Guatemala
Population: 12,639,939
Can Read: 55.6%;
Death-rate: 6.92 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino),approximately 56%; Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian,approximately 44%;
Infant-mortality: 47.03/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish 60%; Amerindian languages 40%; (more than 20 Amerindian languages,including Quiche,Cakchiquel,Kekchi,Mam,Garifuna,and Xinca)
Life-expectancy: 66.18 Years
Poverty-line: 75%;
Religions: Roman Catholic,Protestant,indigenous Mayan beliefs
Their Nation: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Area: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km
Climate tropical: hot,humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Farmable-Land-Use: 12%; crops: 5%; pastures: 24%; woodland: 54%; other: 5%;
GeoNote: no natural harbors on west coast
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Land-boundaries: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km,El Salvador 203 km,Honduras 256 km,Mexico 962 km
Location:Middle America,bordering the Caribbean Sea,between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,between El Salvador and Mexico
Nat'l-Hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains,with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Natural-resources: petroleum,nickel,rare woods,fish,chicle,hydropower
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Cell Phones: 29,999
ISPs: 7
Phones: 342,000
Radio Stations: AM 101,FM 32,shortwave 15
Radios: 835,000
TV Stations: 6 (plus 17 repeaters)
TVs: 640,000
Airports: 477
Highways: 13,100 km paved: 3,616 km, unpaved: 9,484 km
Ports/Harbors: Champerico,Puerto Barrios,Puerto Quetzal,San Jose,Santo Tomas de Castilla
Rails: 884 km
Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exports: coffee,sugar,bananas,fruits and vegetables,meat,apparel,petroleum,electricity
Farming: sugarcane,corn,bananas,coffee,beans,cardamom; cattle,sheep,pigs,chickens
Imports: fuels,machinery and transport equipment,construction materials,grain,fertilizers,electricity
Industry: sugar,textiles and clothing,furniture,chemicals,petroleum,metals,rubber,tourism
Admin-Div: 22 departments (departamentos,singular - departamento)
Capital: Guatemala
Country-name: Republic of Guatemala: S/F Guatemala: Localy called: Republica de Guatemala, localy called: Guatemala
Gov-type: constitutional democratic republic
Guinea
Population: 7,466,200
Can Read: 35.9%;
Death-rate: 17.86 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Peuhl 40%; Malinke 30%; Soussou 20%; smaller ethnic groups 10%;
Infant-mortality: 130.98/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),each ethnic group has its own language
Life-expectancy: 45.56 Years
Religions: Muslim 85%; Christian 8%; indigenous beliefs 7%;
Their Nation: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Area: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km
Climate hot and humid;: monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Farmable-Land-Use: 2%; pastures: 22%; woodland: 59%; other: 17%;
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Land-boundaries: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km,Guinea-Bissau 386 km,Liberia 563 km,Mali 858 km,Senegal 330 km,Sierra Leone 652 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Nat'l-Hazards: hot,dry,dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Natural-resources: bauxite,iron ore,diamonds,gold,uranium,hydropower,fish
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain,hilly to mountainous interior
Cell Phones: 950
Phones: 11,000
Radio Stations: AM 4,FM 8,shortwave 3
Radios: 357,000
TV Stations: 6
TVs: 85,000
Airports: 15
Highways: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km
Ports/Harbors: Boke,Conakry,Kamsar
Rails: 1,086 km
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exports: bauxite,alumina,gold,diamonds,coffee,fish,agricultural products
Farming: rice,coffee,pineapples,palm kernels,cassava (tapioca),bananas,sweet potatoes; cattle,sheep,goats; timber
Imports: petroleum products,metals,machinery,transport equipment,textiles,grain and other foodstuffs
Industry: bauxite,gold,diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Admin-Div: 4 administrative regions (regions administrative,singular - region administrative) and 1 special zone (zone speciale)
Capital: Conakry
Country-name: Republic of Guinea: S/F Guinea: Localy called: Republique de Guinee, localy called: Guinee former: French Guinea
Gov-type: republic
HAITI
Population: 6,867,995
Can Read: 45%;
Death-rate: 15.13 per Thousand
Ethnicity: black 95%; mulatto plus white 5%;
Infant-mortality: 97.1/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),Creole (official)
Life-expectancy: 49.21 Years
Poverty-line: 80%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%; Protestant 16%; (Baptist 10%; Pentecostal 4%; Adventist 1%; other 1%),none 1%; other 3%
Their Nation: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian
Area: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km
Climate tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Farmable-Land-Use: 20%; crops: 13%; pastures: 18%; woodland: 5%; other: 44%;
GeoNote: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti,eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
High/Low: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Land-boundaries: 275 km border countries: Dominican Republic 275 km
Location:Caribbean,western one-third of the island of Hispaniola,between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,west of the Dominican Republic
Nat'l-Hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: bauxite,copper,calcium carbonate,gold,marble,hydropower
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
ISPs: 6
Phones: 60,000
Radio Stations: AM 41,FM 26,
Radios: 415,000
TV Stations: 2 (plus a cable TV service)
TVs: 38,000
Airports: 13
Highways: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km
Ports/Harbors: Cap-Haitien,Gonaives,Jacmel,Jeremie,Les Cayes,Miragoane,Port-au-Prince,Port-de-Paix,Saint-Marc
Rails: 40 km
Waterways: NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exports: manufactures,coffee,oils,mangoes
Farming: coffee,mangoes,sugarcane,rice,corn,sorghum; wood
Imports: food,machinery and transport equipment,fuels
Industry: sugar refining,flour milling,textiles,cement,tourism,light assembly industries based on imported parts
Admin-Div: 9 departments (departements,singular - departement)
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Country-name: Republic of Haiti: S/F Haiti: Localy called: Republique d'Haiti, localy called: Haiti
Gov-type: elected government
Honduras
Population: 6,249,598
Can Read: 72.7%;
Death-rate: 5.31 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%; Amerindian 7%; black 2%; white 1%;
Infant-mortality: 31.29/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish,Amerindian dialects
Life-expectancy: 69.93 Years
Poverty-line: 50%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%; Protestant minority
Their Nation: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Area: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km
