Portugal
Population: 10,048,232
Can Read: 87.4%
Death-rate: 10.2 per Thousand
Ethnicity: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
Infant-mortality: 6.05/1,000 born,die
Language: Portuguese
Life-expectancy: 75.75 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%; Protestant
Their Nation: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Area: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north,warmer and drier in south
Farmable-Land-Use: 26%; crops: 9%; pastures: 9%; woodland: 36%; other: 20%;
GeoNote: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
Land-boundaries: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Location:Southwestern Europe,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,west of Spain
Nat'l-Hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Natural-resources: fish,forests (cork),tungsten,iron ore,uranium ore,marble,arable land,hydro power
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River,rolling plains in south
Cell Phones: 887,216
ISPs: 20
Phones: 3.724 million
Radio Stations: AM 47,FM 172 (many are repeaters),shortwave 2
Radios: 3.02 million
TV Stations: 36
TVs: 3.31 million
Airports: 66
Highways: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km, unpaved: 9,622 km
Ports/Harbors: Aveiro,Funchal (Madeira Islands),Horta (Azores),Leixoes,Lisbon,Porto,Ponta Delgada (Azores),Praia da Vitoria (Azores),Setubal,Viana do Castelo
Rails: 2,850 km
Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy,used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity
Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exports: clothing and footwear,machinery,chemicals,cork and paper products,hides
Farming: grain,potatoes,olives,grapes; sheep,cattle,goats,poultry,beef,dairy products
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,chemicals,petroleum,textiles,agricultural products
Industry: textiles and footwear; wood pulp,paper,and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Admin-Div: 18 districts (distritos,singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions (regioes autonomas,singular - regiao autonoma)
Capital: Lisbon
Country-name: Portuguese Republic: S/F Portugal: Localy called: Republica Portuguesa, localy called: Portugal
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Puerto Rico
Population: 3,915,798
Can Read: 89%; (1980)
Death-rate: 7.74 per Thousand
Infant-mortality: 9.71/1,000 born,die
Language: Spanish,English
Life-expectancy: 75.55 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%; Protestant and other 15%;
Their Nation: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Area: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km
Climate: tropical marine,mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Farmable-Land-Use: 4%; crops: 5%; pastures: 26%; woodland: 16%; other: 49%;
GeoNote: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
High/Low: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Island:
Location:Caribbean,island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,east of the Dominican Republic
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Natural-resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Terrain: mostly mountains,with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Cell Phones: 171,000
ISPs: 18
Phones: 1.196 million
Radio Stations: AM 72,FM 17,
Radios: 2.7 million
TV Stations: 18
TVs: 1.021 million
Airports: 30
Highways: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km
Ports/Harbors: Guanica,Guayanilla,Guayama,Playa de Ponce,San Juan
Rails: 96 km
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exports: pharmaceuticals,electronics,apparel,canned tuna,rum,beverage concentrates,medical equipment
Farming: sugarcane,coffee,pineapples,plantains,bananas; livestock products,chickens
Imports: chemicals,machinery and equipment,clothing,food,fish,petroleum products
Industry: pharmaceuticals,electronics,apparel,food products; tourism
Admin-Div: none
Capital: San Juan
Country-name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: S/F Puerto Rico
Gov-type: commonwealth
Romania
Population: 22,411,121
Can Read: 97%
Death-rate: 12.29 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Romanian 89.5%; Hungarian 7.1%; Roma 1.8%; German 0.5%; Ukrainian 0.3%; other 0.8%
Infant-mortality: 19.84/1,000 born,die
Language: Romanian,Hungarian,German
Life-expectancy: 69.93 Years
Poverty-line: 21.5%;
Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%; Roman Catholic 6%; (of which 3%; are Uniate),Protestant 6%; unaffiliated 18%;
Their Nation: noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian
Area: 237,500 sq km land: 230,340 sq km water: 7,160 sq km
Climate temperate: cold,cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Farmable-Land-Use: 41%; crops: 3%; pastures: 21%; woodland: 29%; other: 6%;
GeoNote: controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,Moldova,and Ukraine
High/Low: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Land-boundaries: 2,508 km border countries: Bulgaria 608 km,Hungary 443 km,Moldova 450 km,Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia),Ukraine (north) 362 km,Ukraine (east) 169 km
Location:Southeastern Europe,bordering the Black Sea,between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Nat'l-Hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Natural-resources: petroleum (reserves declining),timber,natural gas,coal,iron ore,salt,arable land,hydro power
Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Cell Phones: 52,000
ISPs: 30
Phones: 3.84 million
Radio Stations: AM 40,FM 202,shortwave 3
Radios: 7.2 million
TV Stations: 130
TVs: 5.25 million
Airports: 62
Highways: 153,359 km paved: 103,671 km, unpaved: 49,688 km
Ports/Harbors: Braila,Constanta,Galati,Mangalia,Sulina,Tulcea
Rails: 11,385 km
Waterways: 1,724 km (1984)
Currency: 1 leu (L) = 100 bani
Exports: textiles and footwear 33.4%; metals and metal products 19.1%; machinery and equipment 9.5%; minerals and fuels 6.1%;
Farming: wheat,corn,sugar beets,sunflower seed,potatoes,grapes; milk,eggs,beef
Imports: machinery and equipment 23%; fuels and minerals 14.2%; chemicals 8.7%; textiles and footwear 17.1%;
Industry: mining,timber,construction materials,metallurgy,chemicals,machine building,food processing,petroleum production and refining
Admin-Div: 40 counties (judete,singular - judet) and 1 municipality*(municipiu)
Capital: Bucharest
Country-name: none: S/F Romania: Localy called: none, localy called: Romania
Gov-type: republic
Rwanda
Population: 7,229,129
Can Read: 60.5%;
Death-rate: 20.95 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Hutu 84%; Tutsi 15%; Twa (Pygmoid) 1%;
Infant-mortality: 120.06/1,000 born,die
Language: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular,French (official),English (official),Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
Life-expectancy: 39.34 Years
Poverty-line: 51.2%;
Religions: Roman Catholic 65%; Protestant 9%; Muslim 1%; indigenous beliefs and other 25%;
Their Nation: noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan
Area: 26,338 sq km land: 24,948 sq km water: 1,390 sq km
Climate temperate: two rainy seasons (February to April,November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Farmable-Land-Use: 35%; crops: 13%; pastures: 18%; woodland: 22%; other: 12%;
GeoNote: landlocked; predominantly rural population
High/Low: lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Land-boundaries: 893 km border countries: Burundi 290 km,Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km,Tanzania 217 km,Uganda 169 km
Location:Central Africa,east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Birunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Natural-resources: gold,cassiterite (tin ore),wolframite (tungsten ore),methane,hydropower,arable land
Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
ISPs: 1
Phones: 15,000
Radio Stations: FM 3,shortwave 1
Radios: 601,000
TV Stations: 2
TVs: probably less than 1,000
Airports: 8
Highways: 12,000 km paved: 1,000 km unpaved: 11,000 km
Ports/Harbors: Cyangugu,Gisenyi,Kibuye
Waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes
Exports: coffee,tea,hides,tin ore
Farming: coffee,tea,pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),bananas,beans,sorghum,potatoes; livestock
Imports: foodstuffs,machinery and equipment,steel,petroleum products,cement and construction material
Industry: cement,agricultural products,small-scale beverages,soap,furniture,shoes,plastic goods,textiles,cigarettes
Admin-Div: 12 prefectures
Capital: Kigali
Country-name: Rwandese Republic: S/F Rwanda: Localy called: Republika y'u Rwanda, localy called: Rwanda
Gov-type: republic; presidential,multiparty system
Saudi Arabia
Population: 22,023,506 note: includes 5,360,526 non-nationals
Can Read: 62.8%;
Death-rate: 6.02 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab 90%; Afro-Asian 10%;
Infant-mortality: 52.9/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic
Life-expectancy: 67.77 Years
Religions: Muslim 100%;
Their Nation: noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Area: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km
Climate: harsh,dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Farmable-Land-Use: 2%; pastures: 56%; woodland: 1%; other: 41%;
GeoNote: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
High/Low: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Land-boundaries: 4,415 km border countries: Iraq 814 km,Jordan 728 km,Kuwait 222 km,Oman 676 km,Qatar 60 km,UAE 457 km,Yemen 1,458 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea,north of Yemen
Nat'l-Hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Natural-resources: petroleum,natural gas,iron ore,gold,copper
Terrain: mostly uninhabited,sandy desert
Cell Phones: 1 million
ISPs: 6
Phones: 3.1 million
Radio Stations: AM 43,FM 31,shortwave 2
Radios: 6.25 million
TV Stations: 117
TVs: 5.1 million
Airports: 205
Highways: 146,524 km paved: 44,104 km unpaved: 102,420 km
Ports/Harbors: Ad Dammam,Al Jubayl,Duba,Jiddah,Jizan,Rabigh,Ra's al Khafji,Mishab,Ras Tanura,Yanbu' al Bahr,Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Rails: 1,390 km.
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products 90%;
Farming: wheat,barley,tomatoes,melons,dates,citrus; mutton,chickens,eggs,milk
Imports: machinery and equipment,foodstuffs,chemicals,motor vehicles,textiles
Industry: crude oil production,petroleum refining,basic petrochemicals,cement,construction,fertilizer,plastics
Admin-Div: 13 provinces (mintaqat,singular - mintaqah)
Capital: Riyadh
Country-name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: S/F Saudi Arabia: Localy called: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah, localy called: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Gov-type: monarchy
Senegal
Population: 9,987,494
Can Read: 33.1%;
Death-rate: 8.57 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Wolof 43.3%; Pular 23.8%; Serer 14.7%; Jola 3.7%; Mandinka 3%; Soninke 1.1%; European and Lebanese 1%; other 9.4%;
Infant-mortality: 58.08/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official),Wolof,Pulaar,Jola,Mandinka
Life-expectancy: 62.19 Years
Religions: Muslim 92%; indigenous beliefs 6%; Christian 2%; (mostly Roman Catholic)
Their Nation: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Area: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,dry,harmattan wind
Farmable-Land-Use: 12%; pastures: 16%; woodland: 54%; other: 18%;
GeoNote: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Land-boundaries: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km,Guinea 330 km,Guinea-Bissau 338 km,Mali 419 km,Mauritania 813 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Nat'l-Hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: fish,phosphates,iron ore
Terrain: generally low,rolling,plains rising to foothills in southeast
Cell Phones: 122
ISPs: 4
Phones: 82,000
Radio Stations: AM 10,FM 14,
Radios: 1.24 million
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 361,000
Airports: 20
Highways: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km unpaved: 10,305 km
Ports/Harbors: Dakar,Kaolack,Matam,Podor,Richard Toll,Saint-Louis,Ziguinchor
Rails: 906 km
Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river,and 112 km on the Saloum river
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exports: fish,ground nuts (peanuts),petroleum products,phosphates,cotton
Farming: peanuts,millet,corn,sorghum,rice,cotton,tomatoes,green vegetables; cattle,poultry,pigs; fish
Imports: foods and beverages,consumer goods,capital goods,petroleum products
Industry: agricultural and fish processing,phosphate mining,fertilizer production,petroleum refining,construction materials
Admin-Div: 10 regions (regions,singular - region)
Capital: Dakar
Country-name: Republic of Senegal: S/F Senegal: Localy called: Republique du Senegal, localy called: Senegal
Gov-type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Sebbia and Montenegro
Population: 10,662,087
Death-rate: Serbia - 11.08 per Thousand; Montenegro - 7.9 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Serb 62.6%; Albanian 16.5%; Montenegrin 5%; Yugoslav 3.4%; Hungarian 3.3%; other 9.2%; (1991)
Infant-mortality: Serbia - 20.13/1,000 born,die ; Montenegro - 10.97/1,000 born,die
Language: Serbian 95%; Albanian 5%;
Life-expectancy: Serbia - 72.39 years; Montenegro - 75.46 Years (~Serbia - 69.31 years; Montenegro - 71.45 (~Serbia - 75.72 years; Montenegro - 79.82 years
Religions: Orthodox 65%; Muslim 19%; Roman Catholic 4%; Protestant 1%; other 11%;
Their Nation: noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s) adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Area: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km) land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km) water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)
Climate: in the north,continental climate (cold winters and hot,humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south,Adriatic climate along the coast,hot,dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
GeoNote: controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
High/Low: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Land-boundaries: 2,246 km border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia,173 km with Montenegro),Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia,215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia),Croatia (north) 241 km (with Serbia),Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro),Hungary 151 km (with Serbia),The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia),Romania 476 km (with Serbia) note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Location:Southeastern Europe,bordering the Adriatic Sea,between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nat'l-Hazards: destructive earthquakes
Natural-resources: oil,gas,coal,antimony,copper,lead,zinc,nickel,gold,pyrite,chrome,hydro power
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north,rich fertile plains; to the east,limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast,ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest,extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast
Cell Phones: 38,552
ISPs: 6
Phones: 2.017 million
Radio Stations: AM 113,FM 194,shortwave 2
Radios: 3.15 million
TV Stations: more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations,plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina)
TVs: 2.75 million
Airports: 48 (Serbia 43,Montenegro 5)
