Libya
Population: 5,115,450 note:includes 162,669 non-nationals
Can Read: 76.2%
Death-rate: 3.51 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Berber and Arab 97%; Greeks,Maltese,Italians,Egyptians,Pakistanis,Turks,Indians,Tunisians
Infant-mortality: 30.08/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic,Italian,English,all are widely understood in the major cities
Life-expectancy: 75.45 Years
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%;
Their Nation: noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan
Area: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry,extreme desert interior
Farmable-Land-Use: 1%; pastures: 8%; other: 91%;
High/Low: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Land-boundaries: 4,383 km border countries: Algeria 982 km,Chad 1,055 km,Egypt 1,150 km,Niger 354 km,Sudan 383 km,Tunisia 459 km
Location:Northern Africa,bordering the Mediterranean Sea,between Egypt and Tunisia
Nat'l-Hazards: hot,dry,dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms,sandstorms
Natural-resources: petroleum,natural gas,gypsum
Terrain: mostly barren,flat to undulating plains,plateaus,depressions
Phones: 318,000
Radio Stations: AM 17,FM 4,shortwave 3
Radios: 1.35 million
TV Stations: 12 (plus one low-power repeater)
TVs: 730,000
Airports: 142
Highways: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km
Ports/Harbors: Al Khums,Banghazi,Darnah,Marsa al Burayqah,Misratah,Ra's Lanuf,Tobruk,Tripoli,Zuwarah
Rails: no railroad in operation
Waterways: none
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exports: crude oil,refined petroleum products,natural gas
Farming: wheat,barley,olives,dates,citrus,vegetables,peanuts; beef,eggs
Imports: machinery,transport equipment,food,manufactured goods
Industry: petroleum,food processing,textiles,handicrafts,cement
Admin-Div: 25 municipalities (baladiyat,singular - baladiyah)
Capital: Tripoli
Country-name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: S/F Libya: Localy called: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah
Gov-type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory,governed by the populace through local councils; in fact,a military dictatorship
Lithuania
Population: 3,620,756
Can Read: 98%
Death-rate: 12.87 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Lithuanian 80.6%; Russian 8.7%; Polish 7%; Byelorussian 1.6%; other 2.1%;
Infant-mortality: 14.67/1,000 born,die
Language: Lithuanian (official),Polish,Russian
Life-expectancy: 69.09 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic (primarily),Lutheran,Russian Orthodox,Protestant,evangelical Christian Baptist,Muslim,Jewish
Their Nation: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian
Area: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km
Climate: transitional,between maritime and continental; wet,moderate winters and summers
Farmable-Land-Use: 35%; crops: 12%; pastures: 7%; woodland: 31%; other: 15%;
High/Low: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Land-boundaries: 1,273 km border countries: Belarus 502 km,Latvia 453 km,Poland 91 km,Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Location:Eastern Europe,bordering the Baltic Sea,between Latvia and Russia
Natural-resources: peat,arable land
Terrain: lowland,many scattered small lakes,fertile soil
Cell Phones: 297,500
ISPs: 10
Phones: 1.048 million
Radio Stations: AM 3,FM 112,shortwave 1
Radios: 1.9 million
TV Stations: 82 (mainly repeater stations)
TVs: 1.7 million
Airports: 96
Highways: 71,375 km paved: 64,951 km, unpaved: 6,424 km
Ports/Harbors: Kaunas,Klaipeda
Rails: 2,002 km
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exports: machinery and equipment 19%; mineral products 19%; textiles and clothing 19%; chemicals 10%; foodstuffs
Farming: grain,potatoes,sugar beets,flax,vegetables; beef,milk,eggs; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment 30%; mineral products 16%; chemicals 9%; textiles and clothing 9%; foodstuffs
Industry: metal-cutting machine tools,electric motors,television sets,refrigerators and freezers,petroleum refining,shipbuilding (small ships),furniture making,textiles,food processing,fertilizers, agricultural machinery,optical equipment,electronic components,computers,amber
Admin-Div: 44 regions (rajonai,singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities.
Capital: Vilnius
Country-name: Republic of Lithuania: S/F Lithuania: Localy called: Lietuvos Respublika, localy called: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Madagascar
Population: 15,506,472
Can Read: 80%
Death-rate: 12.69 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),Cotiers (mixed African,Malayo-Indonesian,and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,Tsimihety,Antaisaka,Sakalava),French,Indian, Creole,Comoran
Infant-mortality: 85.26/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),Malagasy (official)
Life-expectancy: 54.95 Years
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%; Christian 41%; Muslim 7%;
Their Nation: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Area: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km
Climate: tropical along coast,temperate inland,arid in south
Farmable-Land-Use: 4%; crops: 1%; pastures: 41%; woodland: 40%; other: 14%;
GeoNote: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Island:
Location:Southern Africa,island in the Indian Ocean,east of Mozambique
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic cyclones
Natural-resources: graphite,chromite,coal,bauxite,salt,quartz,tar sands,semiprecious stones,mica,fish,hydropower
Terrain: narrow coastal plain,high plateau and mountains in center
ISPs: 3
Phones: 33,000
Radio Stations: AM 2 (plus 8 repeater stations),FM 7,shortwave 5
Radios: 3.05 million
TV Stations: 1 (plus 36 repeaters)
TVs: 325,000
Airports: 133
Highways: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km
Ports/Harbors: Antsiranana,Antsohimbondrona,Mahajanga,Toamasina,Toliara
Rails: 883
Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exports: coffee 45%; vanilla 20%; cloves,shellfish,sugar,petroleum products
Farming: coffee,vanilla,sugarcane,cloves,cocoa,rice,cassava (tapioca),beans,bananas,peanuts; livestock products
Imports: intermediate manufactures 30%; capital goods 28%; petroleum 15%; consumer goods 14%; food 13%;
Industry: meat processing,soap,breweries,tanneries,sugar,textiles,glassware,cement,automobile assembly plant,paper,petroleum,tourism
Admin-Div: 6 provinces (faritany)
Capital: Antananarivo
Country-name: Republic of Madagascar: S/F Madagascar: Localy called: Republique de Madagascar, localy called: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic
Gov-type: republic
Malawi
Population: 10,385,849
Can Read: 58%;
Death-rate: 22.44 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Chewa,Nyanja,Tumbuko,Yao,Lomwe,Sena,Tonga,Ngoni,Ngonde,Asian,European
Infant-mortality: 122.28/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Chichewa (official),other languages important regionally
Life-expectancy: 37.58 Years
Poverty-line: 54%.