Climate: subtropical in lowlands,temperate in mountains
Farmable-Land-Use: 15%; crops: 3%; pastures: 14%; woodland: 54%; other: 14%;
High/Low: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Land-boundaries: 1,520 km border countries: Guatemala 256 km,El Salvador 342 km,Nicaragua 922 km
Location:Middle America,bordering the Caribbean Sea,between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Nat'l-Hazards: frequent,but generally mild,earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
Natural-resources: timber,gold,silver,copper,lead,zinc,iron ore,antimony,coal,fish,hydropower
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior,narrow coastal plains
ISPs: 14
Phones: 190,200
Radio Stations: AM 241,FM 53,shortwave 12
Radios: 2.45 million
TV Stations: 11 (plus 17 repeaters)
TVs: 570,000
Airports: 119
Highways: 15,400 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 12,274 km
Ports/Harbors: La Ceiba,Puerto Castilla,Puerto Cortes,San Lorenzo,Tela,Puerto Lempira
Rails: 595 km
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exports: coffee,bananas,shrimp,lobster,meat; zinc,lumber
Farming: bananas,coffee,citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,industrial raw materials,chemical products,fuels,foodstuffs
Industry: sugar,coffee,textiles,clothing,wood products
Admin-Div: 18 departments (departamentos,singular - departamento)
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Country-name: Republic of Honduras: S/F Honduras: Localy called: Republica de Honduras, localy called: Honduras
Gov-type: democratic constitutional republic
Hungary
Population: 10,138,844
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 13.34 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Hungarian 89.9%; Roma 4%; German 2.6%; Serb 2%; Slovak 0.8%; Romanian 0.7%;
Infant-mortality: 9.15/1,000 born,die
Language: Hungarian 98.2%; other 1.8%;
Life-expectancy: 71.37 Years
Poverty-line: 25.3%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%; Calvinist 20%; Lutheran 5%; atheist and other 7.5%;
Their Nation: noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian
Area: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km
Climate temperate: cold,cloudy,humid winters; warm summers
Farmable-Land-Use: 51%; crops: 3.6%; pastures: 12.4%; woodland: 19%; other: 14%;
GeoNote: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
High/Low: lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Land-boundaries: 2,009 km border countries: Austria 366 km,Croatia 329 km,Romania 443 km,Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia),Slovakia 515 km,Slovenia 102 km,Ukraine 103 km
Location:Central Europe,northwest of Romania
Natural-resources: bauxite,coal,natural gas,fertile soils,arable land
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Cell Phones: 1.269 million
ISPs: 13
Phones: 1.893 million
Radio Stations: AM 17,FM 57,shortwave 3
Radios: 7.01 million
TV Stations: 39 (plus several low-power stations)
TVs: 4.42 million
Airports: 43
Highways: 188,203 km paved: 81,680 km ( unpaved: 106,523 km
Ports/Harbors: Budapest,Dunaujvaros
Rails: 7,606 km
Waterways: 1,373 km permanently navigable
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exports: machinery and equipment 51.9%; other manufactures 32.7%; agriculture and food products 10.5%; raw materials 2.9%; fuels and electricity 1.9%;
Farming: wheat,corn,sunflower seed,potatoes,sugar beets; pigs,cattle,poultry,dairy products
Imports: machinery and equipment 46.5%; other manufactures 40.2%; fuels and electricity 6.6%; agricultural and food products 3.7%; raw materials 3.0%;
Industry: mining,metallurgy,construction materials,processed foods,textiles,chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals),motor vehicles
Admin-Div: 19 counties (megyek,singular - megye), 20 urban counties(singular - megyei varos),and 1 capital city (fovaros)
Capital: Budapest
Country-name: Republic of Hungary: S/F Hungary: Localy called: Magyar Koztarsasag, localy called: Magyarorszag
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
India
Population: 1,014,003,817
Can Read: 52%;
Death-rate: 8.88 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Indo-Aryan 72%; Dravidian 25%; Mongoloid and other 3%;
Infant-mortality: 64.9/1,000 born,die
Language: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national,political,and commercial communication,Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30%; of the people,Bengali (official),Telugu (official),Marathi (official),Tamil (official),Urdu (official),Gujarati (official),Malayalam (official),Kannada (official),Oriya (official),Punjabi (official),Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official),Sindhi (official),Sanskrit (official),Hindustani (a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India) note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other languages and dialects,for the most part mutually unintelligible
Life-expectancy: 62.5 Years
Poverty-line: 35%;
Religions: Hindu 80%; Muslim 14%; Christian 2.4%; Sikh 2%; Buddhist 0.7%; Jains 0.5%; other 0.4%;
Their Nation: noun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian
Area: 3,287,590 sq km land: 2,973,190 sq km water: 314,400 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 56%; crops: 1%; pastures: 4%; woodland: 23%; other: 16%;
GeoNote: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Land-boundaries: 14,103 km border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km,Bhutan 605 km,Burma 1,463 km,China 3,380 km,Nepal 1,690 km,Pakistan 2,912 km
Location:Southern Asia,bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Burma and Pakistan
Nat'l-Hazards: droughts,flash floods,severe thunderstorms common; earthquakes
Natural-resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),iron ore,manganese,mica,bauxite,titanium ore,chromite,natural gas,diamonds,petroleum,limestone,arable land
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south,flat to rolling plain along the Ganges,deserts in west,Himalayas in north
Cell Phones: 1.9 million (April 1998)
ISPs: 3
Phones: 18.95 million
Radio Stations: AM 153,FM 91,shortwave 68
Radios: 116 million
TV Stations: 562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power)
TVs: 63 million
Airports: 346
Highways: 3,319,644 km paved: 1,517,077 km unpaved: 1,802,567 km
Ports/Harbors: Calcutta,Chennai (Madras),Cochin,Jawaharal Nehru,Kandla,Mumbai (Bombay),Vishakhapatnam
Rails: 62,915 km
Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exports: textile goods,gems and jewelry,engineering goods,chemicals,leather manufactures
Farming: rice,wheat,oilseed,cotton,jute,tea,sugarcane,potatoes; cattle,water buffalo,sheep,goats,poultry; fish
Imports: crude oil and petroleum products,machinery,gems,fertilizer,chemicals
Industry: textiles,chemicals,food processing,steel,transportation equipment,cement,mining,petroleum,machinery
Admin-Div: 25 states and 7 union territories;
Capital: New Delhi
Country-name: Republic of India: S/F India
Gov-type: federal republic
Indonesia
Population: 224,784,210
Can Read: 83.8%;
