LATEST SCOOP

Israel To Launch Ground Invasion in Gaza within 48 Hours

2013-03-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

Israel To Launch Ground Invasion in Gaza within 48 Hours

Details: Published on Saturday, 17 November 2012 23:45

PNN

On Friday 17th November, The Times British newspaper said that Israeli Army will launch a ground invasion to destroy Hamas military infrastructure and rocket stocks across the Gaza Strip within the 48 coming hours.
The newspaper also said that thousands of Israeli soldiers were prepared to storm Gaza, 60 minutes after the Palestinian militants launched rockets at Israeli cities. An Israeli official told the newspaper that the army troops are ready and waiting for orders in order to raid Gaza.

Israel To Launch Ground Invasion in Gaza within 48 Hours

Rabbi Evan Moffic: Why Americans Love Israel

2013-03-24T13:21:00.001-07:00

Rabbi Evan Moffic: Why Americans Love Israel
A remarkable new survey was released just before President Obama's visit to Israel. According to the poll, Americans heavily favor the Israelis over the Palestinians, 64 percent vs. 12 percent. This is the highest percentage of support for Israel since the Gulf War in 1991. Israel retains support across age demographics and political affilation, though Republicans had a slighter higher positive view than Democrats.
What accounts for this enormous popularity? Cynics and anti-Semites will say the power of the Israel lobby. They will contend that politicans and the media are bought by what Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel once called the "Jewish lobby."
The real answer lies in the philosophy and ideals of the Jewish State. Israel is an outpost for democracy in a dangerous world. It is a place whose citizens fight for the freedom we cherish as Americans. As changes continue to transform the MIddle East, leaders in Egypt, Libya, Syria and perhaps, someday, Iran, need to visit Israel. The lessons would be about much more than voting and elected government. That's the easy part of democracy. The hard part is two-fold.
How Israel Embodies the Hard Parts of Democracy: Part I

First, assuring the protection of minorities. The philosopher and political scientist Lord Acton said, "The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities." Israel has its own problems in meeting this text. Orthodox Jewry retain almost complete control over official religious life in Israel, making Reform and Conservative Jews a disenfranchised minority. Less money is spent on school and facilities in Arab neighborhoods, increasing their vulnerability as minorities.
Yet, metrics in each of these areas are improving. And in principle, if not yet in fact, Israel guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for minorities. As its Declaration of Independence proclaims, "Israel will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex."
"Rabbi," you might be saying, "this sounds nice and all, but its not happening." Yet, we need to remember that Israel is only 64 years old. It took the United States almost 100 years and a bloody Civil War to begin to realize the ideals of our Declaration of Independence, and much work remains to be done.
How Israel Embodies the Hard Part of Democracy Part II
The second part of building democracy in the Middle East is harder still. Embracing meaningful cultural and intellectual dialogue with the West. We live in an interdependent world, and it is growing more so all the time. The emerging countries of the Arab world can learn so much from Israel. As Daniel Gordis put it, countries in the Arab world "will have to acknowledge that the very country that they had once hoped to destroy is the country whose qualities that they should be emulating." These qualities include, for example, Israel's openness to the global marketplace of ideas. Israelis travel, learn and have complete access to books and Internet websites from around the world. They express different points of view with relish. In fact, the arguments within our American Jewish community pale in comparison to the disagreements played out every day in Israeli newspapers.
Yes, there are pockets of insularity in the ultra-Orthodox world. But Israel continues -- every day -- to evolve into an open, diverse and egalitarian culture. One of the members of my synagogue has been involved in supporting anetwork of schools that educate secular and religious students together. Other congregants members are involved with organizations that fund initiatives helping to bring together Arab and Israeli youth.
Democracy has not and will not be easy -- not for Israel, for the United States, not for the Arab world. But it never has been. David Ben Gurion once said that in Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles. The founders of our country were realists who believed in the miraculous power of democracy. Israel struggles every day to carry on that dream.

Howdy Doody - 1949 - (1/3) - YouTube

2011-08-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Howdy Doody - 1949 - (1/3) - YouTube

The Danish Poet - YouTube

2011-08-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

The Danish Poet - YouTube

WORLD LABOR FORCE

2011-06-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Country Comparison :: Labor force

This entry contains the total labor force figure.

RANK COUNTRY LABOR FORCE

1 China       780,000,000
2 India       478,300,000
3 European Union       225,300,000
4 United States       154,900,000
5 Indonesia       116,500,000
6 Brazil       103,600,000
7 Russia        75,550,000
8 Bangladesh        73,870,000
9 Japan        65,700,000
10 Pakistan        55,770,000
11 Nigeria        48,330,000
12 Mexico        46,990,000
13 Vietnam        46,210,000
14 Germany        43,350,000
15 Philippines        38,900,000
16 Thailand        38,700,000
17 Ethiopia        37,900,000
18 Burma        31,680,000
19 United Kingdom        31,450,000
20 France        28,210,000
21 Egypt        26,100,000
22 Iran        25,700,000
23 Italy        25,050,000
24 Turkey        24,730,000
25 Korea, South        24,620,000
26 Congo, Democratic Republic of the        23,530,000
27 Spain        22,960,000
28 Ukraine        22,060,000
29 Tanzania        21,860,000
30 Colombia        21,270,000
31 Canada        18,590,000
32 Nepal        18,000,000
33 Kenya        17,940,000
34 South Africa        17,320,000
35 Poland        17,000,000
36 Argentina        16,620,000
37 Uzbekistan        16,000,000
38 Peru        15,680,000
39 Uganda        15,510,000
40 Afghanistan        15,000,000
41 Venezuela        13,300,000
42 Malaysia        12,200,000
43 Korea, North        12,200,000
44 Sudan        11,920,000
45 Morocco        11,630,000
46 Australia        11,620,000
47 Taiwan        11,070,000
48 Ghana        10,560,000
49 Algeria         9,877,000
50 Mozambique         9,870,000
51 Madagascar         9,504,000
52 Romania         9,350,000
53 Cambodia         8,800,000
54 Kazakhstan         8,718,000
55 Iraq         8,500,000
56 Sri Lanka         8,100,000
57 Angola         7,977,000
58 Netherlands         7,860,000
59 Cameroon         7,836,000
60 Cote d'Ivoire         7,617,000
61 Chile         7,580,000
62 Saudi Arabia         7,337,000
63 Yemen         6,832,000
64 Burkina Faso         6,668,000
65 Azerbaijan         5,874,000
66 Malawi         5,747,000
67 Portugal         5,570,000
68 Senegal         5,530,000
69 Syria         5,527,000
70 Zambia         5,524,000
71 Czech Republic         5,370,000
72 Cuba         5,164,000
73 Greece         5,050,000
74 Belgium         5,020,000
75 Belarus         5,000,000
76 Sweden         4,930,000
77 Haiti         4,810,000
78 Niger         4,688,000
79 Switzerland         4,620,000
80 Ecuador         4,590,000
81 Dominican Republic         4,498,000
82 Rwanda         4,446,000
83 Guinea         4,392,000
84 Hungary         4,300,000
85 Chad         4,293,000
86 Guatemala         4,260,000
87 Burundi         4,245,000
88 Bolivia         4,186,000
89 United Arab Emirates         3,908,000
90 Zimbabwe         3,848,000
91 Tunisia         3,830,000
92 Papua New Guinea         3,809,000
93 Hong Kong         3,700,000
94 Austria         3,700,000
95 Laos         3,690,000
96 Benin         3,662,000
97 Somalia         3,447,000
98 Bulgaria         3,400,000
99 Honduras         3,394,000
100 Mali         3,241,000
101 Israel         3,080,000
102 Singapore         3,075,000
103 Paraguay         3,038,000
104 Serbia         2,950,000
105 El Salvador         2,940,000
106 Denmark         2,820,000
107 Finland         2,680,000
108 Slovakia         2,673,000
109 Bosnia and Herzegovina         2,600,000
110 Togo         2,595,000
111 Norway         2,590,000
112 Kyrgyzstan         2,344,000
113 Nicaragua         2,343,000
114 New Zealand         2,320,000
115 Turkmenistan         2,300,000
116 Sierra Leone         2,207,000
117 Costa Rica         2,170,000
118 Kuwait         2,154,000
119 Ireland         2,150,000
120 Tajikistan         2,100,000
121 Eritrea         1,935,000
122 Central African Republic         1,926,000
123 Georgia         1,918,000
124 Croatia         1,762,000
125 Libya         1,729,000
126 Jordan         1,719,000
127 Uruguay         1,637,000
128 Lithuania         1,633,000
129 Panama         1,557,000
130 Congo, Republic of the         1,514,000
131 Lebanon         1,481,000
132 Armenia         1,481,000
133 Puerto Rico         1,479,000
134 Liberia         1,372,000
135 Mauritania         1,318,000
136 Jamaica         1,317,000
137 Qatar         1,254,000
138 Moldova         1,203,000
139 Latvia         1,178,000
140 Mongolia         1,068,000
141 Albania         1,060,000
142 Oman          968,800
143 Macedonia          949,300
144 Slovenia          930,000
145 Lesotho          854,600
146 Gambia, The          777,100
147 Namibia          729,000
148 Gabon          712,000
149 West Bank          694,000
150 Estonia          688,000
151 Botswana          685,300
152 Guinea-Bissau          632,700
153 Trinidad and Tobago          631,000
154 Bahrain          611,000
155 Mauritius          597,000
156 Swaziland          457,900
157 Timor-Leste          414,200
158 Cyprus          400,000
159 Djibouti          351,700
160 Gaza Strip          339,000
161 Fiji          335,000
162 Guyana          333,900
163 Macau          330,900
164 Kosovo          310,000
165 Bhutan          299,900
166 Comoros          268,500
167 Montenegro          259,100
168 Luxembourg          206,000
169 Solomon Islands          202,500
170 Cape Verde          196,100
171 Equatorial Guinea          195,200
172 Brunei          188,800
173 Bahamas, The          184,000
174 Iceland          178,800
175 Barbados          175,000
176 Suriname          165,600
177 Malta          163,100
178 Western Sahara          144,000
179 Belize          120,500
180 French Polynesia          116,000
181 Vanuatu          115,900
182 Maldives          110,000
183 New Caledonia          102,600
184 Saint Lucia           79,700
185 Samoa           66,270
186 Curacao           63,000
187 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines           57,520
188 Jersey           53,560
189 Sao Tome and Principe           52,490
190 Virgin Islands           49,820
191 Monaco           44,000
192 Grenada           42,300
193 Aruba           41,500
194 Tonga           39,960
195 Isle of Man           39,690
196 Seychelles           39,560
197 Cayman Islands           39,000
198 Northern Mariana Islands           38,450
199 Bermuda           38,360
200 Andorra           38,220
201 Faroe Islands           34,680
202 Liechtenstein           32,880
203 Guernsey           31,470
204 Antigua and Barbuda           30,000
205 Greenland           28,240
206 Dominica           25,000
207 Sint Maarten           23,200
208 San Marino           22,950
209 Saint Kitts and Nevis           18,170
210 American Samoa           17,630
211 Micronesia, Federated States of           16,360
212 Marshall Islands           14,680
213 British Virgin Islands           12,770
214 Gibraltar           12,690
215 Palau            9,777
216 Kiribati            7,870
217 Cook Islands            6,820
218 Anguilla            6,049
219 Turks and Caicos Islands            4,848
220 Tuvalu            3,615
221 Saint Pierre and Miquelon            3,450
222 Wallis and Futuna            3,104
223 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha            2,486
224 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)            1,724
225 Svalbard            1,234
226 Norfolk Island             978
227 Niue             663
228 Tokelau             440
229 Pitcairn Islands              15

WORLD INCOME (GINI INDEX)

2011-06-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

RANK COUNTY FAMILY Distribution of family income (Gini index)

1 Namibia              70.7
2 South Africa         65.0
3 Lesotho               63.2
4 Botswana              63.0
5 Sierra Leone           62.9
6 Central African Republic   61.3
7 Haiti                      59.2
8 Colombia                  58.5
9 Bolivia                     58.2
10 Brazil                     56.7
11 Guatemala                55.1
12 Honduras                 53.8
13 Hong Kong                53.3
14 Paraguay                  53.2
15 El Salvador               52.4
16 Chile                       52.4
17 Panama                     51.0
18 Papua New Guinea         50.9
19 Zambia                      50.8
20 Niger                        50.5
21 Swaziland                   50.4
22 Gambia, The                50.2
23 Zimbabwe                    50.1
24 Dominican Republic           49.9
25 Peru                            49.6
26 Sri Lanka              49.0
27 Mexico              48.2
28 Costa Rica              48.0
29 Singapore              47.8
30 Madagascar              47.5
31 Mozambique              47.3
32 Nepal              47.2
33 Uruguay              47.1
34 Ecuador              46.9
35 Rwanda              46.8
36 Philippines              45.8
37 Uganda              45.7
38 Jamaica              45.5
39 United States              45.0
40 Cameroon              44.6
41 Cote d'Ivoire              44.6
42 Iran              44.5
43 Malaysia              44.1
44 Nigeria              43.7
45 Guyana              43.2
46 Nicaragua              43.1
47 Thailand              43.0
48 Cambodia              43.0
49 Kenya              42.5
50 Burundi              42.4
51 Russia              42.2
52 China              41.5
53 Argentina              41.4
54 Senegal              41.3
55 Turkey              41.0
56 Venezuela              41.0
57 Morocco              40.9
58 Turkmenistan              40.8
59 Georgia              40.8
60 Mali              40.1
61 Tunisia              40.0
62 Jordan              39.7
63 Burkina Faso              39.5
64 Ghana              39.4
65 Israel              39.2
66 Mauritania              39.0
67 Mauritius              39.0
68 Macedonia              39.0
69 Malawi              39.0
70 Portugal              38.5
71 Guinea              38.1
72 Timor-Leste              38.0
73 Yemen              37.7
74 Japan              37.6
75 Moldova              37.4
76 Armenia              37.0
77 Vietnam              37.0
78 Indonesia              37.0
79 India              36.8
80 Uzbekistan              36.8
81 Benin              36.5
82 Azerbaijan              36.5
83 New Zealand              36.2
84 Latvia              36.0
85 Lithuania              36.0
86 Algeria              35.3
87 Poland              34.9
88 Tanzania              34.6
89 Laos              34.6
90 Egypt              34.4
91 Bosnia and Herzegovina              34.1
92 United Kingdom              34.0
93 Switzerland              33.7
94 Bulgaria              33.5
95 Bangladesh              33.2
96 Greece              33.0
97 Mongolia              32.8
98 France              32.7
99 Tajikistan              32.6
100 Taiwan              32.6
101 Canada              32.1
102 Italy              32.0
103 Spain              32.0
104 Romania              32.0
105 Estonia              31.4
106 Korea, South              31.4
107 Ukraine              31.0
108 Netherlands              30.9
109 Pakistan              30.6
110 Australia              30.5
111 European Union              30.4
112 Kyrgyzstan              30.3
113 Ethiopia              30.0
114 Montenegro              30.0
115 Kosovo              30.0
116 Ireland              29.3
117 Croatia              29.0
118 Denmark              29.0
119 Cyprus              29.0
120 Slovenia              28.4
121 Belgium              28.0
122 Iceland              28.0
123 Belarus              27.9
124 Germany              27.0
125 Finland              26.8
126 Albania              26.7
127 Kazakhstan              26.7
128 Slovakia              26.0
129 Austria              26.0
130 Czech Republic              26.0
131 Malta              26.0
132 Luxembourg              26.0
133 Serbia              26.0
134 Norway              25.0
135 Hungary              24.7
136 Sweden              23.0

Country Comparison :: Distribution of family income - Gini index

This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.

WORLD EMPLOYMENT RATES

2011-06-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

RANK COUNTRY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

1 Monaco            0.00
2 Qatar             0.50
3 Azerbaijan        0.90
4 Guernsey          0.90
5 Belarus            1.00
6 Uzbekistan        1.10
7 Thailand           1.20
8 Liechtenstein      1.50
9 Vanuatu            1.70
10 Papua New Guinea 1.80
11 Isle of Man        1.80
12 Cuba               2.00
13 Kiribati            2.00
14 Seychelles         2.00
15 Bermuda           2.10
16 Singapore          2.10
17 Jersey             2.20
18 Tajikistan          2.20
19 Kuwait              2.20
20 United Arab Emirates      2.40
21 Laos                 2.50
22 Macau               2.90
23 Andorra            2.90
24 Vietnam           2.90
25 Gibraltar          3.00
26 Guatemala         3.20
27 Korea, South      3.30
28 Malaysia            3.50
29 Cambodia            3.50
30 Norway               3.60
31 British Virgin Islands 3.60
32 Brunei                 3.70
33 San Marino           3.80
34 Faroe Islands       3.90
35 Switzerland         3.90
36 Bhutan                4.00
37 Cayman Islands      4.00
38 Palau                  4.20
39 Denmark              4.20
40 Hong Kong             4.30
41 China                  4.30
42 Saint Kitts and Nevis      4.50
43 Austria                4.50
44 Bangladesh           4.80
45 Nigeria               4.90
46 Ecuador              5.00
47 Australia            5.10
48 Japan              5.10
49 Honduras          5.10
50 Taiwan            5.20
51 Sri Lanka         5.40
52 Luxembourg      5.50
53 Kazakhstan      5.50
54 Netherlands      5.50
55 Mexico           5.60
56 Cyprus           5.60
57 Burma         5.70
58 Paraguay      5.70
59 Montserrat      6.00
60 Virgin Islands      6.20
61 Israel                6.40
62 Trinidad and Tobago      6.40
63 Panama                  6.50
64 Moldova           6.50
65 Bolivia               6.50
66 New Zealand      6.50
67 Uruguay      6.80
68 Greenland      6.80
69 Aruba      6.90
70 Malta      6.90
71 Brazil      7.00
72 El Salvador      7.00
73 Czech Republic      7.10
74 Armenia      7.10
75 Indonesia      7.10
76 Philippines      7.30
77 Costa Rica      7.30
78 Germany      7.40
79 Botswana      7.50
80 Mauritius      7.50
81 Bahamas, The      7.60
82 Russia      7.60
83 Fiji      7.60
84 Argentina      7.90
85 Peru      7.90
86 United Kingdom      7.90
87 Central African Republic      8.00
88 Northern Mariana Islands      8.00
89 Canada      8.00
90 Anguilla      8.00
91 Nicaragua      8.00
92 Romania      8.20
93 Iceland      8.30
94 Syria      8.30
95 Sweden      8.30
96 Italy      8.40
97 Finland      8.40
98 Ukraine      8.40
99 Belgium      8.50
100 Chile      8.70
101 World      8.80
102 Bulgaria      9.20
103 Suriname      9.50
104 France      9.50
105 European Union      9.50
106 United States      9.70
107 Egypt      9.70
108 Morocco      9.80
109 Algeria      9.90
110 Turks and Caicos Islands     10.00
111 Saint Pierre and Miquelon     10.30
112 Curacao     10.30
113 Slovenia     10.60
114 Sint Maarten     10.60
115 Hungary     10.70
116 Barbados     10.70
117 Portugal     10.70
118 India     10.80
119 Saudi Arabia     10.80
120 Guyana     11.00
121 Antigua and Barbuda     11.00
122 Ghana     11.00
123 Mongolia     11.50
124 French Polynesia     11.70
125 Colombia     11.80
126 Poland     11.80
127 Puerto Rico     12.00
128 Greece     12.00
129 Niue     12.00
130 Venezuela     12.10
131 Turkey     12.40
132 Grenada     12.50
133 Jamaica     12.90
134 Tonga     13.00
135 Belize     13.10
136 Cook Islands     13.10
137 Jordan     13.40
138 Slovakia     13.50
139 Albania     13.50
140 Ireland     13.70
141 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha     14.00
142 Tunisia     14.00
143 Zambia     14.00
144 Dominican Republic     14.20
145 Latvia     14.30
146 Maldives     14.50
147 Iran     14.60
148 Montenegro     14.70
149 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines     15.00
150 Bahrain     15.00
151 Oman     15.00
152 Pakistan     15.00
153 Wallis and Futuna     15.20
154 Iraq     15.30
155 Georgia     16.40
156 West Bank     16.50
157 New Caledonia     17.10
158 Estonia     17.50
159 Croatia     17.60
160 Lithuania     17.90
161 Kyrgyzstan     18.00
162 Sudan     18.70
163 Serbia     19.20
164 Spain     20.00
165 Comoros     20.00
166 Timor-Leste     20.00
167 Saint Lucia     20.00
168 Mozambique     21.00
169 Gabon     21.00
170 Cape Verde     21.00
171 Micronesia, Federated States of     22.00
172 Equatorial Guinea     22.30
173 Dominica     23.00
174 South Africa     23.30
175 American Samoa     29.80
176 Mauritania     30.00
177 Mali     30.00
178 Cameroon     30.00
179 Libya     30.00
180 Macedonia     31.70
181 Yemen     35.00
182 Afghanistan     35.00
183 Marshall Islands     36.00
184 Gaza Strip     40.00
185 Kenya     40.00
186 Swaziland     40.00
187 Haiti     40.60
188 Bosnia and Herzegovina     43.10
189 Kosovo     45.00
190 Lesotho     45.00
191 Nepal     46.00
192 Senegal     48.00
193 Namibia     51.20
194 Djibouti     59.00
195 Cocos (Keeling) Islands     60.00
196 Turkmenistan     60.00
197 Burkina Faso     77.00
198 Liberia     85.00
199 Nauru     90.00
200 Zimbabwe     95.00

WORLD POPULATION LABOR FORCE

2011-06-20T11:06:00.001-07:00

Country Comparison :: Labor force

This entry contains the total labor force figure.