Religions: Protestant 55%; Roman Catholic 20%; Muslim 20%; indigenous beliefs
Their Nation: noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian
Area: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km
Climate: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Farmable-Land-Use: 34%; pastures: 20%; woodland: 39%; other: 7%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m
Land-boundaries: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km,Tanzania 475 km,Zambia 837 km
Location:Southern Africa,east of Zambia
Natural-resources: limestone,arable land,hydropower,unexploited deposits of uranium,coal,and bauxite
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains,rounded hills,some mountains
Cell Phones: 382
ISPs: 1
Phones: 34,000
Radio Stations: AM 9,FM 4 (plus 15 repeater stations),shortwave 3
Radios: 2.6 million
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 0
Airports: 44
Highways: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km
Ports/Harbors: Chipoka,Monkey Bay,Nkhata Bay,Nkhotakota,Chilumba
Rails: 789 km
Waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River,144 km
Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exports: tobacco,tea,sugar,cotton,coffee,peanuts,wood products
Farming: tobacco,sugarcane,cotton,tea,corn,potatoes,cassava (tapioca),sorghum,pulses; cattle,goats
Imports: food,petroleum products,semimanufactures,consumer goods,transportation equipment
Industry: tobacco,tea,sugar,sawmill products,cement,consumer goods
Admin-Div: 24 districts
Capital: Lilongwe
Country-name: Republic of Malawi: S/F Malawi former: Nyasaland
Gov-type: multiparty democracy
Malaysia
Population: 21,793,293
Can Read: 83.5%;
Death-rate: 5.25 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Malay and other indigenous 58%; Chinese 26%; Indian 7%; others 9%;
Infant-mortality: 20.96/1,000 born,die
Language: Bahasa Melayu (official),English,Chinese dialects (Cantonese,Mandarin,Hokkien,Hakka,Hainan,Foochow),Tamil,Telugu,Malayalam,Panjabi,Thai; note - in addition,in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken,the largest of which are Iban and Kadazan
Life-expectancy: 70.83 Years
Poverty-line: 6.8%;
Religions: Islam,Buddhism,Daoism,Hinduism,Christianity,Sikhism; note - in addition,Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia
Their Nation: noun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian
Area: 329,750 sq km land: 328,550 sq km water: 1,200 sq km
Climate tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; crops: 12%; woodland: 68%; other: 17%;
GeoNote: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Land-boundaries: 2,669 km border countries: Brunei 381 km,Indonesia 1,782 km,Thailand 506 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo,bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea,south of Vietnam
Nat'l-Hazards: flooding,landslides
Natural-resources: tin,petroleum,timber,copper,iron ore,natural gas,bauxite
Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Cell Phones: 2.17 million
ISPs: 8
Phones: 4.4 million
Radio Stations: AM 56,FM 31, shortwave 5
Radios: 9.1 million
TV Stations: 27.
TVs: 3.6 million
Airports: 115
Highways: 94,500 km paved: 70,970 km, unpaved: 23,530 km
Ports/Harbors: Bintulu,Kota Kinabalu,Kuantan,Kuching,Kudat,Labuan,Lahad Datu,Lumut,Miri,Pasir Gudang,Penang,Port Dickson,Port Kelang,Sandakan,Sibu,Tanjung Berhala,Tanjung Kidurong,Tawau
Rails: 1,801 km
Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km,Sabah 1,569 km,Sarawak 2,518 km)
Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exports: electronic equipment,petroleum and liquefied natural gas,chemicals,palm oil,wood and wood products,rubber,textiles
Farming: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber,palm oil,rice; Sabah - subsistence crops,rubber,timber,coconuts,rice; Sarawak - rubber,pepper; timber
Imports: machinery and equipment,chemicals,food,fuel and lubricants
Industry: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing,light manufacturing industry,electronics,tin mining and smelting,logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing,petroleum production and refining,logging
Admin-Div: 13 states (negeri-negeri,singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Country-name: none: S/F Malaysia former: Malayan Union
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy.
Mali
Population: 10,685,948
Can Read: 31%;
Death-rate: 19.1 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Mande 50%; (Bambara,Malinke,Soninke),Peul 17%; Voltaic 12%; Songhai 6%; Tuareg and Moor 10%; other 5%;
Infant-mortality: 123.25/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),Bambara 80%; numerous African languages
Life-expectancy: 46.66 Years
Religions: Muslim 90%; indigenous beliefs 9%; Christian 1%;
Their Nation: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian
Area: 1.24 million sq km land: 1.22 million sq km water: 20,000 sq km
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,humid,and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Farmable-Land-Use: 2%; pastures: 25%; woodland: 6%; other: 67%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Land-boundaries: 7,243 km border countries: Algeria 1,376 km,Burkina Faso 1,000 km,Guinea 858 km,Cote d'Ivoire 532 km,Mauritania 2,237 km,Niger 821 km,Senegal 419 km
Location:Western Africa,southwest of Algeria
Nat'l-Hazards: hot,dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
Natural-resources: gold,phosphates,kaolin,salt,limestone,uranium,hydropower note: bauxite,iron ore,manganese,tin,and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south,rugged hills in northeast
ISPs: 1
Phones: 17,000
Radio Stations: AM 1,FM 14,shortwave 7
Radios: 570,000
TV Stations: 1.
TVs: 45,000
Airports: 28
Highways: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km
Ports/Harbors: Koulikoro
Rails: 729 km
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exports: cotton 50%; gold,livestock
Farming: cotton,millet,rice,corn,vegetables,peanuts; cattle,sheep,goats
Imports: machinery and equipment,construction materials,petroleum,foodstuffs,textiles
Industry: minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Admin-Div: 8 regions (regions,singular - region)
Capital: Bamako
Country-name: Republic of Mali: S/F Mali: Localy called: Republique de Mali, localy called: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
Gov-type: republic
Mauritania
Population: 2,667,859
Can Read: 37.7%;
Death-rate: 13.97 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mixed Maur/black 40%; Maur 30%; black 30%;
Infant-mortality: 78.15/1,000 born,die
Language: Hasaniya Arabic (official),Pular,Soninke,Wolof (official),French
Life-expectancy: 50.76 Years
Poverty-line: 57%
Religions: Muslim 100%;
Their Nation: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Area: 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,400 sq km water: 300 sq km
Climate: desert; constantly hot,dry,dusty
Farmable-Land-Use: 0%; pastures: 38%; woodland: 4%; other: 58%;
GeoNote: most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country
High/Low: lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Land-boundaries: 5,074 km border countries: Algeria 463 km,Mali 2,237 km,Senegal 813 km,Western Sahara 1,561 km
Location:Northern Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Senegal and Western Sahara
Nat'l-Hazards: hot,dry,dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: iron ore,gypsum,fish,copper,phosphate
Terrain: mostly barren,flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Phones: 9,000
Radio Stations: AM 1,FM 2,shortwave 1
Radios: 360,000
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 62,000
Airports: 26
Highways: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km
Ports/Harbors: Bogue,Kaedi,Nouadhibou,Nouakchott,Rosso
Rails: 704 km.