Death-rate: 6.31 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Javanese 45%; Sundanese 14%; Madurese 7.5%; coastal Malays 7.5%; other 26%;
Infant-mortality: 42.21/1,000 born,die
Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official,modified form of Malay),English,Dutch,local dialects,the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Life-expectancy: 67.96 Years
Religions: Muslim 88%; Protestant 5%; Roman Catholic 3%; Hindu 2%; Buddhist 1%; other 1%;
Their Nation: noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian
Area: 1,919,440 sq km land: 1,826,440 sq km water: 93,000 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid; more moderate in highlands
Farmable-Land-Use: 10%; crops: 7%; pastures: 7%; woodland: 62%; other: 14%;
GeoNote: archipelago of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Land-boundaries: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km,Papua New Guinea 820 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Nat'l-Hazards: occasional floods,severe droughts,tsunamis,earthquakes,volcanoes
Natural-resources: petroleum,tin,natural gas,nickel,timber,bauxite,copper,fertile soils,coal,gold,silver
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Cell Phones: 1.2 million
ISPs: 24
Phones: 3.291 million
Radio Stations: AM 678,FM 43,shortwave 82
Radios: 31.5 million
TV Stations: 41
TVs: 13.75 million
Airports: 446
Highways: 342,700 km paved: 158,670 km unpaved: 184,030 km
Ports/Harbors: Cilacap,Cirebon,Jakarta,Kupang,Palembang,Semarang,Surabaya,Ujungpandang
Rails: 6,458 km
Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km,Java and Madura 820 km,Kalimantan 10,460 km,Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km,Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen
Exports: oil and gas,plywood,textiles,rubber
Farming: rice,cassava (tapioca),peanuts,rubber,cocoa,coffee,palm oil,copra; poultry,beef,pork,eggs
Imports: machinery and equipment; chemicals,fuels,foodstuffs
Industry: petroleum and natural gas; textiles,apparel,and footwear; mining,cement,chemical fertilizers,plywood; rubber; food; tourism
Admin-Div: 23 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,singular - propinsi) ,2 special regions(daerah-daerah istimewa,singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district (daerah khusus ibukota);
Capital: Jakarta
Country-name: Republic of Indonesia: S/F Indonesia: Localy called: Republik Indonesia, localy called: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch
Gov-type: republic
Iran
Population: 65,619,636
Can Read: 72.1%;
Death-rate: 5.45 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Persian 51%; Azeri 24%; Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%; Kurd 7%; Arab 3%; Lur 2%; Baloch 2%; Turkmen 2%; other 1%;
Infant-mortality: 30.02/1,000 born,die
Language: Persian and Persian dialects 58%; Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%; Kurdish 9%; Luri 2%; Balochi 1%; Arabic 1%; Turkish 1%; other 2%;
Life-expectancy: 69.66 Years
Poverty-line: 53%;
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%; Sunni Muslim 10%; Zoroastrian,Jewish,Christian,and Baha'i 1%;
Their Nation: noun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian
Area: 1.648 million sq km land: 1.636 million sq km water: 12,000 sq km
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid,subtropical along Caspian coast
Farmable-Land-Use: 10%; crops: 1%; pastures: 27%; woodland: 7%; other: 55%;
High/Low: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Land-boundaries: 5,440 km border countries: Afghanistan 936 km,Armenia 35 km,Azerbaijan-proper 432 km,Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km,Iraq 1,458 km,Pakistan 909 km,Turkey 499 km,Turkmenistan 992 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Gulf of Oman,the Persian Gulf,and the Caspian Sea,between Iraq and Pakistan
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts,floods; dust storms,sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Natural-resources: petroleum,natural gas,coal,chromium,copper,iron ore,lead,manganese,zinc,sulfur
Terrain: rugged,mountainous rim; high,central basin with deserts,mountains; small,discontinuous plains along both coasts
Cell Phones: 265,000 (August 1998)
ISPs: 1
Phones: 7 million
Radio Stations: AM 72,FM 5,shortwave 5
Radios: 17 million
TV Stations: 28
TVs: 4.61 million
Airports: 288
Highways: 140,200 km paved: 49,440 km, unpaved: 90,760 km
Ports/Harbors: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),Ahvaz,Bandar 'Abbas,Bandar-e Anzali,Bushehr,Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni,Bandar-e Lengeh,Bandar-e Mahshahr,Bandar-e Torkaman,Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti),Jazireh-ye Khark,Jazireh-ye Lavan,Jazireh-ye Sirri,Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992),Now Shahr
Rails: 5,600 km
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exports: petroleum 80%; carpets,fruits,nuts,hides,iron,steel
Farming: wheat,rice,other grains,sugar beets,fruits,nuts,cotton; dairy products,wool; caviar
Imports: machinery,military supplies,metal works,foodstuffs,pharmaceuticals,technical services,refined oil products
Industry: petroleum,petrochemicals,textiles,cement and other construction materials,food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production),metal fabricating,armaments
Admin-Div: 28 provinces (ostanha,singular - ostan);
Capital: Tehran
Country-name: Islamic Republic of Iran: S/F Iran: Localy called: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran, localy called: Iran
Gov-type: theocratic republic
Iraq
Population: 22,675,617
Can Read: 58%;
Death-rate: 6.4 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab 75%-80%; Kurdish 15%-20%; Turkoman,Assyrian or other 5%;
Infant-mortality: 62.49/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic,Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),Assyrian,Armenian
Life-expectancy: 66.53 Years
Religions: Muslim 97%; (Shi'a 60%-65%; Sunni 32%-37%),Christian or other 3%;
Their Nation: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Area: 437,072 sq km land: 432,162 sq km water: 4,910 sq km
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry,hot,cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring,sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Farmable-Land-Use: 12%; pastures: 9%; other: 79%;
High/Low: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Haji Ibrahim 3,600 m
Land-boundaries: 3,631 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km,Jordan 181 km,Kuwait 242 km,Saudi Arabia 814 km,Syria 605 km,Turkey 331 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Persian Gulf,between Iran and Kuwait
Nat'l-Hazards: dust storms,sandstorms,floods
Natural-resources: petroleum,natural gas,phosphates,sulfur
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
ISPs: 1
Phones: 675,000
Radio Stations: AM 19 (5 are inactive),FM 51,shortwave 4
Radios: 4.85 million
TV Stations: 13
TVs: 1.75 million
Airports: 113
Highways: 45,550 km paved: 38,400 km unpaved: 7,150 km
Ports/Harbors: Umm Qasr,Khawr az Zubayr,and Al Basrah have limited functionality
Rails: 2,032 km.
Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf war
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exports: crude oil
Farming: wheat,barley,rice,vegetables,dates,cotton; cattle,sheep
Imports: food,medicine,manufactures
Industry: petroleum,chemicals,textiles,construction materials,food processing
Admin-Div: 18 provinces (muhafazat,singular - muhafazah);
Capital: Baghdad
Country-name: Republic of Iraq: S/F Iraq: Localy called: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah, localy called: Al Iraq
Gov-type: republic
Ireland
Population: 3,797,257
Can Read: 98%
Death-rate: 8.14 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Celtic,English
Infant-mortality: 5.62/1,000 born,die
Language: English is the language generally used,Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Life-expectancy: 76.81 Years
Poverty-line: 10%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%; Church of Ireland 2.5%; other 5.9%;
Their Nation: noun: Irishman(men),Irishwoman(women),Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish
Area: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters,cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Farmable-Land-Use: 13%; pastures: 68%; woodland: 5%; other: 14%;
GeoNote: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40%; of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Land-boundaries: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km
Location:Western Europe,occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean,west of Great Britain
Natural-resources: zinc,lead,natural gas,barite,copper,gypsum,limestone,dolomite,peat,silver
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Cell Phones: 941,775
ISPs: 14
Phones: 1,642,541
Radio Stations: AM 9,FM 106,
Radios: 2.55 million
TV Stations: 10.
TVs: 1.47 million
Airports: 44
Highways: 92,500 km paved: 87,043 km, unpaved: 5,457 km
Ports/Harbors: Arklow, Cork,Drogheda,Dublin,Foynes,Galway,Limerick,New Ross,Waterford
Rails: 1,947 km
Waterways: 700 km (limited for commercial traffic)
Currency: 1 Irish pound = 100 pence
Exports: machinery and equipment,computers,chemicals,pharmaceuticals; live animals,animal products
Farming: turnips,barley,potatoes,sugar beets,wheat; beef,dairy products
Imports: data processing equipment,other machinery and equipment,chemicals; petroleum and petroleum products,textiles,clothing
Industry: food products,brewing,textiles,clothing; chemicals,pharmaceuticals,machinery,transportation equipment,glass and crystal; software
Admin-Div: 26 counties;
Capital: Dublin
Country-name: none: S/F Ireland
Gov-type: republic
Israel
Population: 5,842,454 note: includes about 171,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank,about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights,about 6,500 in the Gaza Strip,and about 172,000 in East Jerusalem
Can Read: 95%
Death-rate: 6.22 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Jewish 80.1%; (Europe/America-born 32.1%; Israel-born 20.8%; Africa-born 14.6%; Asia-born 12.6%),non-Jewish 19.9%; (mostly Arab)
Infant-mortality: 7.9/1,000 born,die
Language: Hebrew (official),Arabic used officially for Arab minority,English most commonly used foreign language
Life-expectancy: 78.57 Years
Religions: Jewish 80.1%; Muslim 14.6%; (mostly Sunni Muslim),Christian 2.1%; other 3.2%;
Their Nation: noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli
Area: 20,770 sq km land: 20,330 sq km water: 440 sq km
Climate temperate: hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Farmable-Land-Use: 17%; crops: 4%; pastures: 7%; woodland: 6%; other: 66%;
GeoNote: there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank,42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights,24 in the Gaza Strip,and 29 in East Jerusalem
High/Low: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Land-boundaries: 1,006 km border countries: Egypt 255 km,Gaza Strip 51 km,Jordan 238 km,Lebanon 79 km,Syria 76 km,West Bank 307 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Mediterranean Sea,between Egypt and Lebanon
Nat'l-Hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
Natural-resources: copper,phosphates,bromide,potash,clay,sand,sulfur,asphalt,manganese,small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Cell Phones: 2.5 million
ISPs: 23
Phones: 2.8 million
Radio Stations: AM 23,FM 15,shortwave 2
Radios: 3.07 million
TV Stations: 24.
TVs: 1.69 million
Airports: 58
Highways: 15,965 km paved: 15,965 km
Ports/Harbors: Ashdod,Ashqelon,Elat (Eilat),Hadera,Haifa,Tel Aviv-Yafo
Rails: 610 km.
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exports: machinery and equipment,software,cut diamonds,chemicals,textiles and apparel,agricultural products
Farming: citrus,vegetables,cotton; beef,poultry,dairy products
Imports: raw materials,military equipment,investment goods,rough diamonds,fuels,consumer goods
Industry: food processing,diamond cutting and polishing,textiles and apparel,chemicals,metal products,military equipment,transport equipment,electrical equipment,potash mining,high- technology electronics,tourism
Admin-Div: 6 districts
Capital: Jerusalem note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950,but the US,like nearly all other countries,maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Country-name: State of Israel: S/F Israel: Localy called: Medinat Yisra'el, localy called: Yisra'el
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Italy
Population: 57,634,327
Can Read: 98%;
Death-rate: 9.99 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,French-,and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
Infant-mortality: 5.92/1,000 born,die
Language: Italian (official),German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking),French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region),Slovene (Slovene- speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Life-expectancy: 79.03 Years
Religions: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community
Their Nation: noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian
Area: 301,230 sq km land: 294,020 sq km water: 7,210 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot,dry in south
Farmable-Land-Use: 31%; crops: 10%; pastures: 15%; woodland: 23%; other: 21%;
GeoNote: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
High/Low: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m
Land-boundaries: 1,932.2 km border countries: Austria 430 km,France 488 km,Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km,San Marino 39 km,Slovenia 232 km,Switzerland 740 km
Location:Southern Europe,a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea,northeast of Tunisia
Nat'l-Hazards: regional risks include landslides,mudflows,avalanches,earthquakes,volcanic eruptions,flooding; land subsidence in Venice
Natural-resources: mercury,potash,marble,sulfur,dwindling natural gas and crude oil reserves,fish,coal,arable land
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains,coastal lowlands
Cell Phones: 17.7 million
ISPs: 219
Phones: 25 million
Radio Stations: AM about 100,FM about 4,600,shortwave 9
Radios: 50.5 million
TV Stations: 6,317 (of which only 117 have 2 kW or more of transmitter power)
TVs: 30.3 million
Airports: 136
Highways: 654,676 km paved: 654,676 km