Highways: 48,603 km paved: 28,822 km, unpaved: 19,781
Ports/Harbors: Bar,Belgrade,Kotor,Novi Sad,Pancevo,Tivat,Zelenika
Rails: 4,095 km
Waterways: 587 km; Danube River runs through Serbia connecting Europe with the Black Sea; in early 2000 the river was obstructed at Novi Sad due to a pontoon bridge; a canal system in north Serbia is available to by-pass damage,however,lock size is limited
Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras; Montenegro made the German deutsche mark (1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige) legal money alongside the Yugoslav dinar
Exports: manufactured goods,food and live animals,raw materials
Farming: cereals,fruits,vegetables,tobacco,olives; cattle,sheep,goats
Imports: machinery and transport equipment,fuels and lubricants,manufactured goods,chemicals,food and live animals,raw materials
Industry: machine building (aircraft,trucks,and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel,aluminum,copper,lead,zinc,chromium,antimony, bismuth,cadmium); mining (coal,bauxite,nonferrous ore,iron ore,limestone); consumer goods (textiles,footwear,foodstuffs,appliances); electronics,petroleum products,chemicals,and pharmaceuticals
Admin-Div: 2 republics (republike,singular - republika) and 2 nominally autonomous provinces (autonomn pokrajine,singular - autonomna pokrajina)
Capital: Belgrade (Serbia),Podgorica (Montenegro)
Country-name: none: S/F Serbia and Montenegro: Localy called: none, localy called: Srbija-Crna Gora note: Serbia and Montenegro has self- proclaimed itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation
Gov-type: republic
Sierra Leone
Population: 5,232,624
Can Read: 31.4%
Death-rate: 19.58 per Thousand
Ethnicity: 20 native African tribes 90%; (Temne 30%; Mende 30%; other 30%),Creole 10%; (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-eighteenth century),refugees from Liberia's recent civil war,small numbers of Europeans,Lebanese,Pakistanis,and Indians
Infant-mortality: 148.66/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official,regular use limited to literate minority),Mende (principal vernacular in the south),Temne (principal vernacular in the north),Krio (English-based Creole,spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area,a lingua franca and a first language for 10%; of the population but understood by 95%)
Life-expectancy: 45.25 Years
Poverty-line: 68%; (1989)
Religions: Muslim 60%; indigenous beliefs 30%; Christian 10%;
Their Nation: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean
Area: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Farmable-Land-Use: 7%; crops: 1%; pastures: 31%; woodland: 28%; other: 33%;
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Land-boundaries: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km,Liberia 306 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Guinea and Liberia
Nat'l-Hazards: dry,sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (November to May); sandstorms,dust storms
Natural-resources: diamonds,titanium ore,bauxite,iron ore,gold,chromite
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps,wooded hill country,upland plateau,mountains in east
Phones: 17,000
Radio Stations: AM 1,FM 9,shortwave 1
Radios: 1.12 million
TV Stations: 2
TVs: 53,000
Airports: 10
Highways: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km
Ports/Harbors: Bonthe,Freetown,Pepel
Rails: 84 km
Waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round
Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
Exports: diamonds,rutile,cocoa,coffee,fish
Farming: rice,coffee,cocoa,palm kernels,palm oil,peanuts; poultry,cattle,sheep,pigs; fish
Imports: foodstuffs,machinery and equipment,fuels and lubricants,chemicals
Industry: mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages,textiles,cigarettes,footwear); petroleum refining
Admin-Div: 3 provinces and 1 area
Capital: Freetown
Country-name: Republic of Sierra Leone: S/F Sierra Leone
Gov-type: constitutional democracy
Singapore
Population: 4,151,264
Can Read: 91.1%;
Death-rate: 4.21 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Chinese 77%; Malay 14%; Indian 7.6%; other 1.4%;
Infant-mortality: 3.65/1,000 born,die
Language: Chinese (official),Malay (official and national),Tamil (official),English (official)
Life-expectancy: 80.05 Years
Religions: Buddhist (Chinese),Muslim (Malays),Christian,Hindu,Sikh,Taoist,Confucianist
Their Nation: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore
Area: 647.5 sq km land: 637.5 sq km water: 10 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid,rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40%; of all days (67%; of days in April)
Farmable-Land-Use: 2%; crops: 6%; woodland: 5%; other: 87%;
GeoNote: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
High/Low: lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Island: Coastline: 193 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Natural-resources: fish,deepwater ports
Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
Cell Phones: 1.02 million
ISPs: 8
Phones: 54.6 million (including 46.62 million that serve facsimile machines,computers,and other communication devices)
Radio Stations: FM 15,shortwave 5
Radios: 2.55 million
TV Stations: 4
TVs: 1.33 million
Airports: 9
Highways: 3,122 km paved: 3,038 km unpaved: 84 km
Ports/Harbors: Singapore
Rails: 38.6 km
Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exports: machinery and equipment (including electronics) 63%; chemicals,mineral fuels
Farming: rubber,copra,fruit,vegetables; poultry,eggs,fish,vegetables,orchids,ornamental fish
Imports: machinery and equipment 57%; mineral fuels,chemicals,foodstuffs
Industry: electronics,financial services,oil drilling equipment,petroleum refining,rubber processing and rubber products,processed food and beverages,ship repair,entrepot trade,biotechnology
Capital: Singapore
Country-name: Republic of Singapore: S/F Singapore
Gov-type: parliamentary republic
Slovakia
Population: 5,407,956
Death-rate: 9.29 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Slovak 85.7%; Hungarian 10.6%; Gypsy 1.6%; (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community,which is about 500,000),Czech,Moravian,Silesian 1.1%; Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%; German 0.1%; Polish 0.1%; other 0.2%;
Infant-mortality: 9.18/1,000 born,die
Language: Slovak (official),Hungarian
Life-expectancy: 73.74 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%; atheist 9.7%; Protestant 8.4%; Orthodox 4.1%; other 17.5%;
Their Nation: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak
Area: 48,845 sq km land: 48,800 sq km water: 45 sq km
Climate temperate: cool summers; cold,cloudy,humid winters
Farmable-Land-Use: 31%; crops: 3%; pastures: 17%; woodland: 41%; other: 8%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovka 2,655 m
Land-boundaries: 1,355 km border countries: Austria 91 km,Czech Republic 215 km,Hungary 515 km,Poland 444 km,Ukraine 90 km
Location:Central Europe,south of Poland
Natural-resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore,copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Cell Phones: 641,000
ISPs: 11
Phones: 1.557 million
Radio Stations: AM 15,FM 78,shortwave 2
Radios: 3.12 million
TV Stations: 41
TVs: 2.62 million
Airports: 36
Highways: 17,710 km paved: 17,533 km, unpaved: 177 km
Ports/Harbors: Bratislava,Komarno
Rails: 3,660 km
Waterways: 172 km on the Danube
Exports: machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4%;
Farming: grains,potatoes,sugar beets,hops,fruit; pigs,cattle,poultry; forest products
Imports: machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10%;
Industry: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity,gas,coke,oil,nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Admin-Div: 8 regions (kraje,singular - kraj)