RANK COUNTRY LABOR FORCE

1 China       780,000,000
2 India       478,300,000
3 European Union       225,300,000
4 United States       154,900,000
5 Indonesia       116,500,000
6 Brazil       103,600,000
7 Russia        75,550,000
8 Bangladesh        73,870,000
9 Japan        65,700,000
10 Pakistan        55,770,000
11 Nigeria        48,330,000
12 Mexico        46,990,000
13 Vietnam        46,210,000
14 Germany        43,350,000
15 Philippines        38,900,000
16 Thailand        38,700,000
17 Ethiopia        37,900,000
18 Burma        31,680,000
19 United Kingdom        31,450,000
20 France        28,210,000
21 Egypt        26,100,000
22 Iran        25,700,000
23 Italy        25,050,000
24 Turkey        24,730,000
25 Korea, South        24,620,000
26 Congo, Democratic Republic of the        23,530,000
27 Spain        22,960,000
28 Ukraine        22,060,000
29 Tanzania        21,860,000
30 Colombia        21,270,000
31 Canada        18,590,000
32 Nepal        18,000,000
33 Kenya        17,940,000
34 South Africa        17,320,000
35 Poland        17,000,000
36 Argentina        16,620,000
37 Uzbekistan        16,000,000
38 Peru        15,680,000
39 Uganda        15,510,000
40 Afghanistan        15,000,000
41 Venezuela        13,300,000
42 Malaysia        12,200,000
43 Korea, North        12,200,000
44 Sudan        11,920,000
45 Morocco        11,630,000
46 Australia        11,620,000
47 Taiwan        11,070,000
48 Ghana        10,560,000
49 Algeria         9,877,000
50 Mozambique         9,870,000
51 Madagascar         9,504,000
52 Romania         9,350,000
53 Cambodia         8,800,000
54 Kazakhstan         8,718,000
55 Iraq         8,500,000
56 Sri Lanka         8,100,000
57 Angola         7,977,000
58 Netherlands         7,860,000
59 Cameroon         7,836,000
60 Cote d'Ivoire         7,617,000
61 Chile         7,580,000
62 Saudi Arabia         7,337,000
63 Yemen         6,832,000
64 Burkina Faso         6,668,000
65 Azerbaijan         5,874,000
66 Malawi         5,747,000
67 Portugal         5,570,000
68 Senegal         5,530,000
69 Syria         5,527,000
70 Zambia         5,524,000
71 Czech Republic         5,370,000
72 Cuba         5,164,000
73 Greece         5,050,000
74 Belgium         5,020,000
75 Belarus         5,000,000
76 Sweden         4,930,000
77 Haiti         4,810,000
78 Niger         4,688,000
79 Switzerland         4,620,000
80 Ecuador         4,590,000
81 Dominican Republic         4,498,000
82 Rwanda         4,446,000
83 Guinea         4,392,000
84 Hungary         4,300,000
85 Chad         4,293,000
86 Guatemala         4,260,000
87 Burundi         4,245,000
88 Bolivia         4,186,000
89 United Arab Emirates         3,908,000
90 Zimbabwe         3,848,000
91 Tunisia         3,830,000
92 Papua New Guinea         3,809,000
93 Hong Kong         3,700,000
94 Austria         3,700,000
95 Laos         3,690,000
96 Benin         3,662,000
97 Somalia         3,447,000
98 Bulgaria         3,400,000
99 Honduras         3,394,000
100 Mali         3,241,000
101 Israel         3,080,000
102 Singapore         3,075,000
103 Paraguay         3,038,000
104 Serbia         2,950,000
105 El Salvador         2,940,000
106 Denmark         2,820,000
107 Finland         2,680,000
108 Slovakia         2,673,000
109 Bosnia and Herzegovina         2,600,000
110 Togo         2,595,000
111 Norway         2,590,000
112 Kyrgyzstan         2,344,000
113 Nicaragua         2,343,000
114 New Zealand         2,320,000
115 Turkmenistan         2,300,000
116 Sierra Leone         2,207,000
117 Costa Rica         2,170,000
118 Kuwait         2,154,000
119 Ireland         2,150,000
120 Tajikistan         2,100,000
121 Eritrea         1,935,000
122 Central African Republic         1,926,000
123 Georgia         1,918,000
124 Croatia         1,762,000
125 Libya         1,729,000
126 Jordan         1,719,000
127 Uruguay         1,637,000
128 Lithuania         1,633,000
129 Panama         1,557,000
130 Congo, Republic of the         1,514,000
131 Lebanon         1,481,000
132 Armenia         1,481,000
133 Puerto Rico         1,479,000
134 Liberia         1,372,000
135 Mauritania         1,318,000
136 Jamaica         1,317,000
137 Qatar         1,254,000
138 Moldova         1,203,000
139 Latvia         1,178,000
140 Mongolia         1,068,000
141 Albania         1,060,000
142 Oman          968,800
143 Macedonia          949,300
144 Slovenia          930,000
145 Lesotho          854,600
146 Gambia, The          777,100
147 Namibia          729,000
148 Gabon          712,000
149 West Bank          694,000
150 Estonia          688,000
151 Botswana          685,300
152 Guinea-Bissau          632,700
153 Trinidad and Tobago          631,000
154 Bahrain          611,000
155 Mauritius          597,000
156 Swaziland          457,900
157 Timor-Leste          414,200
158 Cyprus          400,000
159 Djibouti          351,700
160 Gaza Strip          339,000
161 Fiji          335,000
162 Guyana          333,900
163 Macau          330,900
164 Kosovo          310,000
165 Bhutan          299,900
166 Comoros          268,500
167 Montenegro          259,100
168 Luxembourg          206,000
169 Solomon Islands          202,500
170 Cape Verde          196,100
171 Equatorial Guinea          195,200
172 Brunei          188,800
173 Bahamas, The          184,000
174 Iceland          178,800
175 Barbados          175,000
176 Suriname          165,600
177 Malta          163,100
178 Western Sahara          144,000
179 Belize          120,500
180 French Polynesia          116,000
181 Vanuatu          115,900
182 Maldives          110,000
183 New Caledonia          102,600
184 Saint Lucia           79,700
185 Samoa           66,270
186 Curacao           63,000
187 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines           57,520
188 Jersey           53,560
189 Sao Tome and Principe           52,490
190 Virgin Islands           49,820
191 Monaco           44,000
192 Grenada           42,300
193 Aruba           41,500
194 Tonga           39,960
195 Isle of Man           39,690
196 Seychelles           39,560
197 Cayman Islands           39,000
198 Northern Mariana Islands           38,450
199 Bermuda           38,360
200 Andorra           38,220
201 Faroe Islands           34,680
202 Liechtenstein           32,880
203 Guernsey           31,470
204 Antigua and Barbuda           30,000
205 Greenland           28,240
206 Dominica           25,000
207 Sint Maarten           23,200
208 San Marino           22,950
209 Saint Kitts and Nevis           18,170
210 American Samoa           17,630
211 Micronesia, Federated States of           16,360
212 Marshall Islands           14,680
213 British Virgin Islands           12,770
214 Gibraltar           12,690
215 Palau            9,777
216 Kiribati            7,870
217 Cook Islands            6,820
218 Anguilla            6,049
219 Turks and Caicos Islands            4,848
220 Tuvalu            3,615
221 Saint Pierre and Miquelon            3,450
222 Wallis and Futuna            3,104
223 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha            2,486
224 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)            1,724
225 Svalbard            1,234
226 Norfolk Island             978
227 Niue             663
228 Tokelau             440
229 Pitcairn Islands              15

WORLD INCOME - PER CAPITA

2011-06-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

Country Comparison :: GDP - per capita (PPP)

RANK COUNTRY GDP - PER CAPITA (PPP))
1 Qatar $                179,000
2 Liechtenstein $         141,100
3 Luxembourg $            82,600
4 Bermuda $               69,900
5 Singapore $              62,100
6 Jersey $                 57,000
7 Norway $                54,600
8 Brunei $                  51,600
9 United Arab Emirates $            49,600
10 Kuwait $                 48,900
11 United States $         47,200
12 Andorra $                46,700
13 Hong Kong $              45,900
14 Guernsey $                44,600
15 Cayman Islands $          43,800
16 Gibraltar $                 43,000
17 Switzerland $            42,600
18 Australia $            41,000
19 Austria $            40,400
20 Netherlands $            40,300
21 Bahrain $            40,300
22 Canada $            39,400
23 Sweden $            39,100
24 British Virgin Islands $            38,500
25 Iceland $            38,300
26 Belgium $            37,800
27 Ireland $            37,300
28 Equatorial Guinea $            36,600
29 Denmark $            36,600
30 Greenland $            36,500
31 San Marino $            36,200
32 Taiwan $            35,700
33 Germany $            35,700
34 Finland $            35,400
35 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $            35,400
36 Isle of Man $            35,000
37 United Kingdom $            34,800
38 Japan $            34,000
39 France $            33,100
40 Macau $            33,000
41 Faroe Islands $            32,900
42 European Union $            32,700
43 Italy $            30,500
44 Monaco $            30,000
45 Korea, South $            30,000
46 Israel $            29,800
47 Greece $            29,600
48 Spain $            29,400
49 Bahamas, The $            28,700
50 Slovenia $            28,200
51 New Zealand $            27,700
52 Malta $            25,600
53 Oman $            25,600
54 Czech Republic $            25,600
55 Saudi Arabia $            24,200
56 Seychelles $            23,200
57 Portugal $            23,000
58 Slovakia $            22,000
59 Aruba $            21,800
60 Barbados $            21,800
61 Trinidad and Tobago $            21,200
62 Cyprus $            21,000
63 Estonia $            19,100
64 Hungary $            18,800
65 Poland $            18,800
66 French Polynesia $            18,000
67 Croatia $            17,400
68 Antigua and Barbuda $            16,400
69 Puerto Rico $            16,300
70 Lithuania $            16,000
71 Russia $            15,900
72 Chile $            15,400
73 Sint Maarten $            15,400
74 New Caledonia $            15,000
75 Curacao $            15,000
76 Malaysia $            14,700
77 Latvia $            14,700
78 Argentina $            14,700
79 Virgin Islands $            14,500
80 Gabon $            14,500
81 Lebanon $            14,400
82 Mauritius $            14,000
83 Libya $            14,000
84 Botswana $            14,000
85 Mexico $            13,900
86 Uruguay $            13,700
87 Saint Kitts and Nevis $            13,700
88 Belarus $            13,600
89 Bulgaria $            13,500
90 Panama $            13,000
91 Venezuela $            12,700
92 Kazakhstan $            12,700
93 Northern Mariana Islands $            12,500
94 Turkey $            12,300
95 Anguilla $            12,200
96 Romania $            11,600
97 Turks and Caicos Islands $            11,500
98 Costa Rica $            11,300
99 World $            11,200
100 Saint Lucia $            11,200
101 Azerbaijan $            10,900
102 Serbia $            10,900
103 Brazil $            10,800
104 South Africa $            10,700
105 Iran $            10,600
106 Dominica $            10,400
107 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $            10,300
108 Grenada $            10,200
109 Montenegro $            10,100
110 Cuba $             9,900
111 Colombia $             9,800
112 Macedonia $             9,700
113 Suriname $             9,700
114 Tunisia $             9,400
115 Peru $             9,200
116 Cook Islands $             9,100
117 Dominican Republic $             8,900
118 Thailand $             8,700
119 Belize $             8,400
120 Jamaica $             8,300
121 Angola $             8,200
122 Palau $             8,100
123 American Samoa $             8,000
124 Albania $             8,000
125 Ecuador $             7,800
126 China $             7,600
127 Turkmenistan $             7,500
128 Algeria $             7,300
129 El Salvador $             7,200
130 Guyana $             7,200
131 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $             7,000
132 Namibia $             6,900
133 Maldives $             6,900
134 Ukraine $             6,700
135 Kosovo $             6,600
136 Bosnia and Herzegovina $             6,600
137 Kiribati $             6,200
138 Egypt $             6,200
139 Tonga $             6,100
140 Niue $             5,800
141 Armenia $             5,700
142 Bhutan $             5,500
143 Samoa $             5,500
144 Jordan $             5,400
145 Paraguay $             5,200
146 Guatemala $             5,200
147 Vanuatu $             5,100
148 Sri Lanka $             5,000
149 Nauru $             5,000
150 Georgia $             4,900
151 Morocco $             4,800
152 Bolivia $             4,800
153 Syria $             4,800
154 Swaziland $             4,500
155 Fiji $             4,400
156 Honduras $             4,200
157 Indonesia $             4,200
158 Congo, Republic of the $             4,100
159 Cape Verde $             3,800
160 Wallis and Futuna $             3,800
161 Iraq $             3,800
162 Mongolia $             3,600
163 India $             3,500
164 Philippines $             3,500
165 Montserrat $             3,400
166 Tuvalu $             3,400
167 Vietnam $             3,100
168 Uzbekistan $             3,100
169 Nicaragua $             3,000
170 Solomon Islands $             2,900
171 West Bank $             2,900
172 Djibouti $             2,800
173 Yemen $             2,700
174 Timor-Leste $             2,600
175 Ghana $             2,500
176 Laos $             2,500
177 Moldova $             2,500
178 Nigeria $             2,500
179 Pakistan $             2,500
180 Papua New Guinea $             2,500
181 Marshall Islands $             2,500
182 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha $             2,500
183 Western Sahara $             2,500
184 Cameroon $             2,300
185 Sudan $             2,300
186 Kyrgyzstan $             2,200
187 Micronesia, Federated States of $             2,200
188 Mauritania $             2,100
189 Cambodia $             2,100
190 Tajikistan $             2,000
191 Gambia, The $             1,900
192 Senegal $             1,900
193 Korea, North $             1,800
194 Sao Tome and Principe $             1,800
195 Cote d'Ivoire $             1,800
196 Bangladesh $             1,700
197 Lesotho $             1,700
198 Chad $             1,600
199 Kenya $             1,600
200 Benin $             1,500
201 Zambia $             1,500
202 Tanzania $             1,400
203 Burma $             1,400
204 Uganda $             1,300
205 Nepal $             1,200
206 Burkina Faso $             1,200
207 Haiti $             1,200
208 Mali $             1,200
209 Rwanda $             1,100
210 Guinea-Bissau $             1,100
211 Mozambique $             1,000
212 Comoros $             1,000
213 Ethiopia $             1,000
214 Guinea $             1,000
215 Tokelau $             1,000
216 Togo $              900
217 Afghanistan $              900
218 Madagascar $              900
219 Sierra Leone $              900
220 Malawi $              800
221 Central African Republic $              700
222 Niger $              700
223 Eritrea $              600
224 Somalia $              600
225 Zimbabwe $              500
226 Liberia $              500
227 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $              300
228 Burundi $              300

WORLD PURCHASING POWER GDP

2011-06-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Country Comparison :: GDP (purchasing power parity)

