455 km of expressways) Topic: Omantotal: 60,230 km (2012) paved: 29,685 km (2012) (includes 1,943 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,545 km (2012) Topic: Pakistantotal: 264,175 km (2021) paved: 185,463 km (2021) (includes 708 km of expressways) unpaved: 78,712 km (2021) Topic: Palautotal: 125 km (2018) paved: 89 km (2018) unpaved: 36 km (2018) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 9,349 km (2011) paved: 3,000 km (2011) unpaved: 6,349 km (2011) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 78,811 km (2020) paved: 8,573 km (2020) unpaved: 70,238 km (2020) Topic: Perutotal: 168,473 km (2018) (18,699 km paved) paved: 26,916 km note: includes 27,109 km of national roads (21,434 km paved), 247,505 km of departmental roads (3,623 km paved), and 113,857 km of local roads (1,858 km paved) Topic: Philippinestotal: 216,387 km (2014) paved: 61,093 km (2014) unpaved: 155,294 km (2014) Topic: Pitcairn Islandstotal: 0 km Topic: Polandtotal: 420,000 km (2016) paved: 291,000 km (2016) (includes 1,492 km of expressways, 1,559 of motorways) unpaved: 129,000 km (2016) Topic: Portugaltotal: 82,900 km (2008) paved: 71,294 km (2008) (includes 2,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,606 km (2008) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 26,862 km (2012) (includes 454 km of expressways) Topic: Qatartotal: 7,039 km (2016) Topic: Romaniatotal: 84,185 km (2012) paved: 49,873 km (2012) (includes 337 km of expressways) unpaved: 34,312 km (2012) Topic: Russiatotal: 1,283,387 km (2012) paved: 927,721 km (2012) (includes 39,143 km of expressways) unpaved: 355,666 km (2012) Topic: Rwandatotal: 4,700 km (2012) paved: 1,207 km (2012) unpaved: 3,493 km (2012) Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal: 40 km Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 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) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 383 km (2002) paved: 163 km (2002) unpaved: 220 km (2002) Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 1,210 km (2011) paved: 847 km (2011) unpaved: 363 km (2011) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal: 117 km (2009) paved: 80 km (2009) unpaved: 37 km (2009) Topic: Samoatotal: 1,150 km (2018) Topic: San Marinototal: 292 km (2006) paved: 292 km (2006) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 1,300 km (2018) paved: 230 km (2018) unpaved: 1,070 km (2018) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 221,372 km (2006) paved: 47,529 km (2006) (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006) Topic: Senegaltotal: 16,665 km (2017) paved: 6,126 km (2017) (includes 241 km of expressways) unpaved: 10,539 km (2017) Topic: Serbiatotal: 44,248 km (2016) paved: 28,000 km (2016) (16,162 km state roads, out of which 741 km highways) unpaved: 16,248 km (2016) Topic: Seychellestotal: 526 km (2015) paved: 514 km (2015) unpaved: 12 km (2015) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 11,700 km (2015) paved: 1,051 km (2015) unpaved: 10,650 km (2015) urban: 3,000 km (2015) non-urban: 8,700 km (2015) Topic: Singaporetotal: 3,500 km (2017) paved: 3,500 km (2017) (includes 164 km of expressways) Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 53 km Topic: Slovakiatotal: 56,926 km (2016) (includes local roads, national roads, and 464 km of highways) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 38,985 km (2012) paved: 38,985 km (2012) (includes 769 km of expressways) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 1,390 km (2011) paved: 34 km (2011) unpaved: 1,356 km (2011) note: includes 920 km of private plantation roads Topic: Somaliatotal: 15,000 km (2018) Topic: South Africatotal: 750,000 km (2016) paved: 158,124 km (2016) unpaved: 591,876 km (2016) Topic: South Sudantotal: 90,200 km (2019) paved: 300 km (2019) unpaved: 89,900 km (2019) note: most of the road network is unpaved and much of it is in disrepair; the Juba-Nimule highway connecting Juba to the border with Uganda is the main paved road in South Sudan  Topic: Spaintotal: 683,175 km (2011) paved: 683,175 km (2011) (includes 16,205 km of expressways) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 114,093 km (2010) paved: 16,977 km (2010) unpaved: 97,116 km (2010) Topic: Sudantotal: 31,000 km (2019) paved: 8,000 km (2019) unpaved: 23,000 km (2019) urban: 1,000 km (2019) Topic: Surinametotal: 4,304 km (2003) paved: 1,119 km (2003) unpaved: 3,185 km (2003) Topic: Svalbardtotal: 40 km (2020) Topic: Swedentotal: 573,134 km (2016) (includes 2,050 km of expressways) paved: 140,100 km (2016) unpaved: 433,034 km (2016) note: includes 98,500 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,600 km of municipal roads Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 71,557 km (2017) paved: 71,557 km (2017) (includes 1,458 of expressways) Topic: Syriatotal: 69,873 km (2010) paved: 63,060 km (2010) unpaved: 6,813 km (2010) Topic: Taiwantotal: 43,206 km (2017) paved: 42,793 km (2017) (includes 1,348 km of highways and 737 km of expressways) unpaved: 413 km (2017) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 30,000 km (2018) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 145,203 km (2022) paved: 11,201 km (2022) unpaved: 134,002 km (2022) Topic: Thailandtotal: 180,053 km (2006) (includes 450 km of expressways) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 6,040 km (2008) paved: 2,600 km (2008) unpaved: 3,440 km (2008) Topic: Togototal: 11,734 km (2018) paved: 1,794 km (2018) unpaved: 8,157 km (2018) urban: 1,783 km (2018) Topic: Tokelautotal: 10 km (2019) Topic: Tongatotal: 680 km (2011) paved: 184 km (2011) unpaved: 496 km (2011) Topic: Tunisiapaved: 20,000 km (2015) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 67,333 km (2018) paved: 24,082 km (2018) (includes 2,159 km of expressways) unpaved: 43,251 km (2018) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 58,592 km (2002) paved: 47,577 km (2002) unpaved: 11,015 km (2002) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 121 km (2003) paved: 24 km (2003) unpaved: 97 km (2003) Topic: Tuvalutotal: 8 km (2011) paved: 8 km (2011) Topic: Ugandatotal: 20,544 km (2017) (excludes local roads) paved: 4,257 km (2017) unpaved: 16,287 km (2017) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 169,694 km (2012) paved: 166,095 km (2012) (includes 17 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,599 km (2012) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 4,080 km (2008) paved: 4,080 km (2008) (includes 253 km of expressways) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 394,428 km (2009) paved: 394,428 km (2009) (includes 3,519 km of expressways) Topic: United Statestotal: 6,586,610 km (2012) paved: 4,304,715 km (2012) (includes 76,334 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,281,895 km (2012) Topic: Uruguaytotal: 77,732 km (2010) paved: 7,743 km (2010) unpaved: 69,989 km (2010) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 86,496 km (2000) paved: 75,511 km (2000) unpaved: 10,985 km (2000) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 1,070 km (2000) paved: 256 km (2000) unpaved: 814 km (2000) Topic: Venezuelatotal: 96,189 km (2014) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 195,468 km (2013) paved: 148,338 km (2013) unpaved: 47,130 km (2013) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 1,260 km (2008) Topic: West Banktotal: 4,686 km (2010) paved: 4,686 km (2010) note: includes Gaza Strip Topic: Yementotal: 71,300 km (2005) paved: 6,200 km (2005) unpaved: 65,100 km (2005) Topic: Zambiatotal: 67,671 km (2018) paved: 14,888 km (2018) unpaved: 52,783 km (2018) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 97,267 km (2019) paved: 18,481 km (2019) unpaved: 78,786 km (2019)

20220901

countries-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines

Topic: Photos of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Topic: Introduction Background: Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed by France and the UK for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. The British prized Saint Vincent due to its fertile soil, which allowed for thriving slave-run plantations of sugar, coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton, and cocoa. In 1834, the British abolished slavery. Immigration of indentured servants eased the ensuing labor shortage, as did subsequent Portuguese immigrants from Madeira and East Indian laborers. Conditions remained harsh for both former slaves and immigrant agricultural workers, however, as depressed world sugar prices kept the economy stagnant until the early 1900s. The economy then went into a period of decline with many landowners abandoning their estates and leaving the land to be cultivated by liberated slaves. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979. In April 2021, the explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in the north of Saint Vincent destroyed much of Saint Vincent’s most productive agricultural lands. Unlike most of its tourism-dependent neighbors, the Vincentian economy is primarily agricultural. The US provided $4.7 million in humanitarian support after the eruption.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 84 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Terrain: volcanic, mountainous Elevation: highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: hydropower, arable land Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown Natural hazards: hurricanes; La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threatvolcanism: La Soufriere (1,234 m) on the island of Saint Vincent last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanes; La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threatvolcanism: La Soufriere (1,234 m) on the island of Saint Vincent last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays Map description: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines map showing the islands that comprise this archipelagic country in the Caribbean Sea.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines map showing the islands that comprise this archipelagic country in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 100,969 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian Ethnic groups: African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.) Languages: English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois Religions: Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%,  Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%, Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army 0.3%, Presbyterian/Congregational 0.3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%,  Rastafarian 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.15% (male 10,309/female 10,121) 15-24 years: 14.83% (male 7,582/female 7,451) 25-54 years: 42.63% (male 22,395/female 20,824) 55-64 years: 11.68% (male 6,136/female 5,703) 65 years and over: 10.72% (2020 est.) (male 5,167/female 5,702) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.7 youth dependency ratio: 32.1 elderly dependency ratio: 14.5 potential support ratio: 6.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 35.3 years male: 35.4 years female: 35.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.17% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown Urbanization: urban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 27,000 KINGSTOWN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 98 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 12.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.68 years male: 74.63 years female: 78.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.75 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 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2012) Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 90.2% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 9.8% of population (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.5% (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,200 (2018) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2015) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive; poor land use planning; deforestation; watershed management and squatter settlement control 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 21.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.09 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 53.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.94% 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.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 31,561 tons (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 8.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 100 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines etymology: Saint Vincent was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS after Saint VINCENT of Saragossa because the 22 January 1498 day of discovery was the saint's feast day Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Kingstown geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: an earlier French settlement was renamed Kingstown by the British in 1763 when they assumed control of the island; the king referred to in the name is George III (r. 1760-1820) Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick Independence: 27 October 1979 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979) Constitution: history: previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979) amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections on fundamental rights and freedoms, citizen protections, various government functions and authorities, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum of at least two thirds of the votes cast, and assent of the governor general Legal system: English common law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (23 seats; 15 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 6 senators appointed by the governor general, and 2 ex officio members - the speaker of the house and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 5 November 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 49.58%, NDP 50.34%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ULP 9, NDP 6 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 assigned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; note - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 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: magistrates' courts Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [Dr. Godwin L. FRIDAY] Unity Labor Party or ULP [Dr. Ralph GONSALVES] (formed in 1994 by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU) SVG Green Party or SVGP [Ivan O'NEAL] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as "the Gems of the Antilles" and are set slightly lowered in the gold band to reflect the nation's position in the Antilles; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation National symbol(s): Saint Vincent parrot; national colors: blue, gold, green National anthem: name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!" lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL note: adopted 1967 Topic: Economy Economic overview: Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity, as well as remittances. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is home to a small offshore banking sector and continues to fully adopt international regulatory standards.   This lower-middle-income country remains vulnerable to natural and external shocks. The economy has shown some signs of recovery due to increased tourist arrivals, falling oil prices and renewed growth in the construction sector. The much anticipated international airport opened in early 2017 with hopes for increased airlift and tourism activity. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 67% of GDP at the end of 2013.Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity, as well as remittances. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is home to a small offshore banking sector and continues to fully adopt international regulatory standards. This lower-middle-income country remains vulnerable to natural and external shocks. The economy has shown some signs of recovery due to increased tourist arrivals, falling oil prices and renewed growth in the construction sector. The much anticipated international airport opened in early 2017 with hopes for increased airlift and tourism activity. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 67% of GDP at the end of 2013. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.34 billion (2020 est.) $1.38 billion (2019 est.) $1.37 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.7% (2017 est.) 0.8% (2016 est.) 0.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,100 (2020 est.) $12,500 (2019 est.) $12,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $785 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2017 est.) -0.2% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B3 (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.1% (2017 est.) industry: 17.4% (2017 est.) services: 75.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 87.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 10.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 37.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: bananas, sugar cane, roots/tubers, plantains, vegetables, fruit, coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, mangoes/guavas Industries: tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 57,520 (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.) Unemployment rate: 18.8% (2008 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 225.2 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 230 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 73.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 82.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 28.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$116 million (2017 est.) -$122 million (2016 est.) Exports: $320 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $47.3 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Jordan 39%, Singapore 14% (2019) Exports - commodities: natural gas, drilling platforms and ships, recreational boats, collector's items, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch (2019) Imports: $450 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $294.6 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, China 8%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, poultry meats, tug boats, recreational boats (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $182.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) $192.3 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $362.2 million (31 December 2017 est.) $330.8 million (31 December 2016 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: installed generating capacity: 49,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 133.917 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 11.083 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 73.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 25.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,621 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 202,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 202,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 27.821 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,483 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 97,059 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations Internet country code: .vc Internet users: total: 24,408 (2020 est.) percent of population: 22% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 24,733 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J8 Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Merchant marine: total: 792 by type: bulk carrier 27, container ship 17, general cargo 155, oil tanker 16, other 577 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Kingstown Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF; includes the Coast Guard and a paramilitary Special Services Unit) (2022) Military - note: the country has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, 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 (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean SeaSaint Vincent and the Grenadines-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf 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

20220901

field-industries

This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output. Topic: Afghanistansmall-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper Topic: Albaniafood; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower Topic: Algeriapetroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing Topic: American Samoatuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts Topic: Andorratourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture Topic: Angolapetroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair Topic: Anguillatourism, boat building, offshore financial services Topic: Antigua and Barbudatourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) Topic: Argentinafood processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Topic: Armeniabrandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing Topic: Arubatourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking Topic: Australiamining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel Topic: Austriaconstruction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism Topic: Azerbaijanpetroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles Topic: Bahamas, Thetourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals Topic: Bahrainpetroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism Topic: Bangladeshjute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas Topic: Barbadostourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export Topic: Belarusmetal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances Topic: Belgiumengineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Topic: Belizegarment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil Topic: Benintextiles, food processing, construction materials, cement Topic: Bermudainternational business, tourism, light manufacturing Topic: Bhutancement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism Topic: Boliviamining, smelting, electricity, petroleum, food and beverages, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinasteel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining Topic: Botswanadiamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles Topic: Braziltextiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment Topic: British Virgin Islandstourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center Topic: Bruneipetroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation Topic: Bulgariaelectricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers Topic: Burkina Fasocotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold Topic: Burmaagricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments; jade and gems Topic: Burundilight consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits) Topic: Cabo Verdefood and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Topic: Cambodiatourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles Topic: Cameroonpetroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair Topic: Canadatransportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas Topic: Cayman Islandstourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture Topic: Central African Republicgold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining Topic: Chadoil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials Topic: Chilecopper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles Topic: Chinaworld 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 Topic: Christmas Islandtourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandscopra products, tourism Topic: Colombiatextiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds Topic: Comorosfishing, tourism, perfume distillation Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of themining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair Topic: Congo, Republic of thepetroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes Topic: Cook Islandsfishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts Topic: Costa Ricamedical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Topic: Cote d'Ivoirefoodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity Topic: Croatiachemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism Topic: Cubapetroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar Topic: Curacaotourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services Topic: Cyprustourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products Topic: Czechiamotor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments Topic: Denmarkwind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products Topic: Dhekelianone Topic: Djibouticonstruction, agricultural processing, shipping Topic: Dominicasoap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Topic: Dominican Republictourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices Topic: Ecuadorpetroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals Topic: Egypttextiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures Topic: El Salvadorfood processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals Topic: Equatorial Guineapetroleum, natural gas, sawmilling Topic: Eritreafood processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement Topic: Estoniafood, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications Topic: Eswatinisoft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel Topic: Ethiopiafood processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement Topic: European Unionamong the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverages, furniture, paper, textiles Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)fish and wool processing; tourism Topic: Faroe Islandsfishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts Topic: Fijitourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber Topic: Finlandmetals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing Topic: Francemachinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism Topic: French Polynesiatourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates Topic: Gabonpetroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement Topic: Gambia, Thepeanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing Topic: Gaza Striptextiles, food processing, furniture Topic: Georgiasteel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine Topic: Germanyamong the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles Topic: Ghanamining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum Topic: Gibraltartourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco Topic: Greecetourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum Topic: Greenlandfish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); anorthosite and ruby mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards Topic: Grenadafood and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations Topic: Guamnational defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles Topic: Guatemalasugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism Topic: Guernseytourism, banking Topic: Guineabauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing Topic: Guinea-Bissauagricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks Topic: Guyanabauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining Topic: Haititextiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities Topic: Hondurassugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars Topic: Hong Kongtrading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches Topic: Hungarymining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles Topic: Icelandtourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products Topic: Indiatextiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals Topic: Indonesiapetroleum 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 Topic: Iranpetroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments Topic: Iraqpetroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing Topic: Irelandpharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices Topic: Isle of Manfinancial services, light manufacturing, tourism Topic: Israelhigh-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear Topic: Italytourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics Topic: Jamaicaagriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications Topic: Japanamong world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods Topic: Jerseytourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics Topic: Jordantourism, information technology, clothing, fertilizer, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing Topic: Kazakhstanoil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials Topic: Kenyasmall-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism, information technology Topic: Kiribatifishing, handicrafts Topic: Korea, Northmilitary products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism Topic: Korea, Southelectronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel Topic: Kosovomineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles Topic: Kuwaitpetroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials Topic: Kyrgyzstansmall machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals Topic: Laosmining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism Topic: Latviaprocessed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics Topic: Lebanonbanking, tourism, real estate and construction, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating Topic: Lesothofood, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism Topic: Liberiamining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds Topic: Libyapetroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement Topic: Liechtensteinelectronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments Topic: Lithuaniametal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology Topic: Luxembourgbanking and financial services, construction, real estate services, iron, metals, and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation and logistics, chemicals, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism, biotechnology Topic: Macautourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys Topic: Madagascarmeat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining Topic: Malawitobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods Topic: MalaysiaPeninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum and natural gas production;Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum and natural gas production, logging Topic: Maldivestourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining Topic: Malifood processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining Topic: Maltatourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services Topic: Marshall Islandscopra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls) Topic: Mauritaniafish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper) note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited Topic: Mauritiusfood processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism Topic: Mexicofood and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood) Topic: Moldovasugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles Topic: Monacobanking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products Topic: Mongoliaconstruction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing Topic: Montenegrosteelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism Topic: Montserrattourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances Topic: Moroccoautomotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism Topic: Mozambiquealuminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages Topic: Namibiameatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper) Topic: Nauruphosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products Topic: Nepaltourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production Topic: Netherlandsagroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing Topic: New Caledonianickel mining and smelting Topic: New Zealandagriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism Topic: Nicaraguafood processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining Topic: Nigeruranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses Topic: Nigeriacrude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel Topic: Niuehandicrafts, food processing Topic: Norfolk Islandtourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete Topic: North Macedoniafood processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services Topic: Norwaypetroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles Topic: Omancrude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber Topic: Pakistantextiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp Topic: Palautourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture Topic: Panamaconstruction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling Topic: Papua New Guineacopra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining (gold, silver, copper); crude oil and petroleum products; construction, tourism, livestock (pork, poultry, cattle), dairy products, spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg), fisheries products Topic: Paraguaysugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power Topic: Perumining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture Topic: Philippinessemiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment Topic: Pitcairn Islandspostage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey Topic: Polandmachine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles Topic: Portugaltextiles, 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 Topic: Puerto Ricopharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism Topic: Qatarliquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair Topic: Romaniaelectric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials Topic: Russiacomplete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries (including radar, missile production, advanced electronic components), shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts Topic: Rwandacement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaconstruction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages Topic: Saint Luciatourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing Topic: Saint Martintourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonfish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch Topic: Samoafood processing, building materials, auto parts Topic: San Marinotourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine Topic: Sao Tome and Principelight construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber Topic: Saudi Arabiacrude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction Topic: Senegalagricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair Topic: Serbiaautomobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals Topic: Seychellesfishing, tourism, beverages Topic: Sierra Leonediamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear) Topic: Singaporeelectronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade Topic: Sint Maartentourism, light industry Topic: Slovakiaautomobiles; 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 Topic: Sloveniaferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools Topic: Solomon Islandsfish (tuna), mining, timber Topic: Somalialight industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication Topic: South Africamining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair Topic: Spaintextiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment Topic: Sri Lankaprocessing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction Topic: Sudanoil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling Topic: Surinamegold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing Topic: Swedeniron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Topic: Switzerlandmachinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals Topic: Syriapetroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, automobile assembly Topic: Taiwanelectronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals Topic: Tajikistanaluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil Topic: Tanzaniaagricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer Topic: Thailandtourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer Topic: Timor-Lesteprinting, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth Topic: Togophosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages Topic: Tokelausmall-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing Topic: Tongatourism, construction, fishing Topic: Trinidad and Tobagopetroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles Topic: Tunisiapetroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper Topic: Turkmenistannatural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstourism, offshore financial services Topic: Tuvalufishing Topic: Ugandasugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production Topic: Ukrainecoal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing Topic: United Arab Emiratespetroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles Topic: United Kingdommachine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods Topic: United Stateshighly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining Topic: Uruguayfood processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages Topic: Uzbekistantextiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals Topic: Vanuatufood and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning Topic: Venezuelaagricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products Topic: Vietnamfood processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones Topic: Virgin Islandstourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics Topic: Wallis and Futunacopra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber Topic: West Banksmall-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs Topic: Worlddominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problemsdominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problems Topic: Yemencrude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production Topic: Zambiacopper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture Topic: Zimbabwemining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

20220901

field-school-life-expectancy-primary-to-tertiary-education

School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of educational content or quality as a year or grade completed in another country. SLE represents the expected number of years of schooling that will be completed, including years spent repeating one or more grades. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 10 years male: 13 years female: 8 years (2018) Topic: Albaniatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Algeriatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2011) Topic: Angolatotal: 10 years male: 12 years female: 7 years (2011) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2012) Topic: Argentinatotal: 18 years male: 17 years female: 19 years (2019) Topic: Armeniatotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2020) Topic: Arubatotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2012) Topic: Australiatotal: 22 years male: 21 years female: 22 years (2019) Topic: Austriatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2020) Topic: Bahraintotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Barbadostotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 17 years (2011) Topic: Belarustotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2018) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 20 years male: 19 years female: 21 years (2019) Topic: Belizetotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Benintotal: 13 years male: 14 years female: 11 years (2016) Topic: Bermudatotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2015) Topic: Bhutantotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2018) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2014) Topic: Botswanatotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2013) Topic: Braziltotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2018) Topic: Bruneitotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2020) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2020) Topic: Burmatotal: 11 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2018) Topic: Burunditotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2018) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2018) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 10 years Topic: Cameroontotal: 12 years male: 13 years female: 11 years (2016) Topic: Canadatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 7 years male: 8 years female: 6 years (2012) Topic: Chadtotal: 7 years male: 9 years female: 6 years (2015) Topic: Chiletotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Chinatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2015) Topic: Colombiatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Comorostotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2014) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 11 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2013) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2012) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 14 years (2012) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2019) Topic: Croatiatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Cubatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Curacaototal: 17 years male: 18 years female: 18 years (2013) Topic: Cyprustotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Czechiatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Denmarktotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2019) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2011) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2017) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Egypttotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2018) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2018) Topic: Eritreatotal: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2015) Topic: Estoniatotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2013) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 9 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2012) Topic: Finlandtotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 20 years (2019) Topic: Francetotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2020) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Georgiatotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020) Topic: Germanytotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Ghanatotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2020) Topic: Greecetotal: 20 years male: 20 years female: 20 years (2019) Topic: Grenadatotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2018) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2019) Topic: Guineatotal: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2014) Topic: Guyanatotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2012) Topic: Hondurastotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2019) Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2020) Topic: Hungarytotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Icelandtotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 20 years (2019) Topic: Indiatotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2020) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2018) Topic: Irantotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2017) Topic: Irelandtotal: 19 years male: 19 years female: 19 years (2019) Topic: Israeltotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Italytotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 12 years male: 11 years female: 13 years (2015) Topic: Japantotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2018) Topic: Jordantotal: 11 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2020) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2015) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 15 years male: 13 years female: 16 years (2015) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Laostotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2020) Topic: Latviatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Lebanontotal: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2014) Topic: Lesothototal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2017) Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 15 years male: 16 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Macautotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 18 years (2020) Topic: Madagascartotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2018) Topic: Malawitotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2011) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Maldivestotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Malitotal: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2017) Topic: Maltatotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2019) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 10 years (2019) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2017) Topic: Mexicototal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Moldovatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Montenegrototal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020) Topic: Montserrattotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Moroccototal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2020) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2017) Topic: Nepaltotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2019) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2018) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 20 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2019) Topic: Nigertotal: 6 years male: 7 years female: 6 years (2017) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 8 years (2011) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2018) Topic: Norwaytotal: 18 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2019) Topic: Omantotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Pakistantotal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 8 years (2019) Topic: Palautotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2013) Topic: Panamatotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2016) Topic: Perutotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2017) Topic: Philippinestotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2017) Topic: Polandtotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Portugaltotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 18 years (2018) Topic: Qatartotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Romaniatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Russiatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Rwandatotal: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2019) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 19 years (2015) Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2015) Topic: San Marinototal: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2020) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2015) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2020) Topic: Senegaltotal: 9 years male: 8 years female: 9 years (2020) Topic: Serbiatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Seychellestotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years (2020) Topic: Singaporetotal: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2014) Topic: Slovakiatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Topic: South Africatotal: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Spaintotal: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2018) Topic: Sudantotal: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2015) Topic: Swedentotal: 19 years male: 18 years female: 21 years (2019) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2019) Topic: Syriatotal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2013) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2013) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2020) Topic: Thailandtotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2016) Topic: Togototal: 13 years male: 14 years female: 12 years (2017) Topic: Tongatotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2020) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2016) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 18 years male: 19 years female: 18 years (2019) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 9 years male: NA female: (2015) NA Topic: Ugandatotal: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2011) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2014) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2020) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Topic: United Statestotal: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Topic: Uruguaytotal: 19 years male: 17 years female: 20 years (2019) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 12 years male: 13 years female: 12 years (2019) Topic: West Banktotal: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2020) note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Worldtotal: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Yementotal: 9 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2011) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2013)

20220901

field-waterways

This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water. Topic: Afghanistan1,200 km (2011) (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) Topic: Albania41 km (2011) (on the Bojana River) Topic: Angola1,300 km (2011) Topic: Argentina11,000 km (2012) Topic: Australia2,000 km (2011) (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling River systems) Topic: Austria358 km (2011) Topic: Bangladesh8,370 km (2011) (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season) Topic: Belarus2,500 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) Topic: Belgium2,043 km (2012) (1,528 km in regular commercial use) Topic: Belize825 km (2011) (navigable only by small craft) Topic: Benin150 km (2011) (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) Topic: Bolivia10,000 km (2012) (commercially navigable almost exclusively in the northern and eastern parts of the country) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina(2011) (Sava River on northern border; open to shipping but use limited) Topic: Brazil50,000 km (2012) (most in areas remote from industry and population) Topic: Brunei209 km (2012) (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links) Topic: Bulgaria470 km (2009) Topic: Burma12,800 km (2011) Topic: Burundi(2011) (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Topic: Cambodia3,700 km (2012) (mainly on Mekong River) Topic: Cameroon(2010) (major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season only to the port of Garoua) Topic: Canada636 km (2011) (Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States) Topic: Central African Republic2,800 km (2011) (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) Topic: Chad(2012) (Chari and Legone Rivers are navigable only in wet season) Topic: China27,700 km (2020) (navigable waterways) Topic: Colombia24,725 km (2019) (18,225 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,092 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the15,000 km (2011) (including the Congo River, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes) Topic: Congo, Republic of the1,120 km (2011) (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubangui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe-Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) Topic: Costa Rica730 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire980 km (2011) (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) Topic: Croatia785 km (2009) Topic: Cuba240 km (2011) (almost all navigable inland waterways are near the mouths of rivers) Topic: Czechia664 km (2010) (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) Topic: Denmark400 km (2010) Topic: Ecuador1,500 km (2012) (most inaccessible) Topic: Egypt3,500 km (2018) (includes the Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in Nile Delta; the Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) is navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m) Topic: El Salvador(2011) (Rio Lempa River is partially navigable by small craft) Topic: Estonia335 km (2011) (320 km are navigable year-round) Topic: European Union(2013) 53,384 km Topic: Fiji203 km (2012) (122 km are navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges) Topic: Finland8,000 km (2013) (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways Topic: Francemetropolitan France: 8,501 km (1,621 km navigable by craft up to 3,000 metric tons) (2010) Topic: Gabon1,600 km (2010) (310 km on Ogooue River) Topic: Gambia, The390 km (2010) (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) Topic: Germany7,467 km (2012) (Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea) Topic: Ghana1,293 km (2011) (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) Topic: Greece6 km (2012) (the 6-km-long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km) Topic: Guatemala990 km (2012) (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) Topic: Guinea1,300 km (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) Topic: Guinea-Bissau(2012) (rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) Topic: Guyana330 km (2012) (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively) Topic: Honduras465 km (2012) (most navigable only by small craft) Topic: Hungary1,622 km (2011) (most on Danube River) Topic: India14,500 km (2012) (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) Topic: Indonesia21,579 km (2011) Topic: Iran850 km (2012) (on Karun River; some navigation on Lake Urmia) Topic: Iraq5,279 km (2012) (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) Topic: Ireland956 km (2010) (pleasure craft only) Topic: Italy2,400 km (2012) (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) Topic: Japan1,770 km (2010) (seagoing vessels use inland seas) Topic: Kazakhstan43,983 km (2020) (on the Ertis (Irtysh) River (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya) River) Topic: Kenya(2011) none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania Topic: Kiribati5 km (2012) (small network of canals in Line Islands) Topic: Korea, North2,250 km (2011) (most navigable only by small craft) Topic: Korea, South1,600 km (2011) (most navigable only by small craft) Topic: Kyrgyzstan576 km (2022) Topic: Laos4,600 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) Topic: Latvia300 km (2010) (navigable year-round) Topic: Liechtenstein28 km (2010) Topic: Lithuania441 km (2007) (navigable year-round) Topic: Luxembourg37 km (2010) (on Moselle River) Topic: Madagascar600 km (2011) (432 km navigable) Topic: Malawi700 km (2010) (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River) Topic: Malaysia7,200 km (2011) (Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km; Sabah 1,500 km; Sarawak 2,500 km) Topic: Mali1,800 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) Topic: Mauritania(2011) (some navigation possible on the Senegal River) Topic: Mexico2,900 km (2012) (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with ports on the country's east coast) Topic: Moldova558 km (2011) (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut Rivers) Topic: Mongolia580 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) Topic: Mozambique460 km (2010) (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) Topic: Netherlands6,237 km (2012) (navigable by ships up to 50 tons) Topic: Nicaragua2,220 km (2011) (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua; rivers serve only the sparsely populated eastern part of the country) Topic: Niger300 km (2012) (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) Topic: Nigeria8,600 km (2011) (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) Topic: Norway1,577 km (2010) Topic: Panama800 km (2011) (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) Topic: Papua New Guinea11,000 km (2011) Topic: Paraguay3,100 km (2012) (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná River systems) Topic: Peru8,808 km (2011) (8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon River system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca) Topic: Philippines3,219 km (2011) (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) Topic: Poland3,997 km (2009) (navigable rivers and canals) Topic: Portugal210 km (2011) (on Douro River from Porto) Topic: Romania1,731 km (2010) (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) Topic: Russia102,000 km (2009) (including 48,000 km with guaranteed depth; the 72,000-km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea) Topic: Rwanda(2011) (Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft) Topic: Senegal1,000 km (2012) (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers) Topic: Serbia587 km (2009) (primarily on the Danube and Sava Rivers) Topic: Sierra Leone800 km (2011) (600 km navigable year-round) Topic: Slovakia172 km (2012) (on Danube River) Topic: Slovenia(2012) (some transport on the Drava River) Topic: South Sudansee entry for Sudan Topic: Spain1,000 km (2012) Topic: Sri Lanka160 km (2012) (primarily on rivers in southwest) Topic: Sudan4,068 km (2011) (1,723 km open year-round on White and Blue Nile Rivers) Topic: Suriname1,200 km (2011) (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) Topic: Sweden2,052 km (2010) Topic: Switzerland1,292 km (2010) (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport) Topic: Syria900 km (2011) (navigable but not economically significant) Topic: Tajikistan200 km (2011) (along Vakhsh River) Topic: Tanzania(2011) (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) are the principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; the rivers are not navigable) Topic: Thailand4,000 km (2011) (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) Topic: Togo50 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)1,200 km (2010) Topic: Turkmenistan1,300 km (2011) (Amu Darya River and Kara Kum Canal are important inland waterways) Topic: Uganda(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) Topic: Ukraine1,672 km (2012) (most on Dnieper River) Topic: United Kingdom3,200 km (2009) (620 km used for commerce) Topic: United States41,009 km (2012) (19,312 km used for commerce; Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, is shared with Canada) Topic: Uruguay1,600 km (2011) Topic: Uzbekistan1,100 km (2012) Topic: Venezuela7,100 km (2011) (Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels) Topic: Vietnam47,130 km (2011) (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) Topic: World2,293,412 km (2017) top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,693 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,238 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,981 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,569 km; Yangtze (Asia) 5,525 km; Yellow (Asia) 4,671 km; Amur (Asia) 4,352 km; Lena (Asia) 4,345 km; Congo (Africa) 4,344 km note 1: rivers are not necessarily navigable along the entire length; if measured by volume, the Amazon is the largest river in the world, responsible for about 20% of the Earth's freshwater entering the ocean note 2: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes top ten largest natural lakes (by surface area): Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 372,960 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,414 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 69,490 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,596 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,441 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,890 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,800 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,494 sq km; Lake Nyasa (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 30,044 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,400 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world note 3: the deepest lake in the world (1,620 m), and also the largest freshwater lake by volume (23,600 cu km), is Lake Baikal in Russia Topic: Zambia2,250 km (2010) (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula Rivers) Topic: Zimbabwe(2011) (some navigation possible on Lake Kariba)