Ports/Harbors: Augusta (Sicily),Bagnoli,Bari,Brindisi,Gela,Genoa,La Spezia,Livorno,Milazzo,Naples,Porto Foxi,Porto Torres (Sardigna),Salerno,Savona,Taranto,Trieste,Venice
Rails: 19,394 km
Waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic,although of limited overall value
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exports: engineering products,textiles and clothing,production machinery,motor vehicles,transport equipment,chemicals; food,beverages and tobacco; minerals and nonferrous
Farming: fruits,vegetables,grapes,potatoes,sugar beets,soybeans,grain,olives; beef,dairy products; fish
Imports: engineering products,chemicals,transport equipment,energy products,minerals and nonferrous metals,textiles and clothing; food,beverages and tobacco
Industry: tourism,machinery,iron and steel,chemicals,food processing,textiles,motor vehicles,clothing,footwear,ceramics
Admin-Div: 20 regions (regioni,singular - regione)
Capital: Rome
Country-name: Italian Republic: S/F Italy: Localy called: Repubblica Italiana, localy called: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy
Gov-type: republic
Jamaica
Population: 2,652,689
Can-Read; age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 85%; male: 80.8%; female: 89.1%;
Death-rate: 5.51 per Thousand
Ethnicity: black 90.9%; East Indian 1.3%; white 0.2%; Chinese 0.2%; mixed 7.3%; other 0.1%;
Infant-mortality: 14.61/1,000 born,die
Language: English,Creole
Life-expectancy: 75.21 Years
Poverty-line: 34.2%
Religions: Protestant 61.3%; (Church of God 21.2%; Baptist 8.8%; Anglican 5.5%; Seventh-Day Adventist 9%; Pentecostal 7.6%; Methodist 2.7%; United Church 2.7%; Brethren 1.1%; Jehovah's Witness 1.6%; Moravian 1.1%),Roman Catholic 4%; other,including some spiritual cults 34.7%;
Their Nation: noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican
Area: 10,990 sq km land: 10,830 sq km water: 160 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid; temperate interior
Farmable-Land-Use: 14%; crops: 6%; pastures: 24%; woodland: 17%; other: 39%;
GeoNote: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel,the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
High/Low: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Island:
Location:Caribbean,island in the Caribbean Sea,south of Cuba
Nat'l-Hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
Natural-resources: bauxite,gypsum,limestone
Terrain: mostly mountains,with narrow,discontinuous coastal plain
Cell Phones: 45,178
ISPs: 6
Phones: 292,000
Radio Stations: AM 10,FM 13,
Radios: 1.215 million
TV Stations: 7
TVs: 460,000
Airports: 36
Highways: 18,700 km paved: 13,100 km unpaved: 5,600 km
Ports/Harbors: Alligator Pond,Discovery Bay,Kingston,Montego Bay,Ocho Rios,Port Antonio,Rocky Point,Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
Rails: 370 km.
Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exports: alumina,bauxite,sugar,bananas,rum
Farming: sugarcane,bananas,coffee,citrus,potatoes,vegetables; poultry,goats,milk
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,construction materials,fuel,food,chemicals,fertilizers
Industry: tourism,bauxite,textiles,food processing,light manufactures,rum,cement,metal,paper,chemical products other: 5.09%;
Admin-Div: 14 parishes
Capital: Kingston
Country-name: none: S/F Jamaica
Gov-type: constitutional parliamentary democracy
Japan
Population: 126,549,976
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 8.15 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Japanese 99.4%; other 0.6%; (mostly Korean)
Infant-mortality: 3.91/1,000 born,die
Language: Japanese
Life-expectancy: 80.7 Years
Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%; other 16%; (including Christian 0.7%)
Their Nation: noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese
Area: 377,835 sq km land: 374,744 sq km water: 3,091 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto),Daito-shoto,Minami-jima,Okino-tori-shima,Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto),and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 11%; crops: 1%; pastures: 2%; woodland: 67%; other: 19%;
GeoNote: strategic location in northeast Asia
High/Low: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Island:
Nat'l-Hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
Natural-resources: negligible mineral resources,fish
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
Cell Phones: 36.5 million
ISPs: 357
Phones: 60.3 million
Radio Stations: AM 190,FM 88,shortwave 24
Radios: 120.5 million
TV Stations: 7,108 (plus 441 repeaters; note - in addition,US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services)
TVs: 86.5 million
Location:Eastern Asia,island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan,east of the Korean Peninsula
Airports: 171
Highways: 1,152,207 km paved: 863,003 km unpaved: 289,204 km
Ports/Harbors: Akita,Amagasaki,Chiba,Hachinohe,Hakodate,Higashi-Harima,Himeji,Hiroshima,Kawasaki,Kinuura,Kobe,Kushiro,Mizushima,Moji,Nagoya,Osaka,Sakai,Sakaide,Shimizu, Tokyo,Tomakomai
Rails: 23,670.7 km ; 20,656.8 km
Waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas
Currency: yen
Exports: motor vehicles,semiconductors,office machinery,chemicals
Farming: rice,sugar beets,vegetables,fruit; pork,poultry,dairy products,eggs; fish
Imports: fuels,foodstuffs,chemicals,textiles,office machinery
Industry: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles,electronic equipment,machine tools,steel and nonferrous metals,ships,chemicals; textiles,processed foods
Admin-Div: 47 prefectures
Capital: Tokyo
Country-name: none: S/F Japan
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Jordan
Population: 4,998,564
Can Read: 86.6%;
Death-rate: 2.63 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab 98%; Circassian 1%; Armenian 1%;
Infant-mortality: 21.11/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Life-expectancy: 77.36 Years
Poverty-line: 30%;
Religions: Sunni Muslim 96%; Christian 4%;
Their Nation: noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Area: 89,213 sq km land: 88,884 sq km water: 329 sq km
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Farmable-Land-Use: 4%; crops: 1%; pastures: 9%; woodland: 1%; other: 85%;
High/Low: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Land-boundaries: 1,619 km border countries: Iraq 181 km,Israel 238 km,Saudi Arabia 728 km,Syria 375 km,West Bank 97 km
Location:Middle East,northwest of Saudi Arabia
Natural-resources: phosphates,potash,shale oil
Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east,highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Cell Phones: 75,000
ISPs: 8
Phones: 402,600
Radio Stations: AM 6,FM 5,shortwave 1
Radios: 1.66 million
TV Stations: 8
TVs: 500,000
Airports: 20
Highways: 8,000 km paved: 8,000 km
Ports/Harbors: Al 'Aqabah
Rails: 677 km
Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exports: phosphates,fertilizers,potash,agricultural products,manufactures
Farming: wheat,barley,citrus,tomatoes,melons,olives; sheep,goats,poultry
Imports: crude oil,machinery,transport equipment,food,live animals,manufactured goods
Industry: phosphate mining,petroleum refining,cement,potash,light manufacturing,tourism
Admin-Div: 12 governorates (muhafazat,singular - muhafazah);
Capital: Amman
Country-name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: S/F Jordan: Localy called: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah, localy called: Al Urdun former:
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Kazakhstan
Population: 16,733,227
Can Read: 98%
Death-rate: 10.56 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%; Russian 34.7%; Ukrainian 4.9%; German 3.1%; Uzbek 2.3%; Tatar 1.9%; other 7.1%;
Infant-mortality: 59.39/1,000 born,die
Language: Kazakh (Qazaq,state language) 40%; Russian (official,used in everyday business) 66%;
Life-expectancy: 63.19 Years
Poverty-line: 35%;
Religions: Muslim 47%; Russian Orthodox 44%; Protestant 2%; other 7%;
Their Nation: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani
Area: 2,717,300 sq km land: 2,669,800 sq km water: 47,500 sq km
Climate: continental,cold winters and hot summers,arid and semiarid
Farmable-Land-Use: 12%; crops: 11%; pastures: 57%; woodland: 4%; other: 16%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Land-boundaries: 12,012 km border countries: China 1,533 km,Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km,Russia 6,846 km,Turkmenistan 379 km,Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Location:Central Asia,northwest of China
Nat'l-Hazards: earthquakes in the south,mud slides around Almaty
Natural-resources: major deposits of petroleum,natural gas,coal,iron ore,manganese,chrome ore,nickel,cobalt,copper,molybdenum,lead,zinc,bauxite,gold,uranium
Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Cell Phones: 4,600
ISPs: 83 (Kazakhstan and Russia)
Phones: 1.963 million
Radio Stations: AM 60,FM 17,shortwave 9
Radios: 6.47 million
TV Stations: 12 (plus nine repeaters)
TVs: 3.88 million
Airports: 10
Highways: 119,390 km paved: 103,272 km unpaved: 16,118 km
Ports/Harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko),Atyrau (Gur'yev),Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),Pavlodar,Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Rails: 14,400 km
Waterways: 3,900 km on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya) and Ertis (Irtysh)
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
Exports: oil 40%; ferrous and nonferrous metals,machinery,chemicals,grain,wool,meat,coal
Farming: grain (mostly spring wheat),cotton; wool,livestock
Imports: machinery and parts,industrial materials,oil and gas,vehicles
Industry: oil,coal,iron ore,manganese,chromite,lead,zinc,copper,titanium,bauxite,gold,silver,phosphates,sulfur,iron and steel,nonferrous metal,tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors,construction materials
Admin-Div: 14 oblystar (singular - oblysy) and 3 cities (qala,singular - qalasy)
Capital: Astana note: the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998
Country-name: Republic of Kazakhstan: S/F Kazakhstan: Localy called: Qazaqstan Respublikasy former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Gov-type: republic
Kenya
Population: 30,339,770
Can Read: 78.1%;
Death-rate: 14.08 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Kikuyu 22%; Luhya 14%; Luo 13%; Kalenjin 12%; Kamba 11%; Kisii 6%; Meru 6%; other African 15%; non-African (Asian,European,and Arab) 1%;
Infant-mortality: 68.74/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Kiswahili (official),numerous indigenous languages
Life-expectancy: 47.98 Years
Poverty-line: 42%
Religions: Protestant 38%; Roman Catholic 28%; indigenous beliefs 26%; Muslim 7%; other 1%;
Their Nation: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan
Area: 582,650 sq km land: 569,250 sq km water: 13,400 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Farmable-Land-Use: 7%; crops: 1%; pastures: 37%; woodland: 30%; other: 25%
GeoNote: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Land-boundaries: 3,446 km border countries: Ethiopia 830 km,Somalia 682 km,Sudan 232 km,Tanzania 769 km,Uganda 933 km
Location:Eastern Africa,bordering the Indian Ocean,between Somalia and Tanzania
Nat'l-Hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
Natural-resources: gold,limestone,soda ash,salt barites,rubies,fluorspar,garnets,wildlife,hydropower
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Cell Phones: 6,000
ISPs: 7
Phones: 290,000
Radio Stations: AM 24,FM 8,shortwave 6
Radios: 3.07 million
TV Stations: 8
TVs: 730,000
Airports: 230
Highways: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km
Ports/Harbors: Kisumu,Lamu,Mombasa
Rails: 2,778 km
Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exports: tea,coffee,horticultural products,petroleum products
Farming: coffee,tea,corn,wheat,sugarcane,fruit,vegetables; dairy products,beef,pork,poultry,eggs
Imports: machinery and transportation equipment,petroleum products,iron and steel
Industry: small-scale consumer goods (plastic,furniture,batteries,textiles,soap,cigarettes,flour),agricultural products processing; oil refining,cement; tourism
Admin-Div: 7 provinces and 1 area
Capital: Nairobi
Country-name: Republic of Kenya: S/F Kenya former: British East Africa
Gov-type: republic
Korea
Population: 21,687,550
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 6.88 per Thousand
Ethnicity: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Infant-mortality: 24.29/1,000 born,die
Language: Korean
Life-expectancy: 70.74 Years
Religions: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist,some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government- sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Their Nation: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Area: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Farmable-Land-Use: 14%; crops: 2%; woodland: 61%; other: 23%;
GeoNote: strategic location bordering China,South Korea,and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
High/Low: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Land-boundaries: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km,South Korea 238 km,Russia 19 km
Nat'l-Hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Natural-resources: coal,lead,tungsten,zinc,graphite,magnesite,iron ore,copper,gold,pyrites,salt,fluorspar,hydropower
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep,narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west,discontinuous in east
Phones: 1.1 million
Radio Stations: AM 16,FM 14,shortwave 12
Radios: 3.36 million
TV Stations: 38
TVs: 1.2 million
Airports: 49
Highways: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km
Ports/Harbors: Ch'ongjin,Haeju,Hungnam (Hamhung),Kimch'aek,Kosong,Najin,Namp'o,Sinuiju,Songnim,Sonbong (formerly Unggi),Ungsang,Wonsan
Rails: 5,000 km
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exports: minerals,metallurgical products,manufactures (including armaments); agricultural and fishery products
Farming: rice,corn,potatoes,soybeans,pulses; cattle,pigs,pork,eggs
Imports: petroleum,coking coal,machinery and equipment; consumer goods,grain
Industry: military products; machine building,electric power,chemicals; mining (coal,iron ore,magnesite,graphite,copper,zinc,lead,and precious metals),metallurgy; textiles,food processing; tourism
Admin-Div: 9 provinces (do) and 3 special cities (si)
Capital: P'yongyang
Country-name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea: S/F North Korea: Localy called: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country abbreviation: DPRK
Gov-type: authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Kuwait
Population: 1,973,572 note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals
Can Read: 78.6%;
Death-rate: 2.45 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Kuwaiti 45%; other Arab 35%; South Asian 9%; Iranian 4%; other 7%;
Infant-mortality: 11.55/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),English widely spoken
Life-expectancy: 76.08 Years
Religions: Muslim 85%; (Sunni 45%; Shi'a 40%),Christian,Hindu,Parsi,and other 15%;
Their Nation: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Area: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short,cool winters
Farmable-Land-Use: 0%; pastures: 8%; other: 92%;
GeoNote: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
High/Low: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Land-boundaries: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km,Saudi Arabia 222 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Persian Gulf,between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Nat'l-Hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year,but are most common between March and August
Natural-resources: petroleum,fish,shrimp,natural gas
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Cell Phones: 150,000
ISPs: 2
Phones: 411,600
Radio Stations: AM 6,FM 11,shortwave 1
Radios: 1.175 million
TV Stations: 13 (plus several satellite channels)
TVs: 875,000
Airports: 7
Highways: 4,450 km paved: 3,590 km unpaved: 860 km
Ports/Harbors: Ash Shu'aybah,Ash Shuwaykh,Kuwait,Mina' 'Abd Allah,Mina' al Ahmadi,Mina' Su'ud
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exports: oil and refined products,fertilizers
Farming: practically no crops; fish
Imports: food,construction materials,vehicles and parts,clothing
Industry: petroleum,petrochemicals,desalination,food processing,construction materials,salt,construction
Admin-Div: 5 governorates (muhafazat,singular - muhafazah)
Capital: Kuwait
Country-name: State of Kuwait: S/F Kuwait: Localy called: Dawlat al Kuwayt, localy called: Al Kuwayt
Gov-type: nominal constitutional monarchy
Kyrgyzstan
Population: 4,685,230
Can Read: 97%
Death-rate: 9.15 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Kirghiz 52.4%; Russian 18%; Uzbek 12.9%; Ukrainian 2.5%; German 2.4%; other 11.8%;
Infant-mortality: 77.08/1,000 born,die
Language: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language,Russian - official language note: in March 1996,the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the constitution to make Russian an official language,along with Kirghiz,in territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens predominate
Life-expectancy: 63.37 Years
Poverty-line: 40%;
Religions: Muslim 75%; Russian Orthodox 20%; other 5%;
Their Nation: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Area: 198,500 sq km land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Farmable-Land-Use: 7%; pastures: 44%; woodland: 4%; other: 45%; note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Land-boundaries: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km,Kazakhstan 1,051 km,Tajikistan 870 km,Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Location:Central Asia,west of China
Natural-resources: abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal,oil,and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline,mercury,bismuth,lead,and zinc
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Phones: 357,000
Radio Stations: AM 12, FM 14, shortwave 2
Radios: 520,000
TV Stations: (repeaters relay programs from other contries)
TVs: 210,000
Airports: 54
Highways: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km, unpaved: 1,646 km
Ports/Harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Rails: 370 km
Waterways: 600 km
Currency: 1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn
Exports: cotton,wool,meat,tobacco; gold,mercury,uranium,hydropower; machinery; shoes
Farming: tobacco,cotton,potatoes,vegetables,grapes,fruits and berries; sheep,goats,cattle,wool
Imports: oil and gas,machinery and equipment,foodstuffs
Industry: small machinery,textiles,food processing,cement,shoes,sawn logs,refrigerators,furniture,electric motors,gold,rare earth metals
Admin-Div: 6 oblastlar (singular - oblast) and 1 city (singular - shaar)
Capital: Bishkek
Country-name: Kyrgyz Republic: S/F Kyrgyzstan: Localy called: Kyrgyz Respublikasy former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Gov-type: republic
Laos
Population: 5,497,459
Can Read: 57%;
Death-rate: 13.35 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%; Lao Theung (upland) 22%; Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%; ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%;
Infant-mortality: 94.8/1,000 born,die
Language: Lao (official),French,English,and various ethnic languages
Life-expectancy: 53.09 Years
Poverty-line: 46.1%;
Religions: Buddhist 60%; animist and other 40%;
Their Nation: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Area: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; pastures: 3%; woodland: 54%; other: 40%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Land-boundaries: 5,083 km border countries: Burma 235 km,Cambodia 541 km,China 423 km,Thailand 1,754 km,Vietnam 2,130 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,northeast of Thailand,west of Vietnam
Nat'l-Hazards: floods,droughts,and blight
Natural-resources: timber,hydropower,gypsum,tin,gold,gemstones
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Cell Phones: 1,600
Phones: 20,000
Radio Stations: AM 12,FM 1,shortwave 4
Radios: 730,000
TV Stations: 4
TVs: 52,000
Airports: 52
Highways: 21,716 km paved: 9,673 km unpaved: 12,042 km
Waterways: about 4,587 km,primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exports: wood products,garments,electricity,coffee,tin
Farming: sweet potatoes,vegetables,corn,coffee,sugarcane,tobacco,cotton; tea,peanuts,rice; water buffalo,pigs,cattle,poultry
Imports: machinery and equipment,vehicles,fuel
Industry: tin and gypsum mining,timber,electric power,agricultural processing,construction,garments
Admin-Div: 16 provinces (khoueng),1 municipality (kampheng nakhon),and 1 special zone (khetphiset)
Capital: Vientiane
Country-name: Lao People's Democratic Republic: S/F Laos: Localy called: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Gov-type: Communist state
Latvia
Population: 2,404,926
Can Read: 100%
Death-rate: 14.88 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Latvian 56.5%; Russian 30.4%; Byelorussian 4.3%; Ukrainian 2.8%; Polish 2.6%; other 3.4%;
Infant-mortality: 15.71/1,000 born,die
Language: Lettish (official),Lithuanian,Russian,other
Life-expectancy: 68.41 Years
Religions: Lutheran,Roman Catholic,Russian Orthodox
Their Nation: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Area: 64,589 sq km land: 64,589 sq km
Climate: maritime; wet,moderate winters
Farmable-Land-Use: 27%; pastures: 13%; woodland: 46%; other: 14%;
High/Low: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Land-boundaries: 1,150 km border countries: Belarus 141 km,Estonia 339 km,Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Location:Eastern Europe,bordering the Baltic Sea,between Estonia and Lithuania
Natural-resources: minimal; amber,peat,limestone,dolomite,hydropower,arable land
Terrain: low plain
Cell Phones: 175,348
ISPs: 11
Phones: 748,000
Radio Stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1
Radios: 1.76 million