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL GOODS AND SERVICES

1 European Union $   14,820,000,000,000
2 United States $   14,660,000,000,000
3 China $   10,090,000,000,000
4 Japan $    4,310,000,000,000
5 India $    4,060,000,000,000
6 Germany $    2,940,000,000,000
7 Russia $    2,223,000,000,000
8 United Kingdom $    2,173,000,000,000
9 Brazil $    2,172,000,000,000
10 France $    2,145,000,000,000
11 Italy $    1,774,000,000,000
12 Mexico $    1,567,000,000,000
13 Korea, South $    1,459,000,000,000
14 Spain $    1,369,000,000,000
15 Canada $    1,330,000,000,000
16 Indonesia $    1,030,000,000,000
17 Turkey $     960,500,000,000
18 Australia $     882,400,000,000
19 Taiwan $     821,800,000,000
20 Iran $     818,700,000,000
21 Poland $     721,300,000,000
22 Netherlands $     676,900,000,000
23 Saudi Arabia $     622,000,000,000
24 Argentina $     596,000,000,000
25 Thailand $     586,900,000,000
26 South Africa $     524,000,000,000
27 Egypt $     497,800,000,000
28 Pakistan $     464,900,000,000
29 Colombia $     435,400,000,000
30 Malaysia $     414,400,000,000
31 Belgium $     394,300,000,000
32 Nigeria $     377,900,000,000
33 Sweden $     354,700,000,000
34 Philippines $     351,400,000,000
35 Venezuela $     345,200,000,000
36 Austria $     332,000,000,000
37 Hong Kong $     325,800,000,000
38 Switzerland $     324,500,000,000
39 Greece $     318,100,000,000
40 Ukraine $     305,200,000,000
41 Singapore $     291,900,000,000
42 Vietnam $     276,600,000,000
43 Peru $     275,700,000,000
44 Czech Republic $     261,300,000,000
45 Bangladesh $     258,600,000,000
46 Chile $     257,900,000,000
47 Norway $     255,300,000,000
48 Romania $     254,200,000,000
49 Algeria $     251,100,000,000
50 Portugal $     247,000,000,000
51 United Arab Emirates $     246,800,000,000
52 Israel $     219,400,000,000
53 Denmark $     201,700,000,000
54 Kazakhstan $     196,400,000,000
55 Hungary $     187,600,000,000
56 Finland $     186,000,000,000
57 Ireland $     172,300,000,000
58 Morocco $     151,400,000,000
59 Qatar $     150,600,000,000
60 Kuwait $     136,500,000,000
61 Belarus $     131,200,000,000
62 Slovakia $     120,200,000,000
63 New Zealand $     117,800,000,000
64 Ecuador $     115,000,000,000
65 Cuba $     114,100,000,000
66 Iraq $     113,400,000,000
67 Syria $     107,400,000,000
68 Angola $     107,300,000,000
69 Sri Lanka $     106,500,000,000
70 Tunisia $     100,000,000,000
71 Sudan $     100,000,000,000
72 Bulgaria $      96,780,000,000
73 Azerbaijan $      90,790,000,000
74 Libya $      90,570,000,000
75 Dominican Republic $      87,250,000,000
76 Ethiopia $      86,120,000,000
77 Uzbekistan $      85,850,000,000
78 Serbia $      80,100,000,000
79 Croatia $      78,090,000,000
80 Burma $      76,470,000,000
81 Oman $      75,840,000,000
82 Guatemala $      70,150,000,000
83 Kenya $      66,030,000,000
84 Puerto Rico $      64,840,000,000
85 Yemen $      63,400,000,000
86 Ghana $      61,970,000,000
87 Lebanon $      59,370,000,000
88 Tanzania $      58,440,000,000
89 Lithuania $      56,590,000,000
90 Slovenia $      56,580,000,000
91 Costa Rica $      51,170,000,000
92 Uruguay $      47,990,000,000
93 Bolivia $      47,880,000,000
94 Panama $      44,360,000,000
95 Cameroon $      44,330,000,000
96 El Salvador $      43,570,000,000
97 Uganda $      42,150,000,000
98 Luxembourg $      41,090,000,000
99 Korea, North $      40,000,000,000
100 Cote d'Ivoire $      37,020,000,000
101 Turkmenistan $      36,900,000,000
102 Nepal $      35,810,000,000
103 Jordan $      34,530,000,000
104 Honduras $      33,630,000,000
105 Paraguay $      33,310,000,000
106 Latvia $      32,510,000,000
107 Bosnia and Herzegovina $      30,330,000,000
108 Cambodia $      30,180,000,000
109 Bahrain $      29,710,000,000
110 Botswana $      28,490,000,000
111 Afghanistan $      27,360,000,000
112 Trinidad and Tobago $      26,100,000,000
113 Estonia $      24,690,000,000
114 Senegal $      23,880,000,000
115 Albania $      23,860,000,000
116 Equatorial Guinea $      23,820,000,000
117 Jamaica $      23,720,000,000
118 Cyprus $      23,190,000,000
119 Congo, Democratic Republic of the $      23,120,000,000
120 Gabon $      22,480,000,000
121 Georgia $      22,440,000,000
122 Mozambique $      21,810,000,000
123 Brunei $      20,380,000,000
124 Zambia $      20,040,000,000
125 Macedonia $      20,000,000,000
126 Burkina Faso $      19,990,000,000
127 Madagascar $      19,410,000,000
128 Macau $      18,470,000,000
129 Mauritius $      18,060,000,000
130 Nicaragua $      17,710,000,000
131 Chad $      17,360,000,000
132 Congo, Republic of the $      17,110,000,000
133 Armenia $      16,860,000,000
134 Mali $      16,770,000,000
135 Laos $      15,690,000,000
136 Papua New Guinea $      14,950,000,000
137 Tajikistan $      14,740,000,000
138 Namibia $      14,600,000,000
139 Benin $      13,990,000,000
140 Malawi $      12,980,000,000
141 West Bank $      12,790,000,000
142 Rwanda $      12,160,000,000
143 Kyrgyzstan $      12,020,000,000
144 Kosovo $      11,970,000,000
145 Iceland $      11,820,000,000
146 Haiti $      11,480,000,000
147 Niger $      11,050,000,000
148 Mongolia $      11,020,000,000
149 Moldova $      10,990,000,000
150 Guinea $      10,810,000,000
151 Malta $      10,410,000,000
152 Bahamas, The $       8,921,000,000
153 Montenegro $       6,724,000,000
154 Mauritania $       6,655,000,000
155 Barbados $       6,227,000,000
156 Swaziland $       6,067,000,000
157 Togo $       5,974,000,000
158 Somalia $       5,896,000,000
159 Zimbabwe $       5,457,000,000
160 Guyana $       5,379,000,000
161 Jersey $       5,100,000,000
162 Liechtenstein $       5,028,000,000
163 Sierra Leone $       4,720,000,000
164 French Polynesia $       4,718,000,000
165 Suriname $       4,711,000,000
166 Bermuda $       4,500,000,000
167 Bhutan $       3,875,000,000
168 Fiji $       3,869,000,000
169 Eritrea $       3,625,000,000
170 Gambia, The $       3,494,000,000
171 Central African Republic $       3,446,000,000
172 Burundi $       3,397,000,000
173 Lesotho $       3,303,000,000
174 Andorra $       3,300,000,000
175 New Caledonia $       3,158,000,000
176 Timor-Leste $       3,051,000,000
177 Curacao $       2,838,000,000
178 Guernsey $       2,742,000,000
179 Maldives $       2,734,000,000
180 Isle of Man $       2,719,000,000
181 Belize $       2,651,000,000
182 Aruba $       2,258,000,000
183 Cayman Islands $       2,250,000,000
184 Djibouti $       2,105,000,000
185 Seychelles $       2,053,000,000
186 Greenland $       1,989,000,000
187 Cape Verde $       1,908,000,000
188 Saint Lucia $       1,798,000,000
189 Guinea-Bissau $       1,784,000,000
190 Liberia $       1,691,000,000
191 Solomon Islands $       1,627,000,000
192 Faroe Islands $       1,590,000,000
193 Virgin Islands $       1,577,000,000
194 Antigua and Barbuda $       1,425,000,000
195 Gibraltar $       1,275,000,000
196 Vanuatu $       1,137,000,000
197 San Marino $       1,137,000,000
198 Grenada $       1,098,000,000
199 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $       1,069,000,000
200 Samoa $       1,055,000,000
201 Monaco $        976,300,000
202 Western Sahara $        900,000,000
203 Northern Mariana Islands $        900,000,000
204 British Virgin Islands $        853,400,000
205 Comoros $        800,000,000
206 Sint Maarten $        794,700,000
207 Dominica $        758,000,000
208 Tonga $        751,000,000
209 Saint Kitts and Nevis $        684,000,000
210 Kiribati $        618,000,000
211 American Samoa $        575,300,000
212 Sao Tome and Principe $        311,000,000
213 Micronesia, Federated States of $        238,100,000
214 Turks and Caicos Islands $        216,000,000
215 Cook Islands $        183,200,000
216 Anguilla $        175,400,000
217 Palau $        164,000,000
218 Marshall Islands $        133,500,000
219 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $        105,100,000
220 Wallis and Futuna $         60,000,000
221 Nauru $         60,000,000
222 Saint Pierre and Miquelon $         48,300,000
223 Tuvalu $         36,000,000
224 Montserrat $         29,000,000
225 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha $         18,000,000
226 Niue $         10,010,000
227 Tokelau $          1,500,000

This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The differences between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy industrialized countries are generally much smaller.

WORLD POPULATION

2011-06-20T10:06:00.001-07:00

Country Comparison :: Population

RANK COUNTRY POPULATION
1 China              1,336,718,015
2 India              1,189,172,906
3 United States     313,232,044
4 Indonesia           245,613,043
5 Brazil               203,429,773
6 Pakistan            187,342,721
7 Bangladesh         158,570,535
8 Nigeria             155,215,573
9 Russia              138,739,892
10 Japan             126,475,664
11 Mexico            113,724,226
12 Philippines        101,833,938
13 Ethiopia           90,873,739
14 Vietnam           90,549,390
15 Egypt              82,079,636
16 Germany          81,471,834
17 Turkey           78,785,548
18 Iran              77,891,220
19 Congo,            71,712,867
20 Thailand         66,720,153
21 France           65,312,249
22 United Kingdom   62,698,362
23 Italy            61,016,804
24 Burma           53,999,804
25 South Africa        49,004,031
26 Korea, South        48,754,657
27 Spain        46,754,784
28 Ukraine        45,134,707
29 Sudan        45,047,502
30 Colombia        44,725,543
31 Tanzania        42,746,620
32 Argentina        41,769,726
33 Kenya        41,070,934
34 Poland        38,441,588
35 Algeria        34,994,937
36 Uganda        34,612,250
37 Canada        34,030,589
38 Morocco        31,968,361
39 Iraq        30,399,572
40 Afghanistan        29,835,392
41 Nepal        29,391,883
42 Peru        29,248,943
43 Malaysia        28,728,607
44 Uzbekistan        28,128,600
45 Venezuela        27,635,743
46 Saudi Arabia        26,131,703
47 Ghana        24,791,073
48 Korea, North        24,457,492
49 Yemen        24,133,492
50 Taiwan        23,071,779
51 Mozambique        22,948,858
52 Syria        22,517,750
53 Madagascar        21,926,221
54 Romania        21,904,551
55 Australia        21,766,711
56 Cote d'Ivoire        21,504,162
57 Sri Lanka        21,283,913
58 Cameroon        19,711,291
59 Chile        16,888,760
60 Netherlands        16,847,007
61 Burkina Faso        16,751,455
62 Niger        16,468,886
63 Malawi        15,879,252
64 Kazakhstan        15,522,373
65 Ecuador        15,007,343
66 Cambodia        14,701,717
67 Mali        14,159,904
68 Zambia        13,881,336
69 Guatemala        13,824,463
70 Angola        13,338,541
71 Senegal        12,643,799
72 Zimbabwe        12,084,304
73 Rwanda        11,370,425
74 Cuba        11,087,330
75 Portugal        10,760,305
76 Greece        10,760,136
77 Chad        10,758,945
78 Tunisia        10,629,186
79 Guinea        10,601,009
80 Belgium        10,431,477
81 Burundi        10,216,190
82 Czech Republic        10,190,213
83 Bolivia        10,118,683
84 Hungary         9,976,062
85 Dominican Republic         9,956,648
86 Somalia         9,925,640
87 Haiti         9,719,932
88 Belarus         9,577,552
89 Benin         9,325,032
90 Sweden         9,088,728
91 Azerbaijan         8,372,373
92 Austria         8,217,280
93 Honduras         8,143,564
94 Switzerland         7,639,961
95 Tajikistan         7,627,200
96 Israel         7,473,052
97 Serbia         7,310,555
98 Hong Kong         7,122,508
99 Bulgaria         7,093,635
100 Togo         6,771,993
101 Libya         6,597,960
102 Jordan         6,508,271
103 Laos         6,477,211
104 Paraguay         6,459,058
105 Papua New Guinea         6,187,591
106 El Salvador         6,071,774
107 Eritrea         5,939,484
108 Nicaragua         5,666,301
109 Kyrgyzstan         5,587,443
110 Denmark         5,529,888
111 Slovakia         5,477,038
112 Sierra Leone         5,363,669
113 Finland         5,259,250
114 United Arab Emirates         5,148,664
115 Turkmenistan         4,997,503
116 Central African Republic         4,950,027
117 Singapore         4,740,737
118 Norway         4,691,849
119 Ireland         4,670,976
120 Bosnia and Herzegovina         4,622,163
121 Georgia         4,585,874
122 Costa Rica         4,576,562
123 Croatia         4,483,804
124 Moldova         4,314,377
125 New Zealand         4,290,347
126 Congo, Republic of the         4,243,929
127 Lebanon         4,143,101
128 Puerto Rico         3,989,133
129 Liberia         3,786,764
130 Lithuania         3,535,547
131 Panama         3,460,462
132 Uruguay         3,308,535
133 Mauritania         3,281,634
134 Mongolia         3,133,318
135 Oman         3,027,959
136 Albania         2,994,667
137 Armenia         2,967,975
138 Jamaica         2,868,380
139 Kuwait         2,595,628
140 West Bank         2,568,555
141 Latvia         2,204,708
142 Namibia         2,147,585
143 Macedonia         2,077,328
144 Botswana         2,065,398
145 Slovenia         2,000,092
146 Lesotho         1,924,886
147 Kosovo         1,825,632
148 Gambia, The         1,797,860
149 Gaza Strip         1,657,155
150 Guinea-Bissau         1,596,677
151 Gabon         1,576,665
152 Swaziland         1,370,424
153 Mauritius         1,303,717
154 Estonia         1,282,963
155 Trinidad and Tobago         1,227,505
156 Bahrain         1,214,705
157 Timor-Leste         1,177,834
158 Cyprus         1,120,489
159 Fiji          883,125
160 Qatar          848,016
161 Comoros          794,683
162 Djibouti          757,074
163 Guyana          744,768
164 Bhutan          708,427
165 Equatorial Guinea          668,225
166 Montenegro          661,807
167 Macau          573,003
168 Solomon Islands          571,890
169 Cape Verde          516,100
170 Western Sahara          507,160
171 Luxembourg          503,302
172 Suriname          491,989
173 Malta          408,333
174 Brunei          401,890
175 Maldives          394,999
176 Belize          321,115
177 Bahamas, The          313,312
178 Iceland          311,058
179 French Polynesia          294,935
180 Barbados          286,705
181 New Caledonia          256,275
182 Vanuatu          224,564
183 Samoa          193,161
184 Sao Tome and Principe          179,506
185 Saint Lucia          161,557
186 Curacao          142,180
187 Virgin Islands          109,666
188 Grenada          108,419
189 Micronesia, Federated States of          106,836
190 Aruba          106,113
191 Tonga          105,916
192 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines          103,869
193 Kiribati          100,743
194 Jersey           94,161
195 Seychelles           89,188
196 Antigua and Barbuda           87,884
197 Andorra           84,825
198 Isle of Man           84,655
199 Dominica           72,969
200 Bermuda           68,679
201 American Samoa           67,242
202 Marshall Islands           67,182
203 Guernsey           65,068
204 Greenland           57,670
205 Cayman Islands           51,384
206 Saint Kitts and Nevis           50,314
207 Faroe Islands           49,267
208 Northern Mariana Islands           46,050
209 Turks and Caicos Islands           44,819
210 Sint Maarten           37,429
211 Liechtenstein           35,236
212 San Marino           31,817
213 Saint Martin           30,615
214 Monaco           30,539
215 Gibraltar           28,956
216 British Virgin Islands           25,383
217 Palau           20,956
218 Akrotiri           15,700
219 Dhekelia           15,700
220 Wallis and Futuna           15,398
221 Anguilla           15,094
222 Cook Islands           11,124
223 Tuvalu           10,544
224 Nauru            9,322
225 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha            7,700
226 Saint Barthelemy            7,367
227 Saint Pierre and Miquelon            5,888
228 Montserrat            5,140
229 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)            3,140
230 Norfolk Island            2,169
231 Svalbard            2,019
232 Christmas Island            1,402
233 Tokelau            1,384
234 Niue            1,311
235 Holy See (Vatican City)             832
236 Cocos (Keeling) Islands             596


237 Pitcairn Islands              48

Country Comparison :: Population

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

WORLD LAND AREA

2011-06-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Country Comparison :: Area

Rank	country	(sq km)