20220901

field-executive-branch

This entry includes five subentries: chief of state; head of government; cabinet; elections/appointments; election results. Chief of state includes the name, title, and beginning date in office of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, and the beginning date in office. Cabinet includes the official name of the executive branch’s high-ranking body and the method of member selection. Elections/appointments includes the process for accession to office, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes each candidate's political affiliation, percent of direct popular vote or indirect legislative/parliamentary percent vote or vote count in the last election. The executive branches in approximately 80% of the world's countries have separate chiefs of state and heads of government; for the remainder, the chief of state is also the head of government, such as in Argentina, Kenya, the Philippines, the US, and Venezuela. Chiefs of state in just over 100 countries are directly elected, most by majority popular vote; those in another 55 are indirectly elected by their national legislatures, parliaments, or electoral colleges. Another 29 countries have a monarch as the chief of state. In dependencies, territories, and collectivities of sovereign countries - except those of the US - representatives are appointed to serve as chiefs of state. Heads of government in the majority of countries are appointed either by the president or the monarch or selected by the majority party in the legislative body. Excluding countries where the chief of state is also head of government, in only a few countries is the head of government directly elected through popular vote. Most of the world's countries have cabinets, the majority of which are appointed by the chief of state or prime minister, many in consultation with each other or with the legislature. Cabinets in only about a dozen countries are elected solely by their legislative bodies. Topic: Afghanistanchief of state: president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR Topic: Akrotirichief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Major General Robert J. THOMSON (since 25 September 2019); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the chief officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense Topic: Albaniachief of state: President of the Republic Ilir META (since 24 July 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Arben AHMETAJ (since 18 September 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in 1 of 3 rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; election last held in 4 rounds on 16, 23, and 30 May and 4 June (next election to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly election results: 2022: Bajram BEGAJ elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 78-4, opposition parties boycotted; BEGAJ takes office 24 June 2022 2017: Ilir META elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 87-2 Topic: Algeriachief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ayman BENABDERRAHMANE (since 7 July 2021); note - President TEBBOUNE appointed BENABDERRAHMANE as prime minister following the resignation of Prime Minister Abdelaziz DJERAD on 24 June 2021     Abdelaziz DJERAD (since 28 December 2019) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament election results: 2019: Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (FLN) 58.1%, Abdelkader BENGRINA (El-Bina) 17.4%, Ali BENFLIS (Talaie El Hurriyet) 10.6%, Azzedine MIHOUBI (National Democratic Rally, RND) 7.3%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Front El Mustakbal, FM) 6.7% 2014: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (FLN) 81.5%, Ali BENFLIS (FLN) 12.2%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 3.4%, other 2.9% Topic: American Samoachief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (since 3 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) election results: Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I'aulualo Fa'afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3% Topic: Andorrachief of state: Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAURI (since 20 July 2012) head of government: Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council of 12 ministers designated by the head of government elections/appointments: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the coprinces for a 4-year term; election last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government election results: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7% Topic: Angolachief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term); last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by the winning party following the 23 August 2017 general election Topic: Anguillachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Dileeni DANIEL-SELVARATNAM (since 18 January 2021) head of government: Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note -  starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly 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 premier by the governor Topic: Antigua and Barbudachief 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 Topic: Argentinachief 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% Topic: Armeniachief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Mher GRIGORYAN (since 3 August 2021) and Hambardzum MATEVOSYAN (since 25 November 2021); note - Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN resigned on 25 April 2021; he was reappointed by the president on 2 August 2021 and sworn in on 10 September 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds if needed for a single 7-year term; election last held on 2-3 March 2022; prime minister elected by majority vote in 2 rounds if needed by the National Assembly; election last held 2 August 2021 election results:   2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0 2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10 note: Nikol PASHINYAN was first elected prime minister on 8 May 2018 and reelected on January 2019; in response to a political crisis that followed Armenia's defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in late 2020, PASHINYAN called an early legislative election for June 2021; his party won the election and PASHINYAN was elected to the prime ministership for a third time; his election was confirmed by the president on 2 August 2021, and he was sworn in on 10 September 2021 Topic: Arubachief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Alfonso BOEKHOUDT (since 1 January 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Evelyn WEVER-CROES (since 17 November 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year term; election last held on 25 June 2021 (next to be held by June 2026) election results: as leader of the majority party of the ruling coalition, Evelyn WEVER-CROES (MEP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA Topic: Australiachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general Topic: Austriachief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017) head of government: Chancellor Karl NEHAMMER (since 6 December 2021); note - Chancellor Alexander SCHALLENBERG (since 9 October 2021) resigned on 12/2/21 cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 24 April 2016 (first round), 22 May 2016 (second round, which was annulled), and 4 December 2016 (second round re-vote) (next election to be held in April 2022); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2% Topic: Azerbaijanchief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003); First Vice President Mehriban ALIYEVA (since 21 February 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum expanded the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice-president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9% note: OSCE observers noted shortcomings in the election, including a restrictive political environment, limits on fundamental freedoms, a lack of genuine competition, and ballot box stuffing Topic: Bahamas, Thechief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. SMITH (since 28 June 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Philip DAVIS (since 17 September 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of 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; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister Topic: Bahrainchief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999) head of government: Prime minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); first deputy prime minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005), Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa (since November 2010); note - KHALIFA ibn Salman Al Khalifa, who served as prime minister since Bahrain's independence in 1971, died on 11 November 2020 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch Topic: Bangladeshchief of state: President Abdul HAMID (since 24 April 2013); note - Abdul HAMID served as acting president following the death of Zillur RAHMAN in March 2013; HAMID was subsequently indirectly elected by the National Parliament and sworn in 24 April 2013 head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wazed (since 6 January 2009) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 February 2018 (next to be held by 2023); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) reelected by the National Parliament unopposed for a second term; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party following parliamentary elections in 2018 Topic: Barbadoschief of state: President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the president is elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a four year renewable term; election last held 20 October 2021; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister election results: Sandra MASON elected as first president on 20 October 2021 to take office on 30 November 2021 Topic: Belaruschief 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 Topic: Belgiumchief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH (daughter of the monarch, born 25 October 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 1 October 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Vincent Van Quickenborne (since 1 October 2020), Sophie Wilmes (since 1 October 2020), Vincent Van Peteghem (since 1 October 2020), Frank Vandenbroucke (since 1 October 2020), Pierre-Yves Dermagne (since 1 October 2020), Petra De Sutter (since 1 October 2020), Georges Gilkinet (since 1 October 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by Parliament Topic: Belizechief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister Topic: Beninchief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished 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 (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026) election results: Patrice TALON elected to a second term; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.4%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.3%, other 2.3% Topic: Bermudachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Rena LALGIE (since 14 December 2020) head of government: Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor 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 premier by the governor Topic: Bhutanchief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 to his son head of government: Prime Minister Lotay TSHERING (since 7 November 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch Topic: Boliviachief of state: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (since 8 November 2020); Vice President David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes (since 8 November 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits (changed from two consecutive term limit by Constitutional Court in late 2017); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025) election results: 2020: Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1% 2018: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%; note - MORALES resigned from office on 10 November 2019 over alleged election rigging; resignations of all his constitutionally designated successors followed, including the Vice President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and First Vice President of the Senate, leaving the Second Vice President of the Senate, Jeanine ANEZ Chavez, the highest-ranking official still in office; her appointment to the presidency was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court, and she served as interim president until the 8 November 2020 inauguration of Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora, who was winner of the 18 October 2020 presidential election Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinachief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Sefik DZAFEROVIC (chairman since 20 March 2022; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Bosniak seat); Zeljko KOMSIC  (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Milorad DODIK (presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Serb seat) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran TEGELTIJA  (since 5 December 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman, approved by the state-level House of Representatives elections/appointments: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held on 2 October 2022); the chairman of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives election results: 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat 2014: percent of vote - Mladen IVANIC (PDP) 48.7% - Serb seat; Dragan COVIC (HDZ-BiH) 52.2% - Croat seat; Bakir IZETBEGOVIC (SDA) 32.9% - Bosniak seat note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko CAVARA (since 9 February 2015); Vice Presidents Melika MAHMUTBEGOVIC (since 9 February 2015), Milan DUNOVIC (since 9 February 2015); President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (since 18 November 2018); Vice Presidents Ramiz SALKIC (since 24 November 2014), Josip JERKOVIC (since 24 November 2014) Topic: Botswanachief of state: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mokgweetse Eric MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government 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 24 October 2014 (next to be held on 31 October 2019); vice president appointed by the president election results: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008) stepped down on 1 April 2018 having completed the constitutionally mandated 10-year term limit; upon his retirement, then Vice President MASISI became president; national elections held on 23 October 2019 gave MASISI'S BPD 38 seats in the National Assembly which then selected MASISI as President Topic: Brazilchief of state: President Jair BOLSONARO (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Antonio Hamilton Martins MOURAO (since 1 January 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jair BOLSONARO (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Antonio Hamilton Martins MOURAO (since 1 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term (eligible for an immediate second term, and additional terms after a one-term break); election last held on 7 October 2018 with runoff on 28 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022) election results: 2018:  Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9% 2014:  Dilma ROUSSEFF reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) 51.6%, Aecio NEVES (PSDB) 48.4%; note - on 12 May 2016, Brazil's Senate voted to hold an impeachment trial of President Dilma ROUSSEFF, who was then suspended from her executive duties; Vice President Michel TEMER took over as acting president; on 31 August 2016 the Senate voted 61-20 in favor of conviction and her removal from office; TEMER served as president for the remainder of ROUSSEFF's term, which ended 1 January 2019 Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorychief 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 Topic: British Virgin Islandschief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John J. RANKIN (since 29 January 2021) head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly 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 premier by the governor note - on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE removed by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022 Topic: Bruneichief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; note(s)- 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council; Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah is also Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary Topic: Bulgariachief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (since 22 January 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Kiril PETKOV (since 13 December 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 14 and 21 November 2021 (next to be held in fall 2026); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly election results: 2021: Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5% 2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5% 2011: Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV (independent) 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN (BSP) 47.4% Topic: Burkina Fasochief 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% Topic: Burmachief of state: Prime Minister, State Administration Council (SAC) Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021); note - MIN AUNG HLAING self-appointed himself to the role of prime minister of a “caretaker” provisional government that subsumed the SAC on 1 August 2021; the SAC, chaired by MIN AUNG HLAING, served as the executive governing body since 2 February 2021, following the 1 February 2021 military takeover of the government and the declaration of a state of emergency and still exists under the provisional government according to state media head of government: Prime Minister, State Administration Council (SAC) Chair, Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 1 August 2021); note - MIN AUNG HLAING self-appointed himself to the role of prime minister of a “caretaker” provisional government that subsumed the SAC on 1 August 2021; the SAC, chaired by MIN AUNG HLAING, served as the executive governing body since 2 February 2021, following the 1 February 2021 military takeover of the government and the declaration of a state of emergency and still exists under the provisional government according to state media cabinet: Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief; note - after 1 February, the military junta replaced the cabinet elections/appointments: prior to the military takeover, president was indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the full Assembly of the Union from among 3 vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (consists of members of the lower and upper houses and military members); the other 2 candidates become vice-presidents (president elected for a 5-year term); election last held on 28 March 2018; the military junta pledged to hold new elections in 2023 election results: WIN MYINT elected president; Assembly of the Union vote - WIN MYINT (NLD) 403, MYINT SWE (USDP) 211, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) 18, 4 votes canceled (636 votes cast); note - WIN MYINT and other key leaders of the ruling NLD party were placed under arrest following the military takeover on 1 February 2021 state counsellor: State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); note - under arrest since 1 February 2021; formerly served as minister of foreign affairs and minister for the office of the president note: a parliamentary bill creating the position of "state counsellor" was signed into law by former President HTIN KYAW on 6 April 2016; a state counsellor serves the equivalent term of the president and is similar to a prime minister in that the holder acts as a link between the parliament and the executive branch Topic: Burundichief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume BUNYONI (since 24 June 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1 election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6% Topic: Cabo Verdechief of state: President Jose Maria NEVES (since 9 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Ulisses CORREIA E. SILVA (since 22 April 2016) 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 17 October 2021 (next to be held on 17 October 2026); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Jose Maria NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria NEVES (APICV) 51.73%, Carlos Veiga (MFD) 42.37%, Casimiro de Pina (Independent) 1.81%, Fernando Rocha Delgado (Independent) 1.36%, Helio Sanches (Independent) 1.14%, Gilson Alves (Independent)  0.84%, Joaquim Monteiro (Independent) 0.74% Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 23%, other 3% African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (APICV) Movement for Democracy (MFD) Topic: Cambodiachief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: monarch chosen by the 9-member Royal Council of the Throne from among all eligible males of royal descent; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the monarch note - in December 2021, the Cambodian People's Party voted unanimously for HUN SEN's oldest son, HUN MANET, to succeed his father Topic: Cameroonchief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph Dion NGUTE (since 4 January 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Amadou ALI (since 2014) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% Topic: Canadachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Mary SIMON (since 6 July 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Justin Pierre James TRUDEAU (Liberal Party) (since 4 November 2015) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among members of his/her own party sitting in Parliament elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a 5-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Commons generally designated prime minister by the governor general note: the governor general position is largely ceremonial Topic: Cayman Islandschief 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 Topic: Central African Republicchief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016; reelected 27 December 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Felix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022); note - Prime Minister Henri-Marie DONDRA resigned on 2 February 2022 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); note - Central African Republic held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020; voting was disrupted in some areas, so those constituencies held the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021; some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27, 2020 held runoff elections for their legislators. election results: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 59.3%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 19.7% note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015, when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016 Topic: Chadchief of state: Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, newly reelected President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. died of injuries he sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, promising elections within eighteen months head of government: Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. died of injuries he sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, promising elections within eighteen months cabinet: Council of Ministers 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 11 April 2021; note - on 20 April 2021, military officials suspended the Constitution and formed a Transitional Military Council, pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022 election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 79.3%, Pahimi PADACKET Albert (RNDT) 10.3%, Lydie BEASSEMDA (Party for Democracy and Independence) 3.16% note: on 26 April 2021 the Transitional Military Council named Albert Pahimi PADACKE Prime Minister Topic: Chilechief of state: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 21 November 2021 with a runoff held on 19 December 2021 (next to be held on 23 November 2025 with runoff if needed on 20 December) election results: 2021: Gabriel BORIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Antonio KAST (FSC) 27.9%; Gabriel BORIC (AD) 25.8%; Franco PARISI (PDG) 12.8%; Sebastian SICHEL (ChP+) 12.8%; Yasna PROVOSTE (New Social Pact) 11.6%; other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Gabriel BORIC (AD) 55.9%; Jose Antonio KAST (FSC) 44.1% 2017: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique (independent) 36.6%; Alejandro GUILLIER (independent) 22.7%; Beatriz SANCHEZ (independent) 20.3%; Jose Antonio KAST (independent) 7.9%; Carolina GOIC (PDC) 5.9%; Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI (PRO) 5.7%; other 0.9%; percent of vote in second round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 54.6%, Alejandro GUILLIER 45.4% Topic: Chinachief 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 Topic: Christmas Islandchief 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 Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandschief 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 Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017) cabinet: NA elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia Topic: Colombiachief of state: President Ivan DUQUE Marquez (since 7 August 2018); Vice President Marta Lucia RAMIREZ Blanco (since 7 August 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ivan DUQUE Marquez (since 7 August 2018); Vice President Marta Lucia RAMIREZ Blanco (since 7 August 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 29 May 2022 with a runoff to be held on 19 June 2022 (next to be held on 31 May 2026); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection election results: 2022: Percent of vote from the first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNANDEZ Suarez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIERREZ (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; note - PETRO and HERNANDEZ move on to a runoff election scheduled for 19 June 2022 2018: Ivan DUQUE Marquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ivan DUQUE Marquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo PETRO (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2% 2014: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (U Party) 51%, Oscar Ivan ZULUAGA (CD) 45%, other 4% Topic: Comoroschief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - AZALI takes oath of office 2 June 2019 after 24 March 2019 reelection (2019) head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote in 2 rounds for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: AZALI Assoumani (CRC) elected president in first round; with a 59% of the vote; - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 60.8%, Ahamada MAHAMOUDOU (PJ) 14.6%, and Mouigni Baraka Said SOILIHI (Independent) 5.6% Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thechief of state: President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 24 January 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Jose MAKILA, Leonard She OKITUNDU, Henri MOVA Sankanyi (since February 2018) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%; note - election marred by serious voting irregularities Topic: Congo, Republic of thechief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 24 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister (2019) 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 (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 21 March 2021 (next to be held on 21 March 2026) election results: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, turnout is 67.6%. Topic: Cook Islandschief 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 Topic: Costa Ricachief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 6 February 2022 with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026 with a runoff in April 2026) election results: 2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3% Topic: Cote d'Ivoirechief 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% Topic: Croatiachief of state: President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers Damir KRSTICEVIC (since 19 October 2016), Predrag STROMAR (since 9 June 2017), Marija Pejcinovic BURIC (since 19 June 2017), and Tomislav TOLUSIC (since 25 May 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly 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 22 December 2019 with a runoff on 5 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly election results: 2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3% 2015: Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote - Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 50.7%, Ivo JOSIPOVIC (Forward Croatia Progressive Alliance) 49.3% Topic: Cubachief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018); Vice President Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (since 10 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Ramiro VALDES Menendez, Ines Maria CHAPMAN Waugh, Jorge Luis TAPIA Fonseca, Alejandro GIL Fernandez, Ricardo CABRISAS Ruiz (since 21 December 2019), and Jorge Luis PERDOMO DI-LELLA (since 20 April 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (may be reelected for another 5-year term); election last held on 10 October 2019 (next to be held NA) election results: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1% note - on 19 April 2018, DIAZ-CANEL succeeded Raul CASTRO as president of the Councils of State and Ministers; on 10 October 2019 he was elected to the newly created position of President of the Republic, which replaced the position of President of the Councils of State and Ministers Topic: Curacaochief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet sworn-in by the governor elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; next election scheduled for 2016 Topic: Cypruschief of state: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government head of government: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution, 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 28 January 2018 with a runoff on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023) election results: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44% note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second round was held on 18 October 2020; percent of vote in the first round - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Ersin TATAR 51.7%, Mustafa AKINCI 48.3% Topic: Czechiachief of state: President Milos ZEMAN (since 8 March 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Petr FIALA (since 17 December 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Vit RAKUSAN (since 17 December 2021), Deputy Prime Ministers Marian JURECKA, Ivan BARTOS, Vlastimil VALEK (all since 17 December 2021) 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 (limited to 2 consecutive terms); elections last held on 12-13 January 2018 with a runoff on 26-27 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2023); prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term election results: 2018: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6% 2013: Milos ZEMAN elected president; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 54.8%, Karel SCHWARZENBERG (TOP 09) 45.2% Topic: Denmarkchief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK (elder son of the monarch, born on 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch Topic: Dhekeliachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Major General Robert J. THOMSON (since 25 September 2019); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the chief officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense Topic: Djiboutichief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013) 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; election last held on 9 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7% Topic: Dominicachief 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 Topic: Dominican Republicchief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a maximum of two consecutive terms); election last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNANDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9% other 1.1% 2016: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 61.7%, Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35%, other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president Topic: Ecuadorchief of state: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021); Vice President Alfredo Enrique BORRERO Vega (since 24 May 2021); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021); Vice President Alfredo Enrique BORRERO Vega (since 24 May 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 February 2021 with a runoff on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in February 2025) election results: 2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; first round election results: percent of vote - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.72%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.74%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.38%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (Independent) 15.68%, other 12.48%; second round election results: percent of vote - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5% 2017: Lenin MORENO Garces elected president in second round; percent of vote - Lenin MORENO Garces (Alianza PAIS Movement) 51.1%, Guillermo LASSO (CREO) 48.9% Topic: Egyptchief of state: President Abdelfattah ELSISI (since 8 June 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Cabinet ministers nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); election last held on 26-28 March 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives; note - following  a constitutional amendment approved by referendum in April 2019, the presidential term was extended from 4 to 6 years and eligibility extended to 3 consecutive terms election results: Abdelfattah ELSISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdelfattah ELSISI (independent) 97.1%, Moussa Mostafa MOUSSA (El Ghad Party) 2.9%; note - more than 7% of ballots cast were deemed invalid Topic: El Salvadorchief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019); Vice President Felix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (since 1 June 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 3 February 2019 (next to be held on February 2024) election results: 2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.72%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.41%, other 0.77% 2014: Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (FMLN) 48.9%, Norman QUIJANO (ARENA) 39%, Antonio SACA (CN) 11.4%, other 0.7%; percent of vote in second round - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 50.1%, Norman QUIJANO 49.9% Topic: Equatorial Guineachief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup); Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue (since 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5% Topic: Eritreachief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the only election was held on 8 June 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next election postponed indefinitely) election results: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS  Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5% Topic: Estoniachief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes; election last held on 30-31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026); in a first round of voting on 30 August, parliament failed to elect a president; in a second round on 31 August, the sole candidate, Alar KARIS, received 72 votes of 101 votes (there were 8 blank votes and 21 electors not present); KARIS was inaugurated on 11 October 2021; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Alar KARIS elected president on 31 August 2021; parliament vote-Alar KARIS (independent) 72 of 101 votes; note – KARIS follows Kersti KALJULAID, who was Estonia's first female president; KALLAS is Estonia's first female prime ministerpresident indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes; election last held on 30-31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026); in a first round of voting on 30 August, parliament failed to elect a president; in a second round on 31 August, the sole candidate, Alar KARIS, received 72 votes of 101 votes (there were 8 blank votes and 21 electors not present); KARIS was inaugurated on 11 October 2021; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by ParliamentAlar KARIS elected president on 31 August 2021; parliament vote-Alar KARIS (independent) 72 of 101 votes; note – KARIS follows Kersti KALJULAID, who was Estonia's first female president; KALLAS is Estonia's first female prime minister Topic: Eswatinichief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Cleopas DLAMINI (since since 19 July 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Themba MASUKU (since 6 November 2018) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly Topic: Ethiopiachief of state: President SAHLE-WORK Zewde (since 25 October 2018) (2018) head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018, began a new five-year term on 4 October 2021); Deputy Prime Minister DEMEKE Mekonnen Hassen (since 29 November 2012) (2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election held on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (the scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed by Prime Minister ABIY due to the COVID-19 pandemic); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections election results: SAHLE-WORK Zewde elected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY Ahmed confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021) note: SAHLE-WORK Zewde is the first female elected head of state in Ethiopia; she is currently the only female president in Africa. Former President Dr. Mulatu TESHOME resigned on 25 October 2018, one year ahead of finishing his six-year term. Topic: European Unionunder the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of "permanent" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019) Council of the European Union - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European Commission - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as "guardian of the Treaties" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Germany) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally "elected" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term. note: for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between member-state capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010under the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of "permanent" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019) Council of the European Union - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European Commission - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as "guardian of the Treaties" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Germany) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally "elected" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term. Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)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 Topic: Faroe Islandschief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN (since 16 September 2019) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Bardur A STEIGNIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA Topic: Fijichief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 October 2021 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister endorsed by the president election results: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president with 28 votes against 23 votes for Teimumu KEPA Topic: Finlandchief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024); prime minister appointed by Parliament election results: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7% Topic: Francechief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Élisabeth BORNE (since 16 May 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion 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 10 April 2022 with a runoff held on 24 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); prime minister appointed by the president election results: 2022: Emmanuel MACRON reelected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (LREM) 27.8%, Marine LE PEN (RN) 23.2%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (LFI) 22%, Eric ZEMMOUR (Reconquete) 7.1%, Valerie PECRESSE (LR) 4.8%, Yannick JADOT (EELV) 4.6%, Jean LASSALLE (Resistons!) 3.1%, Fabien ROUSSEL (PCF) 2.3%, Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN (DLF) 2.1%, Anne HIDALGO 1.8%, other 1.2%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 58.5%, LE PEN 41.5% 2017: Emmanuel MACRON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (EM) 24.%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 21.3%, Francois FILLON (LR) 20.%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (FI) 19.6%, Benoit HAMON (PS) 6.4%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 66.1%, LE PEN 33.9% Topic: French Polynesiachief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Dominique SORAIN (since 10 July 2019) head of government: President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014) cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president 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; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits) Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landschief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Charles GIUSTI (since 12 October 2020) Topic: Gabonchief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka RAPONDA (since 16 July 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 August 2016 (next to be held in August 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0% Topic: Gambia, Thechief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president election results: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (National People's Party) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (United Democratic Party) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC)12.3%, Halifa SALLAH (PDOIS) 3.8%, Essa M. FAAL (Independent) 2%, Abdoulie Ebrima JAMMEH (NUP) 0.96% Topic: Georgiachief of state: President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 22 February 2021) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers 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 28 November 2018 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president note - 2017 constitutional amendments made the 2018 election the last where the president was directly elected; future presidents will be elected by a 300-member College of Electors; in light of these changes, ZOURABICHVILI was allowed a six-year term election results: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2 Topic: Germanychief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017) head of government: Chancellor Olaf SCHOLZ (since 8 December 2021) cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) recommended by the chancellor, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by a Federal Convention consisting of all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equivalent number of delegates indirectly elected by the state parliaments; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2027); following the most recent Federal Parliament election, the party or coalition with the most representatives usually elects the chancellor who is appointed by the president to serve a renewable 4-year term; Federal Parliament vote for chancellor last held on 8 December 2021 (next to be held after the Bundestag election in 2025) election results: Frank-Walter STEINMEIER reelected president; Federal Convention vote count - Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (SPD) 1,045, Max OTTE 140, Gerhard TRABERT (The Left) 96, Stefanie GEBAUER (Free Voters) 58, abstentions 86; Olaf SCHOLZ (SPD) elected chancellor; Federal Parliament vote - 395 to 303 Topic: Ghanachief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024) election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% Topic: Gibraltarchief 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 Topic: Greecechief of state: President Ekaterini SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 8 July 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister  elections/appointments: president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament election results: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president Topic: Greenlandchief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011) head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021) cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut) on the basis of the strength of parties elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term election results: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8% Topic: Grenadachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general Topic: Guamchief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019); Lieutenant Governor Josh TENORIO (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022) election results: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote -  Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governorPresident Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) Topic: Guatemalachief of state: President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms); election last held on 16 June 2019 with a runoff on 11 August 2019 (next to be held in June 2023) election results: 2019: Alejandro GIAMMATTEI elected president; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 25.54%, Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 13.95%, Edmond MULET (PHG) 11.21%, Thelma CABRERA (MLP) 10.37%, Roberto ARZU (PAN-PODEMOS) 6.08%; percent of vote in second round - Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 58%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 42% 2015: Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) 23.9%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 19.8%, Manuel BALDIZON (LIDER) 19.6%, other 36.7%; percent of vote in second round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera 67.4%, Sandra TORRES 32.6% Topic: Guernseychief 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 Topic: Guineachief 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 Topic: Guinea-Bissauchief 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% Topic: Guyanachief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); First Vice President Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); Vice President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 2 August 2020); Prime Minister Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); First Vice President Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); Vice President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 2 August 2020) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly elections/appointments: the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: 2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly 2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly Topic: Haitichief of state: President (vacant); note - Prime Minister Ariel HENRY assumed executive responsibilities, including naming Cabinet members, following the assassination President MOISE on 7 July 2021; new elections have not yet been scheduled. head of government: Prime Minister Ariel HENRY (since 20 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term); last election had been originally scheduled for 9 October 2016 but was postponed until 20 November 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew election results: 2016: Jovenel MOISE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOISE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOISE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32% Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)chief of state: Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN (since 15 October 2013); note - Head of Government of Vatican City is President Cardinal Giuseppe BERTELLO (since 1 October 2011) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope elections/appointments: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope election results: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS Topic: Honduraschief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; CASTRO is Honduras' first female president head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term; election last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in 30 November 2025); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits election results: 2021: Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya elected president; percent of vote - Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) 51.1%, Nasry Juan ASFURA Zablah (PNH) 36.9%, Yani Benjamin ROSENTHAL Hidalgo (PL) 10%, other 2% 2017: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion contra la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other 0.9% Topic: Hong Kongchief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) head of government: Chief Executive Carrie LAM (since 1 July 2017) cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 May 2022 election results: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee; LEE assumes office on 1 July 2022 note: electoral changes that Beijing imposed in March 2021 expanded the Election Committee to 1,500 members Topic: Hungarychief of state: President Katalin NOVAK (since 10 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in first round or simple majority vote in second round for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 March 2022 (next to be held spring 2027); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held April or May 2027) election results: 2022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51 2017: Janos ADER (Fidesz) reelected president; National Assembly vote - 131 to 39 Viktor ORBAN (Fidesz) reelected prime minister Topic: Icelandchief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (since 30 November 2017) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister election results: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8% Topic: Indiachief 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 Topic: Indonesiachief 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% Topic: Iranchief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President Ebrahim RAISI (since 18 June 2021); First Vice President Mohammad MOKHBER (since 8 August 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the supreme leader has some control over appointments to several ministries elections/appointments: supreme leader appointed for life by Assembly of Experts; president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term and an additional nonconsecutive term); election last held on 18 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2025) election results: 2021: Ebrahim RAISI elected president; percent of vote - Ebrahim RAISI (CCA) 72.4%, Mohsen REZAI (RFII) 13.8%, Abbdolnaser HEMATI (ECP) 9.8%, Amir-Hosein Qazizadeh-HASHEMI (Islamic Law Party) 4% 2017: Hasan Fereidun RUHANI reelected president; percent of vote - Hasan Fereidun RUHANI (Moderation and Development Party) 58.8%, Ebrahim RAISI (Combat Clergy Association) 39.4% , Mostafa Mir-SALIM Islamic Coalition Party) 1.2%, Mostafa HASHEMI-TABA(Executives of Construction Party) 0.5% note: 3 oversight bodies are also considered part of the executive branch of government Topic: Iraqchief of state: President Barham SALIH (since 2 October 2018); vice presidents (vacant) head of government: Prime Minister Mustafa al-KADHIMI (since 7 May 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives (COR) to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); COR election last held on 10 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: 2018: COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; Barham SALIH elected president in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; note - the COR vote on 1 October 2018 failed due to a lack of quorum, and a new session was held on 2 October 2014: Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17; Haydar al-ABADI (Da'wa Party) approved as prime minister2018: COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; Barham SALIH elected president in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; note - the COR vote on 1 October 2018 failed due to a lack of quorum, and a new session was held on 2 October 2014: Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17; Haydar al-ABADI (Da'wa Party) approved as prime minister Topic: Irelandchief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál MARTIN (since 27 June 2020); note - MARTIN will serve through December 2022 and will then be succeeded by Leo VARADKAR  cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)  elections/appointments: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 October 2018 (next to be held no later than November 2025); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS (independent) 55.8%, Peter CASEY (independent) 23.3%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 6.4%, Liadh NI RIADA (Sinn Fein) 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN (independent) 6%, Gavin DUFFY (independent) 2.2% Topic: Isle of Manchief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021) head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term); election last held on 23 September 2021 election results: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24 Topic: Israelchief of state: President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Naftali BENNETT (since 13 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a single 7-year term; election last held on 2 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2028); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a new government election results: Issac HERZOG elected president; Knesset vote - Issac HERZOG (independent) 87, Miriam PERETZ (independent) 26, invalid/blank 7 Topic: Italychief 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) Topic: Jamaicachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009) head of government:  Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)  cabinet: Cabinet 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 recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general Topic: Japanchief 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  Topic: Jerseychief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Stephen DALTON (since 13 March 2017) head of government: Chief Minister John LE FONDRE (since 8 June 2018); Bailiff Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch Topic: Jordanchief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HUSSEIN (eldest son of the monarch, born on 28 June 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Bisher AL-KHASAWNEH (since 7 October 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch prime minister in consultation with the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch Topic: Kazakhstanchief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019); note - Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, who was president since 24 April 1990 (and in power since 22 June 1989 under the Soviet period), resigned on 20 March 2019; NAZARBAYEV retained the title and powers of "First President"; TOKAYEV completed NAZARBAYEV's term, which was shortened due to the early election of 9 June 2019, and then continued as president following his election victory head of government: Prime Minister Alikhan SMAILOV (since 11 January 2022); note - Prime Minister Askar MAMIN resigned on 5 January 2022 in the wake of massive protests of his government that began 2 January 2022 following a sudden, steep rise in gasoline prices cabinet: the president appoints ministers after consultations with the Chair of the Security Council (NAZARBAYEV) who has veto power over all appointments except for the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs; however, the president is required to discuss these three offices with the National Security Committee, which NAZARBAYEV chairs under a lifetime appointment; however, in January 2022, the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan canceled Nursultan NAZARBAYEV’s lifelong chairmanship of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 9 June 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis election results: Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Nur Otan) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7% Topic: Kenyachief of state: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - position of the prime minister was abolished after the March 2013 elections cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving an absolute majority popular vote, the presidential candidate must also win at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties to avoid a runoff; election last held on 26 October 2017 (next to be held on 9 August 2022) election results: Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (Jubilee Party) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%; note - Kenya held a previous presidential election on 8 August 2017, but Kenya's Supreme Court on 1 September 2017 nullified the results, citing irregularities; the political opposition boycotted the October vote Topic: Kiribatichief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016); Vice President Teuea TOATU (since 19 June 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members; term is 4 years (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president election results: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%. Topic: Korea, Northchief of state: State Affairs Commission President KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note(s) - North Korea revised its constitution in 2019 to define "the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission" as "the supreme leader who represents the state"; functions as the commander-in-chief and chief executive; the specific titles associated with this office have changed multiple times under KIM's tenure, however, KIM Jong Un has been supreme leader since his father's death in 2011 (2021) head of government: Supreme People's Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae (since 11 April 2019); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors' credentials (2021) cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces elections/appointments: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 10 March 2019 (next election March 2024) election results: KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively Topic: Korea, Southchief of state: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022); the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister HAN Deok-Soo (since 21 May 2022) serves as the principal executive assistant to the president, similar to the role of a vice president head of government: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 9 March 2022 (next election held March 2027); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly election results: YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.56%, LEE Jae-myung (DP) 47.83% (note - voter turnout 77.1%) Topic: Kosovochief 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 Topic: Kuwaitchief of state: Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 30 September 2020); Crown Prince MISHAL Al Ahmad Al Sabah, born in 1940, is the brother of Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah head of government: Prime Minister SABAH KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 19 November 2019); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed al-Nawaf Al Sabah (since 22 March 2022), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal al-Khaled Al Sabah (since 9 March 2022), and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Mohammed al-Faris (since 22 March 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir elections/appointments: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir; crown prince appointed by the amir and approved by the National Assembly Topic: Kyrgyzstanchief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) head of government: President Sadyr JAPAROV (2021) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2021 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV 79.5%, Adakhan MADUMAROV 6.5%, other 14% Topic: Laoschief 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 Topic: Latviachief of state: President Egils LEVITS (since 8 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Krisjanis KARINS (since 23 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39 Topic: Lebanonchief of state: President Michel AWN (since 31 October 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 20 September 2021) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in the first round and if needed absolute majority vote in a second round for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); last held on 31 October 2016 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; deputy prime minister determined during cabinet formation election results: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83 votes; note - in the initial election held on 23 April 2014, no candidate received the required two-thirds vote, and subsequent attempts failed because the Assembly lacked the necessary quorum to hold a vote; the president was finally elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016 Topic: Lesothochief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile  head of government: Prime Minister Moeketsi MAJORO (since 20 May 2020); note - Prime Minister Thomas THABANE resigned on 19 May 2020 cabinet: consists of the prime minister, appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State, the deputy prime minister, and 26 other ministers  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary, but under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law, the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, to determine next in line of succession, or to serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister Topic: Liberiachief of state: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 October 2017 with a run-off on 26 December 2017) (next to be held on 10 October 2023); the runoff originally scheduled for 7 November 2017 was delayed due to allegations of fraud in the first round, which the Supreme Court dismissed election results: George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5% Topic: Libyachief of state: Chairman, Presidential Council, Mohammed Al MENFI (since 5 February 2021) head of government: Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021) elections/appointments: Libya’s first direct presidential election, scheduled for 24 December 2021, was not heldLibya’s first direct presidential election, scheduled for 24 December 2021, was not held Topic: Liechtensteinchief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state head of government: Prime Minister Daniel RISCH; Deputy Prime Minister Sabine MONAUNI (both since 25 March 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government Topic: Lithuaniachief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by 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); election last held on 12 and 26 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament election results: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 62 to 10 Topic: Luxembourgchief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Xavier BETTEL (since 4 December 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Francois BAUSCH (since 11 October 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Daniel KERSCH (since 4 February 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies Topic: Macauchief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) head of government: Chief Executive HO Iat Seng (since 20 December 2019) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the chief executive elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023);chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote - 380 of 396; note - HO Iat Seng was elected chief executive (receiving 392 out of 400 votes) on 24 August 2019 and will take office on 20 December 2019 Topic: Madagascarchief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019)  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 7 November and 19 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president election results: Andry RAJOELINA elected President in second round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3% (TIM) Topic: Malawichief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government  head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020)  cabinet: Cabinet named by the president  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.7%      Topic: Malaysiachief of state: King Sultan ABDULLAH Sultan Ahmad Shah (since 24 January 2019); note - King MUHAMMAD V (formerly known as Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra) (selected on 14 October 2016; installed on 13 December 2016) resigned on 6 January 2019; the position of the king is primarily ceremonial, but he is the final arbiter on the appointment of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister ISMAIL SABRI Yaakob (since 21 August 2021); note - Tan Sri MUHYIDDIN Yassin resigned on 16 August 2021 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king; note - cabinet dissolved 24 February 2020 with Prime Minister MAHATHIR resignation elections/appointments: king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term; election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states; election last held on 24 January 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who commands support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister Topic: Maldiveschief of state: President Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by 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); election last held on 23 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president (in 1 round); Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7% Topic: Malichief 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% Topic: Maltachief of state: President George VELLA (since 4 April 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (13 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 2 April 2019 (next to be held by April 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; Robert ABELA (PL) appointed prime minister Topic: Marshall Islandschief of state: President David KABUA (since  13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12 Topic: Mauritaniachief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019) (2019) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Ould BILAL (since 6 August 2020) (2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers - nominees suggested 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 June 2019 (next scheduled for 22 June 2024); prime minister appointed by the president (2019) election results: Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Mahamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI (UPR) 52%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 18.6%, Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBACAR (independent) 17.9%, other 11.55% Topic: Mauritiuschief of state: President Pritivirajsing ROOPUN (since December 2019); Vice President Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon (2 December 2019) note - President Ameenah GURIB-FAKIM (since 5 June 2015), the country's first female president, resigned on 23 March 2018 amid a credit card scandal head of government: Prime Minister Pravind JUGNAUTH (since 23 January 2017, remains PM after parliamentary election 7 Nov 2019); note - Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 17 December 2014) stepped down on 23 January 2017 in favor of his son, Pravind Kumar JUGNAUTH, who was then appointed prime minister; 7 Nov 2019 Pravind Jugnauth remains prime minister and home affairs minister and also becomes defense minister (2019) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; election last held on 7 Nov 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly (2019) election results: seats by party as of 7/11/2019 - (MSM) 38, (PTR) 14, (MMM) 8, (OPR) 2 (2018) Topic: Mexicochief 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% Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofchief of state: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: David W. PANUELO elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE reelected vice president Topic: Moldovachief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA (since 6 August 2021) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 November 2020 (next to be held in fall 2024); prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament election results: Maia SANDU elected president; percent of vote (second round results) - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3% Topic: Monacochief 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 Topic: Mongoliachief 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% Topic: Montenegrochief of state: President Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 20 May 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Dritan ABAZOVIC (since 28 April 2022) cabinet: Ministers act as cabinet 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 15 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly election results: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Milo DJUKANOVIC (DPS) 53.9%, Mladen BOJANIC (independent) 33.4%, Draginja VUKSANOVIC (SDP) 8.2%, Marko MILACIC (PRAVA) 2.8%, other 1.7% Topic: Montserratchief 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 Topic: Moroccochief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from the majority party following legislative elections Topic: Mozambiquechief 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) Topic: Namibiachief 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% Topic: Nauruchief of state: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Lionel AINGIMEA elected president; Parliament vote - Lionel AINGIMEA (independent) 12, David ADEANG (Nauru First) 6 Topic: Nepalchief of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (since 29 October 2015); Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 13 July 2021); deputy prime ministers Ishwar POKHREL, Upendra YADAV (since 1 June 2018) (an) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the Nepal Communist Party elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and of the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 March 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament election results: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI reelected president; electoral vote - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 39,275, Kumari Laxmi RAI (NC) 11,730 Topic: Netherlandschief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013); Heir Apparent Princess Catharina-Amalia (daughter of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER, born 7 December 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Sigrid KAAG and Wopke HOEKSTRA (since 10 January 2022) and Carola SCHOUTEN (since 26 October 2017); note - Mark RUTTE heads his fourth cabinet cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers are appointed by the monarch Topic: New Caledoniachief 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 Topic: New Zealandchief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Grant ROBERTSON (since 2 November 2020) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation 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; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with confidence and supply support from the Green Party Topic: Nicaraguachief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits as of 2014); election last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026) election results: 2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4% 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7% Topic: Nigerchief of state: President Mohamed BAZOUM (since 2 April 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou MAHAMADOU (since 3 April 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president 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 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021, which BAZOUM won; prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly election results: percent of vote in 2020 first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.33%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 8.95%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.07%; percent of vote in 2021 second round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 55.67%, Mahamane OUSMANE (RDR Tchanji) 44.33% 2016 results: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%; percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8% Topic: Nigeriachief of state: President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces head of government: President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015) cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constrained constitutionally to include at least one member from each of the 36 states elections/appointments: president directly elected by qualified majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 25 February 2023); note: the election was scheduled for 16 February 2019, but postponed on 16 February 2019 election results: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8% Topic: Niuechief 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 Topic: Norfolk Islandchief 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 Topic: North Macedoniachief of state: President Stevo PENDAROVSKI (since 12 May 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Dimitar KOVACEVSKI (since 16 January 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote elections/appointments: president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be deemed valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April and 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly; Zoran ZAEV reelected prime minister by the Assembly on 31 August 2020; Assembly vote - 62 for, 51 against election results: Stevo PENDAROVSKI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 44.8%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 44.2%, Blenim REKA (independent) 11.1%; percent of vote in second round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI 53.6%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA 46.4% Topic: Northern Mariana Islandschief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Ralph TORRES (since 29 December 2015); Lieutenant Governor Victor HOCOG (since 29 December 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (Independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected Lieutenant Governor Topic: Norwaychief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (son of the monarch, born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021); note - Prime Minister Erna SOLBERG resigned on 12 October 2021 cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament Topic: Omanchief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said (since 11 January 2020); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said (since 11 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch Topic: Pakistanchief of state: President Arif ALVI (since 9 September 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF (since 11 April 2022); former Prime Minister Imran KHAN on 10 April lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 4 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on 17 August 2018 election results: Arif ALVI elected president; Electoral College vote - Arif ALVI (PTI) 352, Fazl-ur-REHMAN (MMA) 184, Aitzaz AHSAN (PPP) 124; Imran KHAN elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Imran KHAN (PTI) 176, Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 96 Topic: Palauchief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) election results: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president (in second round); percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3% Topic: Panamachief 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% Topic: Papua New Guineachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017) head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Sam BASIL (since 20 December 2020) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote election results: James MARAPE elected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 101 to 8 Topic: Paraguaychief of state: President Mario ABDO BENITEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELAZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mario ABDO BENITEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELAZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 22 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2023) election results: 2018: Mario ABDO BENITEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENITEZ (ANR) 49%, Efrain ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, Juan Bautista YBANEZ 3.4%, other 2.5% 2013: Horacio CARTES elected president; percent of vote - Horacio CARTES (ANR) 48.5%, Efrain ALEGRE (PLRA) 39%, Mario FERREIRO (AP) 6.2%, Anibal CARRILLO (FG) 3.5%, other 2.8% Topic: Peruchief of state: President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (since 28 July 2021); First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 28 July 2021); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (since 28 July 2021); First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 28 July 2021); Second Vice President (vacant) 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 (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 11 April 2021 with a runoff on 6 June 2021 (next to be held in April 2026) election results: 2021: Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (Free Peru) 18.9%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 13.4%, Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA Cazorla (Popular Renewal) 11.8%, Hernando DE SOTO Polar (Social Integration Party) 11.6%, Yonhy LESCANO Ancieta (Popular Action) 9.1%, Veronika MENDOZA Frisch (JP) 7.9%, Cesar ACUNA Peralta (APP) 6%, George FORSYTH Sommer (National Victory) 5.7%, Daniel Belizario URRESTI Elera (We Can Peru) 5.6%, other 10%; percent of vote second round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (Free Peru) 50.1%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 49.9% 2016: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (PPK) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (Broad Front) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (Popular Action) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9% note: President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo assumed office after President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard resigned from office on 21 March 2018; after VIZCARRA was impeached on 9 November 2020, the constitutional line of succession led to the inauguration of the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel Arturo MERINO, as President of Peru on 10 November 2020; following his resignation only days later on 15 November 2020, Francisco Rafael SAGASTI Hochhausler - who had been elected by the legislature to be the new President of Congress on 16 November 2020 - was then sworn in as President of Peru on 17 November 2020 by line of succession and remained president until the inauguration of Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones, winner of the 2021 presidential election note: Prime Minister Anibal TORRES Vasquez (since 8 February 2022) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president Topic: Philippineschief of state: President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held on 9 May 2028) election results: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.94%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.53%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.82%, Tito SOTTO 15.8% Topic: Pitcairn Islandschief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Laura CLARK (since 25 January 2018) head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Charlene WARREN-PEU (since 1 January 2020) cabinet: none elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term; election last held on 6 November 2019 (next to be held not later than December 2022) election results: Charlene WARREN-PEU elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council; Island Council vote - NA Topic: Polandchief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Jacek SASIN (since 15 November 2019), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI (6 October 2020) and Henryk KOWALCZYK (26 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm 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 28 June 2020 with a second round on 12 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: 2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49% 2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5% Topic: Portugalchief 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 Topic: Puerto Ricochief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Pedro PIERLUISI (since 2 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on  November 2024) election results: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7% note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor Topic: Qatarchief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013) head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh KHALID bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani (since 28 January 2020);  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Mohamed AL Attiyah (since 14 November 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs MOHAMED bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (since 14 November 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the amir Topic: Romaniachief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae CIUCA (since 25 November 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Sorin GRINDEANU (since 25 November 2021) and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020) 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 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament election results: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Nicolae CIUCA approved as prime minister with 318 votes Topic: Russiachief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 7 May 2012) head of government: Premier Mikhail MISHUSTIN (since 16 January 2020); First Deputy Premier Andrey Removich BELOUSOV (since 21 January 2020); Deputy Premiers Yuriy TRUTNEV (since 31 August 2013), Yuriy Ivanovich BORISOV, Tatiana Alekseyevna GOLIKOVA (since 18 May 2018), Dmitriy Yuriyevich GRIGORENKO, Viktoriya Valeriyevna ABRAMCHENKO, Aleksey Logvinovich OVERCHUK, Marat Shakirzyanovich KHUSNULLIN, Dmitriy Nikolayevich CHERNYSHENKO (since 21 January 2020), Aleksandr NOVAK (since 10 November 2020) cabinet: the "Government" is composed of the premier, his deputies, and ministers, all appointed by the president; the premier is also confirmed by the Duma elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (2020 constitutional amendments allow a second consecutive term); election last held on 18 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2024); note - for the 2024 presidential election, previous presidential terms are discounted; there is no vice president; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma election results: 2018: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 77.5%, Pavel GRUDININ (CPRF) 11.9%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 5.7%, other 5.8%; Mikhail MISHUSTIN (independent) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 383 to 0 2012: Vladimir PUTIN elected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (United Russia) 63.6%, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV (CPRF) 17.2%, Mikhail PROKHOROV (CP) 8%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 6.2%, Sergey MIRONOV (A Just Russia) 3.9%, other 1.1%; Dmitriy MEDVEDEV (United Russia) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 299 to 144 note: there is also a Presidential Administration that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president Topic: Rwandachief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2024); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.7%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR)0.5% Topic: Saint Barthelemychief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Vincent BERTON (since 28 March 2022) head of government: President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council 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); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council indirectly elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhachief 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 Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevischief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Samuel W.T. SEATON (since 2 September 2015); note - SEATON was Acting Governor General from 20 May to 2 September 2015 head of government: Prime Minister Timothy HARRIS (since 18 February 2015); Deputy Prime Minister Shawn RICHARDS (since 22 February 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general Topic: Saint Luciachief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Acting Governor General Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general Topic: Saint Martinchief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Vincent BERTON (since 28 March 2022) head of government: President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022); First Vice President Alain RICHARDSON (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council 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); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 23 out of 23 votes Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonchief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Christian POUGET (since 6 January 2021) head of government: President of Territorial Council Bernard BRIAND (since 13 October 2020) cabinet: Le Cabinet du Prefet 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); election last held on 23 April and 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; Territorial Council president elected by Territorial Council councillors by absolute majority vote; term NA; election last held on 13 October 2020; next election NA election results: Bernard BRIAND elected President of Territorial Council; Territorial Council vote - 17 for, 2 abstentions Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineschief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Topic: Samoachief of state: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017) head of government: Prime Minister FIAME Naomi Mata’afa (since 24 May 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice elections/appointments: chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (2- term limit); election last held on 4 July 2017 (next to be held in 2022); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state, approved by the Legislative Assembly election results: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly on 5 July 2017 Topic: San Marinochief 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 Topic: Sao Tome and Principechief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Jorge BOM JESUS (since 3 December 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 July 2021 and runoff on 5 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president  election results: 2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in the second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 42.5%; note - VILA NOVA is scheduled to take office 29 September 2021  2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%; note - first round results for CARVALHO were revised downward from just over 50%, prompting the 7 August runoff; however, on 1 August 2016 DA COSTA withdrew from the runoff, citing voting irregularities, and CARVALHO was declared the winner Topic: Saudi Arabiachief 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 Topic: Senegalchief of state: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012) head of government: On 11 December 2021, the National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment re-establishing the position of Prime Minister which SALL eliminated after his re-election in 2019. The new Prime Minister will be appointed in early 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 24 February 2019 (next to be held in February 2024) election results: Macky SALL elected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7% Topic: Serbiachief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC (since 29 June 2017) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly 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 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); prime minister elected by the National Assembly; note - in October 2020 President VUCIC called for early elections election results: 2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUSIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DURDEVIC STAMENDOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2% 2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri) 2.3%, other 5.0%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020 Topic: Seychelleschief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 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 (eligible for 1 additional term); election last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (originally scheduled for December 2020 but moved up to coincide with the 22-24 October National Assembly election in order to cut election costs) election results: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5% Topic: Sierra Leonechief of state: President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018) ; note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense  head of government: President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president  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 4 April 2018 (next to be in 2023) election results: Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2% Topic: Singaporechief of state: President HALIMAH Yacob (since 14 September 2017) head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004, reelected 10 July 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a fixed term of 6-years (there are no term limits); election last held on 13 September 2017 (next to be held in 2023); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: HALIMAH Yacob was declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate; Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president in the previous contested election on 27 August 2011; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2%, TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 4.9% Topic: Sint Maartenchief 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 Topic: Slovakiachief 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% Topic: Sloveniachief of state: President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 25 May 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 22 October with a runoff on 12 November 2017 (next election to be held by November 2022); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually nominated prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly election results: 2017: Borut PAHOR is reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30 2012: Borut PAHOR elected president; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR (SD) 67.4%, Danilo TURK (independent) 32.6%; note - a snap election was held on 13 July 2014 following the resignation of Prime Minister Alenka BRATUSEK on 5 May 2014; Miro CERAR (SMC) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 11 Topic: Solomon Islandschief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David VUNAGI (since 8 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE (since 24 April 2019) cabinet: Cabinet 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 National Parliament for up to 5 years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the National Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Parliament election results: Manasseh SOGAVARE elected prime minister on 24 April 2019, 34 votes out of 50 seat National Parliament Topic: Somaliachief of state: President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein ROBLE (since 27 September 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament by two-thirds majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 15 May 2022; prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of the People; note - elections were originally scheduled for 10 October 2021 but did not take place; on 13 April 2022, the election of the House of the People representatives was completed and the presidential election date was set for 15 May election results: 2022: an indirect election by Somalia's Federal Parliament was held on 15 May 2022 resulting in the defeat of former president Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo"; HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud elected president in third round - Federal Parliament third round vote - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 214, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 110 2017: Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" elected president in second round; Federal Parliament second round vote - Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 184, HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 97, Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed (ARS) 46 Topic: South Africachief 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 Topic: South Sudanchief of state: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); First Vice President Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon (since 22 February 2020); Vice President James Wani IGGA (since 22 February 2020); Vice President TABAN Deng Gai (since 22 February 2020); Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng Chol GARANG de Mabior (since 22 February 2020); Vice President Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii (since 22 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); First Vice President Taban Deng GAI (since 26 July 2016); Vice President James Wani IGGA (since 22 February 2020); Vice President TABAN Deng Gai (since 22 February 2020); Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng Chol GARANG de Mabior (since 22 February 2020); Vice President Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii (since 22 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: National Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next election scheduled for 2015 but postponed to 2018, then 2021, and again to 2023) election results: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected leader of then-Southern Sudan in 2010; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit (SPLM) 93%, Lam AKOL (SPLM-DC) 7% Topic: Spainchief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias (daughter of the monarch, born 31 October 2005) head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ Perez-Castejon (since 2 June 2018); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Maria del Carmen CALVO Poyato (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held November 2023); vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding Topic: Sri Lankachief of state: President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 12 May 2022) head of government: President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of Parliament for a 5-year term) election results: Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of vote - Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (SLPP) 52.2%, Sajith PREMADASA (UNP) 42%, other 5.8% Topic: Sudanchief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (de facto); note – the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but subsequently reinstated it on 11 November 2021 replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing; the Sovereign Council currently consists of 5 military appointed civilians, 5 generals, and 3 representatives selected by former armed opposition groups head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (de facto); Acting Prime Minister Osman HUSSEIN (since 19 January 2022); note - former Prime Minister Abdallah HAMDOUK resigned on 2 January 2022 cabinet: most members of the Council of Ministers were forced from office in October 2021 by the military and subsequently resigned in November 2021; the military allowed a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are senior civil servants serving in an acting minister capacity appointed either by Prime Minister HAMDOUK prior to his resignation or by the military elections/appointments: the 2019 Constitutional Declaration originally called for elections to be held in late 2022 at the end of the transitional period; that date was pushed back to late 2023 by the Juba Peace Agreement; the methodology for future elections has not yet been defined; according to the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, civilian members of the Sovereign Council and the prime minister were to have been nominated by an umbrella coalition of civilian actors known as the Forces for Freedom and Change; this methodology was followed in selecting HAMDOUK as prime minister in August 2019; the military purports to have suspended this provision of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration in October 2021; Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s restoration to office in November 2021 was the result of an agreement signed between him and Sovereign Council Chair BURHAN; military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces;  representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement election results: NA Topic: Surinamechief of state: President Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie BRUNSWIJK (since 16 July 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie BRUNSWIJK (since 16 July 2020) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 July 2020 (next to be held in May 2025) election results: Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA Topic: Svalbardchief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Haakon MAGNUS (son of the king, born 20 July 1973) head of government: Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021); Vice Governor Solvi ELVEDAHL (since 1 May 2020) elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice Topic: Swedenchief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree (daughter of the monarch, born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Magdalena ANDERSSON (since 30 November 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Morgan JOHANSSON (since 10 September 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister Topic: Switzerlandchief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio CASSIS (since 1 January 2022); Vice President Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2022); note - the Federal Council, comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio CASSIS (since1 January 2022); Vice President Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2022) cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term elections/appointments: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 8 December 2021 (next to be held in December 2022) election results: Ignazio CASSIS elected president (FDP.The Liberals); Federal Assembly vote - 156 of 197 votes; Alain BERSET (SP) elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 158 of 204 Topic: Syriachief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hussein ARNOUS (since 30 August 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Ali Abdullah AYOUB (Lt Gen.) (since 30 August 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 May 2021(next to be held in 2028); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party)95.2%, Mahmoud Ahmad MAREI (Democratic Arab Socialist Union) 3.3%, Abdullah Sallum ABDULLAH (Socialist Unionist Party) 1.5% Topic: Taiwanchief of state: President TSAI Ing-wen (since 20 May 2016; re-elected on 11 Jan 2020); Vice President LAI Ching-te (since 20 May 2020) head of government: Premier SU Tseng-chang (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 11 January 2019); Vice Premier SHEN Jong-chin, Vice President of the Executive Yuan (since 19 June 2020) cabinet: Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 January 2020 (next to be held on 11 January 2024); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier election results: TSAI Ing-wen elected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 57.1%, HAN Kuo-yu (KMT) 38.6%; note - TSAI is the first woman elected president of Taiwan Topic: Tajikistanchief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term for a maximum of two terms; however, as the "Leader of the Nation" President RAHMON can run an unlimited number of times; election last held on 11 October 2020 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 90.9% Topic: Tanzaniachief of state: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021); note - President John MAGUFULI died on 17 March 2021; vice president Philip MPANGO; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021); note - President John MAGUFULI died on 17 March 2021; vice president (vacant); Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa MAJALIWA (since 20 November 2015) has authority over the day-to-day functions of the government, is the leader of government business in the National Assembly, and head of the Cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 October, 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: John MAGUFULI elected president; percent of vote - John MAGUFULI (CCM) 58.5%, Edward LOWASSA (CHADEMA) 40%, other 1.5% (2020) note: Zanzibar elects a president as head of government for internal matters; elections were held on 28 October, 2020 and CCM candidate Hussein MWINYI won with 76 percent of the vote followed by ACT-Wazalendo candidate Maalim Seif SHARIF with 19 percent of the vote Topic: Thailandchief of state: King WACHIRALONGKON, also spelled Vajiralongkorn, (since 1 December 2016) head of government: Prime Minister PRAYUT Chan-ocha (since 11 June 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the House of Representatives and Senate approves a person for Prime Minister who must then be appointed by the King (as stated in the transitory provision of the 2017 constitution); the office of prime minister can be held for up to a total of 8 years note:  PRAYUT Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat; on 5 June 2019 PRAYUT (independent) was approved as prime minister by the parliament  Topic: Timor-Lestechief of state: President Francisco GUTERRES (since 20 May 2017); note - the president is commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Taur Matan RUAK (since 22 June 2018) cabinet: the governing coalition in the Parliament proposes cabinet member candidates to the Prime Minister, who presents these recommendations to the President of the Republic for swearing in 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 election held in April 2022; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister election results: in the 19 April 2022 runoff, José RAMOS-HORTA won 62.1%; Francisco GUTERRES won 37.9%; turnout was 71.6%; RAMOS-HORTA to be sworn in on 20 May 2022 Topic: Togochief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005)  head of government: Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah DOGBE (since 28 September 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 February 2020 (next to be held  February 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 72.4%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 18.4%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.4%, other 5% Topic: Tokelauchief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Ross ARDERN (since May 2018) head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Kelihiano KALOLO (since 8 March 2021); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) of the atolls cabinet: Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term note: the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls; in actuality, it is the seat of the government councilors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital Topic: Tongachief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in in November 2025) election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10 note: a Privy Council advises the monarch Topic: Trinidad and Tobagochief 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 Topic: Tunisiachief 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%       Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)chief of state: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (chief of state since 28 August 2014; head of government since 9 July 2019); Vice President Fuat OKTAY (since 9 July 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (head of government since 9 July 2019; chief of state since 28 August 2014); note - a 2017 constitutional referendum eliminated the post of prime minister after the 2018 general election  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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 June 2018 (next scheduled for June 2023) election results: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in the first round; Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.6%, Muharrem INCE (CHP) 30.6%, Selahattin DEMIRTAS (HDP) 8.4%, Meral AKSENER (IYI) 7.3%, other 1.1% Topic: Turkmenistanchief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 12 March 2022 (next to be held in 2029); note - on 11 February 2022, President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW announced his intent to retire setting up the early presidential election election results: 2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW 73.0%,  Khydyr NUNNAYEV 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV 7.2%, other 8.7%; note - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW is the son of previous president Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3% 2012: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 97.1%, Annageldi YAZMYRADOW 1.1%, other candidates 1.8% Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandschief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel DAKIN (since 15 July 2019) head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor Topic: Tuvaluchief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Kausea NATANO (since 19 September 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections election results: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6 Topic: Ugandachief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 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 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% Topic: Ukrainechief 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 Topic: United Arab Emirateschief of state: President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Nuhayan (since 14 May 2022); Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); note - MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Nuhayan elected president by the Federal Supreme Council following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan on 13 May head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (both since 11 May 2009), and MAKTOUM bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum (since 25 September 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Nuhayan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote NA note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al-Maktoum assumed presidential responsibilities after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan on 13 May 2022; under the constitution, MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID will serve as President until the FSC meets within 30 days to elect a new president Topic: United Kingdomchief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) head of government: Prime Minister Boris JOHNSON (Conservative) (since 24 July 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister; election last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held by 2 May 2024) note: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 15 additional Commonwealth countries (these 16 states are each referred to as a Commonwealth realm) Topic: United Stateschief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024) election results: 2020: Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. elected president; electoral vote - Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (Democratic Party) 306, Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 232; percent of direct popular vote - Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. 51.3%, Donald J. TRUMP 46.9%, other 1.8% 2016: Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 304, Hillary D. CLINTON (Democratic Party) 227, other 7; percent of direct popular vote - Hillary D. CLINTON 48.2%, Donald J. TRUMP 46.1%, other 5.7% Topic: Uruguaychief of state: President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020); Vice President Beatriz ARGIMON Cedeira (since 1 March 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020); Vice President Beatriz ARGIMON Cedeira (since 1 March 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 27 October 2019 with a runoff election on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in October 2024, and a runoff if needed in November 2024) election results: 2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president - results of the first round of presidential elections: percent of vote - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (Blanco) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, and Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; results of the second round: percent of vote - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (Blanco) 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 49.4% 2014: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in second round; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (Blanco) 43.4% Topic: Uzbekistanchief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (interim president from 8 September 2016; formally elected president on 4 December 2016 to succeed longtime President Islom KARIMOV, who died on 2 September 2016; reelected president on 24 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis) 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; previously a 5-year term, extended by a 2002 constitutional amendment to 7 years, and reverted to 5 years in 2011); election last held on 24 October 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister nominated by majority party in legislature since 2011, but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president election results: 2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.1%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4% 2016: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 88.6%, Hotamjon KETMONOV (PDP) 3.7%, Narimon UMAROV (Adolat) 3.5%, Sarvar OTAMURODOV (National Revival Democratic Party) 2.4%, other 1.8% Topic: Vanuatuchief of state: President Tallis Obed MOSES (since 6 July 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Bob LOUGHMAN (since 20 April 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 20 April 2020 (next to be held following general elections in 2024) election results: Bob LOUGHMAN elected prime minister on 20 April 2020; Bob LOUGHMAN 31 votes, Ralph REGENVANU 21 votes Topic: Venezuelachief 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% Topic: Vietnamchief of state: President Nguyen Xuan PHUC (since 26 July 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by prime minister confirmed by the National Assembly and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; prime minister recommended by the president and confirmed by National Assembly; deputy prime ministers confirmed by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Pham Minh CHINH (CPV) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 95.9%; Nguyen Xuan PHUC (CPV) reelected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 96.8% Topic: Virgin Islandschief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019), Lieutenant Governor Tregenza ROACH (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2018 with a runoff on 20 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022) election results: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3%Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other .3% Topic: Wallis and Futunachief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Herve JONATHAN (since 11 January 2021) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022) cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly elections/appointments: French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers Topic: Worldchief of state: there are 27 countries with royal families in the world, most are in Asia (13) and Europe (10), three are in Africa, and one in Oceania; monarchies by continent are as follows: Asia (Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates); Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom); Africa (Eswatini, Lesotho, Morocco); Oceania (Tonga); note that Andorra and the Holy See (Vatican) are also monarchies of a sort, but they are not ruled by royal houses; Andorra has two co-princes (the president of France and the bishop of Urgell) and the Holy See is ruled by an elected pope; note too that the sovereign of Great Britain is also the monarch for many of the countries (including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand) that make up the Commonwealth Topic: Yemenchief of state: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and formation of the Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; the council will assume the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carry out the political, security, and military duties of the government head of government: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; the council will assume the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carry out the political, security, and military duties of the government cabinet: NA elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president election results: in a special election held on 21 February 2012, Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) was elected as a consensus president Topic: Zambiachief of state: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among 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 (eligible for a second term); last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: 2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote -   Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016: Edgar LUNGU re-elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2% Topic: Zimbabwechief of state: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); First Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); note - Robert Gabriel MUGABE resigned on 21 November 2017, after ruling for 37 years head of government: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 24 November 2017); Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 28 December 2017); Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly elections/appointments: each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least 1 candidate from each province) and directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 July 2018 (next to be held in 2023); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership election results: Emmerson MNANGAGWA reelected president in 1st round of voting; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.8%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.3%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) .9%, other 3%