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exports: fish and fish products,iron ore,gold
Farming: dates,millet,sorghum,root crops; cattle,sheep; fish products
Imports: machinery and equipment,petroleum products,capital goods,foodstuffs,consumer goods
Industry: fish processing,mining of iron ore and gypsum
Admin-Div: 12 regions (regions,singular - region) and 1 capital district
Capital: Nouakchott
Country-name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania: S/F Mauritania: Localy called: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah, localy called: Muritaniyah
Gov-type: republic
Mauritius
Population: 1,179,368
Can Read: 82.9%;
Death-rate: 6.83 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Indo-Mauritian 68%; Creole 27%; Sino-Mauritian 3%; Franco-Mauritian 2%;
Infant-mortality: 17.73/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Creole,French,Hindi,Urdu,Hakka,Bojpoori
Life-expectancy: 70.98 Years
Poverty-line: 10.6%
Religions: Hindu 52%; Christian 28.3%; (Roman Catholic 26%; Protestant 2.3%),Muslim 16.6%; other 3.1%;
Their Nation: noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian
Area: 1,860 sq km land: 1,850 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands,Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon),and Rodrigues
Climate: tropical,modified by southeast trade winds; warm,dry winter (May to November); hot,wet,humid summer (November to May)
Farmable-Land-Use: 49%; crops: 3%; pastures: 3%; woodland: 22%; other: 23%;
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Island:
Location:Southern Africa,island in the Indian Ocean,east of Madagascar
Nat'l-Hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Natural-resources: arable land,fish
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Cell Phones: 11,735
ISPs: 1
Phones: 148,000
Radio Stations: AM 5,FM 9,shortwave 2
Radios: 420,000
TV Stations: 2 (plus 11 repeaters)
TVs: 258,000
Airports: 5
Highways: 1,910 km paved: 1,834 km, ) unpaved: 76 km
Ports/Harbors: Port Louis
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exports: clothing and textiles,sugar,cut flowers,molasses
Farming: sugarcane,tea,corn,potatoes,bananas,pulses; cattle,goats; fish
Imports: manufactured goods,capital equipment,foodstuffs,petroleum products,chemicals
Industry: food processing (largely sugar milling),textiles,clothing; chemicals,metal products,transport equipment,nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Admin-Div: 9 districts and 3 dependencies
Capital: Port Louis
Country-name: Republic of Mauritius: S/F Mauritius
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Mexico
Population: 100,349,766
Can Read: 89.6%;
Death-rate: 5.05 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%; Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%; white 9%; other 1%;
Infant-mortality: 26.19/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish,various Mayan,Nahuatl,and other regional indigenous languages
Life-expectancy: 71.49 Years
Poverty-line: 27%;
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%; Protestant 6%; other 5%;
Their Nation: noun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican
Area: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq km water: 49,510 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Farmable-Land-Use: 12%; crops: 1%; pastures: 39%; woodland: 26%; other: 22%;
GeoNote: strategic location on southern border of US
High/Low: lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Land-boundaries: 4,538 km border countries: Belize 250 km,Guatemala 962 km,US 3,326 km
Location:Middle America,bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico,between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,between Guatemala and the US
Nat'l-Hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast,volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south,and hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts
Natural-resources: petroleum,silver,copper,gold,lead,zinc,natural gas,timber
Terrain: high,rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Cell Phones: 2.02 million
ISPs: 167
Phones: 9.6 million
Radio Stations: AM 865,FM about 500,shortwave 13
Radios: 31 million
TV Stations: 236 (plus repeaters)
TVs: 25.6 million
Airports: 1,806
Highways: 323,977 km paved: 96,221 km, unpaved: 227,756 km
Ports/Harbors: Acapulco,Altamira,Coatzacoalcos,Ensenada,Guaymas,La Paz,Lazaro Cardenas,Manzanillo,Mazatlan,Progreso,Salina Cruz,Tampico,Topolobampo,Tuxpan,Veracruz
Rails: 31,048 km
Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exports: manufactured goods,oil and oil products,silver,coffee,cotton
Farming: corn,wheat,soybeans,rice,beans,cotton,coffee,fruit,tomatoes; beef,poultry,dairy products; wood products
Imports: metal-working machines,steel mill products,agricultural machinery,electrical equipment,car parts for assembly,repair parts for motor vehicles,aircraft,and aircraft parts
Industry: food and beverages,tobacco,chemicals,iron and steel,petroleum,mining,textiles,clothing,motor vehicles,consumer durables,tourism
Admin-Div: 31 states (estados,singular - estado) and 1 federal district (distrito federal)
Capital: Mexico
Country-name: United Mexican States: S/F Mexico: Localy called: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, localy called: Mexico
Gov-type: federal republic
Moldova
Population: 4,430,654
Can Read: 96%
Death-rate: 12.58 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%; Ukrainian 13.8%; Russian 13%; Gagauz 3.5%; Jewish 1.5%; Bulgarian 2%; other 1.7%
Infant-mortality: 43.32/1,000 born,die
Language: Moldovan (official,virtually the same as the Romanian language),Russian,Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Life-expectancy: 64.45 Years
Poverty-line: 75%;
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%; Jewish 1.5%; Baptist.
Their Nation: noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan
Area: 33,843 sq km land: 33,371 sq km water: 472 sq km
Climate: moderate winters,warm summers
Farmable-Land-Use: 53%; crops: 14%; pastures: 13%; woodland: 13%; other: 7%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Nistru River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Land-boundaries: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km,Ukraine 939 km
Location:Eastern Europe,northeast of Romania
Nat'l-Hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Natural-resources: lignite,phosphorites,gypsum,arable land
Terrain: rolling steppe,gradual slope south to Black Sea
Cell Phones: 14
ISPs: 2
Phones: 566,000
Radio Stations: AM 7,FM 50,shortwave 3
Radios: 3.22 million
TV Stations: 40
TVs: 1.26 million
Airports: 26
Highways: 12,300 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved: 1,562 km
Rails: 1,328 km
Waterways: 424 km
Currency: Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei)
Exports: foodstuffs,wine,and tobacco 66%; textiles and footwear,machinery
Farming: vegetables,fruits,wine,grain,sugar beets,sunflower seed,tobacco; beef,milk
Imports: mineral products and fuel 31%; machinery and equipment,chemicals,textiles
Industry: food processing,agricultural machinery,foundry equipment,refrigerators and freezers,washing machines,hosiery,sugar,vegetable oil,shoes,textiles
Admin-Div: 10 juletule (singular - juletul) 1 municipality
Capital: Chisinau
Country-name: Republic of Moldova: S/F Moldova: Localy called: Republica Moldova former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Gov-type: republic
Monaco
Population: 31,693
Can-Read; 99%;
Death-rate: 13.06 per Thousand
Ethnicity: French 47%; Monegasque 16%; Italian 16%; other 21%;
Infant-mortality: 5.92/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),English,Italian,Monegasque
Life-expectancy: 78.84 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%;
Their Nation: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Area: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km
Climate: Mediterranean with mild,wet winters and hot,dry summers
Farmable-Land-Use: 0%; other: 100%; (urban area)
GeoNote: second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
High/Low: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Land-boundaries: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Location:Western Europe,bordering the Mediterranean Sea,on the southern coast of France,near the border with Italy
Natural-resources: none
Terrain: hilly,rugged,rocky
Cell Phones: 2,560
ISPs: 4
Phones: 31,027
Radio Stations: AM 1,shortwave 8
Radios: 34,000
TV Stations: 5
TVs: 25,000
Airports: linked to airport in Nice,France,by helicopter service
Highways: 50 km paved
Ports/Harbors: Monaco
Rails: 1.7 km.