1 Russia        17,098,242
2 Canada         9,984,670
3 United States    9,826,675
4 China                 9,596,961
5 Brazil         8,514,877
6 Australia         7,741,220
7 India                 3,287,263
8 Argentina         2,780,400
9 Kazakhstan         2,724,900
10 Sudan         2,505,813
11 Algeria         2,381,741
12 Congo,          2,344,858
13 Greenland         2,166,086
14 Saudi Arabia      2,149,690
15 Mexico         1,964,375
16 Indonesia         1,904,569
17 Libya                 1,759,540
18 Iran                 1,648,195
19 Mongolia         1,564,116
20 Peru                 1,285,216
21 Chad                 1,284,000
22 Niger         1,267,000
23 Angola         1,246,700
24 Mali                 1,240,192
25 South Africa      1,219,090
26 Colombia         1,138,910
27 Ethiopia         1,104,300
28 Bolivia         1,098,581
29 Mauritania         1,030,700
30 Egypt         1,001,450
31 Tanzania          947,300
32 Nigeria          923,768
33 Venezuela          912,050
34 Namibia          824,292
35 Mozambique  799,380
36 Pakistan          796,095
37 Turkey          783,562
38 Chile                   756,102
39 Zambia          752,618
40 Burma          676,578
41 Afghanistan         652,230
42 France          643,801
43 Somalia          637,657
44 Central African   622,984
45 Ukraine          603,550
46 Madagascar         587,041
47 Botswana          581,730
48 Kenya                  580,367
49 Yemen          527,968
50 Thailand          513,120
51 Spain                 505,370
52 Turkmenistan      488,100
53 Cameroon          475,440
54 Papua New Guine   462,840
55 Sweden          450,295
56 Uzbekistan          447,400
57 Morocco          446,550
58 Iraq                   438,317
59 Paraguay          406,752
60 Zimbabwe          390,757
61 Japan          377,915
62 Germany          357,022
63 Congo,                342,000
64 Finland          338,145
65 Vietnam          331,210
66 Malaysia          329,847
67 Norway          323,802
68 Cote d'Ivoire   322,463
69 Poland          312,685
70 Oman                 309,500
71 Italy                 301,340
72 Philippines          300,000
73 Ecuador          283,561
74 Burkina Faso          274,200
75 New Zealand          267,710
76 Gabon          267,667
77 Western Sahara          266,000
78 Guinea          245,857
79 United Kingdom          243,610
80 Uganda          241,038
81 Ghana          238,533
82 Romania          238,391
83 Laos          236,800
84 Guyana          214,969
85 Belarus          207,600
86 Kyrgyzstan          199,951
87 Senegal          196,722
88 Syria          185,180
89 Cambodia          181,035
90 Uruguay          176,215
91 Suriname          163,820
92 Tunisia          163,610
93 Nepal          147,181
94 Bangladesh          143,998
95 Tajikistan          143,100
96 Greece          131,957
97 Nicaragua          130,370
98 Korea, North          120,538
99 Malawi          118,484
100 Eritrea          117,600
101 Benin          112,622
102 Honduras          112,090
103 Liberia          111,369
104 Bulgaria          110,879
105 Cuba          110,860
106 Guatemala          108,889
107 Iceland          103,000
108 Korea, South           99,720
109 Hungary           93,028
110 Portugal           92,090
111 Jordan           89,342
112 Azerbaijan           86,600
113 Austria           83,871
114 United Arab Emirates           83,600
115 Czech Republic           78,867
116 Serbia           77,474
117 Panama           75,420
118 Sierra Leone           71,740
119 Ireland           70,273
120 Georgia           69,700
121 Sri Lanka           65,610
122 Lithuania           65,300
123 Latvia           64,589
124 Svalbard           62,045
125 Togo           56,785
126 Croatia           56,594
127 British Indian Ocean Territory           54,400
128 Bosnia and Herzegovina           51,197
129 Costa Rica           51,100
130 Slovakia           49,035
131 Dominican Republic           48,670
132 Estonia           45,228
133 Denmark           43,094
134 Netherlands           41,543
135 Switzerland           41,277
136 Bhutan           38,394
137 Guinea-Bissau           36,125
138 Taiwan           35,980
139 Moldova           33,851
140 Belgium           30,528
141 Lesotho           30,355
142 Armenia           29,743
143 Solomon Islands           28,896
144 Albania           28,748
145 Equatorial Guinea           28,051
146 Burundi           27,830
147 Haiti           27,750
148 Rwanda           26,338
149 Macedonia           25,713
150 Djibouti           23,200
151 Belize           22,966
152 El Salvador           21,041
153 Israel           20,770
154 Slovenia           20,273
155 New Caledonia           18,575
156 Fiji           18,274
157 Kuwait           17,818
158 Swaziland           17,364
159 Timor-Leste           14,874
160 Bahamas, The           13,880
161 Montenegro           13,812
162 Puerto Rico           13,790
163 Vanuatu           12,189
164 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)           12,173
165 Qatar           11,586
166 Gambia, The           11,295
167 Jamaica           10,991
168 Kosovo           10,887
169 Lebanon           10,400
170 Cyprus            9,251
171 West Bank            5,860
172 Brunei            5,765
173 Trinidad and Tobago            5,128
174 French Polynesia            4,167
175 Cape Verde            4,033
176 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands            3,903
177 Samoa            2,831
178 Luxembourg            2,586
179 Comoros            2,235
180 Mauritius            2,040
181 Virgin Islands            1,910
182 Faroe Islands            1,393
183 Hong Kong            1,104
184 Sao Tome and Principe             964
185 Turks and Caicos Islands             948
186 Kiribati             811
187 Bahrain             760
188 Dominica             751
189 Tonga             747
190 Micronesia, Federated States of             702
191 Singapore             697
192 Saint Lucia             616
193 Isle of Man             572
194 Andorra             468
195 Northern Mariana Islands             464
196 Palau             459
197 Seychelles             455
198 Curacao             444
199 Antigua and Barbuda             443
200 Barbados             430
201 Heard Island and McDonald Islands             412
202 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines             389
203 Jan Mayen             377
204 Gaza Strip             360
205 Grenada             344
206 Malta             316
207 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha             308
208 Maldives             298
209 Cayman Islands             264
210 Saint Kitts and Nevis             261
211 Niue             260
212 Saint Pierre and Miquelon             242
213 Cook Islands             236
214 American Samoa             199
215 Marshall Islands             181
216 Aruba             180
217 Liechtenstein             160
218 British Virgin Islands             151
219 Wallis and Futuna             142
220 Christmas Island             135
221 Dhekelia             131
222 Akrotiri             123
223 Jersey             116
224 Montserrat             102
225 Anguilla              91
226 Guernsey              78
227 San Marino              61
228 French Southern and Antarctic Lands              55
229 Saint Martin              54
230 Bermuda              54
231 Bouvet Island              49
232 Pitcairn Islands              47
233 Norfolk Island              36
234 Sint Maarten              34
235 Macau              28
236 Tuvalu              26
237 United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges              22
238 Nauru              21
239 Cocos (Keeling) Islands              14
240 Tokelau              12
241 Wake Island               7
242 Gibraltar               7
243 Clipperton Island               6
244 Navassa Island               5
245 Spratly Islands               5
246 Ashmore and Cartier Islands               5
247 Coral Sea Islands               3
248 Monaco               2
249 Holy See (Vatican City)               0

This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/

2011-05-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

USGS Economic Analysis Updated for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)

The U.S. Geological Survey assessment on the economic recoverability of undiscovered, conventional oil and gas resources within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) and adjacent state waters is now available.
This economic analysis is based on a 2010 USGS resource assessment that determined how much undiscovered, conventional oil and gas in the NPRA is technically recoverable. These reports provide updates from the USGS 2003 economic analysis and 2002 resource assessment of the NPRA.
“The USGS conducts assessment updates to re-evaluate petroleum potential as new data and information become available,” said USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce. “Understanding how much undiscovered, technically recoverable resource might be present serves as a basis for calculating how much might be economically developed.”
Technically recoverable resources are those that could be potentially produced using current technology and industry practices. Economically recoverable resources are those that can be sold at a price that covers the costs of discovery, development, production and transportation to the market.
The new economic analysis estimates that approximately 273 million barrels of undiscovered oil are economically recoverable at an oil price of $72 per barrel (comparable to $8 per thousand cubic feet of gas). About 500 million barrels of undiscovered oil are economically recoverable at $90 per barrel (comparable to $10 per thousand cubic feet of gas). These estimates do not include the discovered oil accumulations in northeastern NPRA that have not yet been developed.
The economically recoverable oil estimates above are dependent upon gas exploration in the NPRA, meaning that it is assumed the oil would be found in the process of looking primarily for gas.
The USGS assessment also found that about 18 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas are economically recoverable when the market price is $8 or more per thousand cubic feet, and 32 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas would be economic when the market price is $10 or more per thousand cubic feet.
There currently is no pipeline in place to transport gas from the North Slope of Alaska, so this assessment assumes that there is a 10- or 20-year delay between discovery and production in the NPRA. This analysis shows that if a pipeline is constructed, there is a significant amount of gas that is economically recoverable from the NPRA when prices are above $8 per thousand cubic feet of gas.
The different market prices quoted above for the same resource are because some resource accumulations are relatively easy to find and produce while others are not and therefore cost more.
“USGS estimates are based on 2010 costs and technology, and these results could change over time as they are dependent on multiple factors,” said USGS scientist Emil Attanasi, who was the lead author for this assessment. “For example, USGS economic recoverability estimates could vary in the future depending on the timeframe and costs to construct a gas pipeline to the NPRA, technological advances that make resource extraction and development easier and less expensive, and fluctuating market prices for oil and gas.”
The amount of oil that could be economically developed is significantly less than what the 2003 analysis concluded. One reason for the reduction is reduced volumes of technically recoverable oil based on recent NPRA exploration drilling which found gas rather than oil.
All of the cited resource estimates are based on the mean undiscovered resources.
Listen to a podcast interview with USGS scientists on this assessment.
To learn more about this or the geologic assessment, please visit the Energy Resources Program website.
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2784

Guantánamo uncovered · ELPAÍS.com in English

2011-04-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

ELPAIS.com >
In English

Guantánamo uncovered

WikiLeaks documents reveal that the principal purpose of the prison was to extract information from inmates, whether they were guilty of allegiance to Al Qaeda or not

. 26/04/2011

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The detention center at Guantánamo created a penal and police system without guarantees in which only two questions were deemed important: how much information could be gleaned from the prisoners (whether they were innocent or not) and if they could pose a security threat in the future. Senior citizens with senile dementia, adolescents, people with serious psychological illnesses, school teachers and farmers with no links whatsoever to Al Qaeda or the jihad were taken to the prison and thrown in with genuine terrorists such as the architects of the September 11 attacks. EL PAÍS, along with other international media, has had access through WikiLeaks to military dossiers on 759 of the 779 prisoners who have passed through Guantánamo, 170 of whom are still being held there.

Almost 60 percent of inmates were classified as posing no threat to the US

A Saudi had joined a training camp to lose weight, according to his file

The documentation, 4,759 pages in size, has been signed by the commanding officers of the Joint Task Force Guantánamo (JTF-GTMO), under the auspices of the Southern Command of the Defense Department in Miami. This radiography of Camp X-Ray and its predecessors, set up by then-President George W. Bush in 2002, comes at a delicate moment for the current commander-in-chief, Barack Obama. The closure of Guantánamo was one of his first promises after his inauguration in January, 2009. More than two years later the prison remains open and it was announced last month that military tribunals will resume.
The reports, dated between 2002 and 2009, are in most cases concerned with recommendations on whether an inmate should continue to be held, be freed, or transferred to another country, revealing for the first time how the United States evaluated each detainee and what they knew about them. What emerges is an arbitrary system based on the accusations of other inmates without clear rules and regulations, where suspicion and conjecture replaces juridical doctrine and proof of evidence is not required to hold detainees for long periods - 143 people have been held at Guantánamo for more than nine years.
The prisoners are catalogued under three simple categories. The highest risk level is that an inmate "probably poses a risk to the United States, its interests and allies;" the medium level states that a prisoner is "possibly" a security threat; the lowest denominator, under which prisoners have been held for up to nine years, states it is "improbable" that an inmate poses a threat.
In some cases, the reports reveal, not even the US government was aware of the motive for bringing a detainee to Guantánamo. In others, it was concluded that the prisoner posed no risk at all: an 89-year-old with senile dementia and depression; a father who was picked up searching for his son at the Taliban front lines; a merchant who was traveling without documentation and a man who was hitch-hiking to buy medicine.
The US concluded that 83 Guantánamo inmates bore no risk to national security and a further 77 were classified under the lowest risk level - "improbable." Twenty percent of all inmates were taken to Guantánamo arbitrarily on the basis of evaluation by military personnel. An additional 274 were classified as "possible" security risks, so it can be concluded that the US did not genuinely believe almost 60 percent of inmates were guilty of a crime or constituted a serious threat to national security. In the parlance of US military authorities, the prisoners were held primarily to be "exploited" - to determine if they had any useful information.
Only seven inmates of Guantánamo have been tried, six in military tribunals at the base and one in a civil court in New York. One of the fundamental parameters to determine whether or not a prisoner should be freed is his "intelligence value," according to the terminology employed in the secret dossiers. In spite of this stated determination to prize information from prisoners to use in the fight against terrorism, nine years and three months after the base was set up, only 22 percent of those who have passed through it have been of interest to US intelligence services.
The detainees were interrogated by several inquisitors: the CIA, military personnel and security forces from their home countries, including Spanish authorities. They paid covert visits to their cells to extract statements from the inmates, who were handcuffed and chained to the floor. Prime objectives of these interrogations were information on training camps in Afghanistan, experiments with explosives, the jihadists' attempts to secure "dirty" bombs, and their knowledge of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zahawiri and Taliban leader Mohammed Omar. If an inmate wore a Casio F91W watch, investigators considered it sufficient proof of explosives training.
The reports do not detail under what circumstances a prisoner had admitted his guilt, or incriminated a fellow inmate. On occasions, accusations of torture were leveled by inmates, but these claims were discredited on the reports. Some, though, refused to divulge anything under any form of coercion: "I'm ready to be in Guantánamo for 100 years if necessary, but I will reveal no information," spat Khalid Abdullah Mishal al Mutairi, a Kuwaiti inmate, at his interrogators.
The reports are written in cold, functional prose. Even when faced with suicide attempts, the health of hunger strikers and prisoners with mental illnesses, the documents are limited to a simple annotation as to whether it is useful to continue questioning a prisoner.
The reports also offer a brief biography of everybody that has passed through Guantánamo, and the circumstances that led to their arrests, justified or not. Some traveled to fight in the jihad after seeing videos of Russian suppression of Chechnyan Muslims. A Frenchman - one of seven in the camp - had gone to Afghanistan to continue his studies of Islam in a purely Islamic state. A Saudi national, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hussain Khowlan, had entered a training camp to lose weight, according to his file.
Before reaching Guantánamo, many inmates traveled through war zones, crossing the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on foot or meeting other activists in a Lahore mosque. The reports relate that many were arrested with $10,000, the habitual amount Al Qaeda issues to its members.
But on many occasions just being in the area prompted sufficient suspicion to send dozens of people to the US prison camp in Cuba. In a two-page report on Imad Achab Kanouni, a French citizen, the reason given for his detention is that he couldn't explain why he had traveled to Afghanistan via Germany, Albania and Pakistan. There was no incriminating evidence against him yet General Geoffrey Miller, the first commander of JTF-GTMO, who also oversaw the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, ordered Kanouni to be held in Guantánamo. He was transferred to France in 2004 after three years at the base.
The reports also feature two Spanish citizens, Hamed Abderramán, known as the "Ceutan Taliban" and Lahcen Ikasrrien, a Moroccan with Spanish residency. Both men were absolved by the Supreme Court after a High Court conviction. The superior body threw out the evidence gained by Spanish inquisitors at Guantánamo.
The three released Guantánamo inmates taken in by Spain in 2010 - a Palestinian, a Yemeni and an Afghan - are a small sample of the pathologies of the prison. One has serious mental illness born of years of confinement and interrogation. Another, who fought with Bin Laden in the hills of Tora Bora became an informant for the US. The third, against whom irrefutable proof of allegiance to the jihad was never brought, is described as problematic. However, he is the only one of the three at this stage who has managed to settle into a relatively normal life after leaving Guantánamo.

Guantánamo uncovered · ELPAÍS.com in English

CIA - The World Factbook-INDEX

2011-04-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Mission

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.

This information is included in Appendix A: Abbreviations, which includes all abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, with their expansions.
Acronyms
An acronym is an abbreviation coined from the initial letter of each successive word in a term or phrase. In general, an acronym made up solely from the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered in all capital letters (NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an exception would be ASEAN for Association of Southeast Asian Nations). In general, an acronym made up of more than the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered with only an initial capital letter (Comsat from Communications Satellite Corporation; an exception would be NAM from Nonaligned Movement). Hybrid forms are sometimes used to distinguish between initially identical terms (ICC for International Chamber of Commerce and ICCt for International Criminal Court).

Administrative divisions Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted.
Age structure Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.
Agriculture - products Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.
Airports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
Airports - with paved runways Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.
Airports - with unpaved runways Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.
Appendixes
This section includes Factbook-related material by topic.
Area Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
Area - comparative Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
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Background Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.
Birth rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
Broadcast media Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides information on the approximate number of public and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
Budget Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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Capital Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
Central bank discount rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.
Climate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
Coastline Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
Commercial bank prime lending rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
Communications
This category deals with the means of exchanging information and includes the telephone, radio, television, and Internet host entries.
Communications - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere.
Constitution Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
UTC is the international atomic time scale that serves as the basis of timekeeping for most of the world. The hours, minutes, and seconds expressed by UTC represent the time of day at the Prime Meridian (0 longitude) located near Greenwich, England as reckoned from midnight. UTC is calculated by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures (BIPM) in Sevres, France. The BIPM averages data collected from more than 200 atomic time and frequency standards located at about 50 laboratories worldwide. UTC is the basis for all civil time with the Earth divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC. UTC is also referred to as "Zulu time." See the Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the Reference Maps.
Country data codes
See Data codes.
Country map
Most versions of the Factbook provide a country map in color. The maps were produced from the best information available at the time of preparation. Names and/or boundaries may have changed subsequently.
Country name Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
Crude oil
See entry for oil.
Current account balance Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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Data codes
This information is presented in Appendix D: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes and Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes.
Date of information
In general, information available as of January in a given year is used in the preparation of the printed edition.
Daylight Saving Time (DST)
This entry is included for those entities that have adopted a policy of adjusting the official local time forward, usually one hour, from Standard Time during summer months. Such policies are most common in mid-latitude regions.
Death rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.
Debt - external Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
Dependency status Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry describes the formal relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and an independent state.
Dependent areas Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent state.
Diplomatic representation
The US Government has diplomatic relations with 189 independent states, including 187 of the 192 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 2 independent states that are not in the UN, the Holy See and Kosovo, as well as with the EU.
Diplomatic representation from the US Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation in the US Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Disputes - international Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
Distribution of family income - Gini index Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.
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Economy
This category includes the entries dealing with the size, development, and management of productive resources, i.e., land, labor, and capital.
Economy - overview Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.
Education expenditures Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP.
Electricity - consumption Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
Electricity - exports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
Electricity - imports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
Electricity - production Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
Elevation extremes Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes both the highest point and the lowest point.
Entities
Some of the independent states, dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent state" refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependencies" and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way with an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of contents or for page headings are usually the short-form names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and may include independent states, dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are a total of 266 separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
194 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
OTHER
2 Taiwan, European Union
DEPENDENCIES AND AREAS OF SPECIAL SOVEREIGNTY
6 Australia - Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
2 China - Hong Kong, Macau
2 Denmark - Faroe Islands, Greenland
8 France - Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
3 Netherlands - Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
3 New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway - Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
17 UK - Akrotiri, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dhekelia, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
14 US - American Samoa, Baker Island*, Guam, Howland Island*, Jarvis Island*, Johnston Atoll*, Kingman Reef*, Midway Islands*, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll*, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island (* consolidated in United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges entry)
MISCELLANEOUS
6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western Sahara
OTHER ENTITIES
5 oceans - Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean
1 World