20220901

countries-lebanon

Topic: Photos of Lebanon Topic: Introduction Background: As a result of its location at the crossroads of three continents, the area that is modern-day Lebanon is rich in cultural and religious diversity. This region was subject to various foreign conquests for much of its history, including by the Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. From it the French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920, and it gained independence in 1943. Since then, Lebanon has experienced periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its historical position as a regional center for finance and trade, although that status has significantly diminished since the beginning of Lebanon’s economic crisis in 2019, which includes simultaneous currency, debt, and banking crises. The country's 1975-90 civil war, which resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has historically influenced Lebanon's foreign and domestic policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. Hizballah - a major Lebanese political party, militia, and US-designated foreign terrorist organization - and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Maryland Land boundaries: total: 484 km border countries (2): Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km Coastline: 225 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows Terrain: narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains Elevation: highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 1,250 m Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Irrigated land: 1,040 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, and of these most live in and around the capital, Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley, on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains, have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density Natural hazards: earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms Geography - note: smallest country in continental Asia; Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity Map description: Lebanon map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea.Lebanon map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,296,814 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendants of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian 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 67.8% (31.9% Sunni, 31.2% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 4.5%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus (2020 est.) note: data represent the religious affiliation of the citizen population (data do not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations); 18 religious sects recognized Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.75% (male 581,015/female 554,175) 15-24 years: 14.98% (male 417,739/female 401,357) 25-54 years: 46.69% (male 1,296,250/female 1,257,273) 55-64 years: 9.62% (male 250,653/female 275,670) 65 years and over: 7.96% (2020 est.) (male 187,001/female 248,479) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.4 youth dependency ratio: 37.2 elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 potential support ratio: 8.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 33.7 years male: 33.1 years female: 34.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.66% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.57 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, and of these most live in and around the capital, Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley, on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains, have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density Urbanization: urban population: 89.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.433 million BEIRUT (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years male: 77.36 years female: 80.23 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.71 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: 8.7% (2019) Physicians density: 2.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 2.7 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: 2,700 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Lebanon; as of 6 June 2022, Lebanon has reported a total of 1,099,821 cases of COVID-19 or 16,113.5 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 10,437 cumulative deaths or a rate of 152.9 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 30 May 2022, 39.69% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 32% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 38.2% (2020 est.) male: 47.5% (2020 est.) female: 28.9% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 15: 1.4% women married by age 18: 6% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.1% male: 96.9% female: 93.3% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2014) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.4% male: 24.5% female: 21.4% (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil deterioration, erosion; desertification; species loss; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills; waste-water management 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 signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 30.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 24.8 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.37 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 89.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -1.23% 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.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Lebanon; as of 6 June 2022, Lebanon has reported a total of 1,099,821 cases of COVID-19 or 16,113.5 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 10,437 cumulative deaths or a rate of 152.9 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 30 May 2022, 39.69% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to the ongoing financial and economic crisis - the World Food Program (WFP) estimates that, as a result of the ongoing economic crisis, over 1.3 million Lebanese citizens, about 36% of the total population, were food insecure by the end of September 2021; the number of Lebanese households with serious food access constraints reached 57% in September 2021, up from 40% in September 2020; domestic cereal production covers, on average, less than 20% of the consumption needs and the country depends heavily on imports (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.04 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 163,200 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2014 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 900 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 4.503 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan former: Greater Lebanon etymology: derives from the Semitic root "lbn" meaning "white" and refers to snow-capped Mount Lebanon Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Beirut geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 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: derived from the Canaanite or Phoenician word "ber'ot," meaning "the wells" or "fountain," which referred to the site's accessible water table Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa (Bekaa), Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943) Constitution: history: drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 2004 Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities 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 Lebanon dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Suffrage: 21 years of age; authorized for all men and women regardless of religion; excludes persons convicted of felonies and other crimes or those imprisoned; excludes all military and security service personnel regardless of rank Executive branch: chief of state: President Michel AWN (since 31 October 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 20 September 2021) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in the first round and if needed absolute majority vote in a second round for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); last held on 31 October 2016 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; deputy prime minister determined during cabinet formation election results: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83 votes; note - in the initial election held on 23 April 2014, no candidate received the required two-thirds vote, and subsequent attempts failed because the Assembly lacked the necessary quorum to hold a vote; the president was finally elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016 Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab in Arabic or Assemblee Nationale in French (128 seats; members directly elected in multi-member constituencies by open list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); prior to 2017, the electoral system was by majoritarian vote elections: last held on 15 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2026) election results: percent of vote by coalition/party – NA; seats by party/coalition – FPM 16, LF 14, Amal Movement 13, Hezbollah 13, PSP 9, Future Movement Bloc (candidates did not run in 2022; members ran as independents) 8, Kata’ib Party 4, other 30, independent 21; composition - men 120, women 8, percent of women 6.3% note: Lebanon’s constitution states the National Assembly cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 8 chambers, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members) judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body headed by the chief justice, and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahbash or Association of Islamic Charitable Projects [Adnan TARABULSI] Amal Movement [Nabih BERRI] Azm Movement [Najib MIQATI] Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon [Fayiz SHUKR] Free Patriotic Movement or FPM [Gibran BASSIL] Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI] Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH] Islamic Actions Front [Sheikh Zuhayr al-JU’AYD] Kata'ib Party [Sami GEMAYEL] Lebanese Democratic Party [Talal ARSLAN] Lebanese Forces or LF [Samir JA'JA] Marada Movement [Sulayman FRANJIEH] Progressive Socialist Party or PSP [Walid JUNBLATT] Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party [Sabuh KALPAKIAN] Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Rabi BANAT] Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation [Hagop PAKRADOUNIAN]Al-Ahbash or Association of Islamic Charitable Projects [Adnan TARABULSI] Amal Movement [Nabih BERRI] Azm Movement [Najib MIQATI] Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon [Fayiz SHUKR] Free Patriotic Movement or FPM [Gibran BASSIL] Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI] Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH] Islamic Actions Front [Sheikh Zuhayr al-JU’AYD] Kata'ib Party [Sami GEMAYEL] Lebanese Democratic Party [Talal ARSLAN] Lebanese Forces or LF [Samir JA'JA] Marada Movement [Sulayman FRANJIEH] Progressive Socialist Party or PSP [Walid JUNBLATT] Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party [Sabuh KALPAKIAN] Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Rabi BANAT] Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation [Hagop PAKRADOUNIAN] International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Wael HACHEM, Counselor (since 15 March 2021) 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy C. SHEA (since 11 March 2020) embassy: Awkar-Facing the Municipality, Main Street, Beirut mailing address: 6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC  20521-6070 telephone: [961] (04) 543-600 FAX: [961] (4) 544-019 email address and website: BeirutACS@state.gov https://lb.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity National symbol(s): cedar tree; national colors: red, white, green National anthem: name: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!) lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA note: adopted 1927; chosen following a nationwide competition National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Anjar; Baalbek; Byblos; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, complex customs procedures, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and inadequate intellectual property rights protection. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism.   The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and derailed Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern banking hub. Following the civil war, Lebanon rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily, mostly from domestic banks, which saddled the government with a huge debt burden. Pledges of economic and financial reforms made at separate international donor conferences during the 2000s have mostly gone unfulfilled, including those made during the Paris III Donor Conference in 2007, following the July 2006 war. The "CEDRE" investment event hosted by France in April 2018 again rallied the international community to assist Lebanon with concessional financing and some grants for capital infrastructure improvements, conditioned upon long-delayed structural economic reforms in fiscal management, electricity tariffs, and transparent public procurement, among many others.   The Syria conflict cut off one of Lebanon's major markets and a transport corridor through the Levant. The influx of nearly one million registered and an estimated 300,000 unregistered Syrian refugees has increased social tensions and heightened competition for low-skill jobs and public services. Lebanon continues to face several long-term structural weaknesses that predate the Syria crisis, notably, weak infrastructure, poor service delivery, institutionalized corruption, and bureaucratic over-regulation. Chronic fiscal deficits have increased Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio, the third highest in the world; most of the debt is held internally by Lebanese banks. These factors combined to slow economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-17, after four years of averaging 8% growth. Weak economic growth limits tax revenues, while the largest government expenditures remain debt servicing, salaries for government workers, and transfers to the electricity sector. These limitations constrain other government spending, limiting its ability to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, such as water, electricity, and transportation. In early 2018, the Lebanese government signed long-awaited contract agreements with an international consortium for petroleum exploration and production as part of the country’s first offshore licensing round. Exploration is expected to begin in 2019.Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, complex customs procedures, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and inadequate intellectual property rights protection. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and derailed Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern banking hub. Following the civil war, Lebanon rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily, mostly from domestic banks, which saddled the government with a huge debt burden. Pledges of economic and financial reforms made at separate international donor conferences during the 2000s have mostly gone unfulfilled, including those made during the Paris III Donor Conference in 2007, following the July 2006 war. The "CEDRE" investment event hosted by France in April 2018 again rallied the international community to assist Lebanon with concessional financing and some grants for capital infrastructure improvements, conditioned upon long-delayed structural economic reforms in fiscal management, electricity tariffs, and transparent public procurement, among many others. The Syria conflict cut off one of Lebanon's major markets and a transport corridor through the Levant. The influx of nearly one million registered and an estimated 300,000 unregistered Syrian refugees has increased social tensions and heightened competition for low-skill jobs and public services. Lebanon continues to face several long-term structural weaknesses that predate the Syria crisis, notably, weak infrastructure, poor service delivery, institutionalized corruption, and bureaucratic over-regulation. Chronic fiscal deficits have increased Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio, the third highest in the world; most of the debt is held internally by Lebanese banks. These factors combined to slow economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-17, after four years of averaging 8% growth. Weak economic growth limits tax revenues, while the largest government expenditures remain debt servicing, salaries for government workers, and transfers to the electricity sector. These limitations constrain other government spending, limiting its ability to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, such as water, electricity, and transportation. In early 2018, the Lebanese government signed long-awaited contract agreements with an international consortium for petroleum exploration and production as part of the country’s first offshore licensing round. Exploration is expected to begin in 2019. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $79.51 billion (2020 est.) $99.76 billion (2019 est.) $106.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.5% (2017 est.) 1.7% (2016 est.) 0.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $11,600 (2020 est.) $14,600 (2019 est.) $15,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $53.253 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 6% (2018 est.) 4.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: RD (2020) Moody's rating: C (2020) Standard & Poors rating: D (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) services: 83% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 87.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -46.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, wheat, cucumbers, poultry, lemons Industries: banking, tourism, real estate and construction, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating Industrial production growth rate: -21.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.166 million (2016 est.) note: excludes as many as 1 million foreign workers and refugees Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 39% (2009 est.) NA industry: NA services: NA Unemployment rate: 9.7% (2007) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.4% male: 24.5% female: 21.4% (2019) Population below poverty line: 27.4% (2011 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 31.8 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 11.62 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 15.38 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 146.8% 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 Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$12.37 billion (2017 est.) -$11.18 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $18.17 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $19.16 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 27%, United Arab Emirates 15%, South Korea 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Kuwait 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, jewelry, shotguns, diamonds, scrap copper (2019) Imports: $31.34 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $32.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 11%, China 10%, Italy 8%, Greece 8%, Turkey 7%, United States 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, jewelry, gold (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $55.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $54.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $33.077 billion (2019 est.) $33.655 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,517.5 (2020 est.) 1,513 (2019 est.) 1,506.5 (2018 est.) 1,507.5 (2014 est.) 1,507.5 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.768 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 18,715,620,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 900 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.219 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 94.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 168,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 151,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 25.838 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 563,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 25.275 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 53.528 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 875,480 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4,288,221 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Lebanon’s economic crisis has had a dire effect on the country’s telecom services; although some progress has been made with developing 5G, the poor economic conditions have contributed to an erratic electricity supply and a lack of fuel to maintain generators; this has meant that internet services to areas of the country are not available on a regular basis, frustrating all those who depend on stable connectivity, and stalling business growth; adding to the difficulties are the combined stresses of the pandemic and the political crisis; a caretaker cabinet in September 2021 made way for a new government though there is little confidence on the ground that sectarian-based political horse-trading will give way to responsible governing to improve the lot of the stressed populace. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 7 TV stations, 1 of which is state owned; more than 30 radio stations, 1 of which is state owned; satellite and cable TV services available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2019) Internet country code: .lb Internet users: total: 6,825,442 (2020 est.) percent of population: 84% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 432,070 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,981,937 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 56.57 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OD Airports: total: 8 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 88 km gas (2013) Railways: total: 401 km (2017) standard gauge: 319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge note: rail system is still unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 Roadways: total: 21,705 km (2017) Merchant marine: total: 48 by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 31, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Beirut, Tripoli container port(s) (TEUs): Beirut (1,229,100) (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces; Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Forces Directorate (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), Directorate for General Security (DGS; border control, some domestic security duties) (2022) note: the commander of the LAF is also the commander of the Army; the LAF patrols external borders, while official border checkpoints are under the authority of Directorate for General Security Military expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $3.6 billion) 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $4.1 billion) 4.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $3.95 billion) 5.1% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $4.15 billion) 4.5% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $3.7 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 80,000 active troops (77,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LAF inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older equipment from a diverse array of countries; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments (mostly second hand equipment) to Lebanon (2022) Military service age and obligation: 17-25 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2022) note: as of 2020, women comprised about 5% of the active duty military Military - note: as of 2022, the Lebanese military faced multiple challenges, including securing parts of 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 terrorist group Hizballah conducted a war with Israel in 2006 and tensions remained high, including occasional armed skirmishes; 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 10,000 personnel deployed in the country as of 2022 (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command 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: Lebanon-Syria: lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; in March 2021, Syria signed a contract with a Russian company for oil and gas exploration in a maritime area Lebanon claims as its own based on a 2011 map sent to the UN Lebanon-Israel: Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights; Lebanon and Israel resumed negotiations over their maritime border in 2020, but their efforts were derailed when Lebanon argued that the map the UN was using needed modifications  Lebanon-Syria: lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; in March 2021, Syria signed a contract with a Russian company for oil and gas exploration in a maritime area Lebanon claims as its own based on a 2011 map sent to the UNLebanon-Israel: Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights; Lebanon and Israel resumed negotiations over their maritime border in 2020, but their efforts were derailed when Lebanon argued that the map the UN was using needed modifications  Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 479,537 (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 831,053 (Syria) (2022) IDPs: 7,000 (2020) stateless persons: undetermined (2016); note - tens of thousands of persons are stateless in Lebanon, including many Palestinian refugees and their descendants, Syrian Kurds denaturalized in Syria in 1962, children born to Lebanese women married to foreign or stateless men; most babies born to Syrian refugees, and Lebanese children whose births are unregistered Illicit drugs: source country for amphetamine tablets destined for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya and Sudan; in 2021 authorities in various Near Eastern countries seized millions of captagon tablets that originated in or transited to Lebanon, prompting Lebanese authorities to conduct raids on captagon production facilities and trafficking rings within the country

20220901

countries-south-georgia-and-south-sandwich-islands

Topic: Photos of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The islands, with large bird and seal populations, lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 - except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.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, east of the tip of South America Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total: 3,903 sq km 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 Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: NA Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow Terrain: most of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes Elevation: highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2011) Natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism Geography - note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage Map description: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands map showing the islands that make up this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands map showing the islands that make up this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: (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 Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Birth rate: NA Death rate: (2021 est.) NA Net migration rate: 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 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 Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: reindeer - introduced to the islands in the 20th century - devastated the native flora and bird species; some reindeer were translocated to the Falkland Islands in 2001, the rest were exterminated (2013-14); a parallel effort (2010-15) eradicated rats and mice that came to the islands as stowaways on ships as early as the late 18th century Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands abbreviation: SGSSI etymology: South Georgia was named "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 by Captain James COOK in honor of British King GEORGE III; the explorer also discovered the Sandwich Islands Group that year, which he named "Sandwich Land" after John MONTAGU, the Earl of Sandwich and First Lord of the Admiralty; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina) Diplomatic representation from the US: 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 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion rampant, holding a torch; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a Macaroni penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land); the lion with the torch represents the UK and discovery; the background of the shield, blue and white estoiles, are found in the coat of arms of James Cook, discoverer of the islands; all the outer supporting animals represented are native to the islands Topic: Economy Economic overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. Harvesting finfish and krill are potential sources of income. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, the sale of fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Grytviken Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (UK)-Argentina: 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 forceSouth Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (UK)-Argentina: 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