Capital: Bratislava
Country-name: Slovak Republic: S/F Slovakia: Localy called: Slovenska Republika, localy called: Slovensko
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
Somalia
Population: 7,253,137
Can Read: 24%; (1990)
Death-rate: 18.69 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Somali 85%; Bantu,Arabs 30,000
Infant-mortality: 125.77/1,000 born,die
Language: Somali (official),Arabic,Italian,English
Life-expectancy: 46.23 Years
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Their Nation: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali
Area: 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km
Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon,torrid in the north and hot in the south,irregular rainfall,hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Farmable-Land-Use: 2%; pastures: 69%; woodland: 26%; other: 3%;
GeoNote: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Land-boundaries: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km,Ethiopia 1,626 km,Kenya 682 km
Location:Eastern Africa,bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,east of Ethiopia
Nat'l-Hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
Natural-resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore,tin,gypsum,bauxite,copper,salt
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Radio Stations: shortwave 4 (1988)
Radios: 470,000
TV Stations: 1
TVs: 135,000
Airports: 61
Highways: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km
Ports/Harbors: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso),Berbera,Chisimayu (Kismaayo),Merca,Mogadishu
Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Exports: livestock,bananas,hides,fish
Farming: bananas,sorghum,corn,sugarcane,mangoes,sesame seeds,beans; cattle,sheep,goats; fish
Imports: manufactures,petroleum products,foodstuffs,construction materials
Industry: a few small industries,including sugar refining,textiles,petroleum refining (mostly shut down)
Admin-Div: 18 regions (singular - gobolka)
Capital: Mogadishu
Country-name: none: S/F Somalia former: Somali Republic,Somali Democratic Republic
South Africa
Population: 43,421,021.
Can Read: 81.8%
Death-rate: 14.69 per Thousand
Ethnicity: black 75.2%; white 13.6%; Colored 8.6%; Indian 2.6%;
Infant-mortality: 58.88/1,000 born,die
Language: 11 official languages,including Afrikaans,English,Ndebele,Pedi,Sotho,Swazi,Tsonga,Tswana,Venda,Xhosa,Zulu
Life-expectancy: 51.1 Years
Religions: Christian 68%; (includes most whites and Coloreds,about 60%; of blacks and about 40%; of Indians),Muslim 2%; Hindu 1.5%; (60%; of Indians),indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%;
Their Nation: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Area: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days,cool nights
Farmable-Land-Use: 10%; crops: 1%; pastures: 67%; woodland: 7%; other: 15%;
GeoNote: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Land-boundaries: 4,750 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km,Lesotho 909 km,Mozambique 491 km,Namibia 855 km,Swaziland 430 km,Zimbabwe 225 km
Location:Southern Africa,at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Nat'l-Hazards: prolonged droughts
Natural-resources: gold,chromium,antimony,coal,iron ore,manganese,nickel,phosphates,tin,uranium,gem diamonds,platinum,copper,vanadium,salt,natural gas
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Cell Phones: over 2,000,000
ISPs: 58
Phones: 5.075 million
Radio Stations: AM 14,FM 347, shortwave 1
Radios: 13.75 million
TV Stations: 556
TVs: 5.2 million
Airports: 744
Highways: 534,131 km paved: 63,027 km, unpaved: 471,104 km
Ports/Harbors: Cape Town,Durban,East London,Mosselbaai,Port Elizabeth,Richards Bay,Saldanha
Rails: 21,431 km
Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
Exports: gold,diamonds,other metals and minerals,machinery and equipment
Farming: corn,wheat,sugarcane,fruits,vegetables; beef,poultry,mutton,wool,dairy products
Imports: machinery,foodstuffs and equipment,chemicals,petroleum products,scientific instruments
Industry: mining (world's largest producer of platinum,gold,chromium),automobile assembly,metalworking,machinery,textile,iron and steel,chemicals,fertilizer,foodstuffs
Admin-Div: 9 provinces
Capital: Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial center
Country-name: Republic of South Africa: S/F South Africa abbreviation: RSA
Gov-type: republic
Spain
Population: 39,996,671
Can Read: 97%;
Death-rate: 9.03 per Thousand
Ethnicity: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Infant-mortality: 4.99/1,000 born,die
Language: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%; Catalan 17%; Galician 7%; Basque 2%;
Life-expectancy: 78.79 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%; other 1%;
Their Nation: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Area: 504,782 sq km land: 499,542 sq km water: 5,240 sq km note: includes Balearic Islands,Canary Islands,and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta,Melilla,Islas Chafarinas,Penon de Alhucemas,and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Climate temperate: clear,hot summers in interior,more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy,cold winters in interior,partly cloudy and cool along coast
Farmable-Land-Use: 30%; crops: 9%; pastures: 21%; woodland: 32%; other: 8%;
GeoNote: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Land-boundaries: 1,917.8 km border countries: Andorra 63.7 km,France 623 km,Gibraltar 1.2 km,Portugal 1,214 km,Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km,Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Location:Southwestern Europe,bordering the Bay of Biscay,Mediterranean Sea,North Atlantic Ocean,and Pyrenees Mountains,southwest of France
Nat'l-Hazards: periodic droughts
Natural-resources: coal,lignite,iron ore,uranium,mercury,pyrites,fluorspar,gypsum,zinc,lead,tungsten,copper,kaolin,potash,hydropower,arable land
Terrain: large,flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north
Cell Phones: 8.394 million
ISPs: 49
Phones: 17.336 million
Radio Stations: AM 208,FM 715,shortwave 1
Radios: 13.1 million
TV Stations: 228
TVs: 16.2 million
Airports: 105
Highways: 346,858 km paved: 343,389 km,unpaved: 3,469 km
Ports/Harbors: Aviles,Barcelona,Bilbao,Cadiz,Cartagena,Castellon de la Plana,Ceuta,Huelva,La Coruna,Las Palmas (Canary Islands),Malaga,Melilla,Pasajes,Gijon,Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands),Santander,Tarragona,Valencia,Vigo
Rails: 13,950 km
Waterways: 1,045 km,but of minor economic importance
Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exports: machinery,motor vehicles; foodstuffs,other consumer goods
Farming: grain,vegetables,olives,wine grapes,sugar beets,citrus; beef,pork,poultry,dairy products; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment,fuels,chemicals,semifinished goods; foodstuffs,consumer goods
Industry: textiles and apparel (including footwear),food and beverages,metals and metal manufactures,chemicals,shipbuilding,automobiles,machine tools,tourism
Admin-Div: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas,singular - comunidad autonoma)
Capital: Madrid
Country-name: Kingdom of Spain: S/F Spain, localy called: Espana
Gov-type: parliamentary monarchy
Sri Lanka
Population: 19,238,575
Can Read: 90.2%;
Death-rate: 6.43 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Sinhalese 74%; Tamil 18%; Moor 7%; Burgher,Malay,and Vedda 1%;
Infant-mortality: 16.51/1,000 born,die
Language: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%; Tamil (national language) 18%; note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10%; of the population
Life-expectancy: 71.83 Years
Poverty-line: 22%;
Religions: Buddhist 70%; Hindu 15%; Christian 8%; Muslim 7%;
