Kids Visual Reference of The World PDF

The
CKBIRC
A
H
L
Kids
VISUAL REFERENCE
OF THE
World
More than 2,500 graphs, charts, maps,
and photos that cover the most important and
interesting facts about every country on the planet!
By the Editors of
Blackbirch Press
Maps, Charts, and Graphs by
Bob Italiano
B L A C K B I R C H
W O O D B R I D G E ,
P R E S S ,
I N C .
C O N N E C T I C U T
The
CKBIRC
A
H
L
Kids
VISUAL REFERENCE
OF THE
World
More than 2,500 graphs, charts, maps,
and photos that cover the most important and
interesting facts about every country on the planet!
By the Editors of
Blackbirch Press
Maps, Charts, and Graphs by
Bob Italiano
B L A C K B I R C H
W O O D B R I D G E ,
P R E S S ,
I N C .
C O N N E C T I C U T
Published by Blackbirch Press, Inc.

260 Amity Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525
2001 by Blackbirch Press, Inc.
First Edition
e-mail: staff@blackbirch.com
Web site: www.blackbirch.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without
permission in writing from Blackbirch Press, Inc., except by a reviewer.
Printed in China
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The Kids Visual Reference of the World Staff
Publisher: Bruce S. Glassman
Editorial Director: W. Scott Ingram
Editor/Photo Research: Emily Kucharczyk
Editorial: Jenifer Morse, Kristen Woronoff
Art Director/Book Design: Calico Harington
Layout: Mary Mazzara
Indexer: Kathleen Rocheleau
A Note About Statistics

The statistical information in this book is based primarily on data from the CIA World Factbook
2000. Certain supplemental data was adapted from other almanacs and reference sources.
A Note about area data and country size rankings:
All area data is total land area, as supplied by the CIA World Factbook. Total population and
numerical rankings by population are supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau/International Database.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The Blackbirch kids visual reference of the world / by the editors of Blackbirch Press.
p. cm.
Includes index.
Summary: Presents maps and information about all the countries of the world, from Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe.
ISBN 1-56711-579-9 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. GeographyEncyclopedias, Juvenile. [1. Atlases. 2. Geography.]
I. Blackbirch Press. II. Title.
G133 .B49 2001
910dc21
2001003056
Color Key for Continents
Africa
Asia
Europe
North
America
Oceania/
Australia
South
America
Table of Contents
How To Use This Book ........6
Africa..................................27
Trade Winds and Currents..37
All About Maps ......................9
Asia ....................................28
Selected Endangered Species
Parts of a Map ........................9
Oceania ..............................29
Kinds of Maps ......................10
North America ..................30
Thematic Maps ....................11
South America ..................31
Longitude and Latitude ......12