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Farming: none
Industry: tourism,construction,small-scale industrial and consumer products
Admin-Div: none;
Capital: Monaco
Country-name: Principality of Monaco: S/F Monaco: Localy called: Principaute de Monaco, localy called: Monaco
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Mongolia
Population: 2,650,952
Can Read: 82.9%
Death-rate: 6.14 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Mongol 90%; Kazakh 4%; other 6%;
Infant-mortality: 41.22/1,000 born,die
Language: Khalkha Mongol 90%; Turkic,Russian
Life-expectancy: 67.25 Years
Poverty-line: 40%;
Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist,Muslim 4%; note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime
Their Nation: noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian
Area: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Farmable-Land-Use: 1%; pastures: 80%; woodland: 9%; other: 10%;
GeoNote: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
High/Low: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m
Land-boundaries: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km,Russia 3,441 km
Location:Northern Asia,between China and Russia
Nat'l-Hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires
Natural-resources: oil,coal,copper,molybdenum,tungsten,phosphates,tin,nickel,zinc,wolfram,fluorspar,gold
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Phones: 93,800
Radio Stations: AM 12,FM 2,shortwave 13
Radios: 360,000
TV Stations: 1 (plus 18 provincial repeaters)
TVs: 118,000
Airports: 34
Highways: 49,250 km paved: 1,674 km unpaved: 47,576 km note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough cross-country tracks
Rails: 1,928 km
Waterways: 400 km of principal routes
Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Exports: copper,livestock,animal products,cashmere,wool,hides,fluorspar,other nonferrous metals
Farming: wheat,barley,potatoes,forage crops; sheep,goats,cattle,camels,horses
Imports: machinery and equipment,fuels,food products,industrial consumer goods,chemicals,building materials,sugar,tea
Industry: construction materials,mining (particularly coal and copper); food and beverages,processing of animal products
Admin-Div: 18 provinces (aymguud,singular - aymag) and 3 municipalities (hotuud,singular - hot)
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Country-name: none: S/F Mongolia: Localy called: none, localy called: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia
Gov-type: republic
Morocco
Population: 30,122,350
Can Read: 43.7%;
Death-rate: 6.02 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab-Berber 99.1%; other 0.7%; Jewish 0.2%;
Infant-mortality: 49.72/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),Berber dialects,French often the language of business,government,and diplomacy
Life-expectancy: 69.13 Years
Poverty-line: 13.1%
Religions: Muslim 98.7%; Christian 1.1%; Jewish 0.2%;
Their Nation: noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Area: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km
Climate: Mediterranean,becoming more extreme in the interior
Farmable-Land-Use: 21%; crops: 1%; pastures: 47%; woodland: 20%; other: 11%;
GeoNote: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
High/Low: lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Land-boundaries: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km,Western Sahara 443 km,Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km,Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Location:Northern Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,between Algeria and Western Sahara
Nat'l-Hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: phosphates,iron ore,manganese,lead,zinc,fish,salt
Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus,intermontane valleys,and rich coastal plains
Cell Phones: 116,645
ISPs: 27
Phones: 1.391 million
Radio Stations: AM 27,FM 25,shortwave 6
Radios: 6.64 million
TV Stations: 26 (plus 35 repeaters)
TVs: 3.1 million
Airports: 70
Highways: 57,847 km paved: 30,254 km, unpaved: 27,593 km
Ports/Harbors: Agadir,El Jadida,Casablanca,El Jorf Lasfar,Kenitra,Mohammedia,Nador,Rabat,Safi,Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Rails: 1,907 km.
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exports: phosphates and fertilizers,food and beverages,minerals
Farming: barley,wheat,citrus,wine,vegetables,olives; livestock
Imports: semiprocessed goods,machinery and equipment,food and beverages,consumer goods,fuel
Industry: phosphate rock mining and processing,food processing,leather goods,textiles,construction,tourism
Admin-Div: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas
Capital: Rabat
Country-name: Kingdom of Morocco: S/F Morocco: Localy called: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah, localy called: Al Maghrib
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Mozambique
Population: 19,104,696
Can Read: 40.1%;
Death-rate: 23.29 per Thousand
Ethnicity: indigenous tribal groups 99.66%; (Shangaan,Chokwe,Manyika,Sena,Makua,and others),Europeans 0.06%; Euro-Africans 0.2%; Indians 0.08%;
Infant-mortality: 139.86/1,000 born,die
Language: Portuguese (official),indigenous dialects
Life-expectancy: 37.52 Years
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%; Christian 30%; Muslim 20%;
Their Nation: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Area: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Farmable-Land-Use: 4%; pastures: 56%; woodland: 18%; other: 22%;
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Land-boundaries: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km,South Africa 491 km,Swaziland 105 km,Tanzania 756 km,Zambia 419 km,Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Location:Southern Africa,bordering the Mozambique Channel,between South Africa and Tanzania
Nat'l-Hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
Natural-resources: coal,titanium,natural gas,hydropower
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands,uplands in center,high plateaus in northwest,mountains in west
ISPs: 2
Phones: 60,000
Radio Stations: AM 14,FM 4,shortwave 17
Radios: 730,000
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 90,000
Airports: 170
Highways: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km
Ports/Harbors: Beira,Inhambane,Maputo,Nacala,Pemba,Quelimane
Rails: 3,131 km
Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
Exports: prawns 40%; cashews,cotton,sugar,copra,citrus,coconuts,timber
Farming: cotton,cashew nuts,sugarcane,tea,cassava (tapioca),corn,rice,tropical fruits; beef,poultry
Imports: food,clothing,farm equipment,petroleum,transport equipment
Industry: food,beverages,chemicals (fertilizer,soap,paints),petroleum products,textiles,cement,glass,asbestos,tobacco
Admin-Div: 10 provinces (provincias,singular - provincia)
Capital: Maputo
Country-name: Republic of Mozambique: S/F Mozambique: Localy called: Republica de Mocambique, localy called: Mocambique
Gov-type: republic
Netherlands
Population: 15,892,237
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 8.72 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Dutch 91%; Moroccans,Turks,and other 9%;
Infant-mortality: 4.42/1,000 born,die
Language: Dutch
Life-expectancy: 78.28 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 34%; Protestant 25%; Muslim 3%; other 2%; unaffiliated 36%
Their Nation: noun: Dutchman(men),Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch
Area: 41,532 sq km land: 33,889 sq km water: 7,643 sq km
Climate temperate: marine; cool summers and mild winters
Farmable-Land-Use: 25%; crops: 3%; pastures: 25%; woodland: 8%; other: 39%;
GeoNote: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine,Maas or Meuse,and Schelde)
High/Low: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Land-boundaries: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km,Germany 577 km
Location:Western Europe,bordering the North Sea,between Belgium and Germany
Nat'l-Hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
Natural-resources: natural gas,petroleum,arable land
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Cell Phones: 1.016 million
ISPs: 70
Phones: 8.431 million
Radio Stations: AM 4,FM 58,shortwave 3
Radios: 15.3 million
TV Stations: 15.