20220901

countries-northern-mariana-islands

Topic: Photos of Northern Mariana Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The Northern Mariana Islands were settled by Austronesian people around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including of Micronesians in the first century A.D., and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521 and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle on Guam and prevented them from returning to their home islands. By the time the Northern Mariana Islands’ Chamorro returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands. In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US following the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and administered them post-World War II as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, although Guam rejected it in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-government separate from the rest of the TTPI and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship and the territory came under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.The Northern Mariana Islands were settled by Austronesian people around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including of Micronesians in the first century A.D., and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521 and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle on Guam and prevented them from returning to their home islands. By the time the Northern Mariana Islands’ Chamorro returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands. In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US following the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and administered them post-World War II as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, although Guam rejected it in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-government separate from the rest of the TTPI and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship and the territory came under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 464 sq km land: 464 sq km water: 0 sq km note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 1,482 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October Terrain: the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands Elevation: highest point: Agrihan Volcano 965 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2012) Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean Map description: Northern Mariana Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the North Pacific Ocean.Northern Mariana Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 51,475 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA Ethnic groups: Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.) Languages: Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1% (includes Carolinian (official), Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.) Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found) Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.02% (male 6,937/female 5,934) 15-24 years: 16.28% (male 4,518/female 3,857) 25-54 years: 37.44% (male 9,934/female 9,325) 55-64 years: 14.01% (male 3,921/female 3,286) 65 years and over: 7.23% (2020 est.) (male 1,988/female 1,733) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 32.8 years male: 31.8 years female: 34.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.35% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -13.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan Urbanization: urban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female 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.) Infant mortality rate: total: 12.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.58 years male: 74.48 years female: 79.03 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.63 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: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 97.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 2.1% 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: NA Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October Land use: agricultural land: 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 92% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.36% 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: 32,761 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 11,794 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2016 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District abbreviation: CNMI etymology: formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria Government type: a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, Washington, DC Capital: name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the entire island of Saipan is organized as a single municipality and serves as the capital; according to legend, when the first native voyagers arrived in their outrigger canoes they found an uninhabited island; to them it was like an empty voyage, so they named the island "saay" meaning "a voyage," and "peel" meaning "empty"; over time Saaypeel - "island of the empty voyage" - became Saipan Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) Constitution: history: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement) amendments: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote; amended several times, last in 2012 Legal system: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation Citizenship: see United States Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Ralph TORRES (since 29 December 2015); Lieutenant Governor Victor HOCOG (since 29 December 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 13 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (Independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected Lieutenant Governor Legislative branch: description: bicameral Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature consists of: Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms) the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term elections: CNMI Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) CNMI House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2022) Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives  - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2022) election results: CNMI Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 6, independent 3; composition - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2% CNMI House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 9, Democrat Party 8, independent 3; composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%; note - overall CNMI legislature percent of women 24.1% delegate to US House of Representatives - seat won by independent; composition - 1 man note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the "Committee of the Whole House" but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the CNMI Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court judge selection and term of office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms subordinate courts: Superior Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Daniel QUITUGUA] Republican Party [James ADA] International organization participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)        Flag description: blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture National symbol(s): latte stone; national colors: blue, white National anthem: name: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea) lyrics/music: Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN note: adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as "Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the US, in addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) has been on the rebound in the last few years, mainly on the strength of its tourism industry. In 2016, the CNMI’s real GDP increased 28.6% over the previous year, following two years of relatively rapid growth in 2014 and 2015. Chinese and Korean tourists have supplanted Japanese tourists in the last few years. The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to the main Island of Saipan, its political and commercial center. Investment is concentrated on hotels and casinos in Saipan, the CNMI’s largest island and home to about 90% of its population.   Federal grants have also contributed to economic growth and stability. In 2016, federal grants amounted to $101.4 billion which made up 26% of the CNMI government’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.   Legislation is pending in the US Congress to extend the transition period to allow foreign workers to work in the CNMI on temporary visas.The economy of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) has been on the rebound in the last few years, mainly on the strength of its tourism industry. In 2016, the CNMI’s real GDP increased 28.6% over the previous year, following two years of relatively rapid growth in 2014 and 2015. Chinese and Korean tourists have supplanted Japanese tourists in the last few years. The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to the main Island of Saipan, its political and commercial center. Investment is concentrated on hotels and casinos in Saipan, the CNMI’s largest island and home to about 90% of its population. Federal grants have also contributed to economic growth and stability. In 2016, federal grants amounted to $101.4 billion which made up 26% of the CNMI government’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Legislation is pending in the US Congress to extend the transition period to allow foreign workers to work in the CNMI on temporary visas. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.242 billion (2016 est.) $933 million (2015 est.) $845 million (2014 est.) note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy; data are in 2013 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 28.6% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) 3.5% (2014 est.) Real GDP per capita: $24,500 (2016 est.) $18,400 (2015 est.) $16,600 (2014 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.242 billion (2016 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2016 est.) 0.1% (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.7% (2016) industry: 58.1% (2016 est.) services: 40.2% (2016) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 43.1% (2016 est.) government consumption: 28.9% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: (2016 est.) NA exports of goods and services: 73.6% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -71.9% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products Industries: tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 27,970 (2010 est.) note: includes foreign workers Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.9% industry: 10% services: 88.1% (2010 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.2% (2010 est.) 8% (2005 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 389.6 million (2016 est.) expenditures: 344 million (2015 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 3.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 7.1% of GDP (2017 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 31.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Exports: $914 million (2016 est.) $520 million (2015 est.) Exports - partners: South Korea 73%, Peru 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: scrap iron, scrap copper, scrap aluminum, computers, laboratory diagnostic equipment (2019) Imports: $893 million (2016 est.) $638 million (2015 est.) Imports - partners: Hong Kong 29%, Japan 29%, Singapore 16%, South Korea 9% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, jewelry (2019) Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 20,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 20,474 (2004 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2004) Telecommunication systems: general 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009) Internet country code: .mp Internet users: total: 17,418 (2016 est.) percent of population: 31% (2016 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 5 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 536 km (2008) Merchant marine: total: 1 by type: other 1 (2019) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Saipan, Tinian, Rota Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified

20220901

countries-holy-see-vatican-city

Topic: Photos of Holy See (Vatican City) Topic: Introduction Background: Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.3 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism - the world's largest Christian faith.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy) Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 0 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 3.4 km border countries (1): Italy 3.4 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) Terrain: urban; low hill Elevation: highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes Geography - note: landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence) Map description: Holy See (Vatican City) map identifies some of the major structures in this entity surrounded by Italy (Rome).Holy See (Vatican City) map identifies some of the major structures in this entity surrounded by Italy (Rome). Topic: People and Society Population: 1,000 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: none adjective: none Ethnic groups: Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017) Languages: Italian, Latin, French, various other languages major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic Age structure: 0-14 years: 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% (2014 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 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: NA Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome Environment - international agreements: party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification Air pollutants: methane emissions: 0 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) etymology: "holy" comes from the Greek word "hera" meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word "sedes" meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times Government type: ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy" Capital: name: Vatican City geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 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 term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times Administrative divisions: none Independence: 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 National holiday: Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013) Constitution: history: previous 1929, 1963; latest promulgated November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities); the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus – the departments and ministries – used by the pontiff in governing the church; note - Pope Francis in October 2013, instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisers to reform the Roman Curia to include writing a new constitution; in June 2018, Pope Francis approved the Council of Cardinals' first draft of the new constitution, Predicatae Evangelium (Preach the Gospel); it became effective 5 June 2022, replacing Pastor Bonus, the previous governing document of the Roman Curia amendments: note - although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope Legal system: religious legal system based on canon (religious) 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: no dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance, citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously held Suffrage: election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old Executive branch: chief of state: Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN (since 15 October 2013); note - Head of Government of Vatican City is President Cardinal Giuseppe BERTELLO (since 1 October 2011) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope elections/appointments: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope election results: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS Legislative branch: description: unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City or Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano (7 seats; the president of the Governorate of Vatican City State and 6 cardinals appointed by the pope to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 11 July 2018 election results: composition - men 7, women 0 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura); note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: 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/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joe DONNELLY (since 11 April 2022) embassy: Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome mailing address: 5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC  20521-5660 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-1 FAX: [39] (06) 4674-3411 email address and website: https://va.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power National symbol(s): crossed keys beneath a papal tiara; national colors: yellow, white National anthem: name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD note: adopted 1950 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and from direct donations go to a non-budgetary fund, known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by the pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in developing nations.   The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos as well as fees for admission to museums and publication sales. Revenues increased between 2010 and 2011 because of expanded operating hours and a growing number of visitors. However, the Holy See did not escape the financial difficulties experienced by other European countries; in 2012, it started a spending review to determine where to cut costs to reverse its 2011 budget deficit of $20 million. The Holy See generated a modest surplus in 2012 before recording a $32 million deficit in 2013, driven primarily by the decreasing value of gold. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome so most public expenditures go to wages and other personnel costs;. In February 2014, Pope FRANCIS created the Secretariat of the Economy to oversee financial and administrative operations of the Holy See, part of a broader campaign to reform the Holy See’s finances.The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and from direct donations go to a non-budgetary fund, known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by the pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in developing nations. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos as well as fees for admission to museums and publication sales. Revenues increased between 2010 and 2011 because of expanded operating hours and a growing number of visitors. However, the Holy See did not escape the financial difficulties experienced by other European countries; in 2012, it started a spending review to determine where to cut costs to reverse its 2011 budget deficit of $20 million. The Holy See generated a modest surplus in 2012 before recording a $32 million deficit in 2013, driven primarily by the decreasing value of gold. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome so most public expenditures go to wages and other personnel costs;. In February 2014, Pope FRANCIS created the Secretariat of the Economy to oversee financial and administrative operations of the Holy See, part of a broader campaign to reform the Holy See’s finances. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): NANA Industries: printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities Labor force: 4,822 (2016) Labor force - by occupation: note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vaticannote: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican Population below poverty line: NA Budget: revenues: 315 million (2013) expenditures: 348 million (2013) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): NA Taxes and other revenues: NA Fiscal year: calendar year 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 Telecommunication systems: 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 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave, AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections; Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news provided by the Vatican (2021) Internet country code: .va Communications - note: the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the world's oldest libraries, formally established in 1475, but actually much older; it holds a significant collection of historic texts including 1.1 million printed books and 75,000 codices (manuscript books with handwritten contents); it serves as a research library for history, law, philosophy, science, and theology; the library's collections have been described as "the world's greatest treasure house of the writings at the core of Western tradition" Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia); the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2022) Military service age and obligation: 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 (2022) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220901

field-hiv-aids-deaths-country-comparison

20220901

field-communications-note

This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere. Topic: Austrianote 1: the Austrian National Library contains important collections of the Imperial Library of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Empire, as well as of the Austrian Republic; among its more than 12 million items are outstanding holdings of rare books, maps, globes, papyrus, and music; its Globe Museum is the only one in the world note 2: on 1 October 1869, Austria-Hungary introduced the world's first postal card - postal stationery with an imprinted stamp indicating the prepayment of postage; simple and cheap (sent for a fraction of the cost of a regular letter), postal cards became an instant success, widely produced in the millions worldwide note 3: Austria followed up with the creation of the world's first commercial picture postcards - cards bearing a picture or photo to which postage is affixed - in May 1871; sent from Vienna, the image served as a souvenir of the city; together, postal cards and post cards served as the world's e-mails of the late 19th and early 20th centuries note 4: Austria was also an airmail pioneer; from March to October of 1918, it conducted the world's first regular (daily) airmail service - between the imperial cities of Vienna, Krakow, and Lemberg - a combined distance of some 650 km (400 mi) (earlier airmail services had been set up in a few parts of the world, but only for short stretches and none lasted beyond a few days or weeks); an expansion of the route in June of 1918 allowed private mail to be flown to Kyiv, in newly independent Ukraine, which made the route the world's first regular international airmail service (covering a distance of some 1,200 km; 750 mi) Topic: Bouvet Islandhas an automated meteorological station Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryDiego 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: Coral Sea Islandsautomatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relay data to the mainland Topic: Egyptone of the largest and most famous libraries in the ancient world was the Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt (founded about 295 B.C., it may have survived in some form into the 5th century A.D.); seeking to resurrect the great center of learning and communication, the Egyptian Government in 2002 inaugurated the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an Egyptian National Library on the site of the original Great Library, which commemorates the original archive and also serves as a center of cultural and scientific excellence Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landshas one or more meteorological stations on each possession Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the world's oldest libraries, formally established in 1475, but actually much older; it holds a significant collection of historic texts including 1.1 million printed books and 75,000 codices (manuscript books with handwritten contents); it serves as a research library for history, law, philosophy, science, and theology; the library's collections have been described as "the world's greatest treasure house of the writings at the core of Western tradition" Topic: Marshall IslandsKwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)) Topic: Moroccothe University of al-Quarawiyyin Library in Fez is recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating library in the world, dating back to A.D. 859; among its holdings are approximately 4,000 ancient Islamic manuscripts Topic: Pitcairn Islandssatellite-based local phone service and broadband Internet connections available in all homes Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaAscension 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: Saudi Arabiathe 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: Ukrainea 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: United Kingdomnote 1: the British Library claims to be the largest library in the world with well over 150 million items and in most known languages; it receives copies of all books produced in the UK or Ireland, as well as a significant proportion of overseas titles distributed in the UK; in addition to books (print and digital), holdings include: journals, manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, maps, prints, patents, and drawings note 2: on 1 May 1840, the United Kingdom led the world with the introduction of postage stamps; the Austrian Empire had examined the idea of an "adhesive tax postmark" for the prepayment of postage in 1835; while the suggestion was reviewed in detail, it was rejected for the time being; other countries (including Austria) soon followed the UK's example with their own postage stamps; by the 1860s, most countries were issuing stamps; originally, stamps had to be cut from sheets; the UK issued the first postage stamps with perforations in 1854 Topic: United Statesnote 1: The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA, claims to be the largest library in the world with more than 167 million items (as of 2018); its collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include materials from all parts of the world and in over 450 languages; collections include: books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data note 2: Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tistan da Cunha), Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), and at Kwajalein (Marshall Islands) Topic: Worlddata centers consist of a dedicated space within a building or a group of buildings used to house computing resources and other components, such as telecommunications and storage systems; the ongoing worldwide boom in data generation is responsible for the mushrooming of data centers; the three largest data center facilities by area as of the first half of 2022 are:   no. 1. - the China Telecom data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, reportedly covers 1 million sq m (10.7 million sq ft); the largest Internet data center in the world, it has over 50% market share in the Chinese data center market, with an extensive network of over 400 data centers located in prime regions in mainland China and overseas markets no. 2. - the China Mobile data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, covers 720,000 sq m (7.7 million sq ft); it is one of the world's biggest cloud computing data centers no. 3. - The Citadel data center owned by US-based Switch, in Tahoe Reno, Nevada, covers 670,000 sq m (7.2 million sq ft); called the world’s largest technology ecosystem, the facility runs on 100% renewable (solar and wind) energy

20220901

field-gdp-composition-by-sector-of-origin

This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not produce material goods. Topic: Afghanistanagriculture: 23% (2016 est.) industry: 21.1% (2016 est.) services: 55.9% (2016 est.) note: data exclude opium production Topic: Albaniaagriculture: 21.7% (2017 est.) industry: 24.2% (2017 est.) services: 54.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Algeriaagriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.) industry: 39.3% (2017 est.) services: 47.4% (2017 est.) Topic: American Samoaagriculture: 27.4% (2012) industry: 12.4% (2012) services: 60.2% (2012) Topic: Andorraagriculture: 11.9% (2015 est.) industry: 33.6% (2015 est.) services: 54.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Angolaagriculture: 10.2% (2011 est.) industry: 61.4% (2011 est.) services: 28.4% (2011 est.) Topic: Anguillaagriculture: 3% (2017 est.) industry: 10.5% (2017 est.) services: 86.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaagriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 20.8% (2017 est.) services: 77.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Argentinaagriculture: 10.8% (2017 est.) industry: 28.1% (2017 est.) services: 61.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Armeniaagriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 54.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Arubaagriculture: 0.4% (2002 est.) industry: 33.3% (2002 est.) services: 66.3% (2002 est.) Topic: Australiaagriculture: 3.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.3% (2017 est.) services: 71.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Austriaagriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 28.4% (2017 est.) services: 70.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanagriculture: 6.1% (2017 est.) industry: 53.5% (2017 est.) services: 40.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Theagriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.7% (2017 est.) services: 90% (2017 est.) Topic: Bahrainagriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 39.3% (2017 est.) services: 60.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Bangladeshagriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.) industry: 29.3% (2017 est.) services: 56.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Barbadosagriculture: 1.5% (2017 est.) industry: 9.8% (2017 est.) services: 88.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Belarusagriculture: 8.1% (2017 est.) industry: 40.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Belgiumagriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 22.1% (2017 est.) services: 77.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Belizeagriculture: 10.3% (2017 est.) industry: 21.6% (2017 est.) services: 68% (2017 est.) Topic: Beninagriculture: 26.1% (2017 est.) industry: 22.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Bermudaagriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 5.3% (2017 est.) services: 93.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Bhutanagriculture: 16.2% (2017 est.) industry: 41.8% (2017 est.) services: 42% (2017 est.) Topic: Boliviaagriculture: 13.8% (2017 est.) industry: 37.8% (2017 est.) services: 48.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaagriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.) industry: 28.9% (2017 est.) services: 64.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Botswanaagriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 27.5% (2017 est.) services: 70.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Brazilagriculture: 6.6% (2017 est.) industry: 20.7% (2017 est.) services: 72.7% (2017 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsagriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) industry: 6.8% (2017 est.) services: 93.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Bruneiagriculture: 1.2% (2017 est.) industry: 56.6% (2017 est.) services: 42.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Bulgariaagriculture: 4.3% (2017 est.) industry: 28% (2017 est.) services: 67.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoagriculture: 31% (2017 est.) industry: 23.9% (2017 est.) services: 44.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Burmaagriculture: 24.1% (2017 est.) industry: 35.6% (2017 est.) services: 40.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Burundiagriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.) industry: 16.4% (2017 est.) services: 44.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeagriculture: 8.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.5% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Cambodiaagriculture: 25.3% (2017 est.) industry: 32.8% (2017 est.) services: 41.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Cameroonagriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.) industry: 26.5% (2017 est.) services: 56.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Canadaagriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 70.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsagriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.4% (2017 est.) services: 92.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Central African Republicagriculture: 43.2% (2017 est.) industry: 16% (2017 est.) services: 40.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Chadagriculture: 52.3% (2017 est.) industry: 14.7% (2017 est.) services: 33.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Chileagriculture: 4.2% (2017 est.) industry: 32.8% (2017 est.) services: 63% (2017 est.) Topic: Chinaagriculture: 7.9% (2017 est.) industry: 40.5% (2017 est.) services: 51.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Colombiaagriculture: 7.2% (2017 est.) industry: 30.8% (2017 est.) services: 62.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Comorosagriculture: 47.7% (2017 est.) industry: 11.8% (2017 est.) services: 40.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theagriculture: 19.7% (2017 est.) industry: 43.6% (2017 est.) services: 36.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theagriculture: 9.3% (2017 est.) industry: 51% (2017 est.) services: 39.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsagriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.) industry: 12.7% (2010 est.) services: 82.1% (2010 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaagriculture: 5.5% (2017 est.) industry: 20.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireagriculture: 20.1% (2017 est.) industry: 26.6% (2017 est.) services: 53.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Croatiaagriculture: 3.7% (2017 est.) industry: 26.2% (2017 est.) services: 70.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Cubaagriculture: 4% (2017 est.) industry: 22.7% (2017 est.) services: 73.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Curacaoagriculture: 0.7% (2012 est.) industry: 15.5% (2012 est.) services: 83.8% (2012 est.) Topic: Cyprusagriculture: 2% (2017 est.) industry: 12.5% (2017 est.) services: 85.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Czechiaagriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.) industry: 36.9% (2017 est.) services: 60.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Denmarkagriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 22.9% (2017 est.) services: 75.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Djiboutiagriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 17.3% (2017 est.) services: 80.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Dominicaagriculture: 22.3% (2017 est.) industry: 12.6% (2017 est.) services: 65.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicagriculture: 5.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 61.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Ecuadoragriculture: 6.7% (2017 est.) industry: 32.9% (2017 est.) services: 60.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Egyptagriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.) industry: 34.3% (2017 est.) services: 54% (2017 est.) Topic: El Salvadoragriculture: 12% (2017 est.) industry: 27.7% (2017 est.) services: 60.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaagriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.) industry: 54.6% (2017 est.) services: 42.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Eritreaagriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.) industry: 29.6% (2017 est.) services: 58.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Estoniaagriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.) industry: 29.2% (2017 est.) services: 68.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Eswatiniagriculture: 6.5% (2017 est.) industry: 45% (2017 est.) services: 48.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaagriculture: 34.8% (2017 est.) industry: 21.6% (2017 est.) services: 43.6% (2017 est.) Topic: European Unionagriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.1% (2017 est.) services: 70.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)agriculture: 41% (2015 est.) industry: 20.6% (2015 est.) services: 38.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsagriculture: 18% (2013 est.) industry: 39% (2013 est.) services: 43% (2013 est.) Topic: Fijiagriculture: 13.5% (2017 est.) industry: 17.4% (2017 est.) services: 69.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Finlandagriculture: 2.7% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 69.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Franceagriculture: 1.7% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 78.8% (2017 est.) Topic: French Polynesiaagriculture: 2.5% (2009) industry: 13% (2009) services: 84.5% (2009) Topic: Gabonagriculture: 5% (2017 est.) industry: 44.7% (2017 est.) services: 50.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theagriculture: 20.4% (2017 est.) industry: 14.2% (2017 est.) services: 65.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripagriculture: 3% (2017 est.) industry: 21.1% (2017 est.) services: 75% (2017 est.) note: data exclude the West Bank Topic: Georgiaagriculture: 8.2% (2017 est.) industry: 23.7% (2017 est.) services: 67.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Germanyagriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 30.7% (2017 est.) services: 68.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Ghanaagriculture: 18.3% (2017 est.) industry: 24.5% (2017 est.) services: 57.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Gibraltaragriculture: 0% (2016 est.) industry: 0% (2008 est.) services: 100% (2016 est.) Topic: Greeceagriculture: 4.1% (2017 est.) industry: 16.9% (2017 est.) services: 79.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Greenlandagriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.) industry: 10.1% (2015 est.) services: 73.9% (2015) Topic: Grenadaagriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.) industry: 15.5% (2017 est.) services: 77.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Guamagriculture: NA industry: NA services: 58.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Guatemalaagriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.) industry: 23.4% (2017 est.) services: 63.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Guernseyagriculture: 3% (2000) industry: 10% (2000) services: 87% (2000) Topic: Guineaagriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.1% (2017 est.) services: 48.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauagriculture: 50% (2017 est.) industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) services: 36.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Guyanaagriculture: 15.4% (2017 est.) industry: 15.3% (2017 est.) services: 69.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Haitiagriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 57.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Hondurasagriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.) industry: 28.8% (2017 est.) services: 57% (2017 est.) Topic: Hong Kongagriculture: 0.1% (2017 est.) industry: 7.6% (2017 est.) services: 92.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Hungaryagriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 31.3% (2017 est.) services: 64.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Icelandagriculture: 5.8% (2017 est.) industry: 19.7% (2017 est.) services: 74.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Indiaagriculture: 15.4% (2016 est.) industry: 23% (2016 est.) services: 61.5% (2016 est.) Topic: Indonesiaagriculture: 13.7% (2017 est.) industry: 41% (2017 est.) services: 45.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Iranagriculture: 9.6% (2016 est.) industry: 35.3% (2016 est.) services: 55% (2017 est.) Topic: Iraqagriculture: 3.3% (2017 est.) industry: 51% (2017 est.) services: 45.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Irelandagriculture: 1.2% (2017 est.) industry: 38.6% (2017 est.) services: 60.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Isle of Managriculture: 1% (FY12/13 est.) industry: 13% (FY12/13 est.) services: 86% (FY12/13 est.) Topic: Israelagriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 26.5% (2017 est.) services: 69.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Italyagriculture: 2.1% (2017 est.) industry: 23.9% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Jamaicaagriculture: 7% (2017 est.) industry: 21.1% (2017 est.) services: 71.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Japanagriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.) industry: 30.1% (2017 est.) services: 68.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Jerseyagriculture: 2% (2010) industry: 2% (2010) services: 96% (2010) Topic: Jordanagriculture: 4.5% (2017 est.) industry: 28.8% (2017 est.) services: 66.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanagriculture: 4.7% (2017 est.) industry: 34.1% (2017 est.) services: 61.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Kenyaagriculture: 34.5% (2017 est.) industry: 17.8% (2017 est.) services: 47.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Kiribatiagriculture: 23% (2016 est.) industry: 7% (2016 est.) services: 70% (2016 est.) Topic: Korea, Northagriculture: 22.5% (2017 est.) industry: 47.6% (2017 est.) services: 29.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Korea, Southagriculture: 2.2% (2017 est.) industry: 39.3% (2017 est.) services: 58.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Kosovoagriculture: 11.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.7% (2017 est.) services: 70.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Kuwaitagriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.) industry: 58.7% (2017 est.) services: 40.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanagriculture: 14.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.2% (2017 est.) services: 54.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Laosagriculture: 20.9% (2017 est.) industry: 33.2% (2017 est.) services: 45.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Latviaagriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 22.4% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Lebanonagriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) services: 83% (2017 est.) Topic: Lesothoagriculture: 5.8% (2016 est.) industry: 39.2% (2016 est.) services: 54.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Liberiaagriculture: 34% (2017 est.) industry: 13.8% (2017 est.) services: 52.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Libyaagriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 52.3% (2017 est.) services: 46.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinagriculture: 7% (2014) industry: 41% (2014) services: 52% (2014) Topic: Lithuaniaagriculture: 3.5% (2017 est.) industry: 29.4% (2017 est.) services: 67.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Luxembourgagriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 12.8% (2017 est.) services: 86.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Macauagriculture: 0% (2016 est.) industry: 6.3% (2017 est.) services: 93.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Madagascaragriculture: 24% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 56.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Malawiagriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.) industry: 15.4% (2017 est.) services: 56% (2017 est.) Topic: Malaysiaagriculture: 8.8% (2017 est.) industry: 37.6% (2017 est.) services: 53.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Maldivesagriculture: 3% (2015 est.) industry: 16% (2015 est.) services: 81% (2015 est.) Topic: Maliagriculture: 41.8% (2017 est.) industry: 18.1% (2017 est.) services: 40.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Maltaagriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.) industry: 10.2% (2017 est.) services: 88.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsagriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.) industry: 9.9% (2013 est.) services: 85.7% (2013 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaagriculture: 27.8% (2017 est.) industry: 29.3% (2017 est.) services: 42.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Mauritiusagriculture: 4% (2017 est.) industry: 21.8% (2017 est.) services: 74.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Mexicoagriculture: 3.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.9% (2017 est.) services: 64.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofagriculture: 26.3% (2013 est.) industry: 18.9% (2013 est.) services: 54.8% (2013 est.) Topic: Moldovaagriculture: 17.7% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 62% (2017 est.) Topic: Monacoagriculture: 0% (2013) industry: 14% (2013) services: 86% (2013) Topic: Mongoliaagriculture: 12.1% (2017 est.) industry: 38.2% (2017 est.) services: 49.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Montenegroagriculture: 7.5% (2016 est.) industry: 15.9% (2016 est.) services: 76.6% (2016 est.) Topic: Montserratagriculture: 1.9% (2017 est.) industry: 7.8% (2017 est.) services: 90.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Moroccoagriculture: 14% (2017 est.) industry: 29.5% (2017 est.) services: 56.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Mozambiqueagriculture: 23.9% (2017 est.) industry: 19.3% (2017 est.) services: 56.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Namibiaagriculture: 6.7% (2016 est.) industry: 26.3% (2016 est.) services: 67% (2017 est.) Topic: Nauruagriculture: 6.1% (2009 est.) industry: 33% (2009 est.) services: 60.8% (2009 est.) Topic: Nepalagriculture: 27% (2017 est.) industry: 13.5% (2017 est.) services: 59.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Netherlandsagriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 17.9% (2017 est.) services: 70.2% (2017 est.) Topic: New Caledoniaagriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.) industry: 26.4% (2017 est.) services: 72.1% (2017 est.) Topic: New Zealandagriculture: 5.7% (2017 est.) industry: 21.5% (2017 est.) services: 72.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaagriculture: 15.5% (2017 est.) industry: 24.4% (2017 est.) services: 60% (2017 est.) Topic: Nigeragriculture: 41.6% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 38.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Nigeriaagriculture: 21.1% (2016 est.) industry: 22.5% (2016 est.) services: 56.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Niueagriculture: 23.5% (2003) industry: 26.9% (2003) services: 49.5% (2003) Topic: North Macedoniaagriculture: 10.9% (2017 est.) industry: 26.6% (2017 est.) services: 62.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsagriculture: 1.7% (2016) industry: 58.1% (2016 est.) services: 40.2% (2016) Topic: Norwayagriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.) industry: 33.7% (2017 est.) services: 64% (2017 est.) Topic: Omanagriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 46.4% (2017 est.) services: 51.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Pakistanagriculture: 24.4% (2016 est.) industry: 19.1% (2016 est.) services: 56.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Palauagriculture: 3% (2016 est.) industry: 19% (2016 est.) services: 78% (2016 est.) Topic: Panamaagriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 15.7% (2017 est.) services: 82% (2017 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaagriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.) industry: 42.9% (2017 est.) services: 35% (2017 est.) Topic: Paraguayagriculture: 17.9% (2017 est.) industry: 27.7% (2017 est.) services: 54.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Peruagriculture: 7.6% (2017 est.) industry: 32.7% (2017 est.) services: 59.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Philippinesagriculture: 9.6% (2017 est.) industry: 30.6% (2017 est.) services: 59.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Polandagriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 40.2% (2017 est.) services: 57.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Portugalagriculture: 2.2% (2017 est.) industry: 22.1% (2017 est.) services: 75.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricoagriculture: 0.8% (2017 est.) industry: 50.1% (2017 est.) services: 49.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Qataragriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) industry: 50.3% (2017 est.) services: 49.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Romaniaagriculture: 4.2% (2017 est.) industry: 33.2% (2017 est.) services: 62.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Russiaagriculture: 4.7% (2017 est.) industry: 32.4% (2017 est.) services: 62.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Rwandaagriculture: 30.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.6% (2017 est.) services: 51.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisagriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.) industry: 30% (2017 est.) services: 68.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaagriculture: 2.9% (2017 est.) industry: 14.2% (2017 est.) services: 82.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Saint Martinagriculture: 1% (2000) industry: 15% (2000) services: 84% (2000) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonagriculture: 2% (2006 est.) industry: 15% (2006 est.) services: 83% (2006 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesagriculture: 7.1% (2017 est.) industry: 17.4% (2017 est.) services: 75.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Samoaagriculture: 10.4% (2017 est.) industry: 23.6% (2017 est.) services: 66% (2017 est.) Topic: San Marinoagriculture: 0.1% (2009) industry: 39.2% (2009) services: 60.7% (2009) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeagriculture: 11.8% (2017 est.) industry: 14.8% (2017 est.) services: 73.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaagriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 44.2% (2017 est.) services: 53.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Senegalagriculture: 16.9% (2017 est.) industry: 24.3% (2017 est.) services: 58.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Serbiaagriculture: 9.8% (2017 est.) industry: 41.1% (2017 est.) services: 49.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Seychellesagriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.) industry: 13.8% (2017 est.) services: 83.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneagriculture: 60.7% (2017 est.) industry: 6.5% (2017 est.) services: 32.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Singaporeagriculture: 0% (2017 est.) industry: 24.8% (2017 est.) services: 75.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Sint Maartenagriculture: 0.4% (2008 est.) industry: 18.3% (2008 est.) services: 81.3% (2008 est.) Topic: Slovakiaagriculture: 3.8% (2017 est.) industry: 35% (2017 est.) services: 61.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Sloveniaagriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.2% (2017 est.) services: 65.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsagriculture: 34.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.6% (2017 est.) services: 58.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Somaliaagriculture: 60.2% (2013 est.) industry: 7.4% (2013 est.) services: 32.5% (2013 est.) Topic: South Africaagriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.) industry: 29.7% (2017 est.) services: 67.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Spainagriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 23.2% (2017 est.) services: 74.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Sri Lankaagriculture: 7.8% (2017 est.) industry: 30.5% (2017 est.) services: 61.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Sudanagriculture: 39.6% (2017 est.) industry: 2.6% (2017 est.) services: 57.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Surinameagriculture: 11.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.1% (2017 est.) services: 57.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Swedenagriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 65.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Switzerlandagriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 25.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Syriaagriculture: 20% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 60.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Taiwanagriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 36% (2017 est.) services: 62.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Tajikistanagriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.5% (2017 est.) services: 45.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaagriculture: 23.4% (2017 est.) industry: 28.6% (2017 est.) services: 47.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Thailandagriculture: 8.2% (2017 est.) industry: 36.2% (2017 est.) services: 55.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteagriculture: 9.1% (2017 est.) industry: 56.7% (2017 est.) services: 34.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Togoagriculture: 28.8% (2017 est.) industry: 21.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Tokelauagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Tongaagriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 59.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoagriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.) industry: 47.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Tunisiaagriculture: 10.1% (2017 est.) industry: 26.2% (2017 est.) services: 63.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.3% (2017 est.) services: 60.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanagriculture: 7.5% (2017 est.) industry: 44.9% (2017 est.) services: 47.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsagriculture: 0.5% (2017 est.) industry: 8.9% (2017 est.) services: 90.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Tuvaluagriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.) industry: 5.6% (2012 est.) services: 70% (2012 est.) Topic: Ugandaagriculture: 28.2% (2017 est.) industry: 21.1% (2017 est.) services: 50.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Ukraineagriculture: 12.2% (2017 est.) industry: 28.6% (2017 est.) services: 60% (2017 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesagriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 49.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.2% (2017 est.) Topic: United Kingdomagriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 20.2% (2017 est.) services: 79.2% (2017 est.) Topic: United Statesagriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 19.1% (2017 est.) services: 80% (2017 est.) Topic: Uruguayagriculture: 6.2% (2017 est.) industry: 24.1% (2017 est.) services: 69.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanagriculture: 17.9% (2017 est.) industry: 33.7% (2017 est.) services: 48.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Vanuatuagriculture: 27.3% (2017 est.) industry: 11.8% (2017 est.) services: 60.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Venezuelaagriculture: 4.7% (2017 est.) industry: 40.4% (2017 est.) services: 54.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Vietnamagriculture: 15.3% (2017 est.) industry: 33.3% (2017 est.) services: 51.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsagriculture: 2% (2012 est.) industry: 20% (2012 est.) services: 78% (2012 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunaagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: West Bankagriculture: 2.9% (2017 est.) industry: 19.5% (2017 est.) services: 77.6% (2017 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip Topic: Worldagriculture: 6.4% (2017 est.) industry: 30% (2017 est.) services: 63% (2017 est.) Topic: Yemenagriculture: 20.3% (2017 est.) industry: 11.8% (2017 est.) services: 67.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Zambiaagriculture: 7.5% (2017 est.) industry: 35.3% (2017 est.) services: 57% (2017 est.) Topic: Zimbabweagriculture: 12% (2017 est.) industry: 22.2% (2017 est.) services: 65.8% (2017 est.)

20220901

countries-solomon-islands-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution traveling to Solomon Islands due to low COVID-19 vaccination rates. 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. US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands; +(675) 321-1455; EMER: +(675) 7200-9439; US Embassy Port Moresby, Courier Service Address: Douglas Street, adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov; https://pg.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 677 Local Emergency Phone: 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 monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes Currency (Code): Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G, I Major Languages: Melanesian pidgin, English; note: 120 indigenous languages Major Religions: Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia, South Sea Evangelical, Seventh Day Adventist, United Church, Christian Fellowship Church), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9% Time Difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: East Rennell; Guadalcanal American Memorial; Bonegi I & II; Morovo Lagoon; Tenaru Falls Major Sports: Rugby, soccer, futsal (indoor court soccer), beach soccer Cultural Practices: Tourists are advised to dress modestly and cursing is a crime punishable by a fine, jail time, or both. Tipping Guidelines: There is no tipping and visitors are requested to honor this local custom. However, visitors can contribute to a shared tipping box whose contents are distributed at Christmas. Souvenirs: Wood carvings, woven baskets and other woven goods, mother-of-pearl and shell jewelry and other decorative items Traditional Cuisine: Poi — a savory side dish of rinsed taro roots turned into a pastePlease 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, July 20, 2022

20220901

countries-costa-rica

Topic: Photos of Costa Rica Topic: Introduction Background: Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by indigenous populations, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.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 Nicaragua and Panama Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 51,100 sq km land: 51,060 sq km water: 40 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 661 km border countries (2): Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km Coastline: 1,290 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes Elevation: highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 746 m Natural resources: hydropower Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 1,015 sq km (2012) Population distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialbaoccasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba Geography - note: four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65 Map description: Costa Rica map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.Costa Rica map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,204,411 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican Ethnic groups: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.) Languages: Spanish (official), English major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.) Demographic profile: Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades.Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field.Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades.Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field. Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.08% (male 575,731/female 549,802) 15-24 years: 15.19% (male 395,202/female 379,277) 25-54 years: 43.98% (male 1,130,387/female 1,111,791) 55-64 years: 9.99% (male 247,267/female 261,847) 65 years and over: 8.76% (2020 est.) (male 205,463/female 241,221) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.1 youth dependency ratio: 30.2 elderly dependency ratio: 14.9 potential support ratio: 6.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 32.6 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.01% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.441 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 8.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.64 years male: 76.99 years female: 82.43 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.9% (2018) 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: 7.3% (2019) Physicians density: 3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 97.1% of population total: 98.7% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 2.9% of population total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 16,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.7% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 8.8% (2020 est.) male: 12.9% (2020 est.) female: 4.6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2% women married by age 18: 17.1% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 97.8% female: 97.9% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.7% male: 34% female: 50.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution 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, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.61 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.82% 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: 1.46 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 18,396 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.3% (2014 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 652 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 2.302 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 113 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica etymology: the name means "rich coast" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of Saint Joseph Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Constitution: history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court 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: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 6 February 2022 with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026 with a runoff in April 2026) election results: 2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 6 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - PLN 24.8%, PPSD 15%, PUSC 11.4%, PNR 10.1%, PLP 9.1%, 8.3%, other 21.3%; seats by party - PLN 19,  PPSD 10, PUSC 9, PNR 7, PLP 6, PFA 6; composition - men 30, women 27, percent of women 47.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal Political parties and leaders: Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA Castellanos] Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda] Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marta Eugenia SOLANO Arias] Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO Alvarez] Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales] Liberal Progressive Party or PLP [Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz] National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes] National Liberation Party or PLN [Kattia RIVERA Soto] National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo] New Generation or PNG [Rodolfo SOLIS Herrera] New Republic Party or PNR [Francisco Javier PRENDAS Rodriguez] Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover] Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Otto ROBERTO Vargas] Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Randall QUIROS Bustamante] Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD [Luz Mary ALPIZAR Loaiza] Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA Castellanos] Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda] Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marta Eugenia SOLANO Arias] Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO Alvarez] Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales] Liberal Progressive Party or PLP [Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz] National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes] National Liberation Party or PLN [Kattia RIVERA Soto] National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo] New Generation or PNG [Rodolfo SOLIS Herrera] New Republic Party or PNR [Francisco Javier PRENDAS Rodriguez] Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover] Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Otto ROBERTO Vargas] Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Randall QUIROS Bustamante] Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD [Luz Mary ALPIZAR Loaiza] International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia A. TELLES (since 11 March 2022) embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: 3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC  20521-3180 telephone: [506] 2519-2000 FAX: [506] 2519-2305 email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov https://cr.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed National symbol(s): yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica) lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the US and UK; the lyrics were added in 1903 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Guanacaste Conservation Area (n); Cocos Island National Park (n); Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c); La Amistad International Park (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism.   Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment.   Costa Rica’s economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the government’s strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica’s credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP.Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment. Costa Rica’s economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the government’s strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica’s credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $100.25 billion (2020 est.) $105.02 billion (2019 est.) $102.79 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.3% (2017 est.) 4.2% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $19,700 (2020 est.) $20,800 (2019 est.) $20,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $61.855 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2019 est.) 2.2% (2018 est.) 1.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2020) Moody's rating: B2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.5% (2017 est.) industry: 20.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 33.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.843 million (2020 est.) note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.1% (2017 est.) 9.5% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 40.7% male: 34% female: 50.9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 21% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 48 (2018 est.) 49.2 (2013) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 36.9% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 8.357 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 11.92 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.692 billion (2017 est.) -$1.326 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $21.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2019) Imports: $19.39 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $19.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $29.589 billion (2019 est.) $28.553 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 573.5 (2017 est.) 544.74 (2016 est.) 544.74 (2015 est.) 534.57 (2014 est.) 538.32 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: Installed generating capacity: 3.674 million kW (2020 est.) Consumption: 10,072,472,000 kWh (2019 est.) Exports: 712 million kWh (2019 est.) Imports: 733 million kWh (2019 est.) Transmission/distribution losses: 1,321,498,000 kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: Fossil fuels: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Wind: 12.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Hydroelectricity: 71.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Geothermal: 14.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: Total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2021 est.) Refined petroleum consumption: 63,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 51,320 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.115 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From petroleum and other liquids: 8.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 44.899 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 559,882 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7,512,370 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: in Aug 2021 Liberty Latin America (LLA) completed its acquisition of Telefónica Costa Rica (Movistar) — Costa Rica’s second-largest mobile network operator — for around $505 million; the deal followed on the heels of the failure of Millicom to buy Movistar earlier in the year, at a higher price; LLA’s local unit Cabletica will be able to combine its fixed telecom services with Movistar’s mobile offerings; a rebranding exercise is anticipated in 2022, with the Movistar brand likely to be phased out; the fixed broadband market is one of the few parts of Costa Rica’s telecom sector to experience solid growth in recent years, both in size and revenue; the country’s fiber network expanded by 56% in 2020, reaching about 176,200km; fixed-line broadband traffic volume also increased by more than 30%, year-on-year;  other areas of the market have proven relatively lack luster, with slow or even negative growth; ome of this can be attributed to the economic and social impacts of the pandemic, but the fixed-line and mobile sectors have both been struggling to produce decent results since well before the start of the crisis; the rollout of 5G network infrastructure in Costa Rica is unlikely to occur to any scale before 2023, but this may be one of the few remaining areas of opportunity open to investors outside of fixed-line internet and pay TV services.  (2021) 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 Broadcast media: over two dozen privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station nationwide; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2022) Internet country code: .cr Internet users: total: 4,126,232 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 992,725 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,948,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.13 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TI Airports: total: 161 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 114 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 96 (2021) Pipelines: 662 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 278 km (2014) narrow gauge: 278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge note: the entire rail network fell into disrepair and out of use at the end of the 20th century; since 2005, certain sections of rail have been rehabilitated Roadways: total: 5,035 km (2017) Waterways: 730 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft) Merchant marine: total: 11 by type: other 11 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon Pacific Ocean - Caldera Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Public Force (Fuerza Pública (National Police)), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras); Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2022) note: Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949 Military expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $630 million) 0.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $610 million) 0.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $600 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: 12,500 Public Force personnel; approximately 500-600 Air, 500-600 Coast Guard, and 300-400 Border Police personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Public Force is lightly armed with an inventory that includes mostly second-hand US equipment (2022) Military - note: Costa Rica relies on specialized paramilitary units within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) for internal security missions and countering transnational threats such as narcotics smuggling and organized crime, as well as for participating in regional security operations and exercises; MPS forces have received advisory and training support from both Colombia and the US; since 2012, the US has also provided some military equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed regionCosta Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 29,906 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2021) stateless persons: 205 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: significant transit country for drugs entering the United States; a growing drug consumption problem; drugs warehoused in Costa Rica end up in the local market where criminal organizations use cocaine as payment for services.   significant transit country for drugs entering the United States; a growing drug consumption problem; drugs warehoused in Costa Rica end up in the local market where criminal organizations use cocaine as payment for services.  