266 total
Environment - current issues Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.
Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.
Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.
Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."
Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the roughly 150,000 Inuits of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.
Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.
Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.
Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment.
Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.
Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
Waterborne diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.
Environment - international agreements Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
Environmental agreements
This information is presented in Appendix C: Selected International Environmental Agreements, which includes the name, abbreviation, date opened for signature, date entered into force, objective, and parties by category.
Ethnic groups Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
Exchange rates Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the official value of a country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as determined by international market forces or official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis.
Executive branch Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election.
Exports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
Exports - commodities Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Exports - partners Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
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Flag description Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Flag graphic
Most versions of the Factbook include a color flag at the beginning of the country profile. The flag graphics were produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time of preparation. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water drawn-off is not necessarily entirely consumed and some portion may be returned for further use downstream. Domestic sector use refers to water supplied by public distribution systems. Note that some of this total may be used for small industrial and/or limited agricultural purposes. Industrial sector use is the quantity of water used by self-supplied industries not connected to a public distribution system. Agricultural sector use includes water used for irrigation and livestock watering, and does not account for agriculture directly dependent on rainfall. Included are figures for total annual water withdrawal and per capita water withdrawal.
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GDP (official exchange rate) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis- -vis its neighbors, judging that an exchange rate captures the purchasing power a nation enjoys in the international marketplace. Official exchange rates, however, can be artificially fixed and/or subject to manipulation - resulting in claims of the country having an under- or over-valued currency - and are not necessarily the equivalent of a market-determined exchange rate. Moreover, even if the official exchange rate is market-determined, market exchange rates are frequently established by a relatively small set of goods and services (the ones the country trades) and may not capture the value of the larger set of goods the country produces. Furthermore, OER-converted GDP is not well suited to comparing domestic GDP over time, since appreciation/depreciation from one year to the next will make the OER GDP value rise/fall regardless of whether home-currency-denominated GDP changed.
GDP (purchasing power parity) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The differences between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the wealthy industrialized countries are generally much smaller.
GDP - composition by sector Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.
GDP - per capita (PPP) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
GDP - real growth rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent.
GDP methodology
In the Economy category, GDP dollar estimates for countries are reported both on an official exchange rate (OER) and a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. Both measures contain information that is useful to the reader. The PPP method involves the use of standardized international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of final goods and services produced in a given economy. The data derived from the PPP method probably provide the best available starting point for comparisons of economic strength and well-being between countries. In contrast, the currency exchange rate method involves a variety of international and domestic financial forces that may not capture the value of domestic output. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are often rough approximations. In developing countries with weak currencies, the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Most of the GDP estimates for developing countries are based on extrapolation of PPP numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP) and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. GDP derived using the OER method should be used for the purpose of calculating the share of items such as exports, imports, military expenditures, external debt, or the current account balance, because the dollar values presented in the Factbook for these items have been converted at official exchange rates, not at PPP. One should use the OER GDP figure to calculate the proportion of, say, Chinese defense expenditures in GDP, because that share will be the same as one calculated in local currency units. Comparison of OER GDP with PPP GDP may also indicate whether a currency is over- or under-valued. If OER GDP is smaller than PPP GDP, the official exchange rate may be undervalued, and vice versa. However, there is no strong historical evidence that market exchange rates move in the direction implied by the PPP rate, at least not in the short- or medium-term. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data should not be chained together from successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different sources of information, and changes in national statistical methods and practices.
Geographic coordinates Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
Geographic names
This information is presented in Appendix F: Cross Reference List of Geographic Names. It includes a listing of various alternate names, former names, local names, and regional names referenced to one or more related Factbook entries. Spellings are normally, but not always, those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names and additional information are included in parentheses.
Geography
This category includes the entries dealing with the natural environment and the effects of human activity.
Geography - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
Gini index
See entry for Distribution of family income - Gini index
GNP
Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Factbook, following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However, the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from citizens working abroad may be important to national well-being.
Government
This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the adoption and administration of public policy.
Government - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere.
Government type Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.):
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The mean solar time at the Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich, England, with the hours and days, since 1925, reckoned from midnight. GMT is now a historical term having been replaced by UTC on 1 January 1972. See Coordinated Universal Time.
Gross domestic product
See GDP
Gross national product
See GNP
Gross world product
See GWP
GWP
This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.
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Heliports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
HIV/AIDS - deaths Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.
Household income or consumption by percentage share Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.
Hydrographic data codes
See Data codes
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Illicit drugs Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).
Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.
Poppy straw is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.
Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.
Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).
Imports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
Imports - commodities Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Imports - partners Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Independence Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several significant dates are cited. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.
Industrial production growth rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
Industries Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.
Infant mortality rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
Inflation rate (consumer prices) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
International disputes
see Disputes - international
International organization participation Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
International organizations
This information is presented in Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, date established, aim, and members by category.
Internet country code Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
Internet hosts Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the Internet; normally an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer is a host. Internet users may use either a hard-wired terminal, at an institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the Internet, or may connect remotely by way of a modem via telephone line, cable, or satellite to the Internet Service Provider's host computer. The number of hosts is one indicator of the extent of Internet connectivity.
Internet users Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of users within a country that access the Internet. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.
Introduction
This category includes one entry, Background.
Investment (gross fixed) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry records total business spending on fixed assets, such as factories, machinery, equipment, dwellings, and inventories of raw materials, which provide the basis for future production. It is measured gross of the depreciation of the assets, i.e., it includes investment that merely replaces worn-out or scrapped capital.
Irrigated land Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
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Judicial branch Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
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Labor force Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the total labor force figure.
Labor force - by occupation Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding.
Land boundaries Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.
Land use Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest; permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest; includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber; other - any land not arable or under permanent crops; includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.
Languages Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides a rank ordering of languages starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population speaking that language.
Legal system Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the description of a country's legal system; it also includes information on acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An additional type of legal system - international law, which governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another - is also addressed below. The following list describes these legal systems, the countries or world regions where these systems are enforced, and a brief statement on the origins and major features of each.
Civil Law - The most widespread type of legal system in the world, applied in various forms in approximately 150 countries. Also referred to as European continental law, the civil law system is derived mainly from the Roman Corpus Juris Civilus, (Body of Civil Law), a collection of laws and legal interpretations compiled under the East Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I between A.D. 528 and 565. The major feature of civil law systems is that the laws are organized into systematic written codes. In civil law the sources recognized as authoritative are principally legislation - especially codifications in constitutions or statutes enacted by governments - and secondarily, custom. The civil law systems in some countries are based on more than one code.
Common Law - A type of legal system, often synonymous with "English common law," which is the system of England and Wales in the UK, and is also in force in approximately 80 countries formerly part of or influenced by the former British Empire. English common law reflects Biblical influences as well as remnants of law systems imposed by early conquerors including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. Some legal scholars attribute the formation of the English common law system to King Henry II (r.1154-1189). Until the time of his reign, laws customary among England's various manorial and ecclesiastical (church) jurisdictions were administered locally. Henry II established the king's court and designated that laws were "common" to the entire English realm. The foundation of English common law is "legal precedent" - referred to as stare decisis, meaning "to stand by things decided." In the English common law system, court judges are bound in their decisions in large part by the rules and other doctrines developed - and supplemented over time - by the judges of earlier English courts.
Customary Law - A type of legal system that serves as the basis of, or has influenced, the present-day laws in approximately 40 countries - mostly in Africa, but some in the Pacific islands, Europe, and the Near East. Customary law is also referred to as "primitive law," "unwritten law," "indigenous law," and "folk law." There is no single history of customary law such as that found in Roman civil law, English common law, Islamic law, or the Napoleonic Civil Code. The earliest systems of law in human society were customary, and usually developed in small agrarian and hunter-gatherer communities. As the term implies, customary law is based upon the customs of a community. Common attributes of customary legal systems are that they are seldom written down, they embody an organized set of rules regulating social relations, and they are agreed upon by members of the community. Although such law systems include sanctions for law infractions, resolution tends to be reconciliatory rather than punitive. A number of African states practiced customary law many centuries prior to colonial influences. Following colonization, such laws were written down and incorporated to varying extents into the legal systems imposed by their colonial powers.
European Union Law - A sub-discipline of international law known as "supranational law" in which the rights of sovereign nations are limited in relation to one another. Also referred to as the Law of the European Union or Community Law, it is the unique and complex legal system that operates in tandem with the laws of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). Similar to federal states, the EU legal system ensures compliance from the member states because of the Union's decentralized political nature. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), established in 1952 by the Treaty of Paris, has been largely responsible for the development of EU law. Fundamental principles of European Union law include: subsidiarity - the notion that issues be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized competent authority; proportionality - the EU may only act to the extent needed to achieve its objectives; conferral - the EU is a union of member states, and all its authorities are voluntarily granted by its members; legal certainty - requires that legal rules be clear and precise; and precautionary principle - a moral and political principle stating that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.
French Law - A type of civil law that is the legal system of France. The French system also serves as the basis for, or is mixed with, other legal systems in approximately 50 countries, notably in North Africa, the Near East, and the French territories and dependencies. French law is primarily codified or systematic written civil law. Prior to the French Revolution (1789-1799), France had no single national legal system. Laws in the northern areas of present-day France were mostly local customs based on privileges and exemptions granted by kings and feudal lords, while in the southern areas Roman law predominated. The introduction of the Napoleonic Civil Code during the reign of Napoleon I in the first decade of the 19th century brought major reforms to the French legal system, many of which remain part of France's current legal structure, though all have been extensively amended or redrafted to address a modern nation. French law distinguishes between "public law" and "private law." Public law relates to government, the French Constitution, public administration, and criminal law. Private law covers issues between private citizens or corporations. The most recent changes to the French legal system - introduced in the 1980s - were the decentralization laws, which transferred authority from centrally appointed government representatives to locally elected representatives of the people.
International Law - The law of the international community, or the body of customary rules and treaty rules accepted as legally binding by states in their relations with each other. International law differs from other legal systems in that it primarily concerns sovereign political entities. There are three separate disciplines of international law: public international law, which governs the relationship between provinces and international entities and includes treaty law, law of the sea, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law; private international law, which addresses legal jurisdiction; and supranational law - a legal framework wherein countries are bound by regional agreements in which the laws of the member countries are held inapplicable when in conflict with supranational laws. At present the European Union is the only entity under a supranational legal system. The term "international law" was coined by Jeremy Bentham in 1780 in his Principles of Morals and Legislation, though laws governing relations between states have been recognized from very early times (many centuries B.C.). Modern international law developed alongside the emergence and growth of the European nation-states beginning in the early 16th century. Other factors that influenced the development of international law included the revival of legal studies, the growth of international trade, and the practice of exchanging emissaries and establishing legations. The sources of International law are set out in Article 38-1 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice within the UN Charter.
Islamic Law - The most widespread type of religious law, it is the legal system enforced in over 30 countries, particularly in the Near East, but also in Central and South Asia, Africa, and Indonesia. In many countries Islamic law operates in tandem with a civil law system. Islamic law is embodied in the sharia, an Arabic word meaning "the right path." Sharia covers all aspects of public and private life and organizes them into five categories: obligatory, recommended, permitted, disliked, and forbidden. The primary sources of sharia law are the Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, and the Sunnah, the teachings of the Prophet and his works. In addition to these two primary sources, traditional Sunni Muslims recognize the consensus of Muhammad's companions and Islamic jurists on certain issues, called ijmas, and various forms of reasoning, including analogy by legal scholars, referred to as qiyas. Shia Muslims reject ijmas and qiyas as sources of sharia law.
Mixed Law - Also referred to as pluralistic law, mixed law consists of elements of some or all of the other main types of legal systems - civil, common, customary, and religious. The mixed legal systems of a number of countries came about when colonial powers overlaid their own legal systems upon colonized regions but retained elements of the colonies' existing legal systems.
Napoleonic Civil Code - A type of civil law, referred to as the Civil Code or Code Civil des Francais, forms part of the legal system of France, and underpins the legal systems of Bolivia, Egypt, Lebanon, Poland, and the US state of Louisiana. The Civil Code was established under Napoleon I, enacted in 1804, and officially designated the Code Napoleon in 1807. This legal system combined the Teutonic civil law tradition of the northern provinces of France with the Roman law tradition of the southern and eastern regions of the country. The Civil Code bears similarities in its arrangement to the Roman Body of Civil Law (see Civil Law above). As enacted in 1804, the Code addressed personal status, property, and the acquisition of property. Codes added over the following six years included civil procedures, commercial law, criminal law and procedures, and a penal code.
Religious Law - A legal system which stems from the sacred texts of religious traditions and in most cases professes to cover all aspects of life as a seamless part of devotional obligations to a transcendent, imminent, or deep philosophical reality. Implied as the basis of religious law is the concept of unalterability, because the word of God cannot be amended or legislated against by judges or governments. However, a detailed legal system generally requires human elaboration. The main types of religious law are sharia in Islam, halakha in Judaism, and canon law in some Christian groups. Sharia is the most widespread religious legal system (see Islamic Law), and is the sole system of law for countries including Iran, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia. No country is fully governed by halakha, but Jewish people may decide to settle disputes through Jewish courts and be bound by their rulings. Canon law is not a divine law as such because it is not found in revelation. It is viewed instead as human law inspired by the word of God and applying the demands of that revelation to the actual situation of the church. Canon law regulates the internal ordering of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion.
Roman Law - A type of civil law developed in ancient Rome and practiced from the time of the city's founding (traditionally 753 B.C.) until the fall of the Western Empire in the 5th century A.D. Roman law remained the legal system of the Byzantine (Eastern Empire) until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Preserved fragments of the first legal text, known as the Law of the Twelve Tables, dating from the 5th century B.C., contained specific provisions designed to change the prevailing customary law. Early Roman law was drawn from custom and statutes; later, during the time of the empire, emperors asserted their authority as the ultimate source of law. The basis for Roman laws was the idea that the exact form - not the intention - of words or of actions produced legal consequences. It was only in the late 6th century A.D. that a comprehensive Roman code of laws was published (see Civil Law above). Roman law served as the basis of law systems developed in a number of continental European countries.
Roman-Dutch Law - A type of civil law based on Roman law as applied in the Netherlands. Roman-Dutch law serves as the basis for legal systems in seven African countries, as well as Guyana, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. This law system, which originated in the province of Holland and expanded throughout the Netherlands (to be replaced by the French Civil Code in 1809), was instituted in a number of sub-Saharan African countries during the Dutch colonial period. The Dutch jurist/philosopher Hugo Grotius was the first to attempt to reduce Roman-Dutch civil law into a system in his Jurisprudence of Holland (written 1619-20, commentary published 1621). The Dutch historian/lawyer Simon van Leeuwen coined the term "Roman-Dutch law" in 1652.
Spanish Law - A type of civil law, often referred to as the Spanish Civil Code, it is the present legal system of Spain and is the basis of legal systems in 12 countries mostly in Central and South America, but also in southwestern Europe, northern and western Africa, and southeastern Asia. The Spanish Civil Code reflects a complex mixture of customary, Roman, Napoleonic, local, and modern codified law. The laws of the Visigoth invaders of Spain in the 5th to 7th centuries had the earliest major influence on Spanish legal system development. The Christian Reconquest of Spain in the 11th through 15th centuries witnessed the development of customary law, which combined canon (religious) and Roman law. During several centuries of Hapsburg and Bourbon rule, systematic recompilations of the existing national legal system were attempted, but these often conflicted with local and regional customary civil laws. Legal system development for most of the 19th century concentrated on formulating a national civil law system, which was finally enacted in 1889 as the Spanish Civil Code. Several sections of the code have been revised, the most recent of which are the penal code in 1989 and the judiciary code in 2001. The Spanish Civil Code separates public and private law. Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, process law, financial and tax law, and international public law. Private law includes civil law, commercial law, labor law, and international private law.
United States Law - A type of common law, which is the basis of the legal system of the United States and that of its island possessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific. This legal system has several layers, more possibly than in most other countries, and is due in part to the division between federal and state law. The United States was founded not as one nation but as a union of 13 colonies, each claiming independence from the British Crown. The US Constitution, implemented in 1789, began shifting power away from the states and toward the federal government, though the states today retain substantial legal authority. US law draws its authority from four sources: constitutional law, statutory law, administrative regulations, and case law. Constitutional law is based on the US Constitution and serves as the supreme federal law. Taken together with those of the state constitutions, these documents outline the general structure of the federal and state governments and provide the rules and limits of power. US statutory law is legislation enacted by the US Congress and is codified in the United States Code. The 50 state legislatures have similar authority to enact state statutes. Administrative law is the authority delegated to federal and state executive agencies. Case law, also referred to as common law, covers areas where constitutional or statutory law is lacking. Case law is a collection of judicial decisions, customs, and general principles that began in England centuries ago, that were adopted in America at the time of the Revolution, and that continue to develop today.
Legislative branch Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of the election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
Life expectancy at birth Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. The entry includes total population as well as the male and female components. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
Literacy Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Location Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
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Major cities - population Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the population of the capital and up to four major cities defined as urban agglomerations with populations of at least 750,000 people. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. For smaller countries, lacking urban centers of 750,000 or more, only the population of the capital is presented.
Major infectious diseases Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high as compared to the United States. These infectious diseases represent risks to US government personnel traveling to the specified country for a period of less than three years. The degree of risk is assessed by considering the foreign nature of these infectious diseases, their severity, and the probability of being affected by the diseases present. The diseases listed do not necessarily represent the total disease burden experienced by the local population.
The risk to an individual traveler varies considerably by the specific location, visit duration, type of activities, type of accommodations, time of year, and other factors. Consultation with a travel medicine physician is needed to evaluate individual risk and recommend appropriate preventive measures such as vaccines.
Diseases are organized into the following six exposure categories shown in italics and listed in typical descending order of risk. Note: The sequence of exposure categories listed in individual country entries may vary according to local conditions.
food or waterborne diseases acquired through eating or drinking on the local economy:
Hepatitis A - viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with fecal matter, principally in areas of poor sanitation; victims exhibit fever, jaundice, and diarrhea; 15% of victims will experience prolonged symptoms over 6-9 months; vaccine available.
Hepatitis E - water-borne viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; most commonly spread through fecal contamination of drinking water; victims exhibit jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and dark colored urine.
Typhoid fever - bacterial disease spread through contact with food or water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage; victims exhibit sustained high fevers; left untreated, mortality rates can reach 20%.
vectorborne diseases acquired through the bite of an infected arthropod:
Malaria - caused by single-cell parasitic protozoa Plasmodium; transmitted to humans via the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito; parasites multiply in the liver attacking red blood cells resulting in cycles of fever, chills, and sweats accompanied by anemia; death due to damage to vital organs and interruption of blood supply to the brain; endemic in 100, mostly tropical, countries with 90% of cases and the majority of 1.5-2.5 million estimated annual deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dengue fever - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments; manifests as sudden onset of fever and severe headache; occasionally produces shock and hemorrhage leading to death in 5% of cases.
Yellow fever - mosquito-borne viral disease; severity ranges from influenza-like symptoms to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever; occurs only in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa, where most cases are reported; fatality rate is less than 20%.
Japanese Encephalitis - mosquito-borne (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) viral disease associated with rural areas in Asia; acute encephalitis can progress to paralysis, coma, and death; fatality rates 30%.
African Trypanosomiasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma; transmitted to humans via the bite of bloodsucking Tsetse flies; infection leads to malaise and irregular fevers and, in advanced cases when the parasites invade the central nervous system, coma and death; endemic in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa; cattle and wild animals act as reservoir hosts for the parasites.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa leishmania; transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies; results in skin lesions that may become chronic; endemic in 88 countries; 90% of cases occur in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Peru; wild and domesticated animals as well as humans can act as reservoirs of infection.
Plague - bacterial disease transmitted by fleas normally associated with rats; person-to-person airborne transmission also possible; recent plague epidemics occurred in areas of Asia, Africa, and South America associated with rural areas or small towns and villages; manifests as fever, headache, and painfully swollen lymph nodes; disease progresses rapidly and without antibiotic treatment leads to pneumonic form with a death rate in excess of 50%.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever - tick-borne viral disease; infection may also result from exposure to infected animal blood or tissue; geographic distribution includes Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe; sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle aches followed by hemorrhaging in the bowels, urine, nose, and gums; mortality rate is approximately 30%.
Rift Valley fever - viral disease affecting domesticated animals and humans; transmission is by mosquito and other biting insects; infection may also occur through handling of infected meat or contact with blood; geographic distribution includes eastern and southern Africa where cattle and sheep are raised; symptoms are generally mild with fever and some liver abnormalities, but the disease may progress to hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, or ocular disease; fatality rates are low at about 1% of cases.
Chikungunya - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments, similar to Dengue Fever; characterized by sudden onset of fever, rash, and severe joint pain usually lasting 3-7 days, some cases result in persistent arthritis.
water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers:
Leptospirosis - bacterial disease that affects animals and humans; infection occurs through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated by animal urine; symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea; untreated, the disease can result in kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, or respiratory distress; fatality rates are low but left untreated recovery can take months.
Schistosomiasis - caused by parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma; fresh water snails act as intermediate host and release larval form of parasite that penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated water; worms mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and intestines releasing eggs, which become trapped in tissues triggering an immune response; may manifest as either urinary or intestinal disease resulting in decreased work or learning capacity; mortality, while generally low, may occur in advanced cases usually due to bladder cancer; endemic in 74 developing countries with 80% of infected people living in sub-Saharan Africa; humans act as the reservoir for this parasite.