Their Nation: noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan
Area: 65,610 sq km land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Farmable-Land-Use: 14%; crops: 15%; pastures: 7%; woodland: 32%; other: 32%;
GeoNote: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Island: Coastline: 1,340 km
Location:Southern Asia,island in the Indian Ocean,south of India
Nat'l-Hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Natural-resources: limestone,graphite,mineral sands,gems,phosphates,clay,hydropower
Terrain: mostly low,flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Cell Phones: 228,604
ISPs: 4
Phones: 494,509
Radio Stations: AM 26,FM 45,shortwave 1
Radios: 3.85 million
TV Stations: 21
TVs: 1.53 million
Airports: 14
Highways: 11,285 km paved: 10,721 km unpaved: 564 km
Ports/Harbors: Colombo,Galle,Jaffna,Trincomalee
Rails: 1,463 km
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exports: textiles and apparel,tea,diamonds,coconut products,petroleum products
Farming: rice,sugarcane,grains,pulses,oilseed,spices,tea,rubber,coconuts; milk,eggs,hides,beef
Imports: machinery and equipment,textiles,petroleum,foodstuffs
Industry: processing of rubber,tea,coconuts,and other agricultural commodities; clothing,cement,petroleum refining,textiles,tobacco
Admin-Div: 8 provinces
Capital: Colombo
Country-name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: S/F Sri Lanka former: Ceylon
Gov-type: republic
Sudan
Population: 35,079,814
Can Read: 46.1%;
Death-rate: 10.28 per Thousand
Ethnicity: black 52%; Arab 39%; Beja 6%; foreigners 2%; other 1%;
Infant-mortality: 70.21/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official),Nubian,Ta Bedawie,diverse dialects of Nilotic,Nilo-Hamitic,Sudanic languages,English note: program of Arabization in process
Life-expectancy: 56.55 Years (~
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70%; (in north),indigenous beliefs 25%; Christian 5%; (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Their Nation: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese
Area: 2,505,810 sq km land: 2.376 million sq km water: 129,810 sq km
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
Farmable-Land-Use: 5%; pastures: 46%; woodland: 19%; other: 30%;
GeoNote: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
High/Low: lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Land-boundaries: 7,687 km border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km,Chad 1,360 km,Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km,Egypt 1,273 km,Eritrea 605 km,Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km,Libya 383 km,Uganda 435 km
Location:Northern Africa,bordering the Red Sea,between Egypt and Eritrea
Nat'l-Hazards: dust storms
Natural-resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore,copper,chromium ore,zinc,tungsten,mica,silver,gold,hydropower
Terrain: generally flat,featureless plain; mountains in east and west
Cell Phones: 3,000
ISPs: 1
Phones: 75,000
Radio Stations: AM 12,FM 1,shortwave 1
Radios: 7.55 million
TV Stations: 3
TVs: 2.38 million
Airports: 61
Highways: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km
Ports/Harbors: Juba,Khartoum,Kusti,Malakal,Nimule,Port Sudan,Sawakin
Rails: 5,311 km
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Currency: 1 Sudanese dinar (SD) = 100 piastres; note - in July 1999 the Sudanese Central Bank made the formal declaration that all dealings with the Sudanese pound should stop
Exports: cotton,sesame,livestock,groundnuts,oil,gum arabic
Farming: cotton,groundnuts (peanuts),sorghum,millet,wheat,gum arabic,sesame; sheep
Imports: foodstuffs,petroleum products,manufactured goods,machinery and transport equipment,medicines and chemicals,textiles
Industry: cotton ginning,textiles,cement,edible oils,sugar,soap distilling,shoes,petroleum refining
Admin-Div: 26 states (wilayat,singular - wilayah)
Capital: Khartoum
Country-name: Republic of the Sudan: S/F Sudan: Localy called: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan, localy called: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Gov-type: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution drafted by Presidential Committee,went into effect on 30 June 1998 after being approved in nationwide referendum
Swaziland
Population: 1,083,289
Can Read: 76.7%;
Death-rate: 20.4 per Thousand
Ethnicity: African 97%; European 3%;
Infant-mortality: 108.95/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official,government business conducted in English),siSwati (official)
Life-expectancy: 40.44 Years
Religions: Christian 60%; indigenous beliefs 40%;
Their Nation: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Area: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Farmable-Land-Use: 11%; pastures: 62%; woodland: 7%; other: 20%;
GeoNote: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
High/Low: lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Land-boundaries: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km,South Africa 430 km
Location:Southern Africa,between Mozambique and South Africa
Natural-resources: asbestos,coal,clay,cassiterite,hydropower,forests,small gold and diamond deposits,quarry stone,and talc
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
ISPs: 2
Phones: 20,000
Radio Stations: AM 3,FM 4,shortwave 1
Radios: 155,000
TV Stations: 2
TVs: 21,000
Airports: 18
Highways: 2,896 km
Rails: 297 km
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exports: soft drink concentrates,sugar,wood pulp,cotton yarn,refrigerators,citrus and canned fruit
Farming: sugarcane,cotton,corn,tobacco,rice,citrus,pineapples,sorghum,peanuts; cattle,goats,sheep
Imports: motor vehicles,machinery,transport equipment,foodstuffs,petroleum products,chemicals
Industry: mining (coal and asbestos),wood pulp,sugar,soft drink concentrates
Admin-Div: 4 districts;
Capital: Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Country-name: Kingdom of Swaziland: S/F Swaziland
Gov-type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Sweden
Population: 8,873,052
Can Read: 99%; (1979)
Death-rate: 10.62 per Thousand
Ethnicity: indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Lapp (Sami) minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns,Yugoslavs,Danes,Norwegians,Greeks,Turks
Infant-mortality: 3.49/1,000 born,die
Language: Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Life-expectancy: 79.58 Years
Religions: Lutheran 87%; Roman Catholic,Orthodox,Baptist,Muslim,Jewish,Buddhist
Their Nation: noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish
Area: 449,964 sq km land: 410,934 sq km water: 39,030 sq km
Climate: temperate in south with cold,cloudy winters and cool,partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 7%; pastures: 1%; woodland: 68%; other: 24%;
GeoNote: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
High/Low: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Land-boundaries: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km,Norway 1,619 km
Location:Northern Europe,bordering the Baltic Sea,Gulf of Bothnia,Kattegat,and Skagerrak,between Finland and Norway
Nat'l-Hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters,especially in the Gulf of Bothnia,can interfere with maritime traffic
Natural-resources: zinc,iron ore,lead,copper,silver,timber,uranium,hydropower
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Cell Phones: 3.835 million (October 1998)
ISPs: 29
Phones: 6.017 million (December 1998)
Radio Stations: AM 1,FM 265,shortwave 1
Radios: 8.25 million
TV Stations: 163
TVs: 4.6 million
Airports: 256
Highways: 210,907 km paved: 163,453 km, unpaved: 47,454 km
Ports/Harbors: Gavle,Goteborg,Halmstad,Helsingborg,Hudiksvall,Kalmar,Karlshamn,Malmo,Solvesborg,Stockholm,Sundsvall
Rails: 12,821 km.
Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exports: machinery 35%; motor vehicles,paper products,pulp and wood,iron and steel products,chemicals
Farming: grains,sugar beets,potatoes; meat,milk
Imports: machinery,petroleum and petroleum products,chemicals,motor vehicles,iron and steel; foodstuffs,clothing
Industry: iron and steel,precision equipment (bearings,radio and telephone parts,armaments),wood pulp and paper products,processed foods,motor vehicles
Admin-Div: 21 counties (lan)
Capital: Stockholm
Country-name: Kingdom of Sweden: S/F Sweden: Localy called: Konungariket Sverige, localy called: Sverige
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Switzerland
Population: 7,262,372
Can Read: 99%; (1980)
Death-rate: 8.75 per Thousand
Ethnicity: German 65%; French 18%; Italian 10%; Romansch 1%; other 6%;
Infant-mortality: 4.53/1,000 born,die
Language: German (official) 63.7%; French (official) 19.2%; Italian (official) 7.6%; Romansch 0.6%; other 8.9%;
Life-expectancy: 79.6 Years
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.1%; Protestant 40%; other 5%; none 8.9%; (1990)
Their Nation: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss
Area: 41,290 sq km land: 39,770 sq km water: 1,520 sq km
Climate: temperate,but varies with altitude; cold,cloudy,rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm,cloudy,humid summers with occasional showers
Farmable-Land-Use: 10%; crops: 2%; pastures: 28%; woodland: 32%; other: 28%;
GeoNote: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy,contains the highest elevations in Europe
High/Low: lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Land-boundaries: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km,France 573 km,Italy 740 km,Liechtenstein 41 km,Germany 334 km
Location:Central Europe,east of France,north of Italy
Nat'l-Hazards: avalanches,landslides,flash floods
Natural-resources: hydropower potential,timber,salt
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south,Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills,plains,and large lakes
Cell Phones: 810,170
ISPs: 115 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein)
Phones: 4.82 million
Radio Stations: AM 4,FM 113, shortwave 2
Radios: 7.1 million
TV Stations: 108
TVs: 3.31 million
Airports: 67
Highways: 71,059 km,
Ports/Harbors: Basel
Rails: 4,492 km
Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden,Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Currency: 1 Swiss franc,franken,or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes,rappen,or centesimi
Exports: machinery,chemicals,metals,watches,agricultural products
Farming: grains,fruits,vegetables; meat,eggs
Imports: machinery,chemicals,vehicles,metals; agricultural products,textiles
Industry: machinery,chemicals,watches,textiles,precision instruments
Admin-Div: 26 cantons
Capital: Bern
Country-name: Swiss Confederation: S/F Switzerland: Localy called: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian), localy called: Schweiz (German),Suisse (French),Svizzera (Italian)
Gov-type: federal republic
Syria
Population: 16,305,659
Can Read: 70.8%;
Death-rate: 5.29 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Arab 90.3%; Kurds,Armenians,and other 9.7%;
Infant-mortality: 34.86/1,000 born,die
Language: Arabic (official); Kurdish,Armenian,Aramaic,Circassian widely understood; French,English somewhat understood
Life-expectancy: 68.46 Years
Poverty-line: 15%-25%;
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%; Alawite,Druze,and other Muslim sects 16%; Christian (various sects) 10%; Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli,and Aleppo)
Their Nation: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian
Area: 185,180 sq km land: 184,050 sq km water: 1,130 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Climate: mostly desert; hot,dry,sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Farmable-Land-Use: 28%; crops: 4%; pastures: 43%; woodland: 3%; other: 22%;
GeoNote: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1999)
High/Low: lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Land-boundaries: 2,253 km border countries: Iraq 605 km,Israel 76 km,Jordan 375 km,Lebanon 375 km,Turkey 822 km
Location:Middle East,bordering the Mediterranean Sea,between Lebanon and Turkey
Nat'l-Hazards: dust storms,sandstorms
Natural-resources: petroleum,phosphates,chrome and manganese ores,asphalt,iron ore,rock salt,marble,gypsum,hydropower
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Phones: 930,000
Radio Stations: AM 14,FM 2,shortwave 1
Radios: 4.15 million
TV Stations: 54 (of which 36 are low-power and repeater stations)
TVs: 1.05 million
Airports: 104
Highways: 36,377 km paved: 26,299 km, unpaved: 10,078 km
Ports/Harbors: Baniyas,Jablah,Latakia,Tartus
Rails: 2,750 km
Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Currency: 1 Syrian pound = 100 piastres
Exports: petroleum 65%; textiles 10%; manufactured goods 10%; fruits and vegetables 7%; raw cotton 5%; live sheep 2%; phosphates 1%;
Farming: wheat,barley,cotton,lentils,chickpeas,olives,sugar beets; beef,mutton,eggs,poultry,milk
Imports: machinery and equipment 23%; foodstuffs/animals 20%; metal and metal products 15%; textiles 10%; chemicals 10%;
Industry: petroleum,textiles,food processing,beverages,tobacco,phosphate rock mining
Admin-Div: 14 provinces (muhafazat,singular - muhafazah)
Capital: Damascus
Country-name: Syrian Arab Republic: S/F Syria: Localy called: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah, localy called: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Gov-type: republic under military regime since March 1963
Taiwan
Population: 22,191,087
Can Read: 86%; (1980)
Death-rate: 5.91 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%; mainland Chinese 14%; aborigine 2%;
Infant-mortality: 7.06/1,000 born,die
Language: Mandarin Chinese (official),Taiwanese (Min),Hakka dialects
Life-expectancy: 76.35 Years
Poverty-line: 1%;
Religions: mixture of Buddhist,Confucian,and Taoist 93%; Christian 4.5%; other 2.5%;
Their Nation: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese
Area: 35,980 sq km land: 32,260 sq km water: 3,720 sq km note: includes the Pescadores,Matsu,and Quemoy
Climate tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Farmable-Land-Use: 24%; crops: 1%; pastures: 5%; woodland: 55%; other: 15%;
High/Low: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Island:
Location:Eastern Asia,islands bordering the East China Sea,Philippine Sea,South China Sea,and Taiwan Strait,north of the Philippines,off the southeastern coast of China