20220901

countries-oman

Topic: Photos of Oman Topic: Introduction Background: The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties with the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting Oman’s bicameral legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house, which took place in November 2011. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits, and, in August 2012, issued a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector Omani jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the sultan in 2011, the municipal councils have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. Sultan QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died on 11 January 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties with the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting Oman’s bicameral legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house, which took place in November 2011. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits, and, in August 2012, issued a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector Omani jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the sultan in 2011, the municipal councils have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. Sultan QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died on 11 January 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 309,500 sq km land: 309,500 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Georgia Land boundaries: total: 1,561 km border countries (3): Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km Coastline: 2,092 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south Terrain: central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south Elevation: highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m mean elevation: 310 m Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 590 sq km (2012) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts Geography - note: consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil Map description: Oman map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.Oman map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,764,348 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up approximately 46% of the total population (2019) Nationality: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.) note: Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.15% (male 561,791/female 533,949) 15-24 years: 17.35% (male 331,000/female 299,516) 25-54 years: 44.81% (male 928,812/female 699,821) 55-64 years: 4.02% (male 77,558/female 68,427) 65 years and over: 3.68% (2020 est.) (male 64,152/female 69,663) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 33.3 youth dependency ratio: 30 elderly dependency ratio: 3.3 potential support ratio: 29.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 26.2 years male: 27.2 years female: 25.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.84% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 22.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 3.23 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.623 million MUSCAT (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.9 years male: 74.96 years female: 78.93 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.7% (2014) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 97.9% of population total: 99.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2.1% of population total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.1% (2019) Physicians density: 1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017) 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: 0.1% (2019) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2,500 (2019) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 8% (2020 est.) male: 15.5% (2020 est.) female: 0.4% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2016/17) Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 97% female: 92.7% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.7% male: 10.3% female: 33.9% (2016) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents seeping into the water tables and aquifers; desertificaiton due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 38.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 63.46 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.6 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south Land use: agricultural land: 4.7% (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.) Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.32% 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: 1,734,885 tons (2014 est.) Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 135 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.607 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman former: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it apparently dates back at least 2,000 years since an "Omana" is mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) Government type: absolute monarchy Capital: name: Muscat geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer Ptolemy and the historian Arrian, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat Administrative divisions: 11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar) Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) National holiday: National Day, 18 November; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020 Constitution: history: promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011 amendments: promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree; amended by royal decree 2011, 2021 Legal system: mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic 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: the father must be a citizen of Oman dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said (since 11 January 2020); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAYTHAM bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said (since 11 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: description: bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of: Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (85 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens) Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (86 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms); note - since political reforms in 2011, legislation from the Consultative Council is submitted to the Council of State for review by the Royal Court elections: Council of State - last appointments on 11 July 2019 (next to be held in November 2023) Consultative Assembly - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: Council of State - composition - men 70, women 15, percent of women 17.6% Consultative Council percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (organized political parties in Oman are legally banned); composition men 84, women 2, percent of women 2.3%; note - total Council of Oman percent of women 9.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts Political parties and leaders: none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. TSOU (since 19 January 2020) embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat mailing address: 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC  20521 telephone: [968] 2464-3400 FAX: [968] 2464-3740 email address and website: ConsularMuscat@state.gov https://om.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility National symbol(s): khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green National anthem: name: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem) lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS note: adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his ship visit National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat Topic: Economy Economic overview: Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources, which can generate between and 68% and 85% of government revenue, depending on fluctuations in commodity prices. In 2016, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $13.8 billion, or approximately 20% of GDP, but the budget deficit is estimated to have reduced to 12% of GDP in 2017 as Oman reduced government subsidies. As of January 2018, Oman has sufficient foreign assets to support its currency’s fixed exchange rates. It is issuing debt to cover its deficit.   Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production, but it has simultaneously pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP. The key components of the government's diversification strategy are tourism, shipping and logistics, mining, manufacturing, and aquaculture.   Muscat also has notably focused on creating more Omani jobs to employ the rising number of nationals entering the workforce. However, high social welfare benefits - that had increased in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring - have made it impossible for the government to balance its budget in light of current oil prices. In response, Omani officials imposed austerity measures on its gasoline and diesel subsidies in 2016. These spending cuts have had only a moderate effect on the government’s budget, which is projected to again face a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2018.Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources, which can generate between and 68% and 85% of government revenue, depending on fluctuations in commodity prices. In 2016, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $13.8 billion, or approximately 20% of GDP, but the budget deficit is estimated to have reduced to 12% of GDP in 2017 as Oman reduced government subsidies. As of January 2018, Oman has sufficient foreign assets to support its currency’s fixed exchange rates. It is issuing debt to cover its deficit. Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production, but it has simultaneously pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP. The key components of the government's diversification strategy are tourism, shipping and logistics, mining, manufacturing, and aquaculture. Muscat also has notably focused on creating more Omani jobs to employ the rising number of nationals entering the workforce. However, high social welfare benefits - that had increased in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring - have made it impossible for the government to balance its budget in light of current oil prices. In response, Omani officials imposed austerity measures on its gasoline and diesel subsidies in 2016. These spending cuts have had only a moderate effect on the government’s budget, which is projected to again face a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $135.79 billion (2019 est.) $136.92 billion (2018 est.) $135.696 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -0.9% (2017 est.) 5% (2016 est.) 4.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $27,300 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $28,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $29,082 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $76.883 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.1% (2019 est.) 0.7% (2018 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB- (2020) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 46.4% (2017 est.) services: 51.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 36.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 27.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 51.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: dates, tomatoes, vegetables, goat milk, milk, cucumbers, green chillies/peppers, watermelons, sorghum, melons Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber Industrial production growth rate: -3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.255 million (2016 est.) note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.7% NA industry: 49.6% NA services: 45% (2016 est.) NA Unemployment rate: NANA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.7% male: 10.3% female: 33.9% (2016) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 22.14 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 31.92 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises Taxes and other revenues: 31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$10.76 billion (2017 est.) -$12.32 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $43.69 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $46.32 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 46%, India 8%, Japan 6%, South Korea 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, iron products, fertilizers (2019) Imports: $32.55 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $35.37 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 36%, China 10%, Japan 7%, India 7%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, gold, iron (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $16.09 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $20.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $46.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $27.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.38505 (2020 est.) 0.38505 (2019 est.) 0.385 (2018 est.) 0.3845 (2014 est.) 0.3845 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 92% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 8.601 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 32,320,020,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.717 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 115,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 115,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 978,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 234,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 779,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 229,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 33,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 6,041 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 36,596,746,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 24,279,419,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 13,798,040,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 1,605,959,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 651.286 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 76.321 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 191,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 29.682 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 46.447 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 292.022 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 594,550 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,276,535 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: for many years Oman’s mobile market was a duopoly between the incumbent telco Omantel and its challenger Ooredoo Oman; in February 2021, Vodafone Group and Oman Future Telecommunications consortium secured a license to operate the Sultanate’s third network, with services being under the Vodafone Oman brand; the new operator has been able to extend its reach based on a tower leasing arrangement signed in 2020 with Oman Tower Company; Oman has a modern mobile sector which comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and LTE networks; in February 2021 Omantel launched commercial 5G services, while Ooredoo Group has a five-year framework agreement with Ericsson to develop its 5G platform across the Group’s ten markets, including Oman; the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in mobile data traffic, which prompted Omantel to upgrade a number of sites from 3G to LTE, as well as build a number of additional 5G sites; while Oman’s fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved with the building of fiber-based networks as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 program; Oman has also established itself as an important communications hub in the Middle East, with access to numerous submarine cables including the 2Africa submarine cable, which should become available during 2023-2024; the 9,800km Oman Australia Cable running from Muscat to Perth, with the potential for a branch line to Djibouti, is making progress and is expected to be completed in December 2021; this additional infrastructure will provide considerable additional bandwidth. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and several additional stations now operating (2019) Internet country code: .om Internet users: total: 4,851,291 (2020 est.) percent of population: 95% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 508,949 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 57 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,438,241 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 510.43 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A4O Airports: total: 132 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 119 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 26 (2021) Heliports: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 106 km condensate, 4,224 km gas, 3,558 km oil, 33 km oil/gas/water, 264 km refined products (2013) Roadways: total: 60,230 km (2012) paved: 29,685 km (2012) (includes 1,943 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,545 km (2012) Merchant marine: total: 57 by type: general cargo 10, other 47 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar container port(s) (TEUs): Salalah (4,109,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (export): Qalhat Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO); Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, Royal Oman Police Coast Guard (2022) Military expenditures: 8% of GDP (2021 est.) 11% of GDP (2020 est.) 11.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $12.1 billion) 11.2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $11.8 billion) 12.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $12.7 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active duty troops (25,000 Army, 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 5,000 Royal Guard) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly Europe and the US; since 2010, the UK and the US are the leading suppliers of arms to Oman (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (women have been allowed to serve since 2011); no conscription (2022) Military - note: the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; as of 2022, 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 (2022) Maritime threats: the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region"; Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Omanthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region"; Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Oman-Saudi Arabia: none identified Oman-UAE: boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public; Oman and UAE signed the final demarcation of their land border in 2008 Oman-Yemen: Oman and Yemen signed a border agreement in 1992; demarcation of their border was completed in 1995  Oman-Saudi Arabia: none identifiedOman-UAE: boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public; Oman and UAE signed the final demarcation of their land border in 2008Oman-Yemen: Oman and Yemen signed a border agreement in 1992; demarcation of their border was completed in 1995  Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Yemen) (2017)

20220901

countries-fiji-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Fiji. 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 you do not stay in the country more than 4 months. US Embassy/Consulate: [679] 331-4466; US Embassy in Suva, 158 Princes Road, Tamavua, PO Box 218, Suva, Fiji; https://fj.usembassy.gov/; SuvaACS@state.gov Telephone Code: 679 Local Emergency Phone: 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 marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation Currency (Code): Fijian dollars (FJD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): I Major Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official) Major Religions: Protestant 45%, Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3% Time Difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands; Taveuni Island (includes Bouma National Heritage Park); Beqa Lagoon Major Sports: Rugby, soccer Cultural Practices: In more conservative village environments, it is considered proper to remove one's hat and sunglasses when greeting someone in public. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not required or expected. In lieu of tipping individuals, many resorts have a "Staff Christmas Fund" box available so their guests can contribute to the staff as a whole. Round up the fare for taxis. Souvenirs: Wood-carved mako masks and other tribal wooden items, shell items, pearls, pottery, tapa cloth; pandanus woven mats, baskets, and rope Traditional Cuisine: Kokoda — fresh, raw fish such as mahi-mahi or snapper marinated in a combination of coconut milk and citrus juices; often garnished with sea salt, minced chilis, finely sliced green onions, or coriander leavesPlease 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, July 25, 2022

20220901

references-selected-international-environmental-agreements

Topic: Air Pollution Topic: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals Topic: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Topic: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Topic: Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 Topic: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 Topic: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Topic: Antarctic - Environmental Protocol Topic: Antarctic Treaty Topic: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal Topic: Biodiversity Topic: Climate Change

20220901

field-railways-country-comparison

20220901

field-revenue-from-forest-resources

This entry refers to the economic profits, expressed as a percentage of a country's GDP, from the harvesting of forests (e.g., lumber and timber industries). These profits equal forest gross revenues minus costs to harvest the forest. Other sources may refer to this field as forest rents. Topic: Afghanistanforest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Albaniaforest revenues: 0.18% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Algeriaforest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: American Samoaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Andorraforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Angolaforest revenues: 0.36% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Argentinaforest revenues: 0.09% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Armeniaforest revenues: 0.28% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Arubaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Australiaforest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Austriaforest revenues: 0.07% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Theforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bahrainforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bangladeshforest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Barbadosforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Belarusforest revenues: 1.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Belgiumforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Belizeforest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Beninforest revenues: 2.24% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bhutanforest revenues: 1.89% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Boliviaforest revenues: 0.33% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaforest revenues: 0.49% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Botswanaforest revenues: 0.23% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Brazilforest revenues: 0.62% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bruneiforest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bulgariaforest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoforest revenues: 4.54% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Burmaforest revenues: 1.69% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Burundiforest revenues: 10.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeforest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cambodiaforest revenues: 0.84% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cameroonforest revenues: 2.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Canadaforest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Central African Republicforest revenues: 8.99% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Chadforest revenues: 3.81% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Chileforest revenues: 0.49% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Chinaforest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Colombiaforest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Comorosforest revenues: 1.39% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theforest revenues: 8.72% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theforest revenues: 3.17% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaforest revenues: 0.82% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireforest revenues: 2.04% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Croatiaforest revenues: 0.26% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cubaforest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Curacaoforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cyprusforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Czechiaforest revenues: 0.17% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Denmarkforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Djiboutiforest revenues: 0.26% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Dominicaforest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicforest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ecuadorforest revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Egyptforest revenues: 0.15% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: El Salvadorforest revenues: 0.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaforest revenues: 1.52% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Estoniaforest revenues: 0.85% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Eswatiniforest revenues: 2.25% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaforest revenues: 5.81% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: European Unionforest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Fijiforest revenues: 0.59% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Finlandforest revenues: 0.36% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Franceforest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Gabonforest revenues: 2.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theforest revenues: 2.47% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Georgiaforest revenues: 0.07% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Germanyforest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ghanaforest revenues: 3.51% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Greeceforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Greenlandforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Grenadaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Guamforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Guatemalaforest revenues: 0.78% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Guineaforest revenues: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauforest revenues: 9.24% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Guyanaforest revenues: 4.56% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Haitiforest revenues: 0.68% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Hondurasforest revenues: 0.91% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Hong Kongforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Hungaryforest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Icelandforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Indiaforest revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Indonesiaforest revenues: 0.39% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Iranforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Iraqforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Irelandforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Isle of Manforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Israelforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Italyforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Jamaicaforest revenues: 0.15% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Japanforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Jordanforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kenyaforest revenues: 1.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kiribatiforest revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Korea, Southforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kosovoforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kuwaitforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Laosforest revenues: 1.48% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Latviaforest revenues: 0.85% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Lebanonforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Lesothoforest revenues: 3.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Liberiaforest revenues: 13.27% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Libyaforest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Lithuaniaforest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Luxembourgforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Macauforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Madagascarforest revenues: 4.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Malawiforest revenues: 6.19% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Malaysiaforest revenues: 1.57% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Maldivesforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Maliforest revenues: 2.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Maltaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaforest revenues: 1.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Mauritiusforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Mexicoforest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States offorest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Moldovaforest revenues: 0.26% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Monacoforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Mongoliaforest revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Montenegroforest revenues: 0.43% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Moroccoforest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Mozambiqueforest revenues: 6.46% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Namibiaforest revenues: 0.47% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nauruforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nepalforest revenues: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Netherlandsforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: New Zealandforest revenues: 0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaforest revenues: 1.26% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nigerforest revenues: 4.41% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nigeriaforest revenues: 1.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: North Macedoniaforest revenues: 0.15% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Norwayforest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Omanforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Pakistanforest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Palauforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Panamaforest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaforest revenues: 2.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Paraguayforest revenues: 1.21% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Peruforest revenues: 0.12% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Philippinesforest revenues: 0.18% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Polandforest revenues: 0.17% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Portugalforest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricoforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Qatarforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Romaniaforest revenues: 0.16% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Russiaforest revenues: 0.29% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Rwandaforest revenues: 3.75% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Samoaforest revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: San Marinoforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeforest revenues: 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Senegalforest revenues: 1.46% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Serbiaforest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Seychellesforest revenues: 0.09% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneforest revenues: 6.92% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Singaporeforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Slovakiaforest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Sloveniaforest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsforest revenues: 20.27% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: South Sudanforest revenues: 2.65% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: Spainforest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Sri Lankaforest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Sudanforest revenues: 3.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Surinameforest revenues: 2.36% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Swedenforest revenues: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Switzerlandforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Tajikistanforest revenues: 1.12% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaforest revenues: 2.19% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Thailandforest revenues: 0.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteforest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Togoforest revenues: 3.96% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Tongaforest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoforest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Tunisiaforest revenues: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Tuvaluforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ugandaforest revenues: 7.32% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ukraineforest revenues: 0.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: United Kingdomforest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: United Statesforest revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Uruguayforest revenues: 1.56% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Vanuatuforest revenues: 0.54% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Vietnamforest revenues: 1.49% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: West Bankforest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Yemenforest revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Zambiaforest revenues: 4.45% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Zimbabweforest revenues: 1.61% of GDP (2018 est.)

20220901

countries-paracel-islands

Topic: Photos of Paracel Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied all the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor, and has scattered garrisons on some of the other islands. The Paracel islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 8 sq km ca. land: 7.75 sq km ca. water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: land area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 518 km Maritime claims: NA Climate: tropical Terrain: mostly low and flat Elevation: highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands Natural hazards: typhoons Geography - note: composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group Map description: Paracel Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the South China Sea.Paracel Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the South China Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,440 (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 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: 0.75% (2021 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: (2021 est.) NA Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Population distribution: a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands 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: China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; ongoing human activities, including military operations, infrastructure construction, and tourism endangers local ecosystem including birds, fish, marine mammals, and marine reptiles Climate: tropical Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands etymology: Portuguese navigators began to refer to the "Ilhas do Pracel" in the 16th century as a designation of low lying islets, sandbanks, and reefs scattered over a wide area; over time the name changed to "parcel" and then "paracel" Topic: Economy Economic overview: The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis. Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island Topic: Military and Security Military - note: occupied 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Paracel Islands-China-Taiwan-Vietnam: occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and VietnamParacel Islands-China-Taiwan-Vietnam: occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

20220901

countries-united-arab-emirates

Topic: Photos of United Arab Emirates Topic: Introduction Background: The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates of political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat-ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. On 15 September 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 83,600 sq km land: 83,600 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: total: 1,066 km border countries (2): Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km Coastline: 1,318 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: desert; cooler in eastern mountains Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east Elevation: highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong location of the high elevation lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m mean elevation: 149 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas Land use: agricultural 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.) Irrigated land: 923 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms Geography - note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil Map description: United Arab Emirates map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.  United Arab Emirates map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.  Topic: People and Society Population: 9,915,803 (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) Nationality: noun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati Ethnic groups: Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2019, immigrants make up about 87.9% of the total population, according to UN data Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian 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) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15% (2005 est.) note: data represent the total population; as of 2020, immigrants make up about 88.1% of the total population, according to UN data Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.45% (male 745,492/female 698,330) 15-24 years: 7.94% (male 431,751/female 361,804) 25-54 years: 68.03% (male 5,204,618/female 1,592,987) 55-64 years: 7.68% (male 658,892/female 108,850) 65 years and over: 1.9% (2020 est.) (male 146,221/female 43,138) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 19.2 youth dependency ratio: 17.7 elderly dependency ratio: 1.5 potential support ratio: 66.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 38.4 years male: 40.4 years female: 31.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.58% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.81 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 1.56 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah - are home to nearly 85% of the population Urbanization: urban population: 87.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.964 million Dubai, 1.786 million Sharjah, 1.540 million ABU DHABI (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at 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.) Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.56 years male: 78.21 years female: 80.99 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.64 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: 4.3% (2019) Physicians density: 2.6 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 1.4 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: 0.1% (2020) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020) <1,000 HIV/AIDS - deaths: 100 (2020) <100 Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout UAE; as of 18 August 2022, UAE has reported a total of 1,007,039 cases of COVID-19 or 10,181.98 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 2,340 cumulative deaths or a rate of 23.65 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98% female: 96.9% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.2% male: 4.9% female: 15% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills 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, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 39.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains Land use: agricultural 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.) Urbanization: urban population: 87.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.5% 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.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout UAE; as of 18 August 2022, UAE has reported a total of 1,007,039 cases of COVID-19 or 10,181.98 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 2,340 cumulative deaths or a rate of 23.65 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 617 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.312 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 150 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince" Government type: federation of monarchies Capital: name: Abu Dhabi geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: in Arabic, "abu" means "father" and "dhabi" refers to "gazelle"; the name may derive from an abundance of gazelles that used to live in the area, as well as a folk tale involving the "Father of the Gazelle," Shakhbut bin Dhiyab al Nahyan, whose hunting party tracked a gazelle to a spring on the island where Abu Dhabi was founded Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn Independence: 2 December 1971 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971) Constitution: history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996 amendments: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council president; amended 2009 Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil 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: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years Suffrage: limited; note - rulers of the seven emirates each select a proportion of voters for the Federal National Council (FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of Emirati citizens Executive branch: chief of state: President MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (since 14 May 2022); Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); note - MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan elected president by the Federal Supreme Council following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan on 13 May head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SAIF bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan, MANSUR bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (both since 11 May 2009), and MAKTOUM bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum (since 25 September 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council - composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates - for a 5-year term (no term limits); unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, following the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan (next election NA); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: MUHAMMAD bin Zayid Al-Nuhayan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote NA note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the 7 emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets 4 times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power Legislative branch: description: unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members indirectly elected using single non-transferable vote by an electoral college whose members are selected by each emirate ruler proportional to its FNC membership, and 20 members appointed by the rulers of the 7 constituent states; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held for indirectly elected members on 5 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: all candidates ran as independents; seats by emirate - Abu Dhabi 4, Dubai 4, Sharjah 3, Ras al-Khaimah 3, Ajman 2, Fujairah 2, Umm al-Quwain 2; composition (preliminary) - 13 men, 7 women, percent of elected women 35%; note - to attain overall FNC gender parity, 13 women and 7 men will be appointed; overall FNC percent of women 50% Judicial branch: highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president following approval by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiry of their appointment terms subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws promulgated at the federal and emirate level; federal level courts of first instance and appeals courts); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system; note - the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts and the Dubai International Financial Center Courts, the country’s two largest financial free zones, both adjudicate civil and commercial disputes. Political parties and leaders: none; political parties are banned International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif Mana Saeed Ahmed ALOTAIBA (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 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sean MURPHY (since January 2021) embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010 telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200 FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241 email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dubai Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification National symbol(s): golden falcon; national colors: green, white, black, red National anthem: name: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE) lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1996; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of Tunisia National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%.   Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors.   The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014.   The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP from the oil and gas sector to 30%. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE nearly 60 years ago, the country has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's free trade zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis of 2008-09, tight international credit, and deflated asset prices constricted the economy in 2009. UAE authorities tried to blunt the crisis by increasing spending and boosting liquidity in the banking sector. The crisis hit Dubai hardest, as it was heavily exposed to depressed real estate prices. Dubai lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations, prompting global concern about its solvency and ultimately a $20 billion bailout from the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi Government that was refinanced in March 2014. The UAE’s dependence on oil is a significant long-term challenge, although the UAE is one of the most diversified countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Low oil prices have prompted the UAE to cut expenditures, including on some social programs, but the UAE has sufficient assets in its sovereign investment funds to cover its deficits. The government reduced fuel subsidies in August 2015, and introduced excise taxes (50% on sweetened carbonated beverages and 100% on energy drinks and tobacco) in October 2017. A five-percent value-added tax was introduced in January 2018. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on economic diversification, promoting the UAE as a global trade and tourism hub, developing industry, and creating more job opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $655.79 billion (2019 est.) $644.97 billion (2018 est.) $637.384 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.8% (2017 est.) 3% (2016 est.) 5.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $67,100 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $67,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $67,184 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $421.077 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.9% (2019 est.) 3% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2020) Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.9% (2017 est.) industry: 49.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 34.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 100.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: dates, cucumbers, tomatoes, goat meat, eggs, milk, poultry, carrots/turnips, goat milk, sheep milk Industries: petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.344 million (2017 est.) note: expatriates account for about 85% of the workforce Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7% industry: 15% services: 78% (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: 1.6% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2014 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.2% male: 4.9% female: 15% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 19.5% (2003 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.5 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 110.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 111.1 billion (2017 est.) note: the UAE federal budget does not account for emirate-level spending in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 28.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $26.47 billion (2017 est.) $13.23 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $308.5 billion (2017 est.) $298.6 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: India 11%, Japan 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Switzerland 6%, China 6%, Iraq 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, jewelry, broadcasting equipment (2019) Imports: $229.2 billion (2017 est.) $226.5 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 15%, India 12%, Untied States 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: gold, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, refined petroleum, diamonds (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $218.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.67315 (2020 est.) 3.67315 (2019 est.) 3.67315 (2018 est.) 3.673 (2014 est.) 3.673 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 35.173 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 122.386 billion kWh (2019 est.) exports: 257 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 245 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.011 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 95.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 2.563 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 2.565 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 3,769,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 863,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 2,427,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 172,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 817,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 392,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 62,889,064,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 73,750,936,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 7,673,768,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 20,041,951,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 6,090,887,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 276.236 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.032 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 126.524 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 144.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 471.788 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,380,866 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 19,602,800 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 200.63 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the UAE has a strong mobile market, dominated by Etisalat and du; both are majority-owned by the government; in a bid to attract additional foreign investment, it was resolved in early 2021 that the stake held by foreigners in the two companies could be increased; Etisalat and du have deployed LTE networks providing national coverage, while the 5G penetration rate is the second highest globally after China; this has underpinned growth in the mobile broadband sector, and has enabled the strong development in the take-up of rich content and applications, as well as m-commerce; to help increase the capacity of 5G networks in coming years, and so keep up with data demand, the government has allowed for the GSM networks to be closed down and for spectrum and other assets to be re-purposed for 5G by the end of 2022; the fixed-broadband network in the UAE is dominated by fiber, with DSL having a minor and declining presence; this focus on a fully fiber infrastructure has also facilitated growth in e-commerce, and has supported the government’s long-term aim of transitioning the economy from its dependence on oil to being knowledge-based and supported by digital services; the country stands to benefit from having signed the Abraham Accord Declaration with Israel, which aims to normalize relations between the two countries; such benefits can be seen in the agreement to enable local ISPs to access Bezeq International’s submarine cable infrastructure, and so improve direct connectivity to Europe, South East Asia, and Africa; the UAE’s ISPs can also access Bezeq International’s data center in Tel Aviv, improving internet services. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: except for the many organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, most TV and radio stations remain government-owned; widespread use of satellite dishes provides access to pan-Arab and other international broadcasts; restrictions since June 2017 on some satellite channels and websites originating from or otherwise linked to Qatar (2018) Internet country code: .ae Internet users: total: 9,890,400 (2020 est.) percent of population: 100% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3,245,123 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 497 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 95,533,069 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 15,962,900,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A6 Airports: total: 43 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 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 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Heliports: 5 (2021) Pipelines: 533 km condensate, 3,277 km gas, 300 km liquid petroleum gas, 3287 km oil, 24 km oil/gas/water, 218 km refined products, 99 km water (2013) Roadways: total: 4,080 km (2008) paved: 4,080 km (2008) (includes 253 km of expressways) Merchant marine: total: 623 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 3, general cargo 117, oil tanker 19, other 483 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah) container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (14,111,000) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy Forces, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces); Ministry of Interior: Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Patrol Agency (CICPA) (2022) note: each emirate maintains a local police force called a general directorate, which is officially a branch of the federal Ministry of Interior; all emirate-level general directorates of police enforce their respective emirate’s laws autonomously; they also enforce federal laws within their emirate in coordination with one another under the federal ministry Military expenditures: 5.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $29 billion) 5.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $28.7 billion) 5.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $26.9 billion) 6% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $30 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 65,000 active personnel (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the UAE Armed Forces inventory is comprised of wide variety of mostly modern imported equipment; since 2010, the UAE has acquired military equipment from more than 20 countries with France, Russia, and the US as the leading suppliers; in recent years, the UAE has tried to boost its domestic defense industry (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 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 (2022) 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 Military deployments: estimates vary; reportedly a few hundred remain in Yemen; maintains military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (2022) Military - note: the UAE hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and 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) 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 (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: UAE-Oman: boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published UAE-Iran: Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island near the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has occupied since 1971 UAE-Saudi Arabia: the UAE has differences with Saudi Arabia over their border and the sharing of a major oilfield there, although the issue is seldom mentioned publicallyUAE-Oman: boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been publishedUAE-Iran: Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island near the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has occupied since 1971UAE-Saudi Arabia: the UAE has differences with Saudi Arabia over their border and the sharing of a major oilfield there, although the issue is seldom mentioned publically Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: a transshipment point for illegal narcotics and a pass-through for drug proceeds; numerous exchange houses and general trading companies increase potential for money; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

20220901

field-contraceptive-prevalence-rate

This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries. Topic: Afghanistan18.9% (2018) note:  percent of women aged 12-49 Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania46% (2017/18) Topic: Algeria57.1% (2012/13) Topic: American SamoaNA Topic: AndorraNA Topic: Angola13.7% (2015/16) Topic: AnguillaNA Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNA Topic: Argentina81.3% (2013) note:  percent of women aged 14-49 Topic: Armenia57.1% (2015/16) Topic: ArubaNA Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia66.9% (2015/16) note: percent of women aged 18-44 Topic: Austria79% (2019) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Topic: Azerbaijan54.9% (2011) Topic: BahrainNA Topic: Bangladesh62.7% (2019) Topic: Barbados59.2% (2012) Topic: Belarus71.2% (2017) note:  percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: Belgium66.7% (2018) Topic: Belize51.4% (2015/16) Topic: Benin15.5% (2017/18) Topic: BermudaNA Topic: BhutanNA Topic: Bolivia66.5% (2016) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina45.8% (2011/12) Topic: Botswana67.4% (2017) Topic: Bouvet IslandNA Topic: Brazil80.2% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA Topic: BruneiNA Topic: BulgariaNA Topic: Burkina Faso30.1% (2020) Topic: Burma52.2% (2015/16) Topic: Burundi28.5% (2016/17) Topic: Cabo Verde55.8% (2018) Topic: Cambodia56.3% (2014) Topic: Cameroon19.3% (2018) Topic: CanadaNA Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic17.8% (2019) Topic: Chad8.1% (2019) Topic: Chile76.3% (2015/16) Topic: China84.5% (2017) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Clipperton IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia81% (2015/16) Topic: Comoros19.4% (2012) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the28.1% (2017/18) Topic: Congo, Republic of the30.1% (2014/15) Topic: Cook IslandsNA Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica70.9% (2018) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire23.3% (2018) Topic: CroatiaNA Topic: Cuba69% (2019) Topic: CuracaoNA Topic: CyprusNA Topic: CzechiaNA Topic: DenmarkNA Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti19% (2012) Topic: DominicaNA Topic: Dominican Republic69.5% (2014) Topic: Ecuador80.1% (2007/12) Topic: Egypt58.5% (2014) Topic: El Salvador71.9% (2014) Topic: Equatorial Guinea12.6% (2011) Topic: Eritrea8.4% (2010) Topic: EstoniaNA Topic: Eswatini66.1% (2014) Topic: Ethiopia37% (2019) Topic: European UnionNA Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe IslandsNA Topic: FijiNA Topic: Finland85.5% (2015) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: France78.4% (2010/11) Topic: French PolynesiaNA Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon31.1% (2012) Topic: Gambia, The16.8% (2018) note: percent of women aged 15-49 Topic: Gaza Strip57.3% (2019/20) note:  includes Gaza Strip and West Bank Topic: Georgia40.6% (2018) Topic: Germany67% (2018) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: Ghana27.2% (2017/18) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: GreeceNA Topic: GreenlandNA Topic: GrenadaNA Topic: GuamNA Topic: Guatemala60.6% (2014/15) Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea10.9% (2018) Topic: Guinea-Bissau20.6% (2018) Topic: Guyana33.9% (2014) Topic: Haiti34.3% (2016/17) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras73.2% (2011/12) Topic: Hong Kong66.7% (2017) Topic: HungaryNA Topic: IcelandNA Topic: India53.5% (2015/16) Topic: Indonesia55.5% (2018) Topic: Iran77.4% (2010/11) Topic: Iraq52.8% (2018) Topic: IrelandNA Topic: Isle of ManNA Topic: IsraelNA Topic: Italy65.1% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: JamaicaNA Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan39.8% (2015) note: percent of women aged 20-49 Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan51.8% (2017/18) Topic: Kazakhstan53% (2018) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: Kenya59.7% (2019) Topic: Kiribati33.5% (2018/19) Topic: Korea, North70.2% (2017) Topic: Korea, South82.3% (2018) note: percent of women aged 20-49 Topic: KosovoNA Topic: KuwaitNA Topic: Kyrgyzstan39.4% (2018) Topic: Laos54.1% (2017) Topic: LatviaNA Topic: LebanonNA Topic: Lesotho64.9% (2018) Topic: Liberia24.9% (2019/20) Topic: Libya27.7% (2014) Topic: LiechtensteinNA Topic: LithuaniaNA Topic: LuxembourgNA Topic: MacauNA Topic: Madagascar44.4% (2018) Topic: Malawi59.2% (2015/16) Topic: Malaysia52.2% (2014) Topic: Maldives18.8% (2016/17) Topic: Mali17.2% (2018) Topic: MaltaNA Topic: Marshall IslandsNA Topic: Mauritania17.8% (2015) Topic: Mauritius63.8% (2014) Topic: Mexico73.1% (2018) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA Topic: Moldova56% (2020) Topic: MonacoNA Topic: Mongolia48.1% (2018) Topic: Montenegro20.7% (2018) Topic: MontserratNA Topic: Morocco70.8% (2018) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique27.1% (2015) Topic: Namibia56.1% (2013) Topic: NauruNA Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal46.7% (2019) Topic: Netherlands73% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-45 Topic: New CaledoniaNA Topic: New Zealand79.9% (2014/15) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Topic: Nicaragua80.4% (2011/12) Topic: Niger11% (2017/18) Topic: Nigeria16.6% (2018) Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedonia59.9% (2018/19) Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA Topic: NorwayNA Topic: Oman29.7% (2014) Topic: Pacific OceanNA Topic: Pakistan34% (2018/19) Topic: PalauNA Topic: Panama50.8% (2014/15) Topic: Papua New Guinea36.7% (2016/18) Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay68.4% (2016) Topic: Peru76.3% (2018) Topic: Philippines54.1% (2017) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: Poland62.3% (2014) Topic: Portugal73.9% (2014) Topic: Puerto RicoNA Topic: Qatar37.5% (2012) Topic: RomaniaNA Topic: Russia68% (2011) note: percent of women aged 15-44 Topic: Rwanda53.2% (2014/15) Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisNA Topic: Saint Lucia55.5% (2011/12) Topic: Saint MartinNA Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNA Topic: Samoa16.6% (2019/20) Topic: San MarinoNA Topic: Sao Tome and Principe49.7% (2019) Topic: Saudi Arabia24.6% (2016) Topic: Senegal26.9% (2019) Topic: Serbia62.3% (2019) Topic: SeychellesNA Topic: Sierra Leone21.2% (2019) Topic: SingaporeNA Topic: Sint MaartenNA Topic: SlovakiaNA Topic: SloveniaNA Topic: Solomon Islands29.3% (2015) Topic: Somalia6.9% (2018/19) Topic: South Africa54.6% (2016) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South SudanNA Topic: Spain62.1% (2018) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka64.6% (2016) Topic: Sudan12.2% (2014) Topic: Suriname39.1% (2018) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Sweden70.3% (2017) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Topic: Switzerland71.6% (2017) Topic: SyriaNA Topic: TaiwanNA Topic: Tajikistan29.3% (2017) Topic: Tanzania38.4% (2015/16) Topic: Thailand73% (2019) Topic: Timor-Leste26.1% (2016) Topic: Togo23.9% (2017) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: Tonga29.3% (2019) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago40.3% (2011) Topic: Tunisia50.7% (2018) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)69.8% (2018) Topic: Turkmenistan49.7% (2019) Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA Topic: TuvaluNA Topic: Uganda41.8% (2018) Topic: Ukraine65.4% (2012) Topic: United Arab EmiratesNA Topic: United Kingdom76.1% (2010/12) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Topic: United States73.9% (2017/19) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay79.6% (2015) note: percent of women aged 15-44 Topic: UzbekistanNA Topic: Vanuatu49% (2013) Topic: Venezuela75% (2010) Topic: Vietnam76.5% (2018/19) Topic: Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA Topic: West Bank57.3% (2019/20) note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: WorldNA Topic: Yemen33.5% (2013) Topic: Zambia49.6% (2018) Topic: Zimbabwe66.8% (2015)

20220901

countries-chad-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare, as well as invasions by Libya, before peace was restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, but has only held flawed presidential elections since 1996 allowing the incumbent to remain in power.Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare, as well as invasions by Libya, before peace was restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, but has only held flawed presidential elections since 1996 allowing the incumbent to remain in power. Topic: Geography Area: total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km Climate: tropical in south, desert in north Natural resources: petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt Topic: People and Society Population: 17,963,211 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other Chadian ethnicities 3.4%, Chadians of foreign ethnicities 0.9%, foreign nationals 0.3%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.) Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects Religions: Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.) Population growth rate: 3.09% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: N'Djamena Executive branch: chief of state: Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, newly reelected President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. died of injuries he sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, establishing a Transitional Military Council and promising elections within eighteen months head of government: Interim Prime Minister Albert Pahimi PADACKE (since 26 April 2021); note - PADACKE was appointed interim prime minister by the Transitional Military Council led by Mahamat Idriss DEBY Legislative branch: description: formerly a unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (188 seats; 163 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 25 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - on 5 October 2021, Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY installed 93 members of an interim parliament, called the National Transitional Council (NTC); according to DEBY, the NTC will act as a national assembly of transition until the country’s next elections take place Topic: Economy Economic overview: primarily oil-based economy, vulnerable to regional competition and international price shocks; increasing extreme poverty and minimal human capital capacities; one of the most environmentally disrupted economies; high maternal and infant mortality rates destabilizing labor force potentialsprimarily oil-based economy, vulnerable to regional competition and international price shocks; increasing extreme poverty and minimal human capital capacities; one of the most environmentally disrupted economies; high maternal and infant mortality rates destabilizing labor force potentials Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $24.97 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $1,500 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sorghum, groundnuts, millet, yams, cereals, sugar cane, beef, maize, cotton, cassava Industries: oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials Exports: $2.464 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: China 32%, United Arab Emirates 21%, India 19%, United States 10%, France 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, livestock, sesame seeds, gum arabic, insect resins (2019) Imports: $2.16 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 29%, United Arab Emirates 16%, France 10%, United States 8%, India 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: delivery trucks, paints, packaged medicines, aircraft, broadcasting equipment (2019) Exchange rates: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, Jul 28, 2022