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease acquired through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with rodent urine:
Lassa fever - viral disease carried by rats of the genus Mastomys; endemic in portions of West Africa; infection occurs through direct contact with or consumption of food contaminated by rodent urine or fecal matter containing virus particles; fatality rate can reach 50% in epidemic outbreaks.
respiratory disease acquired through close contact with an infectious person:
Meningococcal meningitis - bacterial disease causing an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; one of the most important bacterial pathogens is Neisseria meningitidis because of its potential to cause epidemics; symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, headaches, and vomiting; bacteria are transmitted from person to person by respiratory droplets and facilitated by close and prolonged contact resulting from crowded living conditions, often with a seasonal distribution; death occurs in 5-15% of cases, typically within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms; highest burden of meningococcal disease occurs in the hyperendemic region of sub-Saharan Africa known as the "Meningitis Belt" which stretches from Senegal east to Ethiopia.
animal contact disease acquired through direct contact with local animals:
Rabies - viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs; virus affects the central nervous system causing brain alteration and death; symptoms initially are non-specific fever and headache progressing to neurological symptoms; death occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.
Manpower available for military service Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the military age range for a country (defined as being ages 16-49) and assumes that every individual is fit to serve.
Manpower fit for military service Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the military age range for a country (defined as being ages 16-49) and who are not otherwise disqualified for health reasons; accounts for the health situation in the country and provides a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the number of males and females entering the military manpower pool (i.e., reaching age 16) in any given year and is a measure of the availability of military-age young adults.
Map references Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
Maritime claims Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:
territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the mean low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the territorial seas of both states are measured; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.
contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g., the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea); where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its contiguous zone beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the contiguous zone of both states are measured.
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-meter isobath, which is a line connecting points of 2,500 meters in depth; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.
exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ, but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.
Market value of publicly traded shares Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
Median age Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Uganda and Gaza Strip to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a higher median age.
Merchant marine Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries.
Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of cargo, plus bunkers, stores, etc., that a ship can carry when immersed to the appropriate load line. GRT or gross register tonnage is a figure obtained by measuring the entire sheltered volume of a ship available for cargo and passengers and converting it to tons on the basis of 100 cubic feet per ton; there is no stable relationship between GRT and DWT.
Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunctional large-load carriers, petroleum tankers, passenger ships, passenger/cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, and vehicle carriers.
Foreign-owned are ships that fly the flag of one country but belong to owners in another.
Registered in other countries are ships that belong to owners in one country but fly the flag of another.
Military
This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.
Military - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere.
Military branches Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
Military expenditures Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).
Military service age and obligation Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service obligation.
Money figures
All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
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National anthem Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
National holiday Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
Nationality Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
Natural gas - consumption Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural gas - exports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).
Natural gas - imports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).
Natural gas - production Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural gas - proved reserves Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
Natural hazards Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes.
Natural resources Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs).
Net migration rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. The net migration rate does not distinguish between economic migrants, refugees, and other types of migrants nor does it distinguish between lawful migrants and undocumented migrants.
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Oil - consumption Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - exports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total oil exported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - imports Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total oil imported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - production Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - proved reserves Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
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People
This category includes the entries dealing with the characteristics of the people and their society.
People - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous demographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
Personal Names - Capitalization
The Factbook capitalizes the surname or family name of individuals for the convenience of our users who are faced with a world of different cultures and naming conventions. The need for capitalization, bold type, underlining, italics, or some other indicator of the individual's surname is apparent in the following examples: MAO Zedong, Fidel CASTRO Ruz, George W. BUSH, and TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah. By knowing the surname, a short form without all capital letters can be used with confidence as in President Castro, Chairman Mao, President Bush, or Sultan Tunku Salahuddin. The same system of capitalization is extended to the names of leaders with surnames that are not commonly used such as Queen ELIZABETH II. For Vietnamese names, the given name is capitalized because officials are referred to by their given name rather than by their surname. For example, the president of Vietnam is Tran Duc LUONG. His surname is Tran, but he is referred to by his given name - President LUONG.
Personal Names - Spelling
The romanization of personal names in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration derived from the US Government standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.
Personal Names - Titles
The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's name. A title standing alone is not capitalized. Examples: President PUTIN and President BUSH are chiefs of state. In Russia, the president is chief of state and the premier is the head of the government, while in the US, the president is both chief of state and head of government.
Petroleum
See entries under Oil.
Petroleum products
See entries under Oil.
Pipelines Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
Piracy
Piracy is defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as any illegal act of violence, detention, or depredation directed against a ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State. Such criminal acts committed in the territorial waters of a littoral state are generally considered to be armed robbery against ships. Information on piracy may be found, where applicable, in the Transportation - note.
Political parties and leaders Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a listing of significant political organizations and their leaders.
Political pressure groups and leaders Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a listing of a country's political, social, labor, or religious organizations that are involved in politics, or that exert political pressure, but whose leaders do not stand for legislative election. International movements or organizations are generally not listed.
Population Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Population below poverty line Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
Population growth rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.
Ports and terminals Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered.
Public debt Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
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Railways Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge, which is the measure of the distance between the inner sides of the load-bearing rails. The four typical types of gauges are: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note. Some 60% of the world's railways use the standard gauge of 1.4 m (4.7 ft). Gauges vary by country and sometimes within countries. The choice of gauge during initial construction was mainly in response to local conditions and the intent of the builder. Narrow-gauge railways were cheaper to build and could negotiate sharper curves, broad-gauge railways gave greater stability and permitted higher speeds. Standard-gauge railways were a compromise between narrow and broad gauges.
Rare earth elements
Rare earth elements or REEs are 17 chemical elements that are critical in many of today's high-tech industries. They include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. Typical applications for REEs include batteries in hybrid cars, fiber optic cables, flat panel displays, and permanent magnets, as well as some defense and medical products.
Reference maps
This section includes world and regional maps.
Refugees and internally displaced persons Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
Religions Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below.
Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be achieved on earth. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine, believes all were manifestations of God given to specific communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional prophet meant to call all humankind. Bahais are an open community, located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in South Asia.
Buddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C. teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha "the enlightened one"). Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of which we are a part. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of rebirth. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders or laity.
Basic Groupings
Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand, with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West. Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and suffering for oneself; this process may take one or several lifetimes.
Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan Buddhism: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and parts of the West. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching. Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately achieve enlightenment.
Christianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are salvific for the world. Christianity is one of the three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or the Christian Gospels).
Basic Groupings
Catholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest established western Christian church and the world's largest single religious body. It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at the Vatican. Catholics believe the Pope is the divinely ordered head of the Church from a direct spiritual legacy of Jesus' apostle Peter. Catholicism is comprised of 23 particular Churches, or Rites - one Western (Roman or Latin-Rite) and 22 Eastern. The Latin Rite is by far the largest, making up about 98% of Catholic membership. Eastern-Rite Churches, such as the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, are in communion with Rome although they preserve their own worship traditions and their immediate hierarchy consists of clergy within their own rite. The Catholic Church has a comprehensive theological and moral doctrine specified for believers in its catechism, which makes it unique among most forms of Christianity.
Mormonism (including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): Originating in 1830 in the United States under Joseph Smith, Mormonism is not characterized as a form of Protestant Christianity because it claims additional revealed Christian scriptures after the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. The Book of Mormon maintains there was an appearance of Jesus in the New World following the Christian account of his resurrection, and that the Americas are uniquely blessed continents. Mormonism believes earlier Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant reform faiths, are apostasies and that Joseph Smith's revelation of the Book of Mormon is a restoration of true Christianity. Mormons have a hierarchical religious leadership structure, and actively proselytize their faith; they are located primarily in the Americas and in a number of other Western countries.
Orthodox Christianity: The oldest established eastern form of Christianity, the Holy Orthodox Church, has a ceremonial head in the Bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), also known as a Patriarch, but its various regional forms (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox) are autocephalous (independent of Constantinople's authority, and have their own Patriarchs). Orthodox churches are highly nationalist and ethnic. The Orthodox Christian faith shares many theological tenets with the Roman Catholic Church, but diverges on some key premises and does not recognize the governing authority of the Pope.
Protestant Christianity: Protestant Christianity originated in the 16th century as an attempt to reform Roman Catholicism's practices, dogma, and theology. It encompasses several forms or denominations which are extremely varied in structure, beliefs, relationship to state, clergy, and governance. Many protestant theologies emphasize the primary role of scripture in their faith, advocating individual interpretation of Christian texts without the mediation of a final religious authority such as the Roman Pope. The oldest Protestant Christianities include Lutheranism, Calvinism (Presbyterians), and Anglican Christianity (Episcopalians), which have established liturgies, governing structure, and formal clergy. Other variants on Protestant Christianity, including Pentecostal movements and independent churches, may lack one or more of these elements, and their leadership and beliefs are individualized and dynamic.
Hinduism - Originating in the Vedic civilization of India (second and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority. Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita are among some of the most important. Hindus may worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within their own home. The most common figures of devotion are the gods Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi. Most Hindus believe the soul, or atman, is eternal, and goes through a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one's positive or negative karma, or the consequences of one's actions. The goal of religious life is to learn to act so as to finally achieve liberation (moksha) of one's soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.
Islam - The third of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Islam originated with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. Muslims believe Muhammad is the final of all religious prophets (beginning with Abraham) and that the Qu'ran, which is the Islamic scripture, was revealed to him by God. Islam derives from the word submission, and obedience to God is a primary theme in this religion. In order to live an Islamic life, believers must follow the five pillars, or tenets, of Islam, which are the testimony of faith (shahada), daily prayer (salah), giving alms (zakah), fasting during Ramadan (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
Basic Groupings
The two primary branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia, which split from each other over a religio-political leadership dispute about the rightful successor to Muhammad. The Shia believe Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was the only divinely ordained Imam (religious leader), while the Sunni maintain the first three caliphs after Muhammad were also legitimate authorities. In modern Islam, Sunnis and Shia continue to have different views of acceptable schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and who is a proper Islamic religious authority. Islam also has an active mystical branch, Sufism, with various Sunni and Shia subsets.
Sunni Islam accounts for over 75% of the world's Muslim population. It recognizes the Abu Bakr as the first caliph after Muhammad. Sunni has four schools of Islamic doctrine and law - Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali - which uniquely interpret the Hadith, or recorded oral traditions of Muhammad. A Sunni Muslim may elect to follow any one of these schools, as all are considered equally valid.
Shia Islam represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible, divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as "Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the righteous.
Variants
Ismaili faith: A sect of Shia Islam, its adherents are also known as "Seveners," because they believe that the rightful seventh Imam in Islamic leadership was Isma'il, the elder son of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq. Ismaili tradition awaits the return of the seventh Imam as the Mahdi, or Islamic messianic figure. Ismailis are located in various parts of the world, particularly South Asia and the Levant.
Alawi faith: Another Shia sect of Islam, the name reflects followers' devotion to the religious authority of Ali. Alawites are a closed, secretive religious group who assert they are Shia Muslims, although outside scholars speculate their beliefs may have a syncretic mix with other faiths originating in the Middle East. Alawis live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Druze faith: A highly secretive tradition and a closed community that derives from the Ismaili sect of Islam; its core beliefs are thought to emphasize a combination of Gnostic principles believing that the Fatimid caliph, al-Hakin, is the one who embodies the key aspects of goodness of the universe, which are, the intellect, the word, the soul, the preceder, and the follower. The Druze have a key presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
Jainism - Originating in India, Jain spiritual philosophy believes in an eternal human soul, the eternal universe, and a principle of "the own nature of things." It emphasizes compassion for all living things, seeks liberation of the human soul from reincarnation through enlightenment, and values personal responsibility due to the belief in the immediate consequences of one's behavior. Jain philosophy teaches non-violence and prescribes vegetarianism for monks and laity alike; its adherents are a highly influential religious minority in Indian society.
Judaism - One of the first known monotheistic religions, likely dating to between 2000-1500 B.C., Judaism is the native faith of the Jewish people, based upon the belief in a covenant of responsibility between a sole omnipotent creator God and Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism's Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Divine revelation of principles and prohibitions in the Hebrew Scriptures form the basis of Jewish law, or halakhah, which is a key component of the faith. While there are extensive traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological discourse, there is no final dogmatic authority in the tradition. Local communities have their own religious leadership. Modern Judaism has three basic categories of faith: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform/Liberal. These differ in their views and observance of Jewish law, with the Orthodox representing the most traditional practice, and Reform/Liberal communities the most accommodating of individualized interpretations of Jewish identity and faith.
Shintoism - A native animist tradition of Japan, Shinto practice is based upon the premise that every being and object has its own spirit or kami. Shinto practitioners worship several particular kamis, including the kamis of nature, and families often have shrines to their ancestors' kamis. Shintoism has no fixed tradition of prayers or prescribed dogma, but is characterized by individual ritual. Respect for the kamis in nature is a key Shinto value. Prior to the end of World War II, Shinto was the state religion of Japan, and bolstered the cult of the Japanese emperor.
Sikhism - Founded by the Guru Nanak (born 1469), Sikhism believes in a non-anthropomorphic, supreme, eternal, creator God; centering one's devotion to God is seen as a means of escaping the cycle of rebirth. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak and nine subsequent gurus. Their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib - also known as the Adi Granth - is considered the living Guru, or final authority of Sikh faith and theology. Sikhism emphasizes equality of humankind and disavows caste, class, or gender discrimination.
Taoism - Chinese philosophy or religion based upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which centers on belief in the Tao, or the way, as the flow of the universe and the nature of things. Taoism encourages a principle of non-force, or wu-wei, as the means to live harmoniously with the Tao. Taoists believe the esoteric world is made up of a perfect harmonious balance and nature, while in the manifest world - particularly in the body - balance is distorted. The Three Jewels of the Tao - compassion, simplicity, and humility - serve as the basis for Taoist ethics.
Zoroastrianism - Originating from the teachings of Zoroaster in about the 9th or 10th century B.C., Zoroastrianism may be the oldest continuing creedal religion. Its key beliefs center on a transcendent creator God, Ahura Mazda, and the concept of free will. The key ethical tenets of Zoroastrianism expressed in its scripture, the Avesta, are based on a dualistic worldview where one may prevent chaos if one chooses to serve God and exercises good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents. Prior to the spread of Islam, Zoroastrianism dominated greater Iran. Today, though a minority, Zoroastrians remain primarily in Iran, India, and Pakistan.
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
Roadways Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of educational content or quality as a year or grade completed in another country. SLE represents the expected number of years of schooling that will be completed, including years spent repeating one or more grades.
Sex ratio Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually, it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners.
Stock of broad money Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate movements, changes in money stocks measured in national currency units may vary significantly from those shown in US dollars, and caution is urged when making comparisons over time in US dollars. In addition to serving as a medium of exchange, broad money includes assets that are slightly less liquid than narrow money and the assets tend to function as a "store of value" - a means of holding wealth.
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
Stock of domestic credit Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central bank, state and local governments, public non-financial corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.
Stock of narrow money Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a specific point in time. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate movements, changes in money stocks measured in national currency units may vary significantly from those shown in US dollars, and caution is urged when making comparisons over time in US dollars. Narrow money consists of more liquid assets than broad money and the assets generally function as a "medium of exchange" for an economy.
Suffrage Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
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Telephone numbers
All telephone numbers in The World Factbook consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that is not presented is the international access code, which varies from country to country. For example, an international direct dial telephone call placed from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows: 011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx, where 011 is the international access code for station-to-station calls; 01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls, [34] is the country code for Spain, (1) is the city code for Madrid, 577 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number. An international direct dial telephone call placed from another country to the US would be as follows: international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx, where [ 1] is the country code for the US, (202) is the area code for Washington, DC, 939 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number.
Telephone system Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense).
CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications.
Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange.
Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other.
Coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies.
Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US).
DSN - Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice Network or Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense Communications System (US Department of Defense).
Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris).
Fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light.
GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982.
HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range.
Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land.
Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Washington, DC).
Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia.
Landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground.
Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.
Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the Inmarsat system.
Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network.
Microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path.
NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network.
Radiotelephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets.
PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT).
SAFE - South African Far East Cable
Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system.
Satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and required receiving and transmitting equipment for communicating with satellites.
Satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels).
SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range.
Shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances.
Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere.
Statsionar - Russia's geostationary system for satellite telecommunications.
Submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water.
TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe with North America.
Telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network.
Telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission.
Telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges.
Tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth; powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances.
Trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines.
UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range.
VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range.
Telephones - main lines in use Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of main telephone lines in use.
Telephones - mobile cellular Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers.
Terminology
Due to the highly structured nature of the Factbook database, some collective generic terms have to be used. For example, the word Country in the Country name entry refers to a wide variety of dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states. Military is also used as an umbrella term for various civil defense, security, and defense activities in many entries. The Independence entry includes the usual colonial independence dates and former ruling states as well as other significant nationhood dates such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession that are not strictly independence dates. Dependent areas have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.
Terrain Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains a brief description of the topography.
Time difference
This entry is expressed in The World Factbook in two ways. First, it is stated as the difference in hours between the capital of an entity and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) during Standard Time. Additionally, the difference in time between the capital of an entity and that observed in Washington, D.C. is also provided. Note that the time difference assumes both locations are simultaneously observing Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time.
Time zones
Ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and the United States) and the island of Greenland observe more than one official time depending on the number of designated time zones within their boundaries. An illustration of time zones throughout the world and within countries can be seen in the Standard Time Zones of the World map included in the Reference Maps section of The World Factbook.
Total fertility rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.
Total renewable water resources Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides the long-term average water availability for a country in cubic kilometers of precipitation, recharged ground water, and surface inflows from surrounding countries. The values have been adjusted to account for overlap resulting from surface flow recharge of groundwater sources. Total renewable water resources provides the water total available to a country but does not include water resource totals that have been reserved for upstream or downstream countries through international agreements. Note that these values are averages and do not accurately reflect the total available in any given year. Annual available resources can vary greatly due to short-term and long-term climatic and weather variations.
Trafficking in persons Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. The International Labor Organization (ILO), the UN agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues, estimates that 12.3 million people worldwide are enslaved in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude at any given time. Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat, depriving people of their human rights and freedoms, risking global health, promoting social breakdown, inhibiting development by depriving countries of their human capital, and helping fuel the growth of organized crime. In 2000, the US Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), reauthorized in 2003 and 2005, which provides tools for the US to combat trafficking in persons, both domestically and abroad. One of the law's key components is the creation of the US Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which assesses the government response (i.e., the current situation) in some 150 countries with a significant number of victims trafficked across their borders who are recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Countries in the annual report are rated in three tiers, based on government efforts to combat trafficking. The countries identified in this entry are those listed in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3 based on the following tier rating definitions:
Tier 2 Watch List countries do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but are making significant efforts to do so, and meet one of the following criteria:
1. they display high or significantly increasing number of victims,
2. they have failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, or,
3. they have committed to take action over the next year.
Tier 3 countries neither satisfy the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking nor demonstrate a significant effort to do so. Countries in this tier are subject to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.
Transnational issues
This category includes four entries - Disputes - international, Refugees and internally displaced persons, Trafficking in persons, and Illicit drugs - that deal with current issues going beyond national boundaries.
Transportation
This category includes the entries dealing with the means for movement of people and goods.
Transportation - note Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere.
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Unemployment rate Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Urbanization Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
See entry for Coordinated Universal Time.
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Waterways Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
Weights and Measures
This information is presented in Appendix G: Weights and Measures and includes mathematical notations (mathematical powers and names), metric interrelationships (prefix; symbol; length, weight, or capacity; area; volume), and standard conversion factors.