Nat'l-Hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
Natural-resources: small deposits of coal,natural gas,limestone,marble,and asbestos
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
Cell Phones: 10.2 million (October 1999)
ISPs: 15
Phones: 12 million (October 1999)
Radio Stations: AM 218,FM 333,shortwave 50
Radios: 16 million
TV Stations: 29
TVs: 8.8 million
Airports: 38
Highways: 34,901 km paved: 31,271 km, unpaved: 3,630 km
Ports/Harbors: Chi-lung (Keelung),Hua-lien,Kao-hsiung,Su-ao,T'ai-chung
Rails: 2,481 km
Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exports: electronics,electric and machinery equipment 52%; metals,textiles,plastics,chemicals
Farming: rice,corn,vegetables,fruit,tea; pigs,poultry,beef,milk; fish
Imports: electronics,electric and machinery equipment 45%; minerals,precision instruments
Industry: electronics,petroleum refining,chemicals,textiles,iron and steel,machinery,cement,food processing
Admin-Div: Authorities claimed to be the government of all (No official ones)
Capital: Taipei
Country-name: none: S/F Taiwan: Localy called: none, localy called: T'ai-wan
Gov-type: multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly elected president
Tajikistan
Population: 6,440,732
Can Read: 98%; (1989)
Death-rate: 8.64 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Tajik 64.9%; Uzbek 25%; Russian 3.5%; (declining because of emigration),other 6.6%;
Infant-mortality: 117.42/1,000 born,die
Language: Tajik (official),Russian widely used in government and business
Life-expectancy: 64.08 Years (~
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%; Shi'a Muslim 5%;
Their Nation: noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani
Area: 143,100 sq km land: 142,700 sq km water: 400 sq km
Climate: midlatitude continental,hot summers,mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Farmable-Land-Use: 6%; pastures: 25%; woodland: 4%; other: 65%;
GeoNote: landlocked
High/Low: lowest point: Syrdariya 300 m highest point: Pik Imeni Ismail Samani 7,495 m
Land-boundaries: 3,651 km border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km,China 414 km,Kyrgyzstan 870 km,Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Location:Central Asia,west of China
Natural-resources: hydropower,some petroleum,uranium,mercury,brown coal,lead,zinc,antimony,tungsten
Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north,Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Phones: 263,000
Radio Stations: AM 9,FM 6,shortwave 5
Radios: 1.291 million (1991)
TV Stations: 0 (there are,however,repeaters that relay programs from Russia,Iran,and Turkey)
TVs: 860,000 (1991)
Airports: 59
Highways: 13,700 km paved: 11,330 km (SoCalled hard paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced) unpaved: 2,370 km
Rails: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Currency: Tajikistani ruble (TJR) = 100 tanga
Exports: aluminum,electricity,cotton,fruits,vegetable oil,textiles
Farming: cotton,grain,fruits,grapes,vegetables; cattle,sheep,goats
Imports: electricity,petroleum products,aluminum oxide,machinery and equipment,foodstuffs
Industry: aluminum,zinc,lead,chemicals and fertilizers,cement,vegetable oil,metal-cutting machine tools,refrigerators and freezers
Admin-Div: 2 oblasts (viloyatho,singular - viloyat) and one autonomous oblast*(viloyati mukhtori)
Capital: Dushanbe
Country-name: Republic of Tajikistan: S/F Tajikistan: Localy called: Jumhurii Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Gov-type: republic
Tanzania
Population: 35,306,126
Can Read: 67.8%
Language: Kiswahili or Swahili (official),Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar),English (official,primary language of commerce,administration,and higher education),Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar),many local languages note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources,including Arabic and English,and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
Death-rate: 12.88 per Thousand
Ethnicity: mainland - native African 99%; (of which 95%; are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes),other 1%; (consisting of Asian,European,and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab,native African,mixed Arab and native African
Infant-mortality: 80.97/1,000 born,die
Life-expectancy: 52.26 Years
Poverty-line: 51.1%; (1991)
Religions: mainland - Christian 45%; Muslim 35%; indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar - more than 99%; Muslim
Their Nation: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian
Area: 945,087 sq km land: 886,037 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia,Pemba,and Zanzibar
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Farmable-Land-Use: 3%; crops: 1%; pastures: 40%; woodland: 38%; other: 18%;
GeoNote: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
High/Low: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Land-boundaries: 3,402 km border countries: Burundi 451 km,Kenya 769 km,Malawi 475 km,Mozambique 756 km,Rwanda 217 km,Uganda 396 km,Zambia 338 km
Location:Eastern Africa,bordering the Indian Ocean,between Kenya and Mozambique
Nat'l-Hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
Natural-resources: hydropower,tin,phosphates,iron ore,coal,diamonds,gemstones,gold,natural gas,nickel
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,south
Cell Phones: 30,000
ISPs: 7
Phones: 127,000
Radio Stations: AM 12,FM 11,shortwave 2
Radios: 8.8 million
TV Stations: 3
TVs: 103,000
Airports: 129
Highways: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km
Ports/Harbors: Bukoba,Dar es Salaam,Kigoma,Kilwa Masoko,Lindi,Mtwara,Mwanza,Pangani,Tanga,Wete,Zanzibar
Rails: 3,569 km
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika,Lake Victoria,Lake Nyasa
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exports: coffee,manufactured goods,cotton,cashew nuts,minerals,tobacco,sisal
Farming: coffee,sisal,tea,cotton,pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),cashew nuts,tobacco,cloves (Zanzibar),corn,wheat,cassava (tapioca),bananas,fruits, vegetables; cattle,sheep,goats
Imports: consumer goods,machinery and transportation equipment,industrial raw materials,crude oil
Industry: primarily agricultural processing (sugar,beer,cigarettes,sisal twine),diamond and gold mining,oil refining,shoes,cement,textiles,wood products,fertilizer,salt
Admin-Div: 25 regions;
Capital: Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma,which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis
Country-name: United Republic of Tanzania: S/F Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Gov-type: republic