Famous Lines of Latitude ..13
Political Maps
Thematic Maps
Calendars of the World ......32
International Time Zones ..32
of the World......................38
Unique Animals of the
World ................................38
Origins of Selected Musical
Styles and Instruments ....39
Selected Wonders and
World ................................16
Religions of the World ........33
Landmarks Around the
Europe ..............................18
Languages of the World ......33
World ................................39
Africa..................................19
Selected Countries and
Countries of the World
Asia ....................................20
Currencies ........................34
Afghanistan ........................40
Oceania ..............................21
Defense Budget ....................34
Albania ..............................42
North America ..................22
World Population Density ..35
Algeria................................43
South America ..................23
World Annual Average
Andorra ..............................45
Topographical Maps
Population Growth ..........35
Angola ................................46
World ................................24
Oceans of the World............36
Antigua and Barbuda ........48
Europe ..............................26
World Climate Zones ..........36
Argentina ..........................49
Antarctica ..........................26
World Biomes ......................37
Armenia..............................51
Australia ............................52
Cuba ................................108
Iran ..................................160
Austria ................................54
Cyprus..............................110
Iraq ..................................162
Azerbaijan ..........................56
Czech Republic................111
Ireland..............................164
Bahamas ............................57
Denmark ..........................113
Israel ................................165
Bahrain ..............................58
Djibouti............................114
Italy ..................................166
Bangladesh ........................59
Dominica ........................115
Jamaica ............................168
Barbados ............................63
Dominican Republic........116
Japan ................................169
Belarus................................64
Ecuador............................117
Jordan ..............................173
Belgium..............................66
Egypt................................119
Kazakhstan ......................174
Belize..................................68
El Salvador ......................121
Kenya ..............................176
Benin ..................................69
Equatorial Guinea ..........122
Kiribati ............................178
Bhutan................................70
Eritrea ..............................123
Kuwait..............................179
Bolivia ................................71
Estonia ............................124
Kyrgyzstan ......................180
Bosnia ................................72
Ethiopia............................125
Laos..................................181
Botswana ............................73
Fiji ....................................127
Latvia ..............................182
Brazil ..................................74
Finland ............................128
Lebanon ..........................183
Brunei ................................78
France ..............................129
Lesotho ............................184
Bulgaria ..............................79
Gabon ..............................131
Liberia..............................185
Burkina Faso ......................80
Gambia ............................132
Libya ................................186
Burundi ..............................82
Georgia ............................133
Liechtenstein ..................187
Cambodia ..........................83
Germany ..........................134
Lithuania..........................188
Cameroon ..........................85
Ghana ..............................136
Luxembourg ....................189
Canada ..............................87
Greece..............................138
Macedonia........................190
Cape Verde ........................89
Grenada ..........................140
Madagascar ......................191
Central African Republic ..90
Guatemala........................141
Malawi..............................193
Chad ..................................91
Guinea..............................143
Malaysia ..........................195
Chile ..................................92
Guinea-Bissau..................144
Maldives ..........................197
China..................................94
Guyana ............................145
Mali ..................................198
Colombia ..........................98
Haiti ................................146
Malta ................................200
Comoros ..........................100
Honduras ........................147
Marshall Islands ..............201
Congo ..............................101
Hong Kong......................148
Mauritania........................202
Congo (Zaire) ..................102
Hungary ..........................149
Mauritius..........................203
Costa Rica........................104
Iceland..............................151
Mexico..............................204
Cte dIvoire....................105
India ................................152
Micronesia ......................206
Croatia ............................107
Indonesia..........................156
Moldova ..........................207
Monaco ............................208
Rwanda ............................255
Tanzania ..........................293
Mongolia..........................209
St. Kitts and Nevis ..........256
Thailand ..........................295
Morocco ..........................210
St. Lucia ..........................257
Togo ................................297
Mozambique ....................212
St. Vincent ......................258
Tonga ..............................298
Myanmar..........................214
Samoa ..............................259
Trinidad and Tobago ......299
Namibia ..........................216
San Marino ......................260
Tunisia..............................300
Nauru ..............................217
So Tom and Prncipe ..261
Turkey ..............................302
Nepal................................218
Saudi Arabia ....................262
Turkmenistan ..................304
Netherlands ....................220
Senegal ............................264
Tuvalu ..............................305
New Zealand ..................222
Seychelles ........................265
Uganda ............................306
Nicaragua ........................223
Sierra Leone ....................266
Ukraine ............................308
Niger................................224
Singapore ........................267
United Arab Emirates ....310
Nigeria ............................226
Slovakia ............................268
United Kingdom ............311
North Korea ....................228
Slovenia............................269
United States ..................313
Norway ............................230
Solomon Islands ..............270
Uruguay ..........................317
Oman ..............................231
Somalia ............................271
Uzbekistan ......................318
Pakistan............................232
South Africa ....................273
Vanuatu ............................320
Palau ................................236
South Korea ....................275
Vatican City ....................321
Panama ............................337
Spain ................................277
Venezuela ........................322
Papua New Guinea..........238
Sri Lanka..........................279
Vietnam............................324
Paraguay ..........................239
Sudan ..............................281
Yemen ..............................326
Peru..................................240
Suriname ..........................283
Yugoslavia ........................328
Philippines ......................242
Swaziland ........................284
Zambia ............................330
Poland ..............................244
Sweden ............................285
Zimbabwe ........................332
Portugal ..........................246
Switzerland ......................287
Territories and Possessions ..334
Qatar ................................248
Syria ................................288
For Further Information ....346
Romania ..........................249
Taiwan..............................290
Index....................................350
Russia ..............................251
Tajikistan..........................292
Photo Credits......................360
How to Use This Book