Years
All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is an accounting period of 12 months from 1 January to 31 December. The fiscal year is an accounting period of 12 months other than 1 January to 31 December.
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Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was complied from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates.

The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.

CIA - The World Factbook

2011-03-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

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San Francisco (city), California
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People QuickFacts San Francisco California
Population definition and source info Population, 2006 estimate 744,041 36,457,549
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1 definition and source info Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 -4.2% 7.6%
Population definition and source info Population, 2000 776,733 33,871,648
Persons under 5 years old, percent definition and source info Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2000 4.1% 7.3%
Persons under 18 years old, percent definition and source info Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2000 14.5% 27.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent definition and source info Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2000 13.7% 10.6%
Female persons, percent definition and source info Female persons, percent, 2000 49.2% 50.2%
White persons, percent definition and source info White persons, percent, 2000 (a) 49.7% 59.5%
Black persons, percent definition and source info Black persons, percent, 2000 (a) 7.8% 6.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent definition and source info American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2000 (a) 0.5% 1.0%
Asian persons, percent definition and source info Asian persons, percent, 2000 (a) 30.8% 10.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent definition and source info Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2000 (a) 0.5% 0.3%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent definition and source info Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2000 4.3% 4.7%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent definition and source info Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2000 (b) 14.1% 32.4%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000 definition and source info Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over 54.2% 50.2%
Foreign born persons, percent definition and source info Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 36.8% 26.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+ definition and source info Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 45.7% 39.5%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+ definition and source info High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 81.2% 76.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+ definition and source info Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 45.0% 26.6%
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+ definition and source info Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000 30.7 27.7

Housing units definition and source info Housing units, 2000 346,527 12,214,549
Homeownership rate definition and source info Homeownership rate, 2000 35.0% 56.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units definition and source info Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000 $396,400 $211,500

Households definition and source info Households, 2000 329,700 11,502,870
Persons per household definition and source info Persons per household, 2000 2.30 2.87
Median household income definition and source info Median household income, 1999 $55,221 $47,493
Per capita money income definition and source info Per capita money income, 1999 $34,556 $22,711
Persons below poverty, percent definition and source info Persons below poverty, percent, 1999 11.3% 14.2%
Business QuickFacts San Francisco California
Wholesale trade sales definition and source info Wholesale trade sales, 2002 ($1000) 8,896,586 655,954,708
Retail sales definition and source info Retail sales, 2002 ($1000) 8,883,316 359,120,365
Retail sales per capita definition and source info Retail sales per capita, 2002 $11,658 $10,264
Accommodation and foodservices sales definition and source info Accommodation and foodservices sales, 2002 ($1000) 3,546,865 55,559,669
Total number of firms definition and source info Total number of firms, 2002 91,873 2,908,758
Black-owned firms, percent definition and source info Black-owned firms, percent, 2002 2.9% 3.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native owned firms, percent definition and source info American Indian and Alaska Native owned firms, percent, 2002 0.5% 1.3%
Asian-owned firms, percent definition and source info Asian-owned firms, percent, 2002 21.4% 12.8%
Hispanic-owned firms, percent definition and source info Hispanic-owned firms, percent, 2002 5.8% 14.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander owned firms, percent definition and source info Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander owned firms, percent, 2002 0.3% 0.2%
Women-owned firms, percent definition and source info Women-owned firms, percent, 2002 31.0% 29.9%

Geography QuickFacts San Francisco California
Land area definition and source info Land area, 2000 (square miles) 46 155,959
Persons per square mile definition and source info Persons per square mile, 2000 16,636.0 217.2
Persons per square mile definition and source info FIPS Code 67000 06
Counties San Francisco County

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(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.

D: Suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information
F: Fewer than 100 firms
FN: Footnote on this item for this area in place of data
NA: Not available
S: Suppressed; does not meet publication standards
X: Not applicable
Z: Value greater than zero but less than half unit of measure shown

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Source U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. Data derived from Population Estimates, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, County Business Patterns, 2002 Economic Census, Minority- and Women-Owned Business, Building Permits, Consolidated Federal Funds Report, Census of Governments
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Oil Production

2011-03-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

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The World Factbook

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Rank country (bbl/day) Date of Information
1 Saudi Arabia 8,728,000 2007 est.
2 Russia 5,430,000 2009
3 United Arab Emirates 2,700,000 2007 est.
4 Iran 2,400,000 2010 est.
5 Kuwait 2,349,000 2007 est.
6 Nigeria 2,327,000 2007 est.
7 European Union 2,196,000 2008 est.
8 Venezuela 2,182,000 2007 est.
9 Norway 2,150,000 2009 est.
10 Canada 2,001,000 2008 est.
11 Iraq 1,910,000 2009 est.
12 Algeria 1,891,000 2007 est.
13 United States 1,704,000 2008 est.
14 Netherlands 1,660,000 2008 est.
15 Libya 1,542,000 2007 est.
16 Angola 1,407,000 2007 est.
17 United Kingdom 1,393,000 2008 est.
18 Singapore 1,374,000 2007 est.
19 Kazakhstan 1,345,000 2009 est.
20 Mexico 1,225,000 2009 est.
21 Korea, South 907,100 2009
22 Qatar 753,000 2008 est.
23 India 738,600 2007 est.
24 France 597,800 2008 est.
25 Oman 593,700 2008 est.
26 Italy 586,900 2008 est.
27 Brazil 570,100 2007 est.
28 Germany 536,600 2008 est.
29 Azerbaijan 528,900 2007 est.
30 Malaysia 511,900 2007 est.
31 Belgium 433,700 2008 est.
32 China 388,000 2008 est.
33 Virgin Islands 388,000 2007 est.
34 Japan 380,900 2008 est.
35 Equatorial Guinea 362,900 2007 est.
36 Ecuador 338,000 2010 est.
37 Indonesia 322,000 2009 est.
38 Argentina 314,400 2007 est.
39 Australia 311,900 2008 est.
40 Belarus 303,900 2007 est.
41 Sudan 303,800 2007 est.
42 Taiwan 303,000 2010 est.
43 Colombia 294,000 2008 est.
44 Yemen 274,400 2007 est.
45 Thailand 269,100 2009 est.
46 Denmark 268,500 2008 est.
47 Sweden 248,500 2008 est.
48 Trinidad and Tobago 248,300 2007 est.
49 Congo, Republic of the 241,100 2007 est.
50 Bahrain 238,300 2007 est.
51 Aruba 231,100 2007 est.
52 Gabon 227,300 2007 est.
53 Spain 218,600 2008 est.
54 Vietnam 171,500 2010 est.
55 Chad 157,900 2007 est.
56 Syria 155,000 2008 est.
57 Ukraine 154,400 2009 est.
58 Greece 153,000 2008 est.
59 Brunei 152,900 2007
60 Lithuania 137,200 2007 est.
61 Turkey 133,100 2008 est.
62 Finland 130,500 2009 est.
63 South Africa 128,500 2007 est.
64 Cote d'Ivoire 115,700 2007 est.
65 Romania 115,600 2007 est.
66 Cameroon 107,100 2007 est.
67 Timor-Leste 100,900 2007 est.
68 Egypt 89,300 2009 est.
69 Tunisia 77,130 2007 est.
70 Bulgaria 76,570 2007 est.
71 Slovakia 75,110 2008 est.
72 Israel 69,580 2007 est.
73 Peru 68,640 2007 est.
74 Poland 65,280 2008 est.
75 New Zealand 54,560 2008 est.
76 Portugal 53,660 2008 est.
77 Austria 50,410 2009 est.
78 Chile 49,250 2007 est.
79 Croatia 43,750 2007 est.
80 Bahamas, The 41,570 2007 est.
81 Turkmenistan 38,360 2009 est.
82 Papua New Guinea 32,490 2007 est.
83 Mauritania 30,620 2007 est.
84 Pakistan 30,090 2007 est.
85 Czech Republic 29,670 2008 est.
86 Philippines 28,900 September 2010 est.
87 Guatemala 21,850 2007 est.
88 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 20,090 2007 est.
89 Ireland 19,270 2009 est.
90 Morocco 17,420 2007 est.
91 Puerto Rico 16,520 2007 est.
92 Switzerland 10,680 2009 est.
93 Hong Kong 10,020 2009
94 Benin 8,770 2007 est.
95 Macedonia 8,594 2010
96 Estonia 7,280 2007 est.
97 Kenya 7,270 2007 est.
98 Uzbekistan 6,104 2007 est.
99 Latvia 5,873 2007 est.
100 Mongolia 5,834 2009 est.
101 Senegal 5,653 2007 est.
102 Bolivia 5,621 2010 est.
103 Serbia 5,045 2008
104 Ghana 4,843 2007 est.
105 Panama 4,803 2007 est.
106 Uruguay 4,353 November 2010 est.
107 Suriname 4,308 2007 est.
108 Bangladesh 2,612 2007 est.
109 Fiji 2,455 2007 est.
110 Belize 2,260 2007 est.
111 Burma 2,200 2007 est.
112 Costa Rica 2,117 2007 est.
113 El Salvador 1,927 2007 est.
114 Iceland 1,915 2008 est.
115 Kyrgyzstan 1,890 2007 est.
116 Barbados 1,750 2007 est.
117 Togo 1,547 2007 est.
118 Georgia 1,486 2008 est.
119 Somalia 1,475 2007 est.
120 Greenland 1,183 2008
121 Sri Lanka 968 2007 est.
122 Albania 749 2005 est.
123 New Caledonia 645 2007 est.
124 West Bank 511 2007 est.
125 Sierra Leone 502 2007 est.
126 Madagascar 365 2007 est.
127 Tajikistan 349 2007 est.
128 Montenegro 314 2005
129 Zambia 275 2007 est.
130 Antigua and Barbuda 219 2007 est.
131 Nicaragua 213 2007 est.
132 Bosnia and Herzegovina 192 2007 est.
133 Luxembourg 63 2008 est.
134 Gambia, The 42 2007 est.
135 Moldova 36 2007 est.
136 Liberia 23 2007 est.
137 Djibouti 19 2007 est.
138 Afghanistan 0 2007 est.
139 Armenia 0 2007 est.
140 Bhutan 0 2008 est.
141 British Virgin Islands 0 2007 est.
142 Burundi 0 2007 est.
143 Cape Verde 0 2007 est.
144 Central African Republic 0 2007 est.
145 Cook Islands 0 2007 est.
146 Hungary 0 2010 est.
147 Honduras 0 2007 est.
148 Haiti 0 2007 est.
149 Guyana 0 2007 est.
150 Guinea-Bissau 0 2007 est.
151 Guinea 0 2007 est.
152 Grenada 0 2007 est.
153 Gibraltar 0 2007 est.
154 French Polynesia 0 2007 est.
155 Paraguay 0 2009 est.
156 Niue 0 2007 est.
157 Niger 0 2007 est.
158 Nepal 0 2010 est.
159 Nauru 0 2007 est.
160 Namibia 0 2007 est.
161 Mozambique 0 2007 est.
162 Montserrat 0 2007 est.
163 Malawi 0 2007 est.
164 Zimbabwe 0 2007 est.
165 Western Sahara 0 2007 est.
166 Vanuatu 0 2007 est.
167 Uganda 0 2007 est.
168 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 2007 est.
169 Tonga 0 2007 est.
170 Tanzania 0 2007 est.
171 Swaziland 0 2007 est.
172 Seychelles 0 2007 est.
173 Sao Tome and Principe 0 2007 est.
174 Samoa 0 2007 est.
175 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0 2007 est.
176 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 0 2007 est.
177 Saint Lucia 0 2007 est.
178 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 2007 est.
179 Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha 0 2007 est.
180 Rwanda 0 2007 est.
181 Solomon Islands 0 2007 est.
182 Slovenia 0 2009 est.
183 Macau 0 2009 est.
184 Lesotho 0 2007 est.
185 Lebanon 0 2009
186 Laos 0 2007 est.
187 Korea, North 0 2007 est.
188 Kiribati 0 2007 est.
189 Jordan 0 2007 est.
190 Jamaica 0 2007 est.
191 Mauritius 02007 est.
192 Malta 0 2009 est.
193 Mali 0 2007 est.
194 Maldives 0 2010 est.
195 Faroe Islands 0 2008
196 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 0 2007 est.
197 Ethiopia 0 2007 est.
198 Eritrea 0 2007 est.
199 Dominican Republic 0 2007 est.
200 Dominica 0 2007 est.
201 Cyprus 0 2010 est.
202 Cuba 0 2007 est.
203 Comoros 0 2007 est.
204 Cayman Islands 0 2007 est.
205 Cambodia 0 2007 est.
206 Burkina Faso 0 2007 est.
207 Botswana 0 2007 est.
208 Bermuda 0 2007 est.
209 American Samoa 0 2007 est.

The Roy Rogers Museum Has Closed

2011-02-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

The Roy Rogers Museum has closed its doors forever.
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction...
Roy 's 1964 Bonneville sold for $254,500, it was estimated to sell between 100 and 150 thousand dollars.

His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of This Is Your Life sold for $10,000 (est. $800-$1,000)

A collection of signed baseballs (Pete Rose, Duke Snyder and other greats) sold for $3,750

A collection of signed bats (Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller, and others) sold for
$2,750.

Trigger's saddle and bridle sold for $386,500 (est. 100-150 K)

One of many of Roy 's shirts sold for $16,250 and one of his many cowboy hats sold for
$17,500.

One set of boot spurs sold for $10,625. (He never used a set of spurs on Trigger.)

A life size shooting gallery sold for $27,500.

Various chandeliers sold from $6,875 to $20,000. Very unique and artistic in their western style.

A signed photograph by Don Larsen taken during his perfect game in the world series against the Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1953, along with a signed baseball to Roy from Don, sold for $2,500

Two fabulous limited edition BB guns in their original boxes with numerous photos of Roy, Dale, Gabby, and Pat sold for $3,750.

A collection of memorabilia from his shows entertaining the troops in Vietnam sold for
$938. I never knew he was there. His flight jacket sold for $7,500.

His set of dinner ware plates and silverware sold for $11,875. The Bible they used at the dinner table every night sold for $8,750.

One of several of his guitars sold for $27,500.

Nellybelle sold for $116,500.

A fabulous painting of Roy , Dale, Pat, Buttermilk, Trigger, and Bullet sold for $10,625.

One of several sets of movie posters sold for $18,750.

A black and white photograph of Gene Autry with a touching inscription from Gene to Roy sold for $17,500.

A Republic Productions Poster bearing many autographs of the people that played in Roy 's movies sold for $11,875.

Dale's horse, Buttermilk (whose history is very interesting) sold below the presale estimate for $25,000. (est. 30-40 K)

Bullet sold for $35,000 (est. 10-15 K). He was their real pet.

Dale's parade saddle, estimated to sell between 20-30 K, sold for $104,500.

One of many pairs of Roy's boots sold for $21,250.

Trigger sold for $266,500.

Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robinhood with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland? Well Olivia rode Trigger in that movie. Trigger was bred on a farm
co-owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought Trigger on a time payment plan for $2,500. Roy
and Trigger made 188 movies together. Trigger even out did Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie Son of Paleface in 1953.

It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever. Despite the fact that Gene and Roy 's movies, as well as those of other great characters, can be bought or rented for viewing, today's kids would rather spend their time playing video games. Today it takes a very special pair of parents to raise their kids with the right values and morals. These were the great heroes of our childhood, and they did teach us right from wrong, and how to have and show respect for each other and the animals that share this earth.

You and I were born at the right time. We were able to grow up with these great people even if we never met them. In their own way they taught us patriotism and honor, we learned that lying and cheating were bad, and sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it. Our lives were drug free.

So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy, The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt. Friday. Thanks to Capt.. Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers and Capt. Noah and all those people whose lives touched ours, and made them
better.

It was a great ride through childhood.

HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS

PressTV - Jordan holds largest pro-democracy rally

2011-02-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

Jordan holds largest pro-democracy rally

Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:39PM

Several thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets of the capital city, Amman, calling for immediate political and economic reforms.

The protest rally organized by the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, and 19 other political parties is believed to be the largest pro-democracy demonstration in Jordan since January.

The protest rally began following the Friday Prayers. Around 3,000 security personnel were deployed across central Amman on Friday, which was dubbed the "Day of Anger".

Jordanian officials say police officers were deployed to protect the rally and to prevent clashes between pro-democracy protesters and pro-government activists.

Protesters, estimated to be over 10,000 in number according to IAF, have called for an elected government, constitutional reforms and the dissolution of the parliament. At present, King Abdullah appoints and dismisses the prime minister.

"We are demonstrating today against the official bullying and to demand reforms. We seek regime reforms. We want a true parliamentary monarchy. The monarchy should not dominate parliament," leading trade unionist Maisara Malas told AFP.

"Reforms have become a necessity that cannot be delayed. We want immediate constitutional change to help create productive governments and a truly representative parliament. These are the demands of all Jordanians,” Hamzah Mansur, chief of IAF told the crowds.

"Aim of this protest is to have constitutional changes to bring elected government and elected parliament that forms government as well as constitutional court. We also want the departure of this government and parliament to lead to constitutional monarchy," said senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Salem Falahat.

Meanwhile, the supporters of the royal family have also gathered in the heart of the capital to protest against opposition demonstrators.

In early February, after week of pro-democracy protests across Jordan, King Abdullah sacked Prime Minister Samir Rifai over the slow pace of reforms and appointed Marouf al-Bakhit as Jordan's new premier.

Bakhit has promised to follow instructions given by the king and carry out "real economic and political reforms," including amending the election law.

But the opposition in Jordan says Bakhit is not a reformist.