TV Stations: 74
TVs: 1.22 million
Airports: 50
Highways: 59,178 km paved: 22,843 km unpaved: 36,335 km
Ports/Harbors: Daugavpils,Liepaja,Riga,Ventspils
Rails: 2,412 km
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exports: wood and wood products,machinery and equipment,metals,textiles,foodstuffs
Farming: grain,sugar beets,potatoes,vegetables; beef,milk,eggs; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment,chemicals,fuels
Industry: buses,vans,street and railroad cars,synthetic fibers,agricultural machinery,fertilizers,washing machines,radios,electronics,pharmaceuticals,processed foods,textiles; dependent on imports for energy,raw materials,and intermediate products
Admin-Div: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities
Capital: Riga
Country-name: Republic of Latvia: S/F Latvia: Localy called: Latvijas Republika, localy called: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Lebanon
Population: 3,578,036
Can Read: 86.4%;
Death-rate: 6.42 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab 95%; Armenian 4%; other 1%;
Infant-mortality: 29.3/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),French,English,Armenian widely understood
Life-expectancy: 71.25 Years
Poverty-line: 28%;
Religions: Muslim 70%; (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Shi'a,Sunni,Druze,Isma'ilite,Alawite or Nusayri),Christian 30%; (11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian,6 Catholic,1 Protestant),Jewish NEGL%;
Their Nation: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese
Area: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool,wet winters with hot,dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Farmable-Land-Use: 21%; crops: 9%; pastures: 1%; woodland: 8%; other: 61%;
GeoNote: Nahr al Litani 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
High/Low: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Land-boundaries: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km,Syria 375 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Mediterranean Sea,between Israel and Syria
Nat'l-Hazards: dust storms,sandstorms
Natural-resources: limestone,iron ore,salt,water-surplus state in a water-deficit region,arable land
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Cell Phones: 120,000
ISPs: 19
Phones: 330,000
Radio Stations: AM 20,FM 22,shortwave 4
Radios: 2.85 million
TV Stations: 28
TVs: 1.18 million
Airports: 9
Highways: 7,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 1,100 km
Ports/Harbors: Antilyas,Batroun,Beirut,Chekka,El Mina,Ez Zahrani,Jbail,Jounie,Naqoura,Sidon,Tripoli,Tyre
Rails: 399 km
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound = 100 piasters
Exports: foodstuffs and tobacco,textiles,chemicals,metal and metal products,electrical equipment and products,jewelry,paper and paper products
Farming: citrus,grapes,tomatoes,apples,vegetables,potatoes,olives,tobacco; sheep,goats
Imports: foodstuffs,machinery and transport equipment,consumer goods,chemicals,textiles,metals,fuels,agricultural foods
Industry: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating
Admin-Div: 5 governorates (mohafazat,singular - mohafazah)
Capital: Beirut
Country-name: Lebanese Republic: S/F Lebanon: Localy called: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah, localy called: Lubnan
Gov-type: republic
Lesotho
Population: 2,143,141
Can Read: 71.3%.
Death-rate: 14.59 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Sotho 99.7%; Europeans,Asians,and other 0.3%;
Infant-mortality: 82.97/1,000 born,die
Language: Sesotho (southern Sotho),English (official),Zulu,Xhosa
Life-expectancy: 50.79 Years
Poverty-line: 49.2%;
Religions: Christian 80%; indigenous beliefs 20%;
Their Nation: noun: Mosotho (singular),Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho
Area: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km
Climate temperate: cool to cold,dry winters; hot,wet summers
Farmable-Land-Use: 11%; pastures: 66%; other: 23%;
GeoNote: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
High/Low: lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Land-boundaries: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Location:Southern Africa,an enclave of South Africa
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts
Natural-resources: water,agricultural and grazing land,some diamonds and other minerals
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus,hills,and mountains
ISPs: 1
Phones: 18,000
Radio Stations: AM 1,FM 2,shortwave 1
Radios: 104,000
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 54,000
Airports: 29
Highways: 4,955 km paved: 887 km unpaved: 4,068 km
Rails: 2.6 km
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente; note - maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exports: manufactures 75%; (clothing,footwear,road vehicles),wool and mohair,food and live animals
Farming: corn,wheat,pulses,sorghum,barley; livestock
Imports: food; building materials,vehicles,machinery,medicines,petroleum products
Industry: food,beverages,textiles,handicrafts; construction; tourism
Admin-Div: 10 districts
Capital: Maseru
Country-name: Kingdom of Lesotho: S/F Lesotho former: Basutoland
Gov-type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Liberia
Population: 3,164,156
Can Read: 38.3%;
Death-rate: 16.58 per Thousand
Ethnicity: indigenous African tribes 95%; (including Kpelle,Bassa,Gio,Kru,Grebo,Mano,Krahn,Gola,Gbandi,Loma,Kissi,Vai,and Bella),Americo-Liberians 2.5%; (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves),Congo People 2.5%; (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Infant-mortality: 134.63/1,000 born,die
Language: English 20%; (official),some 20 ethnic group languages,of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Life-expectancy: 51.02 Years
Poverty-line: 80%;
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%; Christian 40%; Muslim 20%;
Their Nation: noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian
Area: 111,370 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,050 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet,cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Farmable-Land-Use: 1%; crops: 3%; pastures: 59%; woodland: 18%; other: 19%;
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Land-boundaries: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km,Cote d'Ivoire 716 km,Sierra Leone 306 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Nat'l-Hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Natural-resources: iron ore,timber,diamonds,gold,hydropower
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Phones: 5,000
Radio Stations: FM 6,shortwave 4
Radios: 790,000
TV Stations: 2.
TVs: 70,000
Airports: 45
Highways: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km
Ports/Harbors: Buchanan,Greenville,Harper,Monrovia
Rails: 490 km
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exports: diamonds,iron ore,rubber,timber,coffee,cocoa
Farming: rubber,coffee,cocoa,rice,cassava (tapioca),palm oil,sugarcane,bananas; sheep,goats; timber
Imports: fuels,chemicals,machinery,transportation equipment,manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
Industry: rubber processing,palm oil processing,diamonds
Admin-Div: 13 counties
Capital: Monrovia
Country-name: Republic of Liberia: S/F Liberia
Gov-type: republic
| |