What is the highest point in Afghanistan? What countries border
Burundi? Whats the difference between Slovakia and Slovenia?
What is a dinar? What language is spoken in Tonga? Chances are,
you cant answer those questions off the top of your head. Not
many people can. If youve ever been puzzled by questions like
thoseor if you need to know for a report or research project
you have come to the right place to find the answers.
The Kids Visual Atlas of the World will take you on a tour of every
country in the world. On the one-, two-, or four-page entries within youll
find charts, tables, photos, maps, graphics, and illustrations that provide
you with a complete picture of any country that excites your interest.
There are plenty of countries to find out about, too. Every piece of
land on Earth, except Antarctica, is part of some country. Today, there are nearly 200 independent countries, each with its own borders, government, name, and flag. Some, such as
China or Brazil, are familiar. Others, such as San Marino or Brunei, are perhaps not as well
knownexcept to the people who live there. There are also many territories, possessions,
and other areas that are not official countries, but which have their own culture and ways
of life.
Before you flip ahead and start using this book, however, here are some tips for getting
the most from this world tour.
Average Daily Temperature
2. Skim the country. Look at the color bar at the top of the
page. If the color is green, it means the featured country is
in Africa. If it is orange, the country is in Europe. Use the
color key on the Table of Contents for reference.
Skimming pages is like flying over a country. There is a great deal of information about each place on every page. First, look at the flag. Compare it to
others you know. Next, look at the area and population rankings on the line
graphs. Those will quickly tell you whether you are visiting a large or small
country. So will the map. Look at the locator map to see where in the world
the country is. Then look at the map of country itself. What countries border it? What are some of the largest cities? Landmarks? Bodies of water?
Go on to the climate chart on the lower
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
left of the opening page (see right). By
12 in/30 cm
80F/27C
looking at the red line you can tell which
9 in/23 cm
60F/16C
months are hot and which are cold. (The
6 in/15 cm
40F/4C
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
months are abbreviated with letters along
0 in/0 cm
0F/-18C
the bottom of the graph.) By looking at the
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temperature and rainfall
blue bars, you can tell how much rain falls
each month. Now look at the pie graphs to
learn about the people, religion, exports, land, and government of the country. You should be able to see, at first glance, what the largest ethnic group
is. Or which export is the most important. Finish by looking at the photos.
These will show you something about the land and the people. By now, you
should have a good idea where you are going.
Other 11%
Garments
9%
Marine
products
10%
Re-exports
12%
Raw
sugar
30%
Bananas
14%
Orange
concentrate
14%
Exports
Romansch 1%
Italian
10%
French
18%
Other 6%
Other
Protestant 6%
Average Rainfall
1. Plan your trip. You wouldnt go on a real trip without investigating your
destination, right? The same holds true here. Before you look up an entry ask
yourself: What do I know about this country? Make a mental note of what
you think the climate, the people, and the government may be like. Then ask
yourself: What do I want to know about this country? That way, youll know
what to look for when you land on the page.
Other 4%
Baptist
10%
German
65%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
80%
Major Religions
$166 million
3. Read About the Place and the People. Begin by reading the At a Glance
box at the top left of the opening page. It will be like stepping out of the
plane onto the soil of your country. Next,
At a Glance
read the description of the country. What
Official Name: Republic of
type of landscapes does it have? What bodCosta Rica
Continent:
North (Central) America
ies of water? Large cities? Ports? Continue
Area: 19,730 square miles
your tour by reading about the people.
(51,100 sq km)
Compare their lives to yours. How are they
Population: 3,674,490
Capital City: San Jose
alike? How are they different? In larger
Largest City: San Jose (318,765)
countries, you may find more information
Unit of Money: Costa Rican colon
Major Language: Spanish (official)
about education and culture. Compare it to
Literacy: 93%
your own. Would you want to go to school
Land Use: 6% arable, 7% crops,
there? What would you do for fun?
45% meadow, 34% forest, 8% other
Natural Resources: Hydropower potential
4. Review your visit. On the last day of a

Government: Democratic republic
Defense: No armed forces
trip, you always think back to the people
and places youve seen. Its the same here.
Go back to the map, charts, or photos once again. What did you learn about
the country? Think of four of five facts to share about the place you have
just visited. If you want to learn more, go to the For Further Information
section that begins on page 346. There, youll find listings of Web sites,
books, videos, and other tools to help you gather even more knowledge.
Now that you know how to use this atlas, youre ready to take off. Have a great trip!
Atlas Terms
archipelago a chain of islands
atoll a low island