Thailand
Population: 61,230,874
Can Read: 93.8%;
Death-rate: 7.53 per Thousand
Ethnicity: Thai 75%; Chinese 14%; other 11%;
Infant-mortality: 31.48/1,000 born,die
Language: Thai,English (secondary language of the elite),ethnic and regional dialects
Life-expectancy: 68.55 Years
Poverty-line: 12.5%;
Religions: Buddhism 95%; Muslim 3.8%; Christianity 0.5%; Hinduism 0.1%; other 0.6%; (1991)
Their Nation: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai
Area: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km
Climate tropical; rainy,warm,cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry,cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Farmable-Land-Use: 34%; crops: 6%; pastures: 2%; woodland: 26%; other: 32%;
GeoNote: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
High/Low: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Land-boundaries: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km,Cambodia 803 km,Laos 1,754 km,Malaysia 506 km
Location:Southeastern Asia,bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand,southeast of Burma
Nat'l-Hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Natural-resources: tin,rubber,natural gas,tungsten,tantalum,timber,lead,fish,gypsum,lignite,fluorite,arable land
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Cell Phones: 2.3 million
ISPs: 13
Phones: 5.4 million
Radio Stations: AM 204,FM 334,shortwave 6
Radios: 13.96 million
TV Stations: 5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters)
TVs: 15.19 million
Airports: 106
Highways: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km
Ports/Harbors: Bangkok,Laem Chabang,Pattani,Phuket,Sattahip,Si Racha,Songkhla
Rails: 3,940 km
Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exports: computers and parts,textiles,rice
Farming: rice,cassava (tapioca),rubber,corn,sugarcane,coconuts,soybeans
Imports: capital goods,intermediate goods and raw materials,consumer goods,fuels
Industry: tourism; textiles and garments,agricultural processing,beverages,tobacco,cement,light manufacturing,such as jewelry; electric appliances and components,computers and parts, integrated circuits,furniture,plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Admin-Div: 76 provinces (changwat);:
Capital: Bangkok
Country-name: Kingdom of Thailand: S/F Thailand
Gov-type: constitutional monarchy
Togo
Population: 5,018,502
Can Read: 51.7%;
Death-rate: 11.18 per Thousand
Ethnicity: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,Mina,and Kabre) 99%; European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%;
Infant-mortality: 71.55/1,000 born,die
Language: French (official and the language of commerce),Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south),Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Life-expectancy: 54.69 Years (~
Poverty-line: 32%; (1987-89)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%; Christian 20%; Muslim 10%;
Their Nation: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese
Area: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km
Climate tropical; hot,humid in south; semiarid in north
Farmable-Land-Use: 38%; crops: 7%; pastures: 4%; woodland: 17%; other: 34%;
High/Low:Low Ocean level highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Land-boundaries: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km,Burkina Faso 126 km,Ghana 877 km
Location:Western Africa,bordering the Bight of Benin,between Benin and Ghana
Nat'l-Hazards: hot,dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Natural-resources: phosphates,limestone,marble,arable land
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
ISPs: 1
Phones: 22,000
Radio Stations: AM 2,FM 9,shortwave 4
Radios: 940,000
TV Stations: 3
TVs: 73,000
Airports: 9
Highways: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km
Ports/Harbors: Kpeme,Lome
Rails: 525 km
Waterways: 50 km Mono river
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exports: cotton,phosphates,coffee,cocoa
Farming: coffee,cocoa,cotton,yams,cassava (tapioca),corn,beans,rice,millet,sorghum; livestock; fish
Imports: machinery and equipment,foodstuffs,petroleum products
Industry: phosphate mining,agricultural processing,cement; handicrafts,textiles,beverages
Admin-Div: 5 regions (regions,singular - region); De La Kara,Des Plateaux,Des Savanes,Du Centre,Maritime
Capital: Lome
Country-name: Togolese Republic: S/F Togo: Localy called: Republique Togolaise former: French Togoland
Gov-type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Trinidad and Tobago
Population: 1,175,523
Can Read: 97.9%;
Death-rate: 8.84 per Thousand
Ethnicity: black 39.5%; East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%; mixed 18.4%; white 0.6%; Chinese and other 1.2%;
Infant-mortality: 25.76/1,000 born,die
Language: English (official),Hindi,French,Spanish,Chinese
Life-expectancy: 67.97 Years
Poverty-line: 21%
Religions: Roman Catholic 29.4%; Hindu 23.8%; Anglican 10.9%; Muslim 5.8%; Presbyterian 3.4%; other 26.7%;
Their Nation: noun: Trinidadian(s),Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian,Tobagonian
Area: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km
Climate tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Farmable-Land-Use: 15%; crops: 9%; pastures: 2%; woodland: 46%; other: 28%;
High/Low: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Island:
Location:Caribbean,islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,northeast of Venezuela
Nat'l-Hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Natural-resources: petroleum,natural gas,asphalt
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Cell Phones: 5,615
ISPs: 5
Phones: 209,000
Radio Stations: AM 2,FM 10,
Radios: 680,000
TV Stations: 4
TVs: 425,000
Airports: 6
Highways: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km
Ports/Harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre,Point Fortin,Point Lisas,Port-of-Spain,Scarborough,Tembladora
Rails: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exports: petroleum and petroleum products,chemicals,steel products,fertilizer,sugar,cocoa,coffee,citrus,flowers
Farming: cocoa,sugarcane,rice,citrus,coffee,vegetables; poultry
Imports: machinery,transportation equipment,manufactured goods,food,live animals
Industry: petroleum,chemicals,tourism,food processing,cement,beverage,cotton textiles other: 0.73%;
Admin-Div: 8 counties,3 municipalities,and 1 ward:
Capital: Port-of-Spain
Country-name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: S/F Trinidad and Tobago
Gov-type: parliamentary democracy
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