TVs: 8.1 million
Airports: 28
Highways: 125,575 km paved: 113,018 km, unpaved: 12,557 km
Ports/Harbors: Amsterdam,Delfzijl,Dordrecht,Eemshaven,Groningen,Haarlem,Ijmuiden,Maastricht,Rotterdam,Terneuzen,Utrecht
Rails: 2,739 km.
Waterways: 5,046 km,of which 47%; is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder,gulden,or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note - to be replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002
Exports: machinery and equipment,chemicals,fuels; foodstuffs
Farming: grains,potatoes,sugar beets,fruits,vegetables; livestock
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,chemicals,fuels; foodstuffs,clothing
Industry: agroindustries,metal and engineering products,electrical machinery and equipment,chemicals,petroleum,construction,microelectronics,fishing
Admin-Div: 12 provinces (provincien,singular - provincie)
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Country-name: Kingdom of the Netherlands: S/F Netherlands: Localy called: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, localy called: Nederland
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
New Zealand
Population: 3,819,762
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 7.57 per Thousand
Ethnicity: New Zealand European 74.5%; Maori 9.7%; other European 4.6%; Pacific Islander 3.8%; Asian and others 7.4%;
Infant-mortality: 6.39/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Maori
Life-expectancy: 77.82 Years
Religions: Anglican 24%; Presbyterian 18%; Roman Catholic 15%; Methodist 5%; Baptist 2%; other Protestant 3%; unspecified or none 33%
Their Nation: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand
Area: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands,Auckland Islands,Bounty Islands,Campbell Island,Chatham Islands,and Kermadec Islands
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Farmable-Land-Use: 9%; crops: 5%; pastures: 50%; woodland: 28%; other: 8%;
GeoNote: about 80%; of the population lives in cities
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Island:
Location:Oceania,islands in the South Pacific Ocean,southeast of Australia
Nat'l-Hazards: earthquakes are common,though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Natural-resources: natural gas,iron ore,sand,coal,timber,hydropower,gold,limestone
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Cell Phones: 588,000
ISPs: 56
Phones: 1.719 million
Radio Stations: AM 124,FM 290,shortwave 4
Radios: 3.75 million
TV Stations: 41.
TVs: 1.926 million
Airports: 111
Highways: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km, unpaved: 38,632 km
Ports/Harbors: Auckland,Christchurch,Dunedin,Tauranga,Wellington
Rails: 3,913 km
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exports: dairy products,meat,fish,wool,forestry products,manufactures
Farming: wheat,barley,potatoes,pulses,fruits,vegetables; wool,beef,dairy products; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment,vehicles and aircraft,petroleum,consumer goods,plastics
Industry: food processing,wood and paper products,textiles,machinery,transportation equipment,banking and insurance,tourism,mining
Admin-Div: 93 counties,9 districts,and 3 town districts
Capital: Wellington
Country-name: none: S/F New Zealand abbreviation: NZ
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Nicaragua
Population: 4,812,569
Can Read: 65.7%;
Death-rate: 4.9 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%; white 17%; black 9%; Amerindian 5%;
Infant-mortality: 34.79/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish (official) note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Life-expectancy: 68.74 Years
Poverty-line: 50%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%; Protestant
Their Nation: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Area: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Climate: tropical in lowlands,cooler in highlands
Farmable-Land-Use: 9%; crops: 1%; pastures: 46%; woodland: 27%; other: 17%;
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Land-boundaries: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km,Honduras 922 km
Location:Middle America,bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean,between Costa Rica and Honduras
Nat'l-Hazards: destructive earthquakes,volcanoes,landslides,and occasionally severe hurricanes
Natural-resources: gold,silver,copper,tungsten,lead,zinc,timber,fish
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Cell Phones: 4,400
ISPs: 5
Phones: 140,000
Radio Stations: AM 63,FM 32,shortwave 1
Radios: 1.24 million
TV Stations: 3.
TVs: 320,000
Airports: 182
Highways: 16,382 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 14,564 km
Ports/Harbors: Bluefields,Corinto,El Bluff,Puerto Cabezas,Puerto Sandino,Rama,San Juan del Sur
Waterways: 2,220 km,including 2 large lakes
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exports: coffee,shrimp and lobster,cotton,tobacco,beef,sugar,bananas; gold
Farming: coffee,bananas,sugarcane,cotton,rice,corn,tobacco,sesame,soya,beans; beef,veal,pork,poultry,dairy products
Imports: machinery and equipment,raw materials,petroleum products,consumer goods
Industry: food processing,chemicals,machinery and metal products,textiles,clothing,petroleum refining and distribution,beverages,footwear,wood
Admin-Div: 15 departments (departamentos,singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions (regiones autonomistas,singular - region autonomista)
Capital: Managua
Country-name: Republic of Nicaragua: S/F Nicaragua: Localy called: Republica de Nicaragua, localy called: Nicaragua
Gov-type: republic
Niger
Population: 10,075,511
Can Read: 13.6%;
Death-rate: 23.17 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Hausa 56%; Djerma 22%; Fula 8.5%; Tuareg 8%; Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%; Arab,Toubou,and Gourmantche 1.2%; about 1,200 French expatriates
Infant-mortality: 124.9/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),Hausa,Djerma
Life-expectancy: 41.27 Years
Religions: Muslim 80%; remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Their Nation: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien
Area: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km
Climate: desert; mostly hot,dry,dusty; tropical in extreme south
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; pastures: 7%; woodland: 2%; other: 88%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Land-boundaries: 5,697 km border countries: Algeria 956 km,Benin 266 km,Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km,Libya 354 km,Mali 821 km,Nigeria 1,497 km
Location:Western Africa,southeast of Algeria
Nat'l-Hazards: recurring droughts
Natural-resources: uranium,coal,iron ore,tin,phosphates,gold,petroleum
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
ISPs: 1
Phones: 13,000
Radio Stations: AM 5,FM 5,shortwave 4
Radios: 680,000
TV Stations: 10.