20220901

field-irrigated-land

This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water. Topic: Afghanistan32,080 sq km (2012) Topic: Albania3,537 sq km (2014) Topic: Algeria13,600 sq km (2014) Topic: American Samoa0 sq km (2012) Topic: Andorra0 sq km (2012) Topic: Angola860 sq km (2014) Topic: Anguilla0 sq km (2012) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1.3 sq km (2012) Topic: Argentina23,600 sq km (2012) Topic: Armenia2,740 sq km (2012) Topic: ArubaNA Topic: Australia25,460 sq km (2014) Topic: Austria1,170 sq km (2012) Topic: Azerbaijan14,277 sq km (2012) Topic: Bahamas, The10 sq km (2012) Topic: Bahrain40 sq km (2012) Topic: Bangladesh53,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Barbados50 sq km (2012) Topic: Belarus1,140 sq km (2012) Topic: Belgium230 sq km (2012) Topic: Belize35 sq km (2012) Topic: Benin230 sq km (2012) Topic: BermudaNA Topic: Bhutan320 sq km (2012) Topic: Bolivia3,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina30 sq km (2012) Topic: Botswana20 sq km (2012) Topic: Brazil54,000 sq km (2012) Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Brunei10 sq km (2012) Topic: Bulgaria1,020 sq km (2012) Topic: Burkina Faso550 sq km (2016) Topic: Burma22,950 sq km (2012) Topic: Burundi230 sq km (2012) Topic: Cabo Verde35 sq km (2012) Topic: Cambodia3,540 sq km (2012) Topic: Cameroon290 sq km (2012) Topic: Canada8,700 sq km (2012) Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic10 sq km (2012) Topic: Chad300 sq km (2012) Topic: Chile11,100 sq km (2012) Topic: China690,070 sq km (2012) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia10,900 sq km (2012) Topic: Comoros1.3 sq km (2012) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the110 sq km (2012) Topic: Congo, Republic of the20 sq km (2012) Topic: Cook IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica1,015 sq km (2012) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire730 sq km (2012) Topic: Croatia240 sq km (2012) Topic: Cuba8,700 sq km (2012) Topic: CuracaoNA Topic: Cyprus460 sq km (2012) Topic: Czechia320 sq km (2012) Topic: Denmark4,350 sq km (2012) Topic: Djibouti10 sq km (2012) Topic: DominicaNA Topic: Dominican Republic3,070 sq km (2012) Topic: Ecuador15,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Egypt36,500 sq km (2012) Topic: El Salvador452 sq km (2012) Topic: Equatorial GuineaNA Topic: Eritrea210 sq km (2012) Topic: Estonia40 sq km (2012) Topic: Eswatini500 sq km (2012) Topic: Ethiopia2,900 sq km (2012) Topic: European Union154,539.82 sq km (2011 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Fiji40 sq km (2012) Topic: Finland690 sq km (2012) Topic: France26,420 sq km (2012) 26,950 sq km metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2012) Topic: French Polynesia10 sq km (2012) Topic: Gabon40 sq km (2012) Topic: Gambia, The50 sq km (2012) Topic: Gaza Strip(2012) 240 sq km; note - includes the West Bank Topic: Georgia4,330 sq km (2012) Topic: Germany6,500 sq km (2012) Topic: Ghana340 sq km (2012) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: Greece15,550 sq km (2012) Topic: GreenlandNA Topic: Grenada20 sq km (2012) Topic: Guam2 sq km (2012) Topic: Guatemala3,375 sq km (2012) Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea950 sq km (2012) Topic: Guinea-Bissau250 sq km (2012) Topic: Guyana1,430 sq km (2012) Topic: Haiti970 sq km (2012) Topic: Honduras900 sq km (2012) Topic: Hong Kong10 sq km (2012) Topic: Hungary1,721 sq km (2012) Topic: IcelandNA Topic: India667,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Indonesia67,220 sq km (2012) Topic: Iran95,530 sq km (2012) Topic: Iraq35,250 sq km (2012) Topic: Ireland0 sq km (2012) Topic: Isle of Man0 sq km (2012) Topic: Israel2,250 sq km (2012) Topic: Italy39,500 sq km (2012) Topic: Jamaica250 sq km (2012) Topic: Jan Mayen0 sq km (2012) Topic: Japan24,690 sq km (2012) Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan964 sq km (2012) Topic: Kazakhstan20,660 sq km (2012) Topic: Kenya1,030 sq km (2012) Topic: Kiribati0 sq km (2012) Topic: Korea, North14,600 sq km (2012) Topic: Korea, South7,780 sq km (2012) Topic: KosovoNA Topic: Kuwait105 sq km (2012) Topic: Kyrgyzstan10,233 sq km (2012) Topic: Laos3,100 sq km (2012) Topic: Latvia12 sq km (2012) note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage Topic: Lebanon1,040 sq km (2012) Topic: Lesotho30 sq km (2012) Topic: Liberia30 sq km (2012) Topic: Libya4,700 sq km (2012) Topic: Liechtenstein0 sq km (2012) Topic: Lithuania44 sq km (2012) Topic: Luxembourg0 sq km (2012) Topic: Macau0 sq km (2012) Topic: Madagascar10,860 sq km (2012) Topic: Malawi740 sq km (2012) Topic: Malaysia3,800 sq km (2012) Topic: Maldives0 sq km (2012) Topic: Mali3,780 sq km (2012) Topic: Malta35 sq km (2012) Topic: Marshall Islands0 sq km (2012) Topic: Mauritania450 sq km (2012) Topic: Mauritius190 sq km (2012) Topic: Mexico65,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of0 sq km (2012) NA Topic: Moldova2,283 sq km (2012) Topic: Monaco0 sq km (2012) Topic: Mongolia840 sq km (2012) Topic: Montenegro24 sq km (2012) Topic: Montserrat0 sq km (2012) Topic: Morocco14,850 sq km (2012) Topic: Mozambique1,180 sq km (2012) Topic: Namibia80 sq km (2012) Topic: Nauru0 sq km (2012) Topic: Nepal13,320 sq km (2012) Topic: Netherlands4,860 sq km (2012) Topic: New Caledonia100 sq km (2012) Topic: New Zealand7,210 sq km (2012) Topic: Nicaragua1,990 sq km (2012) Topic: Niger1,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Nigeria2,930 sq km (2012) Topic: Niue0 sq km (2012) Topic: Norfolk Island0 sq km (2012) Topic: North Macedonia1,280 sq km (2012) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands1 sq km (2012) Topic: Norway900 sq km (2012) Topic: Oman590 sq km (2012) Topic: Pakistan202,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Palau0 sq km (2012) Topic: Panama321 sq km (2012) Topic: Papua New Guinea0 sq km (2012) Topic: Paracel Islands0 sq km (2012) Topic: Paraguay1,362 sq km (2012) Topic: Peru25,800 sq km (2012) Topic: Philippines16,270 sq km (2012) Topic: Pitcairn Islands0 sq km (2012) Topic: Poland970 sq km (2012) Topic: Portugal5,400 sq km (2012) Topic: Puerto Rico220 sq km (2012) Topic: Qatar130 sq km (2012) Topic: Romania31,490 sq km (2012) Topic: Russia43,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Rwanda96 sq km (2012) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha0 sq km (2012) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis8 sq km (2012) Topic: Saint Lucia30 sq km (2012) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon0 sq km (2012) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines10 sq km (2012) Topic: Samoa0 sq km (2012) Topic: San Marino0 sq km (2012) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe100 sq km (2012) Topic: Saudi Arabia16,200 sq km (2012) Topic: Senegal1,200 sq km (2012) Topic: Serbia950 sq km (2012) Topic: Seychelles3 sq km (2012) Topic: Sierra Leone300 sq km (2012) Topic: Singapore0 sq km (2012) Topic: Slovakia869 sq km (2012) Topic: Slovenia60 sq km (2012) Topic: Solomon Islands0 sq km (2012) NA Topic: Somalia2,000 sq km (2012) Topic: South Africa16,700 sq km (2012) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands0 sq km (2011) Topic: South Sudan1,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Spain38,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Sri Lanka5,700 sq km (2012) Topic: Sudan18,900 sq km (2012) Topic: Suriname570 sq km (2012) Topic: Sweden1,640 sq km (2012) Topic: Switzerland630 sq km (2012) Topic: Syria14,280 sq km (2012) Topic: Taiwan3,820 sq km (2012) Topic: Tajikistan7,420 sq km (2012) Topic: Tanzania1,840 sq km (2012) Topic: Thailand64,150 sq km (2012) Topic: Timor-Leste350 sq km (2012) Topic: Togo70 sq km (2012) Topic: Tokelau0 sq km (2012) Topic: Tonga0 sq km (2012) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago70 sq km (2012) Topic: Tunisia4,590 sq km (2012) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)52,150 sq km (2012) Topic: Turkmenistan19,950 sq km (2012) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands0 sq km (2012) Topic: Tuvalu0 sq km (2012) Topic: Uganda140 sq km (2012) Topic: Ukraine21,670 sq km (2012) Topic: United Arab Emirates923 sq km (2012) Topic: United Kingdom950 sq km (2012) Topic: United States264,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Uruguay2,380 sq km (2012) Topic: Uzbekistan42,150 sq km (2012) Topic: Vanuatu0 sq km (2012) Topic: Venezuela10,550 sq km (2012) Topic: Vietnam46,000 sq km (2012) Topic: Virgin Islands1 sq km (2012) Topic: Wake Island0 sq km (2012) Topic: Wallis and Futuna0 sq km (2012) Topic: West Bank(2012) 240 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip Topic: World3,242,917 sq km (2012 est.) Topic: Yemen6,800 sq km (2012) Topic: Zambia1,560 sq km (2012) Topic: Zimbabwe1,740 sq km (2012)

20220901

field-exports-partners

This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value. Topic: AfghanistanUnited Arab Emirates 45%, Pakistan 24%, India 22%, China 1% (2019) Topic: AlbaniaItaly 45%, Spain 8%, Germany 6%, Greece 5%, France 4%, China 4% (2019) Topic: AlgeriaItaly 13%, France 13%, Spain 12%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 7%, India 5%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: American SamoaAustralia 25%, Ghana 19%, Indonesia 15.6%, Burma 10.4%, Portugal 5.1% (2017) Topic: AndorraSpain 40%, France 19%, United States 11%, Mauritania 5% (2019) Topic: AngolaChina 62%, India 10%, United Arab Emirates 4%, Portugal 3%, Spain 3% (2019) Topic: Antigua and BarbudaPoland 37%, Suriname 33%, United Arab Emirates 8% (2019) Topic: ArgentinaBrazil 16%, China 11%, United States 7%, Chile 5% (2019) Topic: ArmeniaRussia 22%, Switzerland 20%, China 7%, Bulgaria 6%, Iraq 5%, Serbia 5%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: ArubaMalaysia 57%, United States 11%, Netherlands 6%, Jordan 6%, Venezuela 5% (2019) Topic: AustraliaChina 39%, Japan 15%, South Korea 7%, India 5% (2019) Topic: AustriaGermany 28%, United States 7%, Italy 6%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Topic: AzerbaijanItaly 28%, Turkey 15%, Israel 7%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2017) Topic: Bahamas, ThePoland 32%, United States 17%, Ecuador 9%, China 6%, Japan 5% (2019) Topic: BahrainUnited Arab Emirates 31%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Japan 8%, United States 8% (2019) Topic: BangladeshUnited States 15%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 8%, Spain 7%, France 7% (2019) Topic: BarbadosUS 21%, Poland 14%, Jamaica 8%, Guyana 6%,Trinidad and Tobago 6% (2019) Topic: BelarusRussia 42%, Ukraine 13%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Topic: BelgiumGermany 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 13%, United Kingdom 8%, United States 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: BelizeUnited Kingdom 27%, United States 24%, Spain 6%, Jamaica 5%, Ireland 5% (2019) Topic: BeninNigeria 25%, Bangladesh 14%, United Arab Emirates 14%, India 13%, China 8%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Topic: BermudaJamaica 49.1%, Luxembourg 36.1%, US 4.9% (2017) Topic: BhutanIndia 94% (2019) Topic: BoliviaArgentina 16%, Brazil 15%, United Arab Emirates 12%, India 10%, United States 6%, South Korea 5%, Peru 5%, Colombia 5% (2019) Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaGermany 14%, Italy 12%, Croatia 11%, Serbia 11%, Austria 9%, Slovenia 8% (2019) Topic: BotswanaIndia 21%, Belgium 19%, United Arab Emirates 19%, South Africa 9%, Israel 7%, Hong Kong 6%, Singapore 5% (2019) Topic: BrazilChina 28%, United States 13% (2019) Topic: British Virgin IslandsMalta 30%, Seychelles 29%, Switzerland 14% (2019) Topic: BruneiJapan 34%, Australia 12%, Singapore 10%, India 8%, Malaysia 8%, Thailand 7%, China 6%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: BulgariaGermany 16%, Romania 8%, Italy 7%, Turkey 7%, Greece 6% (2019) Topic: Burkina FasoSwitzerland 59%, India 21% (2019) Topic: BurmaChina 24%, Thailand 24%, Japan 7%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: BurundiUnited Arab Emirates 50%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7% (2019) Topic: Cabo VerdeSpain 65%, Portugal 14%, Italy 8% (2019) Topic: CambodiaUnited States 21%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 8%, Germany 7%, Japan 6%, China 5%, Canada 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Topic: CameroonChina 17%, Netherlands 14%, Italy 9%, United Arab Emirates 8%, India 7%, United States 6%, Belgium 6%, Spain 5%, France 5% (2019) Topic: CanadaUS 73% (2019) Topic: Cayman IslandsNetherlands 82%, Spain 11% (2019) Topic: Central African RepublicChina 41%, United Arab Emirates 19%, France 7% (2019) Topic: ChadChina 32%, United Arab Emirates 21%, India 19%, United States 10%, France 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: ChileChina 32%, United States 14%, Japan 9%, South Korea 7% (2019) Topic: ChinaUnited States 17%, Hong Kong 10%, Japan 6% (2019) Topic: Christmas IslandMalaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsUnited States 57%, Ireland 15% (2019) Topic: ColombiaUnited States 31%, China 11%, Panama 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019) Topic: ComorosFrance 32%, India 23%, Germany 10%, Turkey 9%, Madagascar 7% (2019) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theChina 53%, United Arab Emirates 11%, Saudi Arabia 6%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: Congo, Republic of theChina 49%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: Cook IslandsJapan 37%, Thailand 21%, France 17% (2019) Topic: Costa RicaUnited States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019) Topic: Cote d'IvoireNetherlands 10%, United States 6%, France 6%, Spain 5%, Malaysia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Germany 5%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Topic: CroatiaItaly 13%, Germany 13%, Slovenia 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9%, Austria 6%, Serbia 5% (2019) Topic: CubaChina 38%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: CuracaoSwitzerland 27%, United States 17%, Spain 14%, Ecuador 7%, India 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019) Topic: CyprusIndia 9%, Greece 9%, Libya 8%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Topic: CzechiaGermany 31%, Slovakia 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2019) Topic: DenmarkGermany 14%, United States 11%, Sweden 10%, United Kingdom 7%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019) Topic: DjiboutiSaudi Arabia 42%, India 15%, China 14%, Egypt 5%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: DominicaSaudi Arabia 47%, Qatar 5% (2019) Topic: Dominican RepublicUnited States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019) Topic: EcuadorUnited States 30%, China 13%, Panama 8%, Chile 7% (2019) Topic: EgyptUnited States 9%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Italy 6%, Turkey 6%, Saudi Arabia 6%, India 5% (2019) Topic: El SalvadorUnited States 40%, Guatemala 15%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 6% (2019) Topic: Equatorial GuineaChina 34%, India 19%, Spain 11%, United States 7% (2019) Topic: EritreaChina 62%, South Korea 28.3% (2017) Topic: EstoniaFinland 13%, Sweden 9%, Latvia 8%, Russia 8%, United States 7%, Lithuania 6%, Germany 6% (2019) Topic: EswatiniSouth Africa 94% (2017) Topic: EthiopiaChina 17%, United States 16%, United Arab Emirates 8%, Saudi Arabia 6%, South Korea 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: European UnionUnited States 20.7%, China 9.6%, Switzerland 8.1%, Turkey 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2016 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019) Topic: Faroe IslandsRussia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017) Topic: FijiUnited States 29%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 6%, Tonga 6% (2019) Topic: FinlandGermany 14%, Sweden 10%, United States 8%, Netherlands 6%, China 6%, Russia 5% (2019) Topic: FranceGermany 14%, United States 8%, Italy 7%, Spain 7%, Belgium 7%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Topic: French PolynesiaJapan 23.1%, Hong Kong 21.5%, Kyrgyzstan 15.9%, US 15.9%, France 12.4% (2017) Topic: GabonChina 63%, Singapore 5% (2019) Topic: Gambia, TheChina 38%, India 22%, Mali 7%, Chile 5% (2017) Topic: GeorgiaRussia 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, Armenia 9%, Bulgaria 8%, China 6%, Turkey 6%, Ukraine 6% (2019) Topic: GermanyUnited States 9%, France 8%, China 7%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5%, Austria 5% (2019) Topic: GhanaSwitzerland 23%, India 17%, China 12%, United Arab Emirates 8%, South Africa 8% (2019) Topic: GibraltarPoland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019) Topic: GreeceItaly 10%, Germany 7%, Turkey 5%, Cyprus 5%, Bulgaria 5% (2019) Topic: GreenlandDenmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019) Topic: GrenadaUnited States 40%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7%, Saint Lucia 7%, France 6%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5%, Ireland 5%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019) Topic: GuamSouth Korea 31%, Hong Kong 27%, Taiwan 18%, Philippines 7% (2019) Topic: GuatemalaUnited States 33%, El Salvador 12%, Honduras 8%, Mexico 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019) Topic: GuineaUnited Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019) Topic: Guinea-BissauIndia 50%, Belgium 28%, Cote d'Ivoire 8% (2019) Topic: GuyanaTrinidad and Tobago 31%, Canada 11%, Portugal 11%, Ghana 8%, Norway 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Topic: HaitiUnited States 81%, Canada 7% (2019) Topic: HondurasUnited States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019) Topic: Hong KongChina 23%, India 14%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Topic: HungaryGermany 27%, Romania 5%, Italy 5%, Slovakia 5% (2019) Topic: IcelandNetherlands 23%, United Kingdom 9%, Germany 9%, Spain 8%, United States 7%, France 7%, Canada 5% (2019) Topic: IndiaUnited States 17%, United Arab Emirates 9%, China 5% (2019) Topic: IndonesiaChina 15%, United States 10%, Japan 9%, Singapore 8%, India 7%, Malaysia 5% (2019) Topic: IranChina 48%, India 12%, South Korea 8%, Turkey 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Topic: IraqChina 26%, India 24%, South Korea 9%, United States 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6% (2019) Topic: IrelandUnited States 28%, Belgium 10%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, China 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Topic: IsraelUnited States 26%, China 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2020) Topic: ItalyGermany 12%, France 11%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 5%, Spain 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Topic: JamaicaUnited States 32%, Netherlands 11%, Germany 9%, Canada 7%, Iceland 7% (2019) Topic: JapanUnited States 19%, China 18%, South Korea 6%, Taiwan 6% (2019) Topic: JordanUnited States 21%, Saudi Arabia 13%, India 8%, Iraq 7%, United Arab Emirates 5%, China 5% (2019) Topic: KazakhstanChina 13%, Italy 12%, Russia 10%, Netherlands 7%, France 6%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: KenyaUganda 10%, United States 9%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 7%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Tanzania 5% (2019) Topic: KiribatiThailand 53%, Philippines 17%, South Korea 10%, Japan 9% (2019) Topic: Korea, NorthChina 67%, Suriname 6% (2019) Topic: Korea, SouthChina 25%, United States 14%, Vietnam 9%, Hong Kong 6%, Japan 5% (2019) Topic: KosovoAlbania 16%, India 14%, North Macedonia 12.1%, Serbia 10.6%, Switzerland 5.6%, Germany 5.4% (2017) Topic: KuwaitChina 20%, South Korea 16%, India 15%, Japan 10%, Taiwan 6%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Topic: KyrgyzstanUnited Kingdom 56%, Kazakhstan 13%, Russia 13%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019) Topic: LaosThailand 36%, China 28%, Vietnam 16% (2019) Topic: LatviaLithuania 16%, Estonia 10%, Russia 9%, Germany 7%, Sweden 6%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Topic: LebanonSwitzerland 27%, United Arab Emirates 15%, South Korea 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Kuwait 6% (2019) Topic: LesothoUnited States 29%, Belgium 26%, South Africa 25%, Switzerland 6% (2019) Topic: LiberiaGuyana 32%, Poland 10%, Switzerland 8%, Japan 7%, China 5% (2019) Topic: LibyaItaly 18%, China 16%, Germany 15%, Spain 15%, United Arab Emirates 6%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: LithuaniaRussia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019) Topic: LuxembourgGermany 23%, France 13%, Belgium 12%, Netherlands 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: MacauHong Kong 66%, China 9% (2019) Topic: MadagascarUnited States 19%, France 18%, United Arab Emirates 7%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2019) Topic: MalawiBelgium 16%, United States 8%, Egypt 7%, South Africa 6%, Germany 6%, Kenya 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Topic: MalaysiaSingapore 13%, China 13%, United States 11%, Hong Kong 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2019) Topic: MaldivesThailand 24%, United States 13%, China 12%, France 11%, Germany 11%, Italy 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Topic: MaliUnited Arab Emirates 66%, Switzerland 26% (2019) Topic: MaltaGermany 12%, France 9%, Italy 9% (2019) Topic: Marshall IslandsPoland 28%, Denmark 19%, South Korea 13%, Indonesia 10%, Cyprus 6% (2019) Topic: MauritaniaChina 32%, Switzerland 13%, Spain 9%, Japan 9%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: MauritiusFrance 10%, South Africa 10%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 8%, Zambia 7%, Madagascar 6% (2019) Topic: MexicoUnited States 75% (2019) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofThailand 73%, Japan 10%, China 9% (2019) Topic: MoldovaRomania 27%, Russia 9%, Italy 9%, Germany 9%, Turkey 6%, Poland 5% (2019) Topic: MonacoItaly 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% Topic: MongoliaChina 81%, Switzerland 9% (2019) Topic: MontenegroSerbia 17%, Hungary 15%, China 11%, Russia 7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 6%, Germany 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5% (2019) Topic: MontserratAntigua and Barbuda 19%, United States 18%, France 17%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 9%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Topic: MoroccoSpain 23%, France 19% (2019) Topic: MozambiqueSouth Africa 16%, India 13%, China 12%, Italy 7%, United Arab Emirates 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: NamibiaChina 27%, South Africa 18%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7% (2019) Topic: NauruThailand 34%, Australia 16%, United States 13%, South Korea 10%, Philippines 9%, Japan 7%, France 5% (2019) Topic: NepalIndia 68%, United States 10% (2019) Topic: NetherlandsGermany 20%, Belgium 12%, United Kingdom 9%, France 7%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: New CaledoniaChina 59%, South Korea 14%, Japan 11% (2019) Topic: New ZealandChina 28%, Australia 14%, United States 9%, Japan 6% (2019) Topic: NicaraguaUnited States 60%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 5% (2019) Topic: NigerUnited Arab Emirates 54%, China 25%, France 7%, Pakistan 5% (2019) Topic: NigeriaIndia 16%, Spain 10%, United States 7%, France 7%, Netherlands 6% (2019) Topic: NiueIndonesia 92%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: Norfolk IslandPhilippines 29%, Singapore 21%, India 14%, Belgium 7%, Australia 5%, Canada 5% (2019) Topic: North MacedoniaGermany 45%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 5% (2019) Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsSouth Korea 73%, Peru 5% (2019) Topic: NorwayUnited Kingdom 18%, Germany 14%, Netherlands 10%, Sweden 9%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: OmanChina 46%, India 8%, Japan 6%, South Korea 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019) Topic: PakistanUnited States 14%, China 8%, Germany 7%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Topic: PalauJapan 70%, South Korea 15%, United States 7% (2019) Topic: PanamaEcuador 20%, Guatemala 14%, China 8%, United States 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019) Topic: Papua New GuineaAustralia 26%, China 26%, Japan 22%, Taiwan 7% (2019) Topic: ParaguayBrazil 32%, Argentina 22%, Chile 8%, Russia 8% (2019) Topic: PeruChina 29%, United States 12%, Canada 5%, South Korea 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Topic: PhilippinesChina 16%, United States 15%, Japan 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsSouth Africa 24%, Canada 20%, Germany 13%, Czechia 8%, El Salvador 5%, Spain 5% (2019) Topic: PolandGermany 27%, Czechia 6%, United Kingdom 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: PortugalSpain 23%, France 13%, Germany 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: Puerto RicoItaly 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019) Topic: QatarJapan 17%, South Korea 16%, India 14%, China 13%, Singapore 7% (2019) Topic: RomaniaGermany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019) Topic: RussiaChina 14%, Netherlands 10%, Belarus 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Topic: RwandaUnited Arab Emirates 35%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 28%, Uganda 5% (2019) Topic: Saint BarthelemyFrance 60%, Germany 27% (2019) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaUnited States 47%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, France 9%, Australia 5% (2019) Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisUnited States 69%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: Saint LuciaUnited States 29%, Uruguay 16%, Barbados 8%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.5%, United Kingdom 6%, Dominica 6%, Guyana 5%, France 5% (2019) Topic: Saint MartinUnited States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019) Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonCanada 79%, France 8%, Belgium 6% (2019) Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJordan 39%, Singapore 14% (2019) Topic: SamoaAmerican Samoa 21%, United States 13%, New Zealand 12%, Australia 10%, Tokelau 6%, Taiwan 5% (2019) Topic: San MarinoRomania 10%, France 9%, United States 8%, Germany 8%, Poland 6%, Brazil 6%, Russia 6%, Austria 6% (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeSingapore 30%, Switzerland 24%, France 11%, Poland 7%, Belgium 7%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: Saudi ArabiaChina 20%, India 11%, Japan 11%, South Korea 9%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: SenegalMali 22%, Switzerland 14%, India 9%, China 7% (2019) Topic: SerbiaGermany 12%, Italy 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 7%, Romania 6%, Russia 5%  (2019) Topic: SeychellesUnited Arab Emirates 17%, United Kingdom 13%, France 12%, British Virgin Islands 11%, Zambia 9%, Mauritius 5%, Japan 5% (2019) Topic: Sierra LeoneBelgium 26%, China 25%, Romania 9%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Topic: SingaporeChina 15%, Hong Kong 13%, Malaysia 9%, United States 8%, Indonesia 7%, India 5% (2019) Topic: SlovakiaGermany 22%, Czechia 11%, Poland 7%, France 7%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Topic: SloveniaGermany 18%, Italy 11%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7%, France 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Topic: Solomon IslandsChina 65%, Italy 9%, India 6% (2019) Topic: SomaliaUnited Arab Emirates 47%, Saudi Arabia 19%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2019) Topic: South AfricaChina 15%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, United States 6%, India 6% (2019) Topic: South SudanChina 88%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Topic: SpainFrance 15%, Germany 11%, Portugal 8%, Italy 8%, United Kingdom 7%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: Sri LankaUnited States 24%, India 8%, United Kingdom 7%, Germany 7% (2019) Topic: SudanUnited Arab Emirates 31%, China 19%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 12%, Egypt 5% (2019) Topic: SurinameSwitzerland 39%, United Arab Emirates 31%, Belgium 10% (2019) Topic: SwedenGermany 10%, Norway 9%, United States 8%, Denmark 7%, Finland 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019) Topic: SwitzerlandGermany 16%, United States 14%, United Kingdom 8%, China 7%, France 6%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Topic: SyriaSaudi Arabia 23%, Turkey 18%, Egypt 14%, United Arab Emirates 8%, Jordan 7%, Kuwait 5% (2019) Topic: TaiwanChina 26%, United States 14%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 7%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 5% (2019) Topic: TajikistanTurkey 24%, Switzerland 22%, Uzbekistan 16%, Kazakhstan 12%, China 10% (2019) Topic: TanzaniaIndia 20%, United Arab Emirates 13%, China 8%, Switzerland 7%, Rwanda 6%, Kenya 5%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Topic: ThailandUnited States 13%, China 12%, Japan 10%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Topic: Timor-LesteSingapore 51%, China 20%, Japan 9%, Indonesia 6% (2019) Topic: TogoIndia 16%, Benin 15%, Burkina Faso 6%, France 6%, Morocco 5% (2019) Topic: TokelauSingapore 25%, France 19%, South Africa 7%, New Zealand 5%, United States 5%, Ireland 5% (2019) Topic: TongaUnited States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%,  (2019) Topic: Trinidad and TobagoUnited States 33%, Guyana 9%, Spain 6%, China 6% (2019) Topic: TunisiaFrance 29%, Italy 17%, Germany 13% (2019) Topic: TurkeyGermany 9%, United Kingdom 6%, Iraq 5%, Italy 5%, United States 5% (2019) Topic: TurkmenistanChina 82% (2019) Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsFrance 31%, United States 16%, Zambia 13%, Singapore 9%, Republic of the Congo 8% (2019) Topic: TuvaluThailand 50%, Indonesia 40% (2019) Topic: UgandaUnited Arab Emirates 58%, Kenya 9% (2019) Topic: UkraineRussia 9%, China 8%, Germany 6%, Poland 6%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2019) Topic: United Arab EmiratesIndia 11%, Japan 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Switzerland 6%, China 6%, Iraq 6% (2019) Topic: United KingdomUnited States 15%, Germany 10%, China 7%, Netherlands 7%, France 7%, Ireland 6% (2019) Topic: United StatesCanada 17%, Mexico 16%, China 7%, Japan 5% (2019) Topic: UruguayChina 29%, Brazil 12%, United States 5%, Netherlands 5%, Argentina 5% (2019) Topic: UzbekistanSwitzerland 19%, United Kingdom 17%, Russia 15%, China 14%, Kazakhstan 9%, Turkey 8%, Kyrgyzstan 5% (2019) Topic: VanuatuJapan 33%, Thailand 13%, Mauritania 13%, South Korea 11%, China 9%, Fiji 7% (2019) Topic: VenezuelaIndia 34%, China 28%, United States 12%, Spain 6% (2019) Topic: VietnamUnited States 23%, China 14%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7% (2019) Topic: Virgin IslandsHaiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019) Topic: Wallis and FutunaSingapore 47%, France 32%, Belgium 9% (2019) Topic: YemenChina 53%, Saudi Arabia 10%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Australia 5% (2019) Topic: ZambiaSwitzerland 29%, China 16%, Namibia 12%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9%, Singapore 5% (2019) Topic: ZimbabweUnited Arab Emirates 40%, South Africa 23%, Mozambique 9% (2019)

20220901

countries-venezuela

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) Physicians density: 1.73 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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 30 September 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 est.) 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 30 September 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; composition - NA 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 [Antonio LEDEZMA] Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC [Timoteo ZAMBRANO] Christian Democrats or COPEI [Miguel SALAZAR] Citizens Encounter or EC [Delsa SOLORZANO] 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 Corina MACHADO] Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA] Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo [Enzo SCARANO and Leon JURADO] Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA] Democratic Action or AD [Jose Bernabe GUTIERREZ Parra] EL CAMBIO (The Change) [Javier Alejandro BERTUCCI Carrero] Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT [Ilenia MEDINA] Fuerza Vecinal or FV [leaders include mayors Gustavo DUQUE, Darwin GONZALEZ, Elias SAYEGH, Manuel FERREIRA, Josy FERNANDEZ, and Morel David RODRIGUEZ]; note - national spokesman David UZCATEGUI Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ [Julio BORGES] LAPIZ [Antonio Ecarri] Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS [Segundo MELENDEZ] Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ, Freddy SUPERLANO, and Emilio GRATERON] Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP [two groups, one led by Henri FALCON and Fanny GARCIA, the other led by Luis Augusto ROMERO and Bruno GALLO] The Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELAZQUEZ] United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Nicolas MADURO] Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV [Luis PARRA] Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA] Venezuela Project or PV [Carlos BERRIZBEITIA] We Are Venezuela (Somos Venezuela) or MSV [Delcy RODRIGUEZ and Vanessa MONTERO]A New Era or UNT [Manuel ROSALES] Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Antonio LEDEZMA] Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC [Timoteo ZAMBRANO] Christian Democrats or COPEI [Miguel SALAZAR] Citizens Encounter or EC [Delsa SOLORZANO] 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 Corina MACHADO] Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA] Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo [Enzo SCARANO and Leon JURADO] Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA] Democratic Action or AD [Jose Bernabe GUTIERREZ Parra] EL CAMBIO (The Change) [Javier Alejandro BERTUCCI Carrero] Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT [Ilenia MEDINA] Fuerza Vecinal or FV [leaders include mayors Gustavo DUQUE, Darwin GONZALEZ, Elias SAYEGH, Manuel FERREIRA, Josy FERNANDEZ, and Morel David RODRIGUEZ]; note - national spokesman David UZCATEGUI Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ [Julio BORGES] LAPIZ [Antonio Ecarri] Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS [Segundo MELENDEZ] Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ, Freddy SUPERLANO, and Emilio GRATERON] Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP [two groups, one led by Henri FALCON and Fanny GARCIA, the other led by Luis Augusto ROMERO and Bruno GALLO] The Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELAZQUEZ] United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Nicolas MADURO] Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV [Luis PARRA] Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA] Venezuela Project or PV [Carlos BERRIZBEITIA] We Are Venezuela (Somos Venezuela) or MSV [Delcy RODRIGUEZ and Vanessa MONTERO] 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: installed generating capacity: 32.956 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 78,082,020,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 870 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 26.452 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 30.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 69.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 396,000 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 33,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 685,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 731 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 604,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 470,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,002,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 926,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 325,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,640 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 22,694,584,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 22,694,584,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 5,673,894,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 103.708 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 108,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 57.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 46.222 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 85.829 million Btu/person (2019 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: Venezuela’s fixed-line teledensity was relatively high for the region before the steady growth in the number of lines came to an end in 2015; since then, the number of lines has plummeted, and by late 2021 teledensity had fallen to about 17.3%; the cause is largely linked to the country’s ongoing economic troubles, which have compelled many people to terminate fixed-line telecom services and others still to flee the country; these pressures have also distorted sector revenue and have placed into disarray operators’ investment plans aimed at improving networks and expanding the reach and capabilities of new technologies and services; the fixed broadband penetration rate is lower than the regional average, while data speeds are also relatively low; there is no effective competition in the provision of DSL, and as a result the state-owned incumbent CANTV has had little incentive to improve services from its meager revenue streams; mobile penetration in Venezuela is also below the regional average; the number of mobile subscribers fell by an estimated 2.4% in 2020, year-on-year, as subscribers terminated services in a bid to reduce discretionary spending, this decline is expected to continue into 2022, with subscriber growth not returning until 2023; the three MNOs Movilnet, Movistar, and Digitel have also had to contend with widespread theft of equipment and with erratic electricity supply to their remaining base stations; Movistar has also been hit by currency restrictions and has depended on support from Telefónica Group to stay afloat; this report provides an overview of Venezuela’s telecom infrastructure, market, and regulatory environment, together with profiles of the major fixed-line operators. It also provides a range of statistics and market analyses; the report also reviews the fixed and wireless broadband markets, as well as the mobile market, including an assessment of key market statistics and general sector analyses on a very difficult competitive environment. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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, 7,588 km oil, 1,778 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) (2022) note 1: the Bolivarian Militia was added as a "special component" to the FANB in 2020; it is comprised of armed civilians who receive periodic training in exchange for a small stipend note 2: 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 note 3: 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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: Venezuela-Brazil: none identified Venezuela-Colombia: 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; the border between the two countries was closed from March 2020 to October 2021 due to COVID, but goods and people fleeing poverty and violence continued to be smuggled from Venezuela into Colombia, and illegal narcotics and armed men flowed into Venezuela from Colombia; since the FARC disarmed in 2016, some former members have formed armed dissident groups that operate along the border Venezuela-Guyana: 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; in 2018, Guyana initiated proceedings against Venezuela with the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Venezuela requested a direct dialogue to settle the dispute; the ICJ ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case in December 2020; in September 2021, Venezuelan officials issued a statement reasserting dominion over three-quarters of Guyana, which Guyana stated was a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity Venezuela-various:  Venezuela claims Aves Island and thereby an economic exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Venezuela’s claim to Aves Island is disputed by Dominica and several other countries because the island has rich guano deposits useful in producing fertilizer and gunpowder, as well as large fish stocks and natural gas reserves; contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resourcesVenezuela-Brazil: none identifiedVenezuela-Colombia: 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; the border between the two countries was closed from March 2020 to October 2021 due to COVID, but goods and people fleeing poverty and violence continued to be smuggled from Venezuela into Colombia, and illegal narcotics and armed men flowed into Venezuela from Colombia; since the FARC disarmed in 2016, some former members have formed armed dissident groups that operate along the borderVenezuela-Guyana: 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; in 2018, Guyana initiated proceedings against Venezuela with the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Venezuela requested a direct dialogue to settle the dispute; the ICJ ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case in December 2020; in September 2021, Venezuelan officials issued a statement reasserting dominion over three-quarters of Guyana, which Guyana stated was a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrityVenezuela-various:  Venezuela claims Aves Island and thereby an economic exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Venezuela’s claim to Aves Island is disputed by Dominica and several other countries because the island has rich guano deposits useful in producing fertilizer and gunpowder, as well as large fish stocks and natural gas reserves; contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources 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