HM/HGH/MMN

Bahrain holds mass anti-regime rally

2011-02-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Friday Feb 25, 201104:46 PM GMT

Libya`s envoys to UN, UNESCO, Lisbon and Paris resign

Bahrain holds mass anti-regime rally

Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:53PM

Pro-democracy protesters on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 welcome newly released political prisoners to Pearl Square in Manama.

Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters have taken to the streets of the Bahraini capital, demanding an end to the rule of the country's Sunni regime.

Waving Bahrain's flag and chanting anti-government slogans, protesters from all over the Persian Gulf littoral state are heading toward Pearl Square in Manama, the epicenter of the movement, on Friday, the 12th consecutive day of pro-democracy protests in Bahrain.

The mass rally is held to honor the victims killed in the recent police crackdown. At least seven protesters have been killed during clashes with security forces since the beginning of pro-democracy protests in Bahrain on February 14.

Protesters demand major reform including the election of the prime minister and the creation of a "real" constitutional monarchy.

Many protesters, mainly Shias, have also called for an end to the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty which has ruled the country for almost two centuries.

While Shias represent nearly 75 percent of the Bahraini population, the country has been ruled by a Sunni royal family since the 18th Century.

Protesters have vowed to remain camped out in Pearl Square and have refused to enter talks with the Crown Prince until their demands are met.

In an attempt to contain massive pro-democracy demonstrations, Bahraini authorities on Wednesday released 23 political prisoners after a pardon by King Hamad. Authorities have also announced a minor cabinet reshuffle.

The Friday's mass rally came after Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, paid a short visit to Bahrain, reaffirming Washington's commitment to embattled King Hamad.

Bahrain is a key US ally in the Middle East and home to Washington's Fifth Fleet.

HM/HGH/MMN

Billions with a 'B'

2011-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

U.S. Spent Billions Arming Egypt; Would Schools and Jobs Have Been Wiser Investments?

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Upheavals in Egypt and across the Middle East are shaking a major foundation of American foreign policy: the conviction that arms sales and military strength ensure stability.

From Algeria to Yemen, throngs of chronically unemployed youth are upending U.S.-backed regimes heavily armed with American military hardware and expertise. In a region where half the population is under the age of 25 and increasingly desperate for jobs and scarce housing, the United States has provided more than $250 billion worth of weaponry since 1950, vastly overshadowing its investments in education, job creation, housing, democracy and other social needs.

In Cairo, the Egyptian army suggested it would not interfere with Tuesday's planned massive demonstrations and general strike. In a statement, the military said it supported "freedom of expression through peaceful means.''

But the United States, for its decades-long effort to avoid trouble by fortifying Egypt's military at the expense of funding for education, jobs and housing, seemed to be on the wrong side of history. As former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lamented in a remarkable speech at American University in Cairo in 2005, "For 60 years, the United States pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East -- and we achieved neither.''

As Shadi Hamid, a Middle East scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington, wrote this week: "For decades, the United States has prioritized a now clearly illusory stability over American ideals. It appears the administration, slowly, is realizing its mistake -- and that of its predecessors.''

In an opinion essay for Forbes, Hamid added: "Democracy -- with the accountability, popular legitimacy and peaceful resolution of conflict it so often brings -- is the only avenue to long-term stability. Otherwise, authoritarian regimes will appear stable -- until they're not.''

More immediately, there is concern that the massive U.S. investment in Egypt's powerful military may become uncontrollable. A new, more radical civilian regime could abrogate Egypt's peace treaty with Israel and wield its military as a new threat to the region's relative peace. "Somebody in Washington needs to be working seriously on the future security of Israel,'' said John McCreary, former intelligence watch officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "There is no guarantee that an anti-Israel Islamist government will not emerge, in the revolutionary phase of this uprising . . . large scale, conventional warfare with tanks would re-establish itself as the future of warfare'' in the region.

U.S. largesse has made Egypt's military a force to contend with. Last year the United States provided Egypt with $2.6 billion in military hardware and services, including sophisticated anti-ship and anti-tank missiles, fast missile boats and upgrades to Sparrow air-to-air missiles that the Pentagon said would contribute to "political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.'' Of that amount, $1.3 billion was written off as U.S. military aid.

Commercial military sales to Egypt, supervised by the State Department, were expected to reach at least tens of millions of dollars more. In the most recent year reported, 2008, commercial sales of weapons to Egypt came to $121 million.

Last year the United States also gave Egypt $1.5 billion in non-military assistance – of which $1.3 billion was earmarked for "peace, security and stability'' programs including counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and "stabilization'' initiatives. There was also money for "democracy, human rights and governance'' ($25 million) and for education and social and economic development ($210 million).

That ratio of U.S. support -- $2.6 billion in direct military sales and $235 million for democracy, human rights, education and economic development – faithfully reflects long-standing and continuing U.S. strategy.

70-90 personer, de fleste sivile, ble drept i angrepet i Kunduz-provinsen i 2009. ARKIVFOTO: MASSOUD HOSSAINI, AFP

2011-02-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Six-year-old Nazanin was one of the survivors, when NATO bombs struck her village in Bala Baluk. Officially, NATO claimed that 26 civilians were killed, but a secret Red Cross report tells a different story about lies, PR strategy and how the UN was deceived. PHOTO: FRAIDOON POOYAA, AP

Løgnene of massacres in the Bala Baluk

Six-year-old Nazanin was lucky to survive. According to NATO, U.S. and Western media was the death of her girlfriends, family members and neighbors Taliban fighters. Secret U.S. documents reveal the game behind closed doors about the massacre in Bala Baluk. UN special envoy Kai Eide, was tricked by the Americans to retain highly critical statements about the massacre.

AV TRON STRAND FOR ANDERS JOHANSEN

The OGSA:

Norway would keep death rates secret

Thurs F18 fighter bangs against the gray stone houses in the village of Bala Baluk Grenari region of Afghanistan 4 May 2009. The last few hours there has been intense fighting between international forces and the Taliban. When darkness falls, followed by those of a B1 bomber who release their deadly cargo. The first bombs hit the target - a group of Taliban fighters. Bombs add mosque in ruins.

Flight crew do not have a total of nine bombs, the last at 21.12. The village turned into an inferno of screaming, mangled and blood people. Six-year-old Nazanin is one of the survivors, but large parts of the family are killed.

PR wars

It does not take many hours before the event when all the world, and PR campaign starts. Afghan officials and Taliban claims that over 140 civilians have been killed.

- We will never know the exact number, "U.S. ambassador in Kabul, Karl W. Eikenberry at a news conference.

- "Dozens" of people were killed, said the Red Cross commander in Afghanistan, Reto Stocker.

- 26 civilians and 78 Taliban fighters were killed, the U.S. concluded an investigation commission.

Hold facts skjult

Secret documents Aftenposten found among the 250,000 leaked Wikileaks documents tells a different story about one of the bloodiest events in the Afghanistan war. This is one of many examples of how NATO was trying to hide how many civilians were killed.

Kai Eide: - I regret. UN special envoy was hoodwinked, so he should not criticize the massacre where Nazanin lost most of his family.

13. June 2009 found a remarkable meeting took place at the U.S. embassy in Kabul. It submits the leader of the Red Cross in Afghanistan, Reto Stocker a comprehensive report with exact figures for the United States Kabul Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry. Red Cross boss promises Americans that the report will not be published. It is a promise the Red Cross so far has held.

Stocker explains how the Red Cross arrived at the Bala Baluk day after the bombing. Within 13 days of investigation, more than 50 survivors interviewed, who told of "the families who fled from the battle with parents who bore children in their arms."

The conclusion to the Red Cross has to date been a U.S. state secret:

"Stocker said he with a high degree of security meant that 89 civilians were killed." 47 civilians were killed in the second attack, while the third and last bomb killed 42 villagers, concluded the Red Cross.

"They found the body parts that were not possible to bury in an ordinary funeral," said the eyewitnesses.

Parents and children fleeing

Bala Baluk massacre received considerable attention in the first days. So let NATO and the United States until an edited video from the fighters of both the UN and Red Cross, which was to prove that most fatalities friends for six-year-old Nazanin was Taliban fighters.

Wikileaks documents tells a different story. The Red Cross said the pictures showed women, children and families desperately fleeing from the fighting in the narrow alleys, which converge into the houses before they were bombed. Trained Taliban soldiers hiding not in a large cluster in the house next door when their first residence is bombed.

"It would vært ulogisk," said Stocker.

"But it would be logical for civilians to seek refuge together to escape the fighting."

"Meget troverdig"

In the report back to Washington DC Eikenberry pointed out that the report was "really careful" and can "help us to find the truth." Stocker He described as "one of the most trusted source of independent and objective information in Afghanistan, after 4 years as head of the Red Cross in the country."

Since the report was placed in the tray. It was not mentioned with one word when the U.S. investigation concluded that 26 civilians were killed. U.S. and NATO, however, recommended changing the "existing guidelines" in "situations involving potential for civilian casualties."

Eide regrets

Former UN Special Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide said that he refrained from publishing a highly critical statement about the Bala Baluk after a meeting with the American general who investigated the massacre.

- In our investigations we came to 64 killed, but when we included only women and children. We did not expect some men, since it could be a possibility that some of them were Taliban members. I met with General Raymond A. Thomas, who led the American investigators. He showed several hours of video footage from the fighting and the attack, and his conclusion was that nothing wrong had happened. I did not send out the statement in the belief that the general spoke true. It turned out not to vote, and I regret that we announced earlier statement. These months were also a turning point in my confidence in the military forces and the information they gave us, "said Eide.

Allows secrecy

- This was a confidential report in which we took up our humanitarian concerns directly with the authorities or the parties to the conflict, "said spokesman for the International Red Cross in Geneva Sebastien Carliez.

- Is not it the Red Cross' interest that the truth of such an event becomes publicly known?

- This is standard procedure to ensure maximum protection in the short and long term, both for civilian and other parties affected by the hostilities.

Infant School in Paktika

18. June 2007: Seven schoolchildren were killed in a U.S. air strike in Zarghun Shah in Paktika province. NATO blamed the children were used as human shields by the Taliban.

"The discussion revealed deep concerns among the allies about the near daily news from the Theatre of civilian losses", according to secret minutes of the NATO Council 20 June 2007. Spain questioned about the "collateral damage" - collateral damage - was "assessed against what people expect to achieve, as well as reactions from the media and the public." Several public reports of civilian casualties could lead to the Bundestag not renewed mandate in Afghanistan, warned Germany.

Bomb Feil Ingen i Herat

29. April 2007: At least 25 civilians killed in Zerkoh in Herat province in a series of air raids during operations of U.S. Special Forces. The Allies claimed initially that no civilians were killed. In one week, lost 50 civilian lives in the NATO attacks. After media reports were the NATO Council agreed that Americans respond:

"NATO must be prepared in the future to respond to allegations of civilian casualties in minutes, as the Taliban increasingly uses civilians as shields," said U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland.

Bryllupet the Wech Baghtu

37 civilians - mostly women and children - were killed 3 November 2008 after the air attack against the village Wech Baghtu in Kandahar province, while villagers celebrated the wedding.

"Canada questioned ISAF's" precision and efficiency "when, assessing whether the operations were a success", according to minutes of the NATO Council meeting 18 December 2008. How did ISAF to see the difference between civilians and insurgents, asked Canadians.

Nawabad-massakren

Midnight 21 August 2008: Allied and Afghan forces move into the village of Nawabad in Shindand district. During the fighting at least seven houses will be bombed. United Nations concluded that 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children and 15 women. The case led to a strong outcome from President Hamid Karzai to NATO, ISAF and the U.S..

"While civilian casualties and damage is always regrettable, we must remind the public that it is the Taliban who unscrupulously put civilians in danger," said U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland.

Kunduz massacre

U.S. fighter jets called in by the German ISAF troops bombed 4 September 2009 two tank cars that rebels had taken. Tank cars jammed, and the rebels asked the locals get free gasoline. 70-90 people were killed, mostly civilians. "German authorities are upset about some unhelpful remarks from some allies in the wake of Kunduz, especially press coverage of allegations of US-German differences over the operation," said the NATO Council's meeting. Germany called "alliance solidarity and a joint press strategy."

"This could happen to anybody," said several NATO allies.

70-90 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack in Kunduz province in 2009. PHOTO ARCHIVE: Massoud HOSSAINI, AFP

70-90 personer, de fleste sivile, ble drept i angrepet i Kunduz-provinsen i 2009. ARKIVFOTO: MASSOUD HOSSAINI, AFP

2011-02-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

In a series of articles sets Aftenposten focus on what happens behind the closed doors of NATO, based on 250 secret meetings of the American ambassaden.Bilde from Operation Sword Stroke or surgery, "Khan Jari» ¿July 2009 in Helmand province ¿PHOTO: MANPREET ROMAN

NATO attacks, the political leadership did nothing

NATO did not lead info, leaked documents show. -Ill, admits the United States. Two of NATO's largest and most controversial operations in Afghanistan was initiated without either NATO Secretary General, the allied or NATO's highest political council was informed.

AV TRON STRAND FOR ANDERS JOHANSEN

The OGSA:

Early in the morning 2 July 2009 caught 4000 marines and 650 Afghan soldiers in Helmand valley in Afghanistan, backed by NATO aircraft. Operation Jari Khan "- meaning" sword "in Afghanistan - was the largest airborne operation with U.S. Marines since the Vietnam War. This was the start of the bloodiest months since the Afghanistan war began, with great loss of civilians, insurgents and NATO troops.

Secret U.S. documents reveal that the NATO operation was launched without either NATO Secretary General, the NATO allies or counsel knew what happened. Contrary to NATO's own rules were not the top political leadership in the world's most powerful defense alliance received information in advance.

Politicians uten info

The information appears in a report from the NATO Council 8 July 2009. The alliance's headquarters in Brussels was very strong reactions that the alliance could launch a major military operation without the political leadership in NATO learned something. Most allierste expressed "frustration about the lack of information in advance."

"Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero noted that the NAC had not been informed in advance of the start of operation Jari Khan," said the report from the U.S. NATO embassy.

The Norwegian government with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the lead had to read in the media that NATO had started one of their biggest military operations.

"Norway commented that they had learned of the news operation," according to the minutes.

- Ill

Canada also reacted sharply, pointing out that it was crucial for NATO leadership knew what happened.

Even the Americans admitted that this was "an unfortunate incident," since it was difficult for politicians in NATO countries to defend in public what we did in Afghanistan, if not information.

NATOs Akilles

Wikileaks documents reveal that this was not the first time, NATO's top political leadership did not know what NATO did. When the 4500 ISAF soldiers from the U.S., UK, Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark and Canada began operation "Achilles" in Helmand in March 2007, it came as a bomb.

As NATO's Supreme Council met on 7 March 2007, the mood very testy from the start. A visibly disgruntled former Secretary General of NATO Jaap De Hoop Scheffer acknowledged that he had no clue that the operation was under way before the media reported it.

"Neither he nor the council had received adequate briefing," the U.S. embassy NATO. Hoop Scheffer warned NATO leadership had to "strike the right balance of communication between the NATO military leadership and the NATO Council."

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store was not informed when NATO launched one of its biggest operations. "You had knowledge of the operation through the news," according to a secret meeting between NATO.

France called for "greater political overview of military operations," and U.S. Ambassador Victoria Nuland, "complained that NATO's military leadership had not worked with the NATO Council that NATO ambassadors could contribute to reinforce the case in relation to the capitals and the media."

- Et major problem

- This illustrates something that has been a major problem throughout the war in Afghanistan. NATO is virtually sand in the machinery of the United States. We have seen several times that the Americans advancing into and perform the attack without any warning or coordination, "said department manager at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Ståle Ulriksen.

He points out that the question of where information is the political leadership of NATO is to have is a difficult and complicated question.

- Everyone knows that America is totally dominant. Viewed from the U.S. side, this is also understandable, since the operations mainly consist of American contributions. In their eyes, took the NATO allies have a great responsibility of being with, without following up with the troops. And the soldiers NATO countries have sent, has had clear limitations on its use.

Director of the Peace Research Institute (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken also points out that Norwegian politicians have argumentert to participation in Afghanistan Norway gives greater influence.

- In Norway, it has been used as an argument that by participating in Afghanistan, we have greater influence. Then it gives reason to ask critical questions that key operational decisions are taken without Mon politicians, NATO Council and Secretary-General at all are informed. The paradox is that after President Barack Obama took over, it's become more American travelers started in Afghanistan, "said Berg Harpviken.

Had to complain

After both fade late NATO's political leadership was an apology from NATO's central military command (SHAPE). 15. July 2009 was advised NATO finally a briefing in Helmand. When the Allies had been inflicted their biggest defeat in what was the bloodiest month so far in the war. When Admiral David Rene Moreno from SHAPE gave the Americans described as a "dry" briefing. "Rebel activity is constant," said Admiral Moreno. When cooked it over.

- In a week of heavy alarming increase in the ISAF loss, how can we be told that rebel activity is constant, the Dutch representative exclaimed Schaper. Both the United States, Canada, Romania and the UK demanded a quick assessment of the impact of the Helmand operation had been given.

The Monde.fr: News at One

2011-02-19T18:59:00.000-08:00

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'Day of rage' called to protest US veto - Arab News

2011-02-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

Day of rage' called to protest US veto

By MOHAMMED MAR'I & HISHAM ABU TAHA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 19, 2011 23:49 Updated: Feb 19, 2011 23:49

RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY: Palestinians on Saturday condemned a US veto in the UN Security Council of a resolution against Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.

Nabil Abu Rudainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the US action "will further complicate the situation in the Middle East." The veto encourages Israel to evade the obligations of peace, he added.

Fourteen members of the UN Security Council voted for the resolution, which was blocked by the United States Friday. The draft called on Israel to stop building settlements on occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Saeb Erekat, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, said the veto "is regrettable and cannot be justified or accepted in any way." He added that the US decision encourages Israel to build more settlements.

Tawfik Al-Tirawi, also a member of Fatah's Central Committee, called on the Palestinians to observe next Friday as "a day of rage" and demonstrations in the Palestinian territories to condemn the US vote against the resolution.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the PLO's Executive Committee, said that after the US vote, the Palestinians won't consider the Americans a fair mediator in the peace process.

He said Palestinian leaders had decided to make a fresh attempt at the world body's General Assembly, which convenes in New York in September.

"Our decision now is to go to the General Assembly, to pass a UN resolution against the settlements and condemn them and to emphasize its lack of legitimacy.

"And then we will put forward a draft to condemn the settlements in the UN Security Council."

Hamas said the US veto was "arbitrary." Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said: "The veto reveals the reality of the clear US support to what the Zionist enemy does against our people."

Barhoum called on the Palestinian Authority to cease negotiations and liaison with Israel. "Let's start a new phase to empower the internal Palestinian unity."

Egypt denounced the US veto, saying it damaged Washington's credibility as a peace broker. "The veto, which contradicts the American public stance rejecting settlement policy, will lead to more damage to the United States' credibility on the Arab side as a mediator in peace efforts," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

'Day of rage' called to protest US veto - Arab News

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