TVs: 125,000
Airports: 27
Highways: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km
Waterways: the Niger is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exports: uranium ore 65%; livestock products,cowpeas,onions
Farming: cowpeas,cotton,peanuts,millet,sorghum,cassava (tapioca),rice; cattle,sheep,goats,camels,donkeys,horses,poultry
Imports: consumer goods,primary materials,machinery,vehicles and parts,petroleum,cereals
Industry: uranium mining,cement,brick,textiles,food processing,chemicals,slaughterhouses
Admin-Div: 7 departments (departements,singular - departement), and 1 capital district(capitale district)
Capital: Niamey
Country-name: Republic of Niger: S/F Niger: Localy called: Republique du Niger, localy called: Niger
Gov-type: republic
Nigeria
Population: 123,337,822
Can Read: 57.1%;
Death-rate: 13.72 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Nigeria,which is Africa's most populous country,is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%; Yoruba 21%; Igbo (Ibo) 18%; Ijaw 10%; Kanuri 4%; Ibibio 3.5%; Tiv 2.5%;
Infant-mortality: 74.18/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Hausa,Yoruba,Igbo (Ibo),Fulani
Life-expectancy: 51.56 Years
Religions: Muslim 50%; Christian 40%; indigenous beliefs 10%;
Their Nation: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Area: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km
Climate: varies; equatorial in south,tropical in center,arid in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 33%; crops: 3%; pastures: 44%; woodland: 12%; other: 8%;
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Land-boundaries: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km,Cameroon 1,690 km,Chad 87 km,Niger 1,497 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the Gulf of Guinea,between Benin and Cameroon
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts
Natural-resources: petroleum,tin,columbite,iron ore,coal,limestone,lead,zinc,natural gas,hydropower,arable land
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast,plains in north
Cell Phones: 10,000
ISPs: 5
Phones: 405,000
Radio Stations: AM 82,FM 35,shortwave 11
Radios: 23.5 million
TV Stations: 2 government-controlled; note - in addition,in 1993,14 licenses to operate private television stations were granted
TVs: 6.9 million
Airports: 71
Highways: 194,394 km paved: 60,068 km, unpaved: 134,326 km
Ports/Harbors: Calabar,Lagos,Onne,Port Harcourt,Sapele,Warri
Rails: 3,557 km
Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products 95%; cocoa,rubber
Farming: cocoa,peanuts,palm oil,corn,rice,sorghum,millet,cassava (tapioca),yams,rubber; cattle,sheep,goats,pigs; timber; fish
Imports: machinery,chemicals,transport equipment,manufactured goods,food and live animals
Industry: crude oil,coal,tin,columbite,palm oil,peanuts,cotton,rubber,wood,hides and skins,textiles,cement and other construction materials,food products,footwear,chemicals,fertilizer, printing,ceramics,steel
Admin-Div: 36 states and 1 territory
Capital: Abuja
Country-name: Federal Republic of Nigeria: S/F Nigeria
Gov-type: republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
Norway
Population: 4,481,162
Can Read: 100%;
Death-rate: 9.89 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Norwegian (Nordic,Alpine,Baltic),Lapps (Sami) 20,000
Infant-mortality: 3.98/1,000 born,die
Language: Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Life-expectancy: 78.65 Years
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 86%; (state church),other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%; other 1%; none and unknown 10%;
Their Nation: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Area: 324,220 sq km land: 307,860 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
Climate: temperate along coast,modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; woodland: 27%; other: 70%;
GeoNote: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia
High/Low: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggeh 2,469 m
Land-boundaries: 2,515 km border countries: Finland 729 km,Sweden 1,619 km,Russia 167 km
Location:Northern Europe,bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,west of Sweden
Natural-resources: petroleum,copper,natural gas,pyrites,nickel,iron ore,zinc,lead,fish,timber,hydropower
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small,scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Cell Phones: 1,676,763
ISPs: 21
Phones: 2,325,010
Radio Stations: AM 5,FM at least 650,shortwave 1
Radios: 4.03 million
TV Stations: 209
TVs: 2.03 million
Airports: 103
Highways: 90,741 km paved: 67,602 km, unpaved: 23,139 km
Ports/Harbors: Bergen,Drammen,Floro,Hammerfest,Harstad,Haugesund,Kristiansand,Larvik,Narvik,Oslo,Porsgrunn,Stavanger,Tromso,Trondheim
Rails: 4,012 km.
Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; navigable by 2.4 m draft vessels maximum
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products,machinery and equipment,metals,chemicals,ships,fish
Farming: barley,other grains,potatoes; beef,milk; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment,chemicals,metals,foodstuffs
Industry: petroleum and gas,food processing,shipbuilding,pulp and paper products,metals,chemicals,timber,mining,textiles,fishing
Admin-Div: 19 provinces (fylker,singular - fylke)
Capital: Oslo
Country-name: Kingdom of Norway: S/F Norway: Localy called: Kongeriket Norge, localy called: Norge
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Oman
Population: 2,533,389 note: includes 527,078 non-nationals
Can-Read; 80%;
Death-rate: 4.16 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab,Baluchi,South Asian (Indian,Pakistani,Sri Lankan,Bangladeshi),African
Infant-mortality: 23.28/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),English,Baluchi,Urdu,Indian dialects
Life-expectancy: 71.78 Years
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%; Sunni Muslim,Shi'a Muslim,Hindu
Their Nation: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani
Area: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km
Climate: dry desert; hot,humid along coast; hot,dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Farmable-Land-Use: 0%; pastures: 5%; other: 95%;
GeoNote: strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz,a vital transit point for world crude oil
High/Low: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Land-boundaries: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km,UAE 410 km,Yemen 288 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Arabian Sea,Gulf of Oman,and Persian Gulf,between Yemen and UAE
Nat'l-Hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: petroleum,copper,asbestos,some marble,limestone,chromium,gypsum,natural gas
Terrain: vast central desert plain,rugged mountains in north and south
Cell Phones: 120,000
ISPs: 1
Phones: 300,000
Radio Stations: AM 3,FM 9,shortwave 2
Radios: 1.4 million
TV Stations: 13.
TVs: 1.6 million
Airports: 142
Highways: 32,800 km paved: 9,840 km, unpaved: 22,960 km
Ports/Harbors: Matrah,Mina' al Fahl,Mina' Raysut
Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exports: petroleum,reexports,fish,metals,textiles
Farming: dates,limes,bananas,alfalfa,vegetables; camels,cattle; fish
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,manufactured goods,food,livestock,lubricants
Industry: crude oil production and refining,natural gas production,construction,cement,copper
Admin-Div: 6 regions (mintaqat,singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates (muhafazat,singular - muhafazah)
Capital: Muscat
Country-name: Sultanate of Oman: S/F Oman: Localy called: Saltanat Uman, localy called: Uman
Gov-type: monarchy
Pakistan
Population: 141,553,775
Can Read: 37.8%;
Death-rate: 9.51 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Punjabi,Sindhi,Pashtun (Pathan),Baloch,Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)
Infant-mortality: 82.49/1,000 born,die
Language: Punjabi 48%; Sindhi 12%; Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%; Pashtu 8%; Urdu (official) 8%; Balochi 3%; Hindko 2%; Brahui 1%; English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries),Burushaski,and other 8%;
Life-expectancy: 61.07 Years
Poverty-line: 34%
Religions: Muslim 97%; (Sunni 77%; Shi'a 20%),Christian,Hindu,and other 3%;
Their Nation: noun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani
Area: 803,940 sq km land: 778,720 sq km water: 25,220 sq km
Climate: mostly hot,dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 27%; crops: 1%; pastures: 6%; woodland: 5%; other: 61%;
GeoNote: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass,traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Land-boundaries: 6,774 km border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km,China 523 km,India 2,912 km,Iran 909 km
Location:Southern Asia,bordering the Arabian Sea,between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Nat'l-Hazards: frequent earthquakes,occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Natural-resources: land,extensive natural gas reserves,limited petroleum,poor quality coal,iron ore,copper,salt,limestone
Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
Cell Phones: 158,000
ISPs: 26
Phones: 2.861 million (March 1999)
Radio Stations: AM 27,FM 1,shortwave 21
Radios: 13.5 million
TV Stations: 22.