20220901

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: 22,678,024 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2020 est.) Topic: Albaniatotal subscriptions: 2,618,880 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (2020 est.) Topic: Algeriatotal subscriptions: 45,555,673 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2020 est.) Topic: American Samoatotal subscriptions: 2,250 (2009 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2009 est.) Topic: Andorratotal subscriptions: 94,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.) Topic: Angolatotal subscriptions: 14,645,050 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.) Topic: Anguillatotal subscriptions: 26,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2018 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal subscriptions: 184,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 188 (2020 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal subscriptions: 54,763,900 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal subscriptions: 3,488,797 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2020 est.) Topic: Arubatotal subscriptions: 141,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2020 est.) Topic: Australiatotal subscriptions: 27.453 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2020 est.) Topic: Austriatotal subscriptions: 10,717,445 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal subscriptions: 10,344,300 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal subscriptions: 466,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal subscriptions: 1,748,672 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2020 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal subscriptions: 176,279,465 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal subscriptions: 295,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2020 est.) Topic: Belarustotal subscriptions: 11,704,084 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2020 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal subscriptions: 11,529,728 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2020 est.) Topic: Belizetotal subscriptions: 264,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2020 est.) Topic: Benintotal subscriptions: 11,140,891 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2020 est.) Topic: Bermudatotal subscriptions: 68,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.) Topic: Bhutantotal subscriptions: 745,137 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal subscriptions: 11,804,343 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal subscriptions: 3,509,674 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal subscriptions: 3,829,408 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2020 est.) Topic: Braziltotal subscriptions: 205,834,781 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal subscriptions: 35,163 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal subscriptions: 526,589 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2020 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal subscriptions: 7,945,739 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal subscriptions: 22,117,218 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Topic: Burmatotal subscriptions: 78,548,329 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2020 est.) Topic: Burunditotal subscriptions: 6,631,151 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal subscriptions: 544,729 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal subscriptions: 21,086,791 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal subscriptions: 22,350,310 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) Topic: Canadatotal subscriptions: 32.36 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2020 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal subscriptions: 100,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Topic: Central African Republictotal subscriptions: 1.831 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.) Topic: Chadtotal subscriptions: 8,687,151 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2020 est.) Topic: Chiletotal subscriptions: 25,068,249 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2020 est.) Topic: Chinatotal subscriptions: 1.72 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Topic: Colombiatotal subscriptions: 67,672,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Comorostotal subscriptions: 781,579 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal subscriptions: 40,798,396 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal subscriptions: 4.89 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2020 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal subscriptions: 14,539 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2018 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal subscriptions: 7,512,370 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal subscriptions: 40,095,246 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal subscriptions: 4,375,699 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Cubatotal subscriptions: 6,661,763 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2020 est.) Topic: Curacaototal subscriptions: 182,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal subscriptions: 1,239,960 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2020 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal subscriptions: 12,999,812 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal subscriptions: 7,252,675 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Topic: Djiboutitotal subscriptions: 434,035 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.) Topic: Dominicatotal subscriptions: 76,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal subscriptions: 8,989,587 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal subscriptions: 15,485,366 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2020 est.) Topic: Egypttotal subscriptions: 95,357,427 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal subscriptions: 9.949 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 153 (2020 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal subscriptions: 645,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2020 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal subscriptions: 1.801 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2020 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal subscriptions: 1,925,789 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 145 (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal subscriptions: 1.243 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal subscriptions: 44.5 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2020 est.) Topic: European Uniontotal subscriptions: 540,557,924 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total subscriptions: 5,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2018 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal subscriptions: 59,213 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Topic: Fijitotal subscriptions: 991,500 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal subscriptions: 7.12 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2020 est.) Topic: Francetotal subscriptions: 72.751 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Topic: French Polynesiatotal subscriptions: 335,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Topic: Gabontotal subscriptions: 3,049,530 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal subscriptions: 2,677,954 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza Striptotal subscriptions: 4,274,119 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) includes the West Bank Topic: Georgiatotal subscriptions: 5,100,101 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Topic: Germanytotal subscriptions: 107.4 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal subscriptions: 40,461,609 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Topic: Gibraltartotal subscriptions: 35,438 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.) Topic: Greecetotal subscriptions: 11,412,995 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.) Topic: Greenlandtotal subscriptions: 65,958 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.) Topic: Grenadatotal subscriptions: 122,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2020 est.) Topic: Guamtotal subscriptions: 98,000 (2009 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2009 est.) Topic: Guatemalatotal subscriptions: 20,390,671 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Topic: Guernseytotal subscriptions: 43,824 (2009 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79 (2009 est.) Topic: Guineatotal subscriptions: 13.795 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal subscriptions: 1,913,858 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal subscriptions: 856,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.) Topic: Haititotal subscriptions: 7.319 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2020 est.) Topic: Hondurastotal subscriptions: 6,960,654 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2020 est.) Topic: Hong Kongtotal subscriptions: 21,865,215 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 292 (2020 est.) Topic: Hungarytotal subscriptions: 10,332,660 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Icelandtotal subscriptions: 421,384 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2020 est.) Topic: Indiatotal subscriptions: 1.15 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal subscriptions: 355,620,388 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Topic: Irantotal subscriptions: 127,624,951 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal subscriptions: 37,475,325 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2020 est.) Topic: Irelandtotal subscriptions: 5,234,027 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Topic: Israeltotal subscriptions: 12.27 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2020 est.) Topic: Italytotal subscriptions: 77,581,048 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaicatotal subscriptions: 2,873,259 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Topic: Japantotal subscriptions: 195,054,893 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154 (2020 est.) Topic: Jerseytotal subscriptions: 83,900 (2009 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (2009 est.) Topic: Jordantotal subscriptions: 6,987,891 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68 (2020 est.) Topic: Kazakhstantotal subscriptions: 24,293,900 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2020 est.) Topic: Kenyatotal subscriptions: 61,408,904 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Topic: Kiribatitotal subscriptions: 54,661 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Northtotal subscriptions: 6 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal subscriptions: 70,513,676 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (2020 est.) Topic: Kosovototal subscriptions: 562,000 (2015 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2015 est.) Topic: Kuwaittotal subscriptions: 6,770,346 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 159 (2020 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal subscriptions: 8.511 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Topic: Laostotal subscriptions: 4.1 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.) Topic: Latviatotal subscriptions: 2,051,359 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal subscriptions: 4,288,221 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2020 est.) Topic: Lesothototal subscriptions: 1,562,648 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2020 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal subscriptions: 1.653 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Topic: Libyatotal subscriptions: 2.922 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2020 est.) Topic: Liechtensteintotal subscriptions: 48,887 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal subscriptions: 3,671,995 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal subscriptions: 890,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2020 est.) Topic: Macautotal subscriptions: 2.793 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 430 (2020 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal subscriptions: 15.869 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2020 est.) Topic: Malawitotal subscriptions: 10,004,680 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal subscriptions: 43,723,600 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal subscriptions: 717,708 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Malitotal subscriptions: 25,315,598 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Topic: Maltatotal subscriptions: 633,123 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 143 (2020 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal subscriptions: 16,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal subscriptions: 4,932,571 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal subscriptions: 1,912,900 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2020 est.) Topic: Mexicototal subscriptions: 122,898,392 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal subscriptions: 22,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal subscriptions: 3,420,383 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 85 (2020 est.) Topic: Monacototal subscriptions: 35,485 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2020 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal subscriptions: 4,363,919 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal subscriptions: 1,080,089 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 172 (2020 est.) Topic: Montserrattotal subscriptions: 5,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2019 est.) Topic: Moroccototal subscriptions: 49,421,023 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134 (2020 est.) Topic: Mozambiquetotal subscriptions: 15,463,226 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal subscriptions: 2,898,125 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Topic: Naurutotal subscriptions: 10,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2020 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal subscriptions: 38.213 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2020 est.) Topic: Netherlandstotal subscriptions: 21.415 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Topic: New Caledoniatotal subscriptions: 260,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (2020 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal subscriptions: 6.148 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2020 est.) Topic: Nicaraguatotal subscriptions: 5,976,479 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2020 est.) Topic: Nigertotal subscriptions: 14.239 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal subscriptions: 204,228,678 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2020 est.) Topic: North Macedoniatotal subscriptions: 1,862,138 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2020 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal subscriptions: 20,474 (2004 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2004) Topic: Norwaytotal subscriptions: 5,825,584 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.) Topic: Omantotal subscriptions: 6,276,535 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134 (2020 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal subscriptions: 175,624,364 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2020 est.) Topic: Palautotal subscriptions: 24,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Panamatotal subscriptions: 5,825,677 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal subscriptions: 4.818 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2020 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal subscriptions: 7,865,050 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.) Topic: Perutotal subscriptions: 44 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal subscriptions: 149,579,406 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2020 est.) Topic: Polandtotal subscriptions: 49,350,724 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal subscriptions: 11,854,999 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricototal subscriptions: 3,483,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.) Topic: Qatartotal subscriptions: 3,798,514 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2020 est.) Topic: Romaniatotal subscriptions: 22.592 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2020 est.) Topic: Russiatotal subscriptions: 238,733,217 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 164 (2020 est.) Topic: Rwandatotal subscriptions: 10,614,408 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82 (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal subscriptions: 4,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal subscriptions: 78,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Luciatotal subscriptions: 203,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Martintotal subscriptions: 68,840 (2017 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 196 (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal subscriptions: 97,059 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2020 est.) Topic: Samoatotal subscriptions: 69,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Topic: San Marinototal subscriptions: 39,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2020 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal subscriptions: 174,203 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79 (2020 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal subscriptions: 43,215,439 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2020 est.) Topic: Senegaltotal subscriptions: 19,078,948 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Topic: Serbiatotal subscriptions: 8,260,758 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2020 est.) Topic: Seychellestotal subscriptions: 183,498 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 187 (2020) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal subscriptions: 6,884,201 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2020 est.) Topic: Singaporetotal subscriptions: 9,034,300 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (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 (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 (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: Turkey (Turkiye)total 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: 7.8 billion (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.) 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)

20220901

field-military-note

This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere. Topic: Afghanistanas of mid-2022, the Taliban’s primary security threats included ISIS-Khorasan and former Afghan Government resistance elements known as the National Resistance Front and Afghanistan Freedom Front 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 became a member of NATO in 2009; as of 2022, Greece and Italy were providing 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 operations (2022) 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 Cabinda (2022)the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the 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 of 1961 prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes 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 security (2022) Topic: ArgentinaArgentina 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: 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 6,500 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high into 2022, 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 is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily  Australia has a long-standing military relationship with the US; 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 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; Australian military forces train often with US forces; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation  Australia also 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 (2022) 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 2022, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel had taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2022)Austria 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 2022, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel had 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 6,500 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high in 2022, 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  (2022) Topic: BahrainBahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes 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 Huthi 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 (2022) Topic: Bangladeshthe military’s chief areas of focus are border, economic exclusion zone, and domestic security; the Army maintains 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 (2022) 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 and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados (2022)Barbados 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 and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados 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; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory during its invasion of Ukraine 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; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory during its invasion of Ukraine 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; Belgium hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels 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 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 Topic: Belizethe BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2022, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partnersthe BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemalathe British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2022, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners Topic: Beninas of 2022, a key focus for the security forces of Benin was countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from north Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in May 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" with terrorism after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; in addition, the FAB participated in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border the FAB has a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offer military advice, training, and secondhand equipment donations, and deploy to Benin for limited military exercises (2022) Topic: Bermudadefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: BhutanIndia is responsible for military training, arms supplies, and the air defense of Bhutan (2022) 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 loss (2022) 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 2022, 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 2022, 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 in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977; as of 2022, the BDF’s primary missions included securing territorial integrity/border security and internal duties such as disaster relief and anti-poaching Botswana participates in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, and in 2021-2022 contributed nearly 300 troops to the SADC’s effort to help the Mozambique Government suppress an insurgency (2022) Topic: Bouvet Islanddefense is the responsibility of Norway Topic: Brazilthe origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s the three national police forces – the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police – have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice); there are two distinct units within the state police forces: the civil police, which performs an investigative role, and the military police, charged with maintaining law and order in the states and the Federal District; despite the name, military police forces report to the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Defense; 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; the armed forces also have some domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Defense 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 (2022) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorydefense is the responsibility of the UK; in November 2016, the UK extended the US lease on Diego Garcia until 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 (2022) Topic: BulgariaBulgaria 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 (2022) Topic: Burkina Fasoincluding the most recent in January 2022, the military has conducted seven 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 terrorist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has 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 (ISIS-GS) terrorist group (2022) 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 a growing armed insurgency against the coup and operations against ethnic-based separatist groups; these operations have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and internal displacement ethnic-based armed groups have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since the country’s 1948 independence; as of 2022, there were approximately 20 such groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to more than 20,000 estimated fighters; they reportedly controlled an estimated 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 as of 2022, Burma also had a large number of armed militias which took many different forms and varied in allegiances and size; most were pro-military junta 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-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 junta government was reportedly raising new militia units to help combat the popular uprising more than 400 local anti-military junta armed groups have reportedly formed since the military coup; in mid-2022, the National Unity Government claimed its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), had more than 60,000 fighters organized into battalions; in addition, several armed ethnic groups have added their support to anti-junta resistance groups or joined forces with local units of the PDF since 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 a growing armed insurgency against the coup and operations against ethnic-based separatist groups; these operations have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, human rights abuses, and internal displacementethnic-based armed groups have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since the country’s 1948 independence; as of 2022, there were approximately 20 such groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to more than 20,000 estimated fighters; they reportedly controlled an estimated 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 Armyas of 2022, Burma also had a large number of armed militias which took many different forms and varied in allegiances and size; most were pro-military junta 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-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 junta government was reportedly raising new militia units to help combat the popular uprising more than 400 local anti-military junta armed groups have reportedly formed since the military coup; in mid-2022, the National Unity Government claimed its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), had more than 60,000 fighters organized into battalions; in addition, several armed ethnic groups have added their support to anti-junta resistance groups or joined forces with local units of the PDF Topic: Burundiin addition to its foreign deployments, the FDN 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 (2022) Topic: Cabo Verdeas of 2022, 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 (2022) Topic: Cameroonas of 2022, the FAC was 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 early 2022, this internal conflict has left an estimated 4,000 civilians dead and over 700,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC often deployed 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 2022 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 2022British 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 have provided 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 early 2022, there were reportedly as many as 2,000 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 2022, MINUSCA had about 14,000 total personnel the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016, providing advice, training, and educational programs to the country's security forces (2022) Topic: Chadas of 2022, 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, particularly the tri-border area with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger; 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 school (2022) 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 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 Beijing's 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 Beijing's 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: Colombiaas of 2022, the Colombian Armed Forces were 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 (note - these dissident groups include the designated terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; see Appendix T); 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 the FARC dissident groups and the ELN continued into 2022 (see Appendix T); the military was also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers and both the ELN and FARC dissidents, including FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia, 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 (2022) 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 over 100 illegal 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 February 2022, MONUSCO had around 15,000 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 over 100 illegal 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 2022, the 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 2022, the 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 some military equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats (2022) 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 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 (2022) Topic: CroatiaCroatia joined 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 850 personnel as of February 2022 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 2020 (2022)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 2020 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 (2022) 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 (2022) Topic: Ecuadorborder conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2022, 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 2010border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2022, 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 2022, Egypt had tens of thousands of 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; the various enterprises are reportedly profitable enough to make the armed forces largely self-funded 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 2022, it was composed of about 1,150 troops from 13 countries; Colombia, Fiji, and the US were the leading providers of troops to the MFO (2022) 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; in November 2019, President BUKELE 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 2022, a considerable portion of the Army was deployed in support of the National Police (2022) Topic: Equatorial Guineaas of 2022, the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the country has invested heavily in naval capabilities in the 2010s to protect its oil installations and combat piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea; while the Navy was small, it was well-equipped with an inventory that 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 2022, the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the country has invested heavily in naval capabilities in the 2010s to protect its oil installations and combat piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea; while the Navy was small, it was well-equipped with an inventory that 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 EDF assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; during the fighting, the EDF was accused of committing human rights abuses against civiliansin 2020-2021, the EDF assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; during the fighting, the EDF was accused of committing human rights abuses against civilians 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 2014 (2022)since 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; the UEDF’s primary mission is external security but it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief (2022) 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; the fighting included heavy civilian and military casualties with widespread abuses reported; in March 2022, the Ethiopian Government declared a  truce to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into the Tigray region; the TPLF reciprocated with a truce of its own; since the announcement, both sides have reportedly observed the truce, although tensions remained high; in June 2022, ABIY announced that the Ethiopian Government had set up a committee to negotiate with the TPLF 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 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 (2022) 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 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 missions (2022) Topic: Finlandas of early 2022, Finland was not a member of NATO, but Finland and NATO actively cooperated in peace-support operations, exercised together, and exchanged 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 2009as of early 2022, Finland was not a member of NATO, but Finland and NATO actively cooperated in peace-support operations, exercised together, and exchanged 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 (2022)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 2022, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal 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; as of 2022, the Gambia Armed Forces’ principal responsibilities included aiding civil authorities in emergencies and providing natural disaster relief  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 2022, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegalthe 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; as of 2022, the Gambia Armed Forces’ principal responsibilities included aiding civil authorities in emergencies and providing natural disaster relief  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 into 2022, 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 in 2017, HAMAS and PIJ announced the formation of a "joint operations room" to coordinate the activities of their armed wings; by late 2020, the formation consisted of 12 militant groups operating in Gaza and had conducted its first joint training exercise (2022) Topic: Georgiaas of 2022, approximately 7-10,000 Russian troops continued to occupy the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia 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 (2022) 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 2022, 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 2022, 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 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 security (2022) Topic: Guamdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Guatemalasince the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has 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 conflict (2022) 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 boats (2022) 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 Senegal (2022) Topic: Guyanathe Guyana Defense Force was established in 1965; its primary missions are 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 (2022) 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; BINUH's current mandate last until July 2023 according 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; BINUH's current mandate last until July 2023 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 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, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although 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; despite a cease-fire, 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 2022, 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 2022, 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: Iraq- as of 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 were 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; since 2021, the ISF and the KSF have conducted joint counter-ISIS operations in an area known as the Kurdish Coordination Line (KCL), a swath of disputed territory in northern Iraq claimed by both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central Iraqi Government; 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 Government funds the PMF, and the prime minister legally commands it, but many of the militia units take orders from associated political parties and/or other government officials, including some with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and some 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; they are considered the most active and capable, and include such groups as the Badr Organization (Saraya al-Sala), 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 for the Iraqi military in October 2018; as of 2022, the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) had about 500 troops; in December 2021, the task force that leads the defeat ISIS mission in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), transitioned from a combat role to an advise, assist, and enable role (2022)- as of 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 were 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; since 2021, the ISF and the KSF have conducted joint counter-ISIS operations in an area known as the Kurdish Coordination Line (KCL), a swath of disputed territory in northern Iraq claimed by both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central Iraqi Government; 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 Government funds the PMF, and the prime minister legally commands it, but many of the militia units take orders from associated political parties and/or other government officials, including some with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and some 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; they are considered the most active and capable, and include such groups as the Badr Organization (Saraya al-Sala), 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 incentives- at the request of the Iraqi government, NATO agreed to establish an advisory, training and capacity-building mission for the Iraqi military in October 2018; as of 2022, the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) had about 500 troops; in December 2021, the task force that leads the defeat ISIS mission in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), transitioned from a combat role to an advise, assist, and enable role Topic: Irelandthe Irish Defense Forces trace their origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit 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, a unit 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 February 2022, UNDOF consisted of about 1,100 personnel as of 2022 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 military positions; 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 2022, 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 into 2022, 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 (2022)as of 2022, 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 into 2022, 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 2022, 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; since 2006, Italy has hosted a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions Topic: Jamaicaas of 2022, 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 2022, approximately 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and had 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 (2022) 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 2022 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 2022 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 (2022) 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 2022, 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) (2022) 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 2022 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; it conducted additional ICBM tests in 2022 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 2022 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; it conducted additional ICBM tests in 2022 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 2022, 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 2022 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 2022, 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 2022 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; KFOR is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment and ensuring freedom of movement for all citizens, as well as assisting in developing the Kosovo Security Force; as of 2022, it numbered about 3,700 troops from 28 countries 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 (2022) Topic: KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force (2022) Topic: Laosthe LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism (2022) Topic: LatviaLatvia 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 rotations (2022) Topic: Lebanonas of 2022, the Lebanese military faced multiple challenges, including securing parts of 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 terrorist group Hizballah conducted a war with Israel in 2006 and tensions remained high, including occasional armed skirmishes; 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 10,000 personnel deployed in the country as of 2022 (2022) 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  the 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 2018  Topic: Libyain April 2019, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces launched an offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-recognized GNA; the GNA and its local supporting militia forces forced the LNA to withdraw by June 2020; at the signing of a UN-mediated ceasefire in October 2020, the two sides 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 2022, this line had grown increasingly fortified outside actors have played a large role in the fighting in Libya on both sides: GNU forces were backed militarily by Qatar and Turkey; Turkey signed a security agreement with the GNA in 2019, and Turkey’s aid was assessed as vital in turning back the LNA offensive in 2019-2020; Turkey’s support included air defense, unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones), equipment, weapons, training, and military personnel, including advisors, technicians, and equipment operators; in addition, Turkey provided mercenary fighters from Syria LNA forces (aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) has received varying amounts of military support from Chad, Egypt, France, Jordan, Russia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Russia, Sudan, and the UAE had been the most active; Russia provided equipment, weapons, aircraft, and air defense support, as well as Russian mercenaries/private military contractors and Russian-sponsored Syrian mercenary fighters; Sudan reportedly provided troops from its Rapid Support Forces in 2019-2020, and 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; Egypt 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 foreign military and proxy forces, 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 GNA/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 (2022)in April 2019, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces launched an offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-recognized GNA; the GNA and its local supporting militia forces forced the LNA to withdraw by June 2020; at the signing of a UN-mediated ceasefire in October 2020, the two sides 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 2022, this line had grown increasingly fortifiedoutside actors have played a large role in the fighting in Libya on both sides:GNU forces were backed militarily by Qatar and Turkey; Turkey signed a security agreement with the GNA in 2019, and Turkey’s aid was assessed as vital in turning back the LNA offensive in 2019-2020; Turkey’s support included air defense, unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones), equipment, weapons, training, and military personnel, including advisors, technicians, and equipment operators; in addition, Turkey provided mercenary fighters from SyriaLNA forces (aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) has received varying amounts of military support from Chad, Egypt, France, Jordan, Russia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Russia, Sudan, and the UAE had been the most active; Russia provided equipment, weapons, aircraft, and air defense support, as well as Russian mercenaries/private military contractors and Russian-sponsored Syrian mercenary fighters; Sudan reportedly provided troops from its Rapid Support Forces in 2019-2020, and 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; Egypt 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 foreign military and proxy forces, 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 GNA/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 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 Base (2022)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 Base (2022) 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 (2022) Topic: Malawithe Malawi Defense Force’s primary responsibility is external security; it is 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 (2022) 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 2022, 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 Malaysia is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily (2022) Topic: Maldivesthe MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone (2022) Topic: Maliprior to the coup in August 2020 and military takeover in 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 actively conducting operations against several separatist insurgent and terrorist groups, particularly in the central and northern regions of the country where the government was reportedly in control of only an estimated 10-20% of the territory 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, protecting civilians, supporting national political dialogue, and assisting in the reestablishment of Malian government authority; as of mid-2022, MINUSMA had around 15,000 personnel deployed; in June 2022, the UN extended its mission another 12 months the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-M) and the French military (under a separate, bi-lateral mission) 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 of May 2022, the mission included about 1,100 personnel from more than 20 European countries; in April of 2022, the EU said it would suspend its training program in Mali, citing issues with the ruling military government, including human rights abuses and the presence of Russian private military contractors; in August 2022, France completed withdrawing the last of its forces from Mali, also citing obstructions from the military government; prior to the withdrawal, more than 2,000 French troops had provided military assistance and conducted counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations in December 2021, the Malian military government contracted with a Russian private military company to provide training for local armed forces and security to senior Malian officials; as of mid-2022, there were an estimated 1,000 Russian military contractors in Mali (2022) 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 (2022) Topic: Mauritiusas of 2022, 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 2022, 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; 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 administered most of the country's land and sea ports and customs services, and it built and ran 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: 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 the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; as of 2022, Russia maintained approximately 1,500 troops in Transnistria, some of which served under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also included Moldovan and separatist personnel; the remainder of the Russian contingent (the Operative Group of the Russian Troops or OGRT) guarded a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and trained Transnistrian separatist paramilitary troops (2022) 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 became a member of NATO in 2017; as of 2022, Greece and Italy provided NATO's air policing mission for Montenegro Topic: Montserratdefense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: MoroccoMoroccan military forces were engaged in combat operations against the Polisario Front (aka Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro or Frente Polisario) from 1975 until a UN-brokered cease-fire in 1991; a 2,500-kilometer long sand berm, built in 1987, separates the forces of Morocco and the Polisario Front the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but as of 2022 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 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 commitmentsMoroccan military forces were engaged in combat operations against the Polisario Front (aka Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro or Frente Polisario) from 1975 until a UN-brokered cease-fire in 1991; a 2,500-kilometer long sand berm, built in 1987, separates the forces of Morocco and the Polisario Front the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but as of 2022 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 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 4,000 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 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 3,100 troops (2022) 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 (2022) 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 force; a Dutch Army airmobile infantry brigade and a mechanized infantry brigade have been integrated into the German Army since 2014 and 2016 respectively Topic: New Caledoniadefense is the responsibility of France Topic: New ZealandNew Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after 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 (2022) 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 Sandinistas (2022) Topic: Nigeras of 2022, 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 into 2022 (2022) 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; the Army was deployed in all 36 of the country's states; in the northeast, it 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 2022); 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; beginning 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) as of 2022, the Navy was focused on security in the Gulf of Guinea; since 2016, it has developed a maritime strategy, boosted naval training and its naval presence in the Gulf, increased participation in regional maritime security efforts, and acquired a significant number of new naval platforms, including offshore and coastal patrol craft, fast attack boats, and air assets 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 1960 Topic: Niuedefense is the responsibility of New Zealand Topic: Norfolk Islanddefense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO in 2020; as of 2022, Greece provided 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 (2022) Topic: Omanthe Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; as of 2022, 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 (2022) Topic: Pakistanthe military has carried out three coups since Pakistan's independence in 1947 and as of 2022 remained a dominant force in the country’s political arena; its chief external focus was on the perceived threat from India, as well as implications of the fall of the government in Kabul, but over the past 15 years, the military also has increased its role in internal security missions, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism; it is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas 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, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although 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; 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; despite a cease-fire, 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 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 (2022) 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 Constitution (2022) Topic: Papua New Guineaas of 2022, 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 2022, 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 conducting operations against 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; they were also assisting internal security forces in countering narco-trafficking networks Topic: Peruthe 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 combined Special Command comprised of air, ground, naval, police, and special forces units (2022) 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 2022, the AFP's primary air and ground operational focus was on internal security duties, particularly in the south, where several separatist 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 urban 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 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) 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: QatarQatar hosts 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 hosts as many as 5,000 Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 Qatar 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: RomaniaRomania 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 Alliance (2022) 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 (2022) Topic: Rwandathe Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars; the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers the RDF is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best trained and most capable and professional military forces; as of 2022, over 5,000 RDF personnel were deployed on missions in Africathe Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars; the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers the RDF is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best trained and most capable and professional military forces; as of 2022, over 5,000 RDF personnel were deployed on missions in Africa 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 (2022) Topic: Saint LuciaSaint 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 (2022) 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 (2022) Topic: Samoainformal 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  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  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 continue 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 (MDFC); while violent incidents have decreased since a tacit cease-fire was reached in 2012, the insurgency, which began in 1982, continued as of mid-2022 and remained one of longest running low-level conflicts in the world, claiming more than 5,000 lives and leaving another 60,000 displaced (2022) note: in August 2022, a representative of the Senegalese Government and a leader of the MFDC signed an agreement in which the MFDC pledged to lay down its arms and work towards a permanent peace Topic: SerbiaSerbia does not aspire to join NATO, but has cooperated with the Alliance since 2006 when it joined the Partnership for Peace program; Serbia maintains security ties with Russia (2022) Topic: Seychellesformed in 1977, the SDF's primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling (2022) 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 Wars (2022) Topic: SingaporeSingapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965; as of 2022, 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 (2022) Topic: Sint Maartendefense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: SlovakiaSlovakia 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 became a member of NATO in 2004; Hungary and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Slovenia’s airspace (2022) Topic: Solomon IslandsAustralia and New Zealand provide material and training assistance to the Royal Solomon Islands Police (2022) 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 2022, it numbered about 1,500 troops with an eventual projected strength of 3,000, while the Gorgor Division was estimated to have 4,500-5,000 trained troops the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) operated in the country with the approval of the UN from 2007-2022; its peacekeeping mission included 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; in May 2022, AMISOM was reconfigured and replaced with the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS); the ATMIS mission is 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 ATMIS to Somali security forces; ATMIS is projected to gradually reduce staffing from its 2022 level of about 20,000 personnel (civilians, military, and police) to zero by the end of 2024  UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM; established 2013) is mandated by the Security Council to work with the FGS 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; established 2015) 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 2022, it numbered about 1,500 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; the SANDF is 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 (2022) 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 2020, South Sudan announced that it was graduating some unified forces at various training centers across the country, and that same year 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 limited, and as of early 2022, formation of the National Unified Forces was still pending; in 2022, armed clashes also 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 15,300 personnel deployed in the country as of February 2022 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 February 2022, UNISFA had approximately 3,300 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; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries continue 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 (2022) 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 3,300 personnel deployed as of February 2022 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 personnel 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: Surinamekey missions for the National Leger include border control and supporting domestic security; the military police has direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry; in addition, the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams (2022) 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 (2022) 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 periodically 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 2022, continued doing so with up to 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 periodically 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 2022, continued doing so with up to 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 February 2022, UNDOF consisted of about 1,100 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 against Syrian military, 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 2022, the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS; formerly known as al-Nusrah Front) terrorist organization (see Appendix T) was the dominant militant group in northwest Syria and asserted considerable influence and control over the so-called Syrian Salvation Government in the Iblib de-escalation zone (2022)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 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 against Syrian military, 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 2022, the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS; formerly known as al-Nusrah Front) terrorist organization (see Appendix T) was the dominant militant group in northwest Syria and asserted considerable influence and control over the so-called Syrian Salvation Government in the Iblib de-escalation zone 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 (2022) Topic: TajikistanTajikistan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force (2022) 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 (2022) 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, as well as increase its role in UN peacekeeping activities; 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 in June 2022, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in its northern border region due to the threat from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qa'ida-affiliated terrorist coalition that is based in Mali, but also operates in neighboring Burkina Faso; the declaration followed an attack on a Togolese military post in May that killed 8 soldiers and a Togolese military operation launched the same month to boost border security and prevent terrorist infiltrations (2022) 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 2010-2014 (2022) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagothe primary responsibilities for the TTDF are conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement (2022) 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: Turkey (Turkiye)Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts NATO's Land Forces Command in Izmir, as well as the AN/TPY-2 radar as part of NATO's missile defenses under a long-range (2033) strategic plan, the Turkish Armed Forces continued efforts to modernize its equipment and force structure; Land Forces sought to produce 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; 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 that complicated its relationship with NATO, 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, Turkey has taken on a greater level of international peacekeeping responsibilities, including keeping a substantial force under NATO in Afghanistan until withdrawing in 2021; Turkey also 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 (2022) Topic: Turkmenistanas of 2022, 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 2022, Turkmenistan continued efforts to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea, including 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 2022, 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 2022, Turkmenistan continued efforts to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea, including 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 boats (2022) 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 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 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 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 Emiratesthe UAE hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and 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) 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 (2022) 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; the UK is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily 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 elements the British Armed Forces were formed in 1707 as the armed forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain when England and Scotland merged under the terms of the Treaty of Union; while the origins of the armed forces of England and Scotland stretch back to the Middle Ages, the first standing armies for England and Scotland were organized in the 1600s while the navies were formed in the 1500s; the Royal Marines were established in 1755; the Royal Air Force was created in April 1918 by the merger of the British Army's Royal Flying Corps and the Admiralty's Royal Naval Air Service (2022) 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 the US military has 11 regional- or functionally-based joint service "combatant" commands: Africa Command; Central Command, Cyber Command, European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command, Southern Command, Space Command, Special Operations Command, Strategic Command, and Transportation Command Congress officially created the US military in September 1789; the US Army was established in June 1775 as the Continental Army; after the declaration of independence in July 1776, the Continental Army and the militia in the service of Congress became known collectively as the Army of the United States; when Congress ordered the Continental Army to disband in 1784, it retained a small number of personnel that would form the nucleus of the 1st American Regiment for national service formed later that year; both the US Navy and the US Marines were also established in 1775, but the Navy fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, and was reestablished by Congress in 1794; the first US military unit devoted exclusively to aviation began operations in 1913 as part of the US Army; the Army Air Corps (AAC) was the US military service dedicated to aerial warfare between 1926 and 1941; the AAC became the US Army Air Forces in 1941 and remained as a combat arm of the Army until the establishment of the US Air Force in 1947 Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesdefense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Uruguaythe military has 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 (2022) 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 2022, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreement as of 2022, 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 2022, Uzbekistan continued to maintain bilateral defense ties with Russia based on a 2005 mutual security agreementas of 2022, 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 the Vanuatu Mobile Force has received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US (2022) 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 (2022) 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 Vietnam has 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 (2022) 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 some 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 units Iran reportedly has backed the Huthi forces by providing military training, lethal support, and technical assistance; Iran has said it supports the Huthis politically, but denies sending the group weapons (2022) 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) (2022) 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 (2022)

20220901

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

20220901

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: 4.06 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 5 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: NA unimproved: 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 18 August 2022, Argentina has reported a total of 9,633,732 cases of COVID-19 or 21,315.55 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 129,566 cumulative deaths or 286.67 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 91.07% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 24.5% (2020 est.) male: 29.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.7% (2018/19) Education expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 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 18 August 2022, Argentina has reported a total of 9,633,732 cases of COVID-19 or 21,315.55 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 129,566 cumulative deaths or 286.67 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 91.07% 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 - FdT 35, JxC 33, other 4; composition (as of February 2022) 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 - FdT 118, JxC 116, FIT-U 4, other: 19; composition (as of February 2022) - 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 - FdT 35, JxC 33, other 4; composition (as of February 2022) 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 - FdT 118, JxC 116, FIT-U 4, other: 19; composition (as of February 2022) - 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, 2 judges, 1 vacancy) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; ministers can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate 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 Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR [Sergio MASSA, Pablo MIROLO] Generacion por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN [Margarita STOLBIZER] Hacemos por Cordoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC [Juan SCHIARETTI] Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC [Horacio Rodríguez LARRETA] (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 [Monica Haydee FEIN] Propuesta Republicana or PRO [Mauricio MACRI] 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 Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR [Sergio MASSA, Pablo MIROLO] Generacion por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN [Margarita STOLBIZER] Hacemos por Cordoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC [Juan SCHIARETTI] Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC [Horacio Rodríguez LARRETA] (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 [Monica Haydee FEIN] Propuesta Republicana or PRO [Mauricio MACRI] 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 (c); Iguazú National Park (n); Cueva de las Manos (c); Valdés Península (n); Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n); Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c); Quebrada de Humahuaca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) 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: installed generating capacity: 44.731 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 121,563,940,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 261 million kWh (2020 est.) imports: 7.802 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 20.74 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 65.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 7.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 829,000 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 1.55 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 990,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 500 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 690,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 680,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 59,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 11,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2,482,700,000 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 669,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 58,360 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 121,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 41,194,148,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 49,476,585,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 691.241 million cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 6,865,323,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 193.205 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 94.208 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 96.875 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 79.083 million Btu/person (2019 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’s ongoing hyperinflation continues to distort the telecom market’s performance, which shows strong growth in revenue but only modest gains in subscriber numbers each year; fixed-line teledensity continues on its slow, gradual decline year upon year, the fixed broadband segment has increased levels only slightly higher than the fixed-line teledensity; nearly a quarter of the country’s broadband connections are via DSL, although fiber is   increasing it's share of that market as networks expand across most of the main cities; mobile broadband continues to be the preferred platform for internet access, supported by high mobile levels and nationwide LTE coverage; the first 5G service was launched in February 2021 using re-farmed LTE frequencies; the various fixed, mobile, and cable operators are expanding and enhancing their services, the government is also making an active contribution towards boosting broadband connectivity around the country; its national connectivity plan ‘Plan Conectar’, launched in September 2020, provides funding for a range of programs to increase coverage; in August 2021, the telecom regulator announced the release of a further ARS671.6 million in funding to help operators accelerate the rollout of their broadband infrastructure and services. (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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: government owns a TV station and radio network; more than two dozen TV stations and hundreds of privately owned radio stations; high rate of cable TV subscription usage (2022) 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: 29,930 km gas, 41 km liquid petroleum gas, 6,248 km oil, 3,631 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 36,917.4 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-mm 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, including about 3,500 marines); 14,000 Air Force); estimated 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 produces 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 comprised over 21% of the active duty military Military deployments: 250 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (May 2022) Military - note: the Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the "National Reorganization Process," marked the beginning of the so-called "Dirty War," a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1983 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta 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: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Hizballah 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: 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 northern 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 northern border; some money laundering organizations in the Tri-Border Area may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursors

20220901

countries-anguilla-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1980, Anguilla became a separate British dependency.Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1980, Anguilla became a separate British dependency. Topic: Geography Area: total: 91 sq km land: 91 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster Topic: People and Society Population: 18,741 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.) Languages: English (official) Religions: Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.) Population growth rate: 1.8% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK Capital: name: The Valley Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Dileeni DANIEL-SELVARATNAM (since 18 January 2021) head of government: Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note -  starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 2 appointed by the governor, and 2 ex officio members - the attorney general and deputy governor; members serve five-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinerysmall, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $175.4 million (2009 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,200 (2008 est.) Agricultural products: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services Exports: $7.9 million (2017 est.) Exports - commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum Imports: $186.2 million (2017 est.) Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

20220901

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 political 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) Tobacco use: total: 24% (2020 est.) male: 27.7% (2020 est.) female: 20.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA 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: Installed generating capacity: 18,000 kW (2020 est.) Consumption: 38.729 million kWh (2019 est.) Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) Transmission/distribution losses: 3 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: Fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Solar: 30% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Refined petroleum consumption: 800 bbl/day (2019 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 611 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 114,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From petroleum and other liquids: 114,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 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

20220901

field-airports-country-comparison

20220901

countries-slovakia-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Topic: Geography Area: total: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Natural resources: lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land Topic: People and Society Population: 5,431,252 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.) Languages: Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.) Population growth rate: -0.1% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Bratislava 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) 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) Topic: Economy Economic overview: high-income, EU-member European economy; major electronics and automobile exporter; new anticorruption and judiciary reforms; low unemployment; low regional innovation; strong financial sector Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $165.57 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $30,300 (2020 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 Exports: $89.92 billion (2020 est.) 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.) 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) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2022

20220901

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 at 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 at 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.) note: 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: 2.23 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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 6 June 2022, China has reported a total of 3,392,315 cases of COVID-19 or 230.57 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 17,551 cumulative deaths or a rate 1.19 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 89.36% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.2% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 25.6% (2020 est.) male: 49.4% (2020 est.) female: 1.7% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2013) Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 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 6 June 2022, China has reported a total of 3,392,315 cases of COVID-19 or 230.57 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 17,551 cumulative deaths or a rate 1.19 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 89.36% 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 (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: 2018: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes 2013: XI Jinping elected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,952; LI Yuanchao elected vice president with 2,839 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 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 Gang (since 15 Sep 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); Mount Huangshan (m) Government - note: in 2018, the Beijing 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 Beijing has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability.   Beijing 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. Beijing 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 its policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Beijing 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. Beijing also has 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 Beijing has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability. Beijing 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. Beijing 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 its policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Beijing 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. Beijing also has 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: installed generating capacity: 2,217,925,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 6,875,088,640,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 21.655 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 4.858 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 333.01 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 66% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 4,314,681,000 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 4,506,387,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 6.652 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 307.047 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 141.595 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4,712,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,007,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 52,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 9,238,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 26,022,600,000 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 11.51 million bbl/day (2015 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: 179,317,495,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 306,576,649,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 3,548,831,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 131,608,161,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 6,654,250,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 10,773,248,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 8,652,419,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1,520,552,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 600.276 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 105.687 million Btu/person (2019 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) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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: 76,000 km gas, 30,400 km crude oil, 27,700 km refined petroleum products, 797,000 km water (2018) Railways: total: 150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed Roadways: total: 5.2 million km (2020) paved: 4.578 million km (2020) (includes 168000 km of expressways) unpaved: 622,000 km (2017) Waterways: 27,700 km (2020) (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 1: 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 note 2: 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 note 3: 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 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 (May 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 Beijing's 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 Beijing's 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, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished 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     (2021)a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine;  PRC criminal organizations, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished 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   

20220901

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: Turkey (Turkiye)14.28 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.)