TVs: 3.1 million
Airports: 118
Highways: 247,811 km paved: 141,252 km, unpaved: 106,559 km
Ports/Harbors: Karachi,Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Rails: 8,163 km
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exports: cotton,fabrics,and yarn,rice,other agricultural products
Farming: cotton,wheat,rice,sugarcane,fruits,vegetables; milk,beef,mutton,eggs
Imports: machinery,petroleum,petroleum products,chemicals,transportation equipment,edible oils,grains,pulses,flour
Industry: textiles,food processing,beverages,construction materials,clothing,paper products,shrimp
Admin-Div: 4 provinces,1 territory,and 1 capital territory;
Capital: Islamabad
Country-name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan: S/F Pakistan former: West Pakistan
Gov-type: federal republic
Panama
Population: 2,808,268
Can Read: 90.8%;
Death-rate: 4.95 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%; Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%; white 10%; Amerindian 6%;
Infant-mortality: 20.8/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish (official),English 14%; note: many Panamanians bilingual
Life-expectancy: 75.47 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%; Protestant 15%;
Their Nation: noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Area: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
Climate: tropical maritime; hot,humid,cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January),short dry season (January to May)
Farmable-Land-Use: 7%; crops: 2%; pastures: 20%; woodland: 44%; other: 27%;
GeoNote: 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
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Land-boundaries: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km,Costa Rica 330 km
Location:Middle America,bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean,between Colombia and Costa Rica
Natural-resources: copper,mahogany forests,shrimp,hydropower
Terrain: interior mostly steep,rugged mountains and dissected,upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
ISPs: 3
Phones: 325,300
Radio Stations: AM 80,FM 44,
Radios: 815,000
TV Stations: 9 (plus 17 repeaters)
TVs: 510,000
Airports: 105
Highways: 11,258 km paved: 3,783 km, s) unpaved: 7,475 km
Ports/Harbors: Balboa,Cristobal,Coco Solo,Manzanillo (part of Colon area),Vacamonte
Rails: 355 km
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exports: bananas,shrimp,sugar,coffee
Farming: bananas,rice,corn,coffee,sugarcane,vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Imports: capital goods,crude oil,foodstuffs,consumer goods,chemicals
Industry: construction,petroleum refining,brewing,cement and other construction materials,sugar milling other: 0.66%;
Admin-Div: 9 provinces (provincias,singular - provincia) and 2 territories(comarca)
Capital: Panama
Country-name: Republic of Panama: S/F Panama: Localy called: Republica de Panama, localy called: Panama
Gov-type: constitutional democracy
Papua New Guinea
Population: 4,926,984
Can Read: 72.2%;
Death-rate: 8 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Melanesian,Papuan,Negrito,Micronesian,Polynesian
Infant-mortality: 59.89/1,000 born,die
Language: English spoken by 1%-2%; pidgin English widespread,Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages
Life-expectancy: 63.1 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%; Lutheran 16%; Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%; Anglican 5%; Evangelical Alliance 4%; Seventh-Day Adventist 1%; other Protestant 10%; indigenous beliefs 34%;
Their Nation: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Area: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km
Climate tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March),southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Farmable-Land-Use: 0.1%; crops: 1%; woodland: 92.9%; other: 6%;
GeoNote: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Land-boundaries: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,east of Indonesia
Nat'l-Hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Natural-resources: gold,copper,silver,natural gas,timber,oil,fisheries
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
ISPs: 2
Phones: 44,000
Radio Stations: AM 8,FM 19,shortwave 28
Radios: 410,000
TV Stations: 3
TVs: 42,000
Airports: 492
Highways: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km
Ports/Harbors: Kieta,Lae,Madang,Port Moresby,Rabaul
Waterways: 10,940 km
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exports: oil,gold,copper ore,logs,palm oil,coffee,cocoa,crayfish and prawns
Farming: coffee,cocoa,coconuts,palm kernels,tea,rubber,sweet potatoes,fruit,vegetables; poultry,pork
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,manufactured goods,food,fuels,chemicals
Industry: copra crushing,palm oil processing,plywood production,wood chip production; mining of gold,silver,and copper; crude oil production; construction,tourism
Admin-Div: 20 provinces
Capital: Port Moresby
Country-name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea: S/F Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Paraguay
Population: 5,585,828
Can Read: 92.1%;
Death-rate: 4.81 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%;
Infant-mortality: 30.81/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish (official),Guarani (spoken by most of rural population)
Life-expectancy: 73.68 Years
Poverty-line: 32%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite,and other Protestant
Their Nation: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Area: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions,becoming semiarid in the far west
Farmable-Land-Use: 6%; pastures: 55%; woodland: 32%; other: 7%;
GeoNote: landlocked; lies between Argentina,Bolivia,and Brazil
High/Low: lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Land-boundaries: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km,Bolivia 750 km,Brazil 1,290 km
Location:Central South America,northeast of Argentina
Nat'l-Hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Natural-resources: hydropower,timber,iron ore,manganese,limestone
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low,marshy plain near the river,and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Cell Phones: 15,807
ISPs: 4
Phones: 167,000
Radio Stations: AM 46,FM 27,shortwave 6 (three inactive)
Radios: 925,000
TV Stations: 10
TVs: 515,000
Airports: 937
Highways: 29,500 km paved: 15,000 km unpaved: 14,500 km
Ports/Harbors: Asuncion,Villeta,San Antonio,Encarnacion
Rails: 971 km
Waterways: 3,100 km
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exports: soybeans,feed,cotton,meat,edible oils
Farming: cotton,sugarcane,soybeans,corn,wheat,tobacco,cassava (tapioca),fruits,vegetables; beef,pork,eggs,milk; timber
Imports: road vehicles,consumer goods,tobacco,petroleum products,electrical machinery
Industry: sugar,cement,textiles,beverages,wood products other: 0.22%;
Admin-Div: 17 departments (departamentos,singular - departamento) and one capital city
Capital: Asuncion
Country-name: Republic of Paraguay: S/F Paraguay: Localy called: Republica del Paraguay, localy called: Paraguay