20220901

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: 4.54 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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) Tobacco use: total: 30.5% (2020 est.) male: 47.4% (2020 est.) female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.1% women married by age 18: 4.7% men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2020 est.) 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' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian) local short form: Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian) 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 LUKASHENKA 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 to be held in (2025); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly election results: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president (9 August 2022); percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.1%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 10.1%, other 9.8%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA president (11 October 2015); percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 84.1%, Tatsyana KARATKEVICH 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH 3.3%, other 8.2%. 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, BPP 2, LDP 1, BAP 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 BAP [Mikhail RUSY] Belarusian Patriotic Party or BPP [Mikalay ULAKHOVICH] Belarusian Social Sport Party or BSSP [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 [Dzimtry KUCHUK] Belarusian Party of the Left "Just World" [Syarhey KALYAKIN] Belarusian Social-Democratic Assembly of BSDH [Syarhey CHERACHEN] Belarusian Social Democratic Party ("Assembly") or BSDPH [Ihar BARYSAW] Belarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly) or BSDP [Mikalay STATKEVICH] (unregistered) BPF Party [Ryhor KASTUSYOW] 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) 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: installed generating capacity: 11.36 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 32,665,500,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 4.777 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 4.277 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.711 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 95.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 621,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1.574 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 2.117 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 34,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 134,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 32,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 383,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 198 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 477,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 351,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,630 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 68.951 million cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 18,639,590,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 18,673,429,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 2.832 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 54.695 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 16.856 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 36.217 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 102.558 million Btu/person (2019 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: the government of Belarus has successfully promoted the migration to an all-IP platform as part of a wider effort towards a digital transformation for the economy; the state-supported infrastructure operator beCloud has built an extensive fiber network which reaches all but the smallest settlements in the country; Belarus has the second highest fiber subscription rate in Europe, behind only Iceland; LTE coverage is almost universal, while considerable progress has also been made in developing 5G services. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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: 5,386 km gas, 1,589 km oil, 1,730 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 (2022) 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 reportedly includes about 25,000 Army, 15,000 Air/Air Defense, and 5,000 Special Operations forces (2022) 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 or to 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; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory during its invasion of Ukraine 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; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory during its invasion of Ukraine 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): 11,121 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 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

20220901

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.)

20220901

countries-papua-new-guinea-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, health concerns, natural disasters, and kidnapping. Reconsider travel due to COVID-19-related restrictions. 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 that will be required. A visa is not required as long as the stay is less than 60 days. US Embassy/Consulate: +(675) 321-1455; EMER: +(675) 7200-9439; US Embassy Port Moresby, Douglas Street, adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, PO Box 1492, Port Moresby, NCD 121, Papua New Guinea; ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov; https://pg.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 675 Local Emergency Phone: Fire: 110; Police: 000 Vaccinations: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends polio vaccinations, along with boosters for adults, for travel to Papua New Guinea. Vaccinations and boosters may be required for travel to Australia after extended stays in PNG. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation Currency (Code): Kina (PGK) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): I Major Languages: Tok Pisin, English, Hiri Motu, some 839 indigenous languages Major Religions: Protestant 64.3%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4% Time Difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Varirata National Park; Rainforest Habitat in Lae; Port Moresby (includes Parliament House, Boman War Cemetery, National Museum & Art Gallery); Kokoda Track; Tari Basin; JK McCarthy Museum Major Sports: Rugby, cricket, soccer, Australian football, basketball Cultural Practices: People will often point with their chins instead of their fingers. Tipping Guidelines: A tipping culture does not exist. Tips are neither required nor expected. Souvenirs: Woven billum bags; tribal masks; wood-carved storyboards, spirit boards, and drums; inlaid wooden bowls; woven basketsPlease 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

20220901

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: 1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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) Tobacco use: total: 5% (2020 est.) male: 7.7% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019) Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) 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*, Ngabe-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 28 November 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 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: installed generating capacity: 4.106 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 10,808,780,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 427 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 77 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.309 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 24.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 66.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 1.118 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1.15 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 143,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 66 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 129,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 552.744 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 552.744 million cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 25.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.905 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 22.281 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.077 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 98.946 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 649,156 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,825,677 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Panama has seen a steady increase in revenue from the telecom sector in recent years; mobile services and broadband remain the key growth sectors, with mobile connections accounting for 90% of all connections, and over half of telecom sector revenue; the mobile sector has flourished since the arrival of Digicel Panamá in 2008 and of América Móvil in 2009, which ended the duopoly long enjoyed by Cable & Wireless Panamá and Telefónica’s Movistar. Millicom International Cellular (trading as Tigo) acquired Telefónica’s telecom assets in Panama in 2019; the mobile market has effective competition among these players; internet services have grown in recent years as consumers responded to government fixed-line projects, improved mobile broadband connectivity and a plethora of mobile applications. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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) (2022) 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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 Constitution (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Panama-Colombia: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama Panama-Costa Rica: none identifiedPanama-Colombia: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with PanamaPanama-Costa Rica: none identified 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 

20220901

countries-israel-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors.The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors. Topic: Geography Area: total: 21,937 sq km land: 21,497 sq km water: 440 sq km Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand Topic: People and Society Population: 8,914,885 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Jewish 74% (of which Israel-born 78.7%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 14.8%, Africa-born 4.2%, Asia-born 2.3%), Arab 21.1%, other 4.9% (2020 est.) Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language) Religions: Jewish 74%, Muslim 18%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.5% (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.44% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: name: Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty Executive branch: chief of state: President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Naftali BENNETT (since 13 June 2021) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3.25% vote threshold to gain representation; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; recent debt spikes; high inequality and poverty disparities persist; significant tariff and regulatory burdens, especially in agriculture; hard-hit by COVID-19; quantitative easing in effecthigh-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; recent debt spikes; high inequality and poverty disparities persist; significant tariff and regulatory burdens, especially in agriculture; hard-hit by COVID-19; quantitative easing in effect Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $353.39 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $38,300 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, poultry, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, tangerines/mandarins, green chillies/peppers, eggs, vegetables Industries: high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear Exports: $113.87 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United States 26%, China 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2020) Exports - commodities: diamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019) Imports: $96.53 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: United States 12%, China 11%, Germany 7.5%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 6% (2020) Imports - commodities: diamonds, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)Page last updated: Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022

20220901

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 Physicians density: 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 Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: 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) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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 Internet users: total: 39,100 (March 2022) percent of population: 89.5% (March 2022) 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)) (2022) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: non identified

20220901

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

20220901

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

20220901

countries-brunei-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Brunei. Consult the State Department 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. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [673] 238-4616; US Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan; Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 Brunei Darussalam; https://bn.usembassy.gov/; ConsularBrunei@state.gov Telephone Code: 673 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 991; Fire: 995; Police: 993 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; hot, humid, rainy Currency (Code): Brunei dollars (BND) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G Major Languages: Malay, English, Chinese Major Religions: Muslim 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8% Time Difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Muara Beach; Jerudong Park Playground; Gadong Night Market; Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque; Ulu Temburong National Park; Royal Regalia Museum; Tasek Merimbun Major Sports: Soccer, basketball Cultural Practices: In Brunei, it is impolite to point with one's index finger; instead use the right thumb. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not customary. Large hotels and restaurants may add a 10% service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Souvenirs: Kris ceremonial daggers, native costumes and textiles, silver work, brass items, spices Traditional Cuisine: Ambuyat — a starchy substance derived from the interior trunk of the sago palm, which is dipped into a variety of saucesPlease 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, June 20, 2022

20220901

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) Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) Tobacco use: total: 24.6% (2020 est.) male: 47.2% (2020 est.) female: 2% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018) Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 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; note - in a 25 July 2022 referendum, voters supported a new constitution proposed by the president 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; note - in a 25 July 2022 referendum, voters supported a new constitution proposed by the president 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Natasha FRANCESCHI (since April 2022) 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: installed generating capacity: 5.777 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 16,737,180,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 631 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 472 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.641 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 95.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 5,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 5,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 42,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 29,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 10,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 27,770 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 13,660 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 85,340 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 1,025,974,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 5,279,951,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 4,305,994,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 23.692 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12.982 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 10.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 35.62 million Btu/person (2019 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 continue to discuss plans for future 5G networks and services; People’s Republic of China (PRC) company Huawei sold equipment to operators for Tunisia’s LTE networks; one operator has signed an agreement to pursue 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 some integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment (including radio, television, and communications transmitters) from the PRC (2022) 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 14.1 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 132 telephones per 100 persons (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private TV stations broadcast locally; satellite TV service is available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019) Internet country code: .tn Internet users: 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, 3,111 km gas, 1,381 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 Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force; Ministry of Interior: National Police, National Guard (2022) 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 duty personnel (25,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force); estimated 10,000 National Guard (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tunisian military's inventory includes mostly older or second-hand US and European equipment; since 2010, the Netherlands and US have been the leading suppliers of arms to Tunisia (2022) Military service age and obligation: 20-23 years of age for male 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 (2022) note 1: as of 2021, approximately 20-25,000 active military personnel were conscripts note 2: 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 deployments: 325 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 100 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022) Military - note: as of 2022, the Tunisian military’s primary operational areas of focus were counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and border security; it was conducting counterterrorism 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 counterterrorism efforts; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) 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 (2022) 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: none identifiednone identified

20220901

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: 70.56 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: 168.723 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: 21.96 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 Kinmen 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: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 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

20220901

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 to 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 to 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 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 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: 2.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020) 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) Tobacco use: total: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 26.5% (2020 est.) female: 2% (2020 est.) 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 RIMA bint Bandar bin Abd al-Aziz 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: installed generating capacity: 76.785 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 331,381,500,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 31.055 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 10,815,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,182,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 7,340,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 2.476 million bbl/day (2015 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: 113,776,648,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 113,776,648,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 9,422,812,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 579.925 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 300,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 358.414 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 221.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 296.949 million Btu/person (2019 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: 43,215,439 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Saudi Arabia’s telecom and ICT sectors continue to benefit from the range of programs aimed at diversifying the economy away from a dependence on oil, and establishing a wider digital transformation over the next decade; an essential element of this has been the widening reach of 5G networks, which by mid-2021 reached about half of the population and the majority of cities; the competitive mobile sector is serviced by Saudi Telecom Company (stc), Mobily, and Zain KSA, as also four licensed MVNOs; the MNOs have focused investment on upgrading LTE infrastructure and further developing 5G; this in part is aimed at generating additional revenue from mobile data services, and also to their contribution to the Vision 2030 program; the ongoing pandemic has resulted in more people working and schooling from home during periods of restricted travel; this has stimulated growth in mobile data traffic, while the government has encouraged non-cash transactions and so helped develop the vast e-commerce market; while Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband penetration remains relatively low, there has been a concentration of fiber infrastructure and the Kingdom has developed one of the fastest services in the region. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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, 2,940 km gas, 1,183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5,117 km oil, 1,151 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 (2022) 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 total active troops; approximately 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense (75,000 Land Forces; 15,000 Naval Forces, including about 3,000 marines; 35,000 Air Force/Air Defense/Strategic Missile Forces) and approximately 100,000 in the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) (2022) note: SANG also has an irregular force (Fowj), primarily Bedouin tribal volunteers, with a total strength of approximately 25,000 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: estimated 2,500-5,000 Yemen (varies depending on operations) (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  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  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 (AQAP) 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-Bahrain: none identified Saudi Arabia-Iraq:  Saudi Arabia has been building a fence along its border with Iraq to keep out militants and smugglers Saudi Arabia-Jordan: Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to demarcate their maritime borders in 2007 Saudi Arabia-Kuwait: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; in December 2019, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to demarcate land in a neutral zone and to restart oil production in shared fields, which had been suspended since 2014 because of disagreements Saudi Arabia-Oman: none identified Saudi Arabia-Qatar: none identified Saudi Arabia-UAE: Saudi Arabia and UAE have disputed the Shaybah oilfield, which Saudi Arabia controls Saudi Arabia-Yemen: the two countries signed the Treaty of Jeddah in 2000, which specified the coordinates of their land and maritime border and made provisions for grazing, the placement of armed forces, and future resource exploitation; in 2010, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal crossborder activitiesSaudi Arabia-Bahrain: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-Iraq:  Saudi Arabia has been building a fence along its border with Iraq to keep out militants and smugglersSaudi Arabia-Jordan: Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to demarcate their maritime borders in 2007Saudi Arabia-Kuwait: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; in December 2019, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to demarcate land in a neutral zone and to restart oil production in shared fields, which had been suspended since 2014 because of disagreementsSaudi Arabia-Oman: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-Qatar: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-UAE: Saudi Arabia and UAE have disputed the Shaybah oilfield, which Saudi Arabia controlsSaudi Arabia-Yemen: the two countries signed the Treaty of Jeddah in 2000, which specified the coordinates of their land and maritime border and made provisions for grazing, the placement of armed forces, and future resource exploitation; in 2010, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal crossborder activities 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

20220901

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.1981: Publication becomes an annual product and is renamed The World Factbook. A total of 165 nations are covered on 225 pages.1983: Appendices (Conversion Factors, International Organizations) first introduced.1984: Appendices expanded; now include: A. The United Nations, B. Selected United Nations Organizations, C. Selected International Organizations, D. Country Membership in Selected Organizations, E. Conversion Factors.1987: A new Geography section replaces the former separate Land and Water sections. UN Organizations and Selected International Organizations appendices merged into a new International Organizations appendix. First multi-color-cover Factbook.1988: More than 40 new geographic entities added to provide complete world coverage without overlap or omission. Among the new entities are Antarctica, oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), and the World. The front-of-the-book explanatory introduction expanded and retitled to Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations. Two new Appendices added: Weights and Measures (in place of Conversion Factors) and a Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook size reaches 300 pages.1989: Economy section completely revised and now includes an “Overview” briefly describing a country’s economy. New entries added under People, Government, and Communications.1990: The Government section revised and considerably expanded with new entries.1991: A new International Organizations and Groups appendix added. Factbook size reaches 405 pages.1992: Twenty new successor state entries replace those of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. New countries are respectively: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; and Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia. Number of nations in the Factbook rises to 188.1993: Czechoslovakia’s split necessitates new Czech Republic and Slovakia entries. New Eritrea entry added after it secedes from Ethiopia. Substantial enhancements made to Geography section.1994: Two new appendices address Selected International Environmental Agreements. The gross domestic product (GDP) of most developing countries changed to a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than an exchange rate basis. Factbook size up to 512 pages.1995: The GDP of all countries now presented on a PPP basis. New appendix lists estimates of GDP on an exchange rate basis. Communications category split; “Railroads,” “Highways,” “Inland waterways,” “Pipelines,” “Merchant marine,” and “Airports” entries now make up a new Transportation category. The World Factbook is first produced on CD-ROM.1996: Maps accompanying each entry now present more detail. Flags also introduced for nearly all entities. Various new entries appear under Geography and Communications. Factbook abbreviations consolidated into a new Appendix A. Two new appendices present a Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes and a Cross-Reference List of Hydrogeographic Data Codes. Geographic coordinates added to Appendix H, Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook size expands by 95 pages in one year to reach 652.1997: The World Factbook introduced onto the Internet. A special printed edition prepared for the CIA’s 50th anniversary. A schema or Guide to Country Profiles introduced. New color maps and flags now accompany each country profile. Category headings distinguished by shaded backgrounds. Number of categories expanded to nine with the addition of an Introduction (for only a few countries) and Transnational Issues (which includes “Disputes-international” and “Illicit drugs”).1998: The Introduction category with two entries, “Current issues” and “Historical perspective,” expanded to more countries. Last year for the production of CD-ROM versions of the Factbook.1999: “Historical perspective” and “Current issues” entries in the Introduction category combined into a new “Background” statement. Several new Economy entries introduced. A new physical map of the world added to the back-of-the-book reference maps.2000: A new “country profile” added on the Southern Ocean. The Background statements dramatically expanded to over 200 countries and possessions. A number of new Communications entries added.2001: Background entries completed for all 267 entities in the Factbook. Several new HIV/AIDS entries introduced under the People category. Revision begun on individual country maps to include elevation extremes and a partial geographic grid. Weights and Measures appendix deleted.2002: New entry on “Distribution of Family income – Gini index” added. Revision of individual country maps continued (process ongoing).2003: In the Economy category, petroleum entries added for “oil production,” “consumption,” “exports,” “imports,” and “proved reserves,” as well as “natural gas proved reserves.”2004: Bi-weekly updates launched on The World Factbook website. Additional petroleum entries included for “natural gas production,” “consumption,” “exports,” and “imports.” In the Transportation category, under “Merchant marine,” subfields added for foreign-owned vessels and those registered in other countries. Descriptions of the many forms of government mentioned in the Factbook incorporated into the Definitions and Notes.2005: In the People category, a “Major infectious diseases” field added for countries deemed to pose a higher risk for travelers. In the Economy category, entries included for “Current account balance,” “Investment,” “Public debt,” and “Reserves of foreign exchange and gold.” The Transnational issues category expanded to include “Refugees and internally displaced persons.” Size of the printed Factbook reaches 702 pages.2006: In the Economy category, national GDP figures now presented at Official Exchange Rates (OER) in addition to GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP). Entries in the Transportation section reordered; “Highways” changed to “Roadways,” and “Ports and harbors” to “Ports and terminals.”2007: In the Government category, the “Capital” entry significantly expanded with up to four subfields, including new information having to do with time. The subfields consist of the name of the capital itself, its geographic coordinates, the time difference at the capital from coordinated universal time (UTC), and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note is added to highlight those countries with multiple time zones. A “Trafficking in persons” entry added to the Transnational issues category. A new appendix, Weights and Measures, (re)introduced to the online version of the Factbook.2008: In the Geography category, two fields focus on the increasingly vital resource of water: “Total renewable water resources” and “Freshwater withdrawal.” In the Economy category, three fields added for: “Stock of direct foreign investment – at home,” “Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad,” and “Market value of publicly traded shares.” Concise descriptions of all major religions included in the Definitions and Notes. Responsibility for printing of The World Factbook turned over to the Government Printing Office.2009: The online Factbook site completely redesigned with many new features. In the People category, two new fields provide information on education in terms of opportunity and resources: “School Life Expectancy” and “Education expenditures.” Additionally, the “Urbanization” entry expanded to include all countries. In the Economy category, five fields added: “Central bank discount rate,” “Commercial bank prime lending rate,” “Stock of narrow money,” “Stock of broad money,” and “Stock of domestic credit.”2010: Weekly updates inaugurated on the The World Factbook website. The dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles results in two new listings: Curacao and Sint Maarten. In the Communications category, a “Broadcast media” field replaces the former “Radio broadcast stations” and “TV broadcast stations” entries. In the Geography section, under “Natural hazards,” a Volcanism subfield added for countries with historically active volcanoes. In the Government category, a new “National anthems” field introduced. Concise descriptions of all major Legal systems incorporated into the Definitions and Notes. In order to facilitate comparisons over time, dozens of the entries in the Economy category expanded to include two (and in some cases three) years’ worth of data.2011: The People section expanded to People and Society, incorporating ten new fields. The Economy category added “Taxes and other revenues” and “Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-),” while the Government section introduced “International law organization participation” and “National symbols.” A new African nation, South Sudan, brings the total number of countries in The World Factbook to 195.2012: A new Energy category introduced with 23 energy-related fields. Several distinctive features added to The World Factbook website: 1) playable audio files in the Government section for the National Anthems entry, 2) online graphics in the form of a Population Pyramid feature in the People and Society category’s Age Structure field, and 3) a Users Guide enabling visitors to navigate the Factbook more easily and efficiently. A new and distinctive Map of the World Oceans highlights an expanded array of regional and country maps. Size of the printed Factbook’s 50th anniversary edition reaches 847 pages.2013: In the People and Society section five fields introduced: “Demographic profile,” “Mother’s mean age at first birth,” “Contraceptive prevalence rate,” “Dependency ratios,” and “Child labor – children ages 5-14.” In the Transnational Issues category, a new stateless persons subfield embedded under the “Refugees and internally displaced persons” entry. In the Economy section two fields added: “GDP – composition by end use” and “Gross national saving.” In the Government category the “Judicial branch” entry revised and expanded to include three new subfields: highest court(s), judge selection and term of office, and subordinate courts.2014: In the Transportation category, the “Ports and terminals” field substantially expanded with subfields for major seaport(s), river port(s), lake port(s), oil/gas terminal(s), LNG terminal(s), dry bulk cargo port(s), container port(s), and cruise/ferry port(s). In the Geography section, the “Land boundaries entry” revised for all countries, including the total country border length as well as the border lengths for all neighboring countries.2015: In the Government category, the first part of the “Legislative branch” field thoroughly revised, expanded, and updated for all countries under a new description heading. This subentry includes the legislative structure, the formal name(s), the number of legislative seats, the types of voting constituencies and voting systems, and the member term of office. In the Geography category, the “Land use” entry expanded to include agricultural land, forest land, and other uses. Area Comparison Maps introduced online for about half of the world’s countries. These graphics show the size of a country in relation to a part of the United States. (More maps to follow as they become available.)2016: In the Government section for all countries, a new “Citizenship” field added to describe policies related to the acquisition of citizenship and to the recognition of dual citizenship. Also, under the “Country name” entry, etymologies (historical origins) added to explain how countries acquired their names. In the Energy section, an “Electricity access” field introduced with subfields summarizing total access to electricity within an country, as well as for urban and rural populations. In the Transportation category, an expansive “National air transport system” field presents info on the number of registered air carriers, number of operating aircraft, annual passenger traffic, and annual freight traffic.2017: In the Government category, the “Constitution” entry revised and expanded with new subfields for history and amendments. Information on piracy moved from the Transportation category to a new “Maritime threats” field in the Military and Security category. In the Transportation section, the “Merchant marine” entry revised to not only include the total number of ships, but also the major types: bulk carrier, container ship, general cargo, oil tanker, and other. A new “Population distribution” field added to both the Geography and People and Society categories. The Government Printing Office discontinued printing The Word Factbook, but annual online editions may be downloaded from the Factbook site.2018: One-Page Country Summaries introduced for selected countries in the Factbook; more to follow in the future. The Summaries highlight key information from lengthier World Factbook entries and are intended for use by teachers, students, travelers, researchers, news reporters, or anyone with an interest in geography. Dozens of additional area comparison maps added; about two-thirds of country entries now include these popular maps. In the Communications category, a “Broadband – fixed subscriptions” entry now included.2019: The Factbook‘s World entry acquires many new Top Ten listings including those for the largest forests, largest deserts, longest mountain ranges, and climate extremes (Top Ten driest, wettest, coldest, and hottest places on earth). Also in the World entry, seven new continent area comparison maps compare their size to that of the US. In each of the five ocean entries, under the Economy section, a “Maritime fisheries” field includes info on major fishing regions, total tonnage caught, and principal fish catches. A Travel Facts feature added to every country entry; this one-page summary compiles important facts to know before travelling to a country and it quickly becomes one of the most popular features on the website. A new Appendix H: Strategic Materials lists all of the compounds, metals, non-metals, and rare earth elements deemed to be of critical importance to US national security.2020: Three new fields added to the Military and Security category for every country: “Military and security service personnel strengths,” “Military equipment inventories and acquisitions,” and “Military deployments.” One-Page Summaries completed for all of the World’s countries and more than two dozen territories and possessions.  Capital city name etymologies entered for all national capitals. A new Terrorism category with  a “Terrorist group(s)” entry added to more than 60 countries where the US State Department has these groups operating. A supplemental Appendix T: Terrorist Organizations provides details on each cited group’s history, goals, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, weapons, size, and sources of support. Completion of the multi-year effort to add area comparison maps for all countries.2021: A new Environment category introduced with fields that include information on air pollution, water supplies, revenues from natural resources, food insecurity, and waste and recycling. Fields from other Factbook sections – climate, land use, urbanization, and major infectious diseases – also gathered into this new category. In the People and Society section, under “Languages,” new major-language sample(s) and audio sample(s) added. The Travel Facts for all countries acquire additional entries on Tipping Guidelines, Tourist Attractions, and Major Sports.

20220901

countries-trinidad-and-tobago-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.  Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website daily via the link below for any travel advisories about visiting 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 you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376; US Embassy in Port of Spain, 15 Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; acspos@state.gov; https://tt.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 868 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 990; Fire: 990; 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; rainy season (June to December) Currency (Code): Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 115 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: English, Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese Major Religions: Protestant 32.1%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5% Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Trinidad and Tobago, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Port of Spain; Maracas Bay; Pigeon Point; Caroni Bird Sanctuary; Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge; Little Tobago Island; Mount Saint Benedict Monastery Major Sports: Soccer, sailing, track and field, rugby Cultural Practices: Avoid cursing or using foul language as it is considered a criminal offense. Tipping Guidelines: In general, Trinidadians do not tip. A 10% service charge is often included at restaurants. If you really want to tip a particular waiter for exceptional service, make sure to physically give them the cash or leave it on the table where they can see it. Do not add it into the bill or credit card slip. Tipping private taxi drivers is at your discretion. Do not tip if you share a taxi. Tip a few dollars each round for the bartender. Souvenirs: Sarongs and other hand-painted clothing; shell necklaces and beaded, gold, and silver jewelry; leather sandals, spices, woodcarvings, steel pan drums, handmade ceramic statuesPlease 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

20220901

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 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 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) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 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 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.13% (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 (2020 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: 3.57 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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) Tobacco use: total: 31.5% (2020 est.) male: 37.4% (2020 est.) female: 25.6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA 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 in February 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 (as of mid-2022) - men 118, women 32, percent of women 21.3% 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Nicholas NAMBA (since May 2022) 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" (She was digging a well) 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: installed generating capacity: 7.868 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 26.503 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 12.97 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 13.288 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.589 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 19.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 55.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 16.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 2.148 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 5.371 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 3.111 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 135 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 3,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 85,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 109,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 9 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 131,300 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: 62.495 million cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 4,928,199,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 4,361,410,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 32.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 11.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 11.747 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 9.238 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 129.665 million Btu/person (2019 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: Slovakia’s incumbent telco Slovak Telekom retains its dominance of the fixed-line voice and broadband sector, though there is effective competition in the mobile market, where most investment is being channeled; the main operators including O2 Slovakia and Orange Slovakia have expanded into offering bundled fixed and mobile services; the broadband market has shown steady growth in recent years; DSL remains the principal technology though in early 2020 it was eclipsed by the fast-developing fiber sector, which has been supported by sympathetic regulatory measures and considerable investment among operators; the cable sector is a distant third in terms of subscribers, though cable is particularly strong in urban areas; the main telco UPC Slovakia has gained customers steadily in recent years (reaching 144,000 by the end of 2020) on the back of its widely available 1Gb/s service offering; Slovakia’s mobile market is served by four MNOs, two of which are the local units of operators with a pan-European reach (Deutsche Telekom and Orange Group), O2 Slovakia was once the local unit of Telefónica Group before being sold to an investment concern; mobile broadband access and content services are developing rapidly in line with operators having upgraded their networks; the regulator prepared the groundwork for 5G services in line with European Union requirements, with concessions in the 3.5GHz range followed by those in the 700MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz bands; commercial services by the first quarter of 2021 were limited, licensees have invested in 5G infrastructure and also have considerable coverage obligations. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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: 2,270 km gas transmission pipelines, 6,278 km high-pressure gas distribution pipelines, 27,023 km mid- and low-pressure gas distribution pipelines (2016), 510 km oil (2015) (2016) 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) (2022) 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: approximately 14,000 active duty personnel (8,000 Land Forces; 4,000 Air Forces; 2,000 other, including staff, special operations, and support forces) (2022) 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) (2022) note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovakia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: Slovakia 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: Slovakia-Austria: none identified Slovakia-Czechia: none identified Slovakia-Hungary: initiated by the 1977 Budapest Treaty, Hungary and formerly Czechoslovakia agreed to a hydroelectric dam project on the Danube with dams to be constructed at Gabcikovo (Slovakia) and Nagymaros (Hungary) to prevent floods, improve river navigability, and to generate electricity; when Hungary suspended work on the project until its environmental impact could be assessed, Slovakia continued working on it and adopted a pared down strategy to divert the Danube so that all construction was within Czechoslovakian territory; Hungary terminated the project on environmental and economic grounds in 1989, and in 1992 both countries took the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); the ICJ found largely in favor of then Slovakia, finding Hungary had breached their agreement; however, then Czechoslovakia should not have begun the alternative plan before the ICJ ruled on the case; in 2017, Hungary and Slovakia agreed to discontinue the ICJ proceedings Slovakia-Poland: none identified Slovakia-Ukraine: tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are crossing the border to Slovakia to escape the Russian invasion in their countrySlovakia-Austria: none identifiedSlovakia-Czechia: none identifiedSlovakia-Hungary: initiated by the 1977 Budapest Treaty, Hungary and formerly Czechoslovakia agreed to a hydroelectric dam project on the Danube with dams to be constructed at Gabcikovo (Slovakia) and Nagymaros (Hungary) to prevent floods, improve river navigability, and to generate electricity; when Hungary suspended work on the project until its environmental impact could be assessed, Slovakia continued working on it and adopted a pared down strategy to divert the Danube so that all construction was within Czechoslovakian territory; Hungary terminated the project on environmental and economic grounds in 1989, and in 1992 both countries took the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); the ICJ found largely in favor of then Slovakia, finding Hungary had breached their agreement; however, then Czechoslovakia should not have begun the alternative plan before the ICJ ruled on the case; in 2017, Hungary and Slovakia agreed to discontinue the ICJ proceedingsSlovakia-Poland: none identifiedSlovakia-Ukraine: tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are crossing the border to Slovakia to escape the Russian invasion in their country Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 87,030 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 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

20220901

field-education-expenditures-country-comparison

20220901

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: 600 New Hampshire Ave, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037 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: mail.embdomdc@gmail.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 Shreedhar KHATRI (since 25 April 2022) 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 BEDOYA (since 15 September 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 Francisco Duarte LOPES (since May 2022) 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: 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 email address and website: info@embskn.com 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 Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022) 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 Yousif Mana Saeed Ahmed ALOTAIBA (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/

20220901

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: 3.85 physicians/1,000 population (2018) 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) Tobacco use: total: 29.4% (2020 est.) male: 51.7% (2020 est.) female: 7.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.9% women married by age 18: 12% men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2019 est.) 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% 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] Our Coalition (coalition of the MPRP, Civil Will-Green Party, and Mongolian Traditionally United Party formed for the 2020 election) 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 BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 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: installed generating capacity: 1.479 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 7,336,520,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 24 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 1.723 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 892 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 89.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 8.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 43.904 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 8.818 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 28.551 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 2.52 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 16,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 14,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 24,190 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 22.74 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 17.445 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.295 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 83.045 million Btu/person (2019 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 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: liberalized and competitive telecoms market comprises of a number of operators which have steadily eroded the dominance of the incumbent telco, Mongolia Telecom, over the years; fixed-line penetration increased steadily in the years to 2018 as more people took on fixed-line access for voice calls and to access copper-based broadband services; the number of lines fell in 2019, and again and more sharply in 2020, partly through the economic consequences of the pandemic (GDP fell 5.3% in 2020, year-on-year) and partly due to the migration to the mobile platform and to VoIP; fixed broadband penetration remains low, mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines and the dominance of the mobile platform; the attraction of fixed broadband as a preferred access where it is available is waning as the mobile networks are upgraded with greater capacity and capabilities; the growing popularity of mobile broadband continues to underpin overall broadband and telecom sector growth, with Mongolia’s market very much being dominated by mobile services, supported by widely available LTE; this will largely determine and shape the future direction of Mongolia’s developing digital economy. (2021) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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) (May 2022) note: from 2003 to July 2021, some 3,300 Mongolian troops served in Afghanistan, including about 1,300 under the NATO-led 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: none identifiednone identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 17 (mid-year 2021)

20220901

countries-paraguay-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Paraguay.  Some areas have increased crime 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 1 blank page 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: +(595)(21) 213-715; EMER: +(595)(21) 229-581; US Embassy Asuncion, 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asunción, Paraguay; ParaguayACS@state.gov; https://py.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 595 Local Emergency Phone: 0 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: Subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west Currency (Code): Guarani (PYG) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C Major Languages: Spanish and Guarani, only Guarani, only Spanish Major Religions: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1% Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Paraguay, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Asuncion; Encarnacion (includes Jesuit Ruins); Cerro Cora National Park; Ciudad del Este & Monday Falls; Ybycui National Park; Aregua Major Sports: Soccer, rugby Cultural Practices: Flicking your fingers under your chin signifies not knowing or not caring. Tipping Guidelines: A tip of 10-15% is common in restaurants. Round up taxi fares to the nearest 1,000 guarani. Souvenirs: Yerba guampa cups or mate gourds, wood crafts, native feathered jewelry, filigree jewelry, native fabric and lace items, leather goods, woven baskets, potteryPlease 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

20220901

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: 0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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 6 June 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,968,205 cases of COVID-19 or 6,690.7 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,317 cumulative deaths or a rate of 170.83 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 36.33% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 20.3% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 6.5% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.5% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.9% women married by age 18: 3.6% men married by age 18: 0.6% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 6.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 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 6 June 2022, South Africa has reported a total of 3,968,205 cases of COVID-19 or 6,690.7 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 101,317 cumulative deaths or a rate of 170.83 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 36.33% 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; note- Jacob ZUMA resigned 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) (2019) 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 Heather MERRITT (since April 2022) 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: installed generating capacity: 62.728 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 202,285,870,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 14.482 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 7.823 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 22.904 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 5.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 248.388 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 170.308 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 74.965 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 2.054 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 9.893 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 97,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 622,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 9,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 397,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 487,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 105,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 195,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 1,229,544,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 4,771,551,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 3,542,007,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 470.358 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 387.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 73.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 9.361 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 98.474 million Btu/person (2019 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: South Africa’s telecom sector boasts one of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent; there has been considerable investment from Telkom, Liquid Intelligence Technologies, Broadband InfraCo, and municipal providers as well as from mobile network operators, such as MTN and Vodacom, all aimed at improving network capabilities; in mid-2021, Vodacom Group announced plans to set up its own InfraCo, merging its own fiber assets with those belonging to two recent acquisitions; the focus in recent years has been on back haul capacity and on fiber and LTE networks to extend and improve internet service connectivity; with the ongoing migration to fiber, the incumbent telco Telkom expects to close down its copper network in 2024; the mobile sector has developed strongly in recent years, partly due to the poor availability and level of service of fixed-line networks, which meant that many people had no alternative to mobile networks for voice and data services; the multi-spectrum auction was delayed several times due to legal wrangling, and was finally held in March 2022; the delay caused difficulties for network operators, which were forced to reform spectrum for 3G and LTE use, and provide 5G services on temporary licenses; six qualified bidders acquired spectrum, netting the regulator ZAR14.4 billion in revenues; in February 2022, Vumatel also acquired a 45% non-controlling stake in HeroTel, a local FttP player as the telco seeks to strengthen its foothold in the South African fiber market; as of February 2022, HeroTel had passed 150,000 homes and businesses, with its internet services live in over 400 South African towns and cities; the market is shrugging off the impact of the pandemic, which had a significant impact on production and supply chains globally, and saw a slowdown in some network expansions, particularly around 5G; on the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices remains slightly under pressure amid ongoing macroeconomic challenges facing the country; the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures; in many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increase in subscriber growth. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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, 1,293 km gas, 992 km oil, 1,460 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 the South African Police Service includes a Special Task Force for counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and hostage rescue operations (2022) 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: 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 (2022) 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: 1,150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); up to 1,500 Mozambique (part of a Southern African Development Community force to help quell an insurgency) (2022) 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; the SANDF is 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 (2022) 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-Botswana: none identified South Africa-Eswatini: Eswatini seeks to reclaim land it says was stolen by South Africa South Africa-Lesotho: crossborder livestock thieving, smuggling of drugs and arms, and illegal migration are problematic South Africa-Mozambique: animal poachers cross the South Africa-Mozambique border to hunt wildlife in South Africa’s Kruger National Park; border fences were removed in some areas to allow animals to roam between nature reserves in the two countries; improved patrols, technology, and crossborder cooperation are reducing the problem South Africa-Namibia: 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; the location of the border could affect diamond mining rights; South Africa has always claimed that the northern bank of the Orange River is the border between the two countries, while Namibia’s constitution states that the border lies in the middle of the Orange River South Africa-various: 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 South Africa-Zimbabwe: Zimbabweans migrate illegally into South Africa in search of work or smuggle goods to sell at a profit back homeSouth Africa-Botswana: none identifiedSouth Africa-Eswatini: Eswatini seeks to reclaim land it says was stolen by South AfricaSouth Africa-Lesotho: crossborder livestock thieving, smuggling of drugs and arms, and illegal migration are problematicSouth Africa-Mozambique: animal poachers cross the South Africa-Mozambique border to hunt wildlife in South Africa’s Kruger National Park; border fences were removed in some areas to allow animals to roam between nature reserves in the two countries; improved patrols, technology, and crossborder cooperation are reducing the problemSouth Africa-Namibia: 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; the location of the border could affect diamond mining rights; South Africa has always claimed that the northern bank of the Orange River is the border between the two countries, while Namibia’s constitution states that the border lies in the middle of the Orange RiverSouth Africa-various: 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-Zimbabwe: Zimbabweans migrate illegally into South Africa in search of work or smuggle goods to sell at a profit back home 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

20220901

field-energy-consumption-per-capita-country-comparison

20220901

field-current-account-balance-country-comparison

20220901

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

20220901

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: 0.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020) 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) Tobacco use: total: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 53.3% (2020 est.) female: 10.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.1% women married by age 18: 32.7% men married by age 18: 10.8% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2014 est.) 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 Presidents PANI Yathotou and 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); VILAI Lakhamfong, SALEUMXAI Kommasit (since June 2022) 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 (next to be held in March 2026); 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 Sisavath INPHACHANH (since 7 June 2022) 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: installed generating capacity: 9.346 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 5,108,640,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 24.114 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 1.345 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.262 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 64.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 16.04 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 15.823 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 235,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 18,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 503 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 40.726 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 37.871 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 73.187 million Btu/person (2019 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: 4.1 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Laos joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2013; one of the conditions of admittance was to establish an independent regulator for its telecom sector within two years; the government had committed to do so by February 2015 as part of the accession agreement; there still has been no sign of any firm plans being made to create an independent regulatory body; the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) retains the primary role in regulating the country’s telecom market; with the government also having a financial stake (in part or in whole) in every one of the major fixed-line and mobile operators, the MPT’s position and decision-making is far from what could be considered independent; sufficient returns on investment cannot be guaranteed with such strict pricing controls as well as the potential for political interference; fixed-line and mobile penetration levels have, as a result, remained much lower than what’s seen in neighboring South East Asian markets; there are signs of growth in the mobile broadband segment as LTE network coverage slowly widens and, more recently, the country’s first 5G services start to come on stream; residents in the capital will at least be able to enjoy high-speed services in the near future, while the rest of the country waits patiently to catch up with the rest of the world. (2022) 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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services 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: 2 (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 (2022) 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) (2022) 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 counterterrorism (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Laos-Burma: none identified Laos-Cambodia: in 2021, the two countries agreed to increase efforts to combat drug trafficking and other transnational crimes and to complete the last 14% of their border demarcation Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam: Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction and the potential harm it poses to fisheries and farming downstream Laos-China: 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 Laos-Thailand: talks continue as of 2018 on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River Laos-Vietnam: Laos and Vietnam completed border demarcation in 2016    Laos-Burma: none identifiedLaos-Cambodia: in 2021, the two countries agreed to increase efforts to combat drug trafficking and other transnational crimes and to complete the last 14% of their border demarcationLaos-Cambodia-Vietnam: Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction and the potential harm it poses to fisheries and farming downstreamLaos-China: 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 fisheriesLaos-Thailand: talks continue as of 2018 on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong RiverLaos-Vietnam: Laos and Vietnam completed border demarcation in 2016   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