Gov-type: constitutional republic
Peru
Population: 27,012,899
Can Read: 88.7%;
Death-rate: 5.84 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Amerindian 45%; mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%; white 15%; black,Japanese,Chinese,and other 3%;
Infant-mortality: 40.6/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish (official),Quechua (official),Aymara
Life-expectancy: 70.01 Years
Poverty-line: 54%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%;
Their Nation: noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian
Area: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; pastures: 21%; woodland: 66%; other: 10%;
GeoNote: shares control of Lago Titicaca,world's highest navigable lake,with Bolivia
High/Low: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Land-boundaries: 5,536 km border countries: Bolivia 900 km,Brazil 1,560 km,Chile 160 km,Colombia 1,496 km (est.),Ecuador 1,420 km
Location:Western South America,bordering the South Pacific Ocean,between Chile and Ecuador
Nat'l-Hazards: earthquakes,tsunamis,flooding,landslides,mild volcanic activity
Natural-resources: copper,silver,gold,petroleum,timber,fish,iron ore,coal,phosphate,potash,hydropower
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa),high and rugged Andes in center (sierra),eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Cell Phones: 504,995
ISPs: 15
Phones: 1.509 million
Radio Stations: AM 472,FM 198,shortwave 189
Radios: 6.65 million
TV Stations: 13 (plus 112 repeaters)
TVs: 3.06 million
Airports: 234
Highways: 72,900 km paved: 8,700 km unpaved: 64,200 km
Ports/Harbors: Callao,Chimbote,Ilo,Matarani,Paita,Puerto Maldonado,Salaverry,San Martin,Talara,Iquitos,Pucallpa,Yurimaguas note: Iquitos,Pucallpa,and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries
Rails: 1,988 km
Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca
Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exports: fish and fish products,copper,zinc,gold,crude petroleum and byproducts,lead,coffee,sugar,cotton
Farming: coffee,cotton,sugarcane,rice,wheat,potatoes,plantains,coca; poultry,beef,dairy products,wool; fish
Imports: machinery,transport equipment,foodstuffs,petroleum,iron and steel,chemicals,pharmaceuticals
Industry: mining of metals,petroleum,fishing,textiles,clothing,food processing,cement,auto assembly,steel,shipbuilding,metal fabrication other: 0.68%;
Admin-Div: 24 departments (departamentos,singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province*(provincia constitucional)
Capital: Lima
Country-name: Republic of Peru: S/F Peru: Localy called: Republica del Peru, localy called: Peru
Gov-type: constitutional republic
Philippines
Population: 81,159,644
Can Read: 94.6%;
Death-rate: 6.13 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Christian Malay 91.5%; Muslim Malay 4%; Chinese 1.5%; other 3%;
Infant-mortality: 29.52/1,000 born,die
Language: Pilipino (official,based on Tagalog),English (official)
Life-expectancy: 67.48 Years
Poverty-line: 32%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%; Protestant 9%; Muslim 5%; Buddhist and other 3%;
Their Nation: noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine
Area: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Farmable-Land-Use: 19%; crops: 12%; pastures: 4%; woodland: 46%; other: 19%;
High/Low: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Island:
Location:Southeastern Asia,archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,east of Vietnam
Nat'l-Hazards: astride typhoon belt,usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Natural-resources: timber,petroleum,nickel,cobalt,silver,gold,salt,copper
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Cell Phones: 1.959 million
ISPs: 93
Phones: 1.9 million
Radio Stations: AM 366,FM 290,shortwave 3
Radios: 11.5 million
TV Stations: 31
TVs: 3.7 million
Airports: 266
Highways: 199,950 km paved: 39,590 km unpaved: 160,360 km
Ports/Harbors: Batangas,Cagayan de Oro,Cebu,Davao,Guimaras Island,Iligan,Iloilo,Jolo,Legaspi,Manila,Masao,Puerto Princesa,San Fernando,Subic Bay,Zamboanga
Rails: 492 km
Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exports: electronic equipment,machinery and transport equipment,garments,coconut products
Farming: rice,coconuts,corn,sugarcane,bananas,pineapples,mangoes; pork,eggs,beef; fish
Imports: raw materials and intermediate goods,capital goods,consumer goods,fuels
Industry: textiles,pharmaceuticals,chemicals,wood products,food processing,electronics assembly,petroleum refining,fishing
Admin-Div: 73 provinces and 61 chartered cities;
Capital: Manila
Country-name: Republic of the Philippines: S/F Philippines: Localy called: Republika ng Pilipinas, localy called: Pilipinas
Gov-type: republic
Poland
Population: 38,646,023
Can Read: 99%
Death-rate: 9.99 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Polish 97.6%; German 1.3%; Ukrainian 0.6%; Byelorussian 0.5%
Infant-mortality: 9.61/1,000 born,die
Language: Polish
Life-expectancy: 73.19 Years
Poverty-line: 23.8%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%; Eastern Orthodox,Protestant,and other 5%;
Their Nation: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish
Area: 312,685 sq km land: 304,465 sq km water: 8,220 sq km
Climate: temperate with cold,cloudy,moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Farmable-Land-Use: 47%; crops: 1%; pastures: 13%; woodland: 29%; other: 10%
GeoNote: historically,an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
High/Low: lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Land-boundaries: 2,888 km border countries: Belarus 605 km,Czech Republic 658 km,Germany 456 km,Lithuania 91 km,Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km,Slovakia 444 km,Ukraine 428 km
Location:Central Europe,east of Germany
Natural-resources: coal,sulfur,copper,natural gas,silver,lead,salt,arable land
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Cell Phones: 1.58 million
ISPs: 161
Phones: 8.07 million
Radio Stations: AM 14, FM 777,shortwave 1
Radios: 20.2 million
TV Stations: 150
TVs: 13.05 million
Airports: 123
Highways: 381,046 km paved: 249,966 km, unpaved: 131,080 km
Ports/Harbors: Gdansk,Gdynia,Gliwice,Kolobrzeg,Szczecin,Swinoujscie,Ustka,Warsaw,Wroclaw
Rails: 23,420 km
Waterways: 3,812 km navigable rivers and canals
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exports: manufactured goods and chemicals 57%; machinery and equipment 21%; food and live animals 12%; mineral fuels 7%;
Farming: potatoes,fruits,vegetables,wheat; poultry,eggs,pork,beef,milk,cheese
Imports: manufactured goods and chemicals 43%; machinery and equipment 36%; mineral fuels 9%; food and live animals 8%;
Industry: machine building,iron and steel,coal mining,chemicals,shipbuilding,food processing,glass,beverages,textiles
Admin-Div: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa,singular - wojewodztwo)
Capital: Warsaw
Country-name: Republic of Poland: S/F Poland: Localy called: Rzeczpospolita Polska, localy called: Polska
Gov-type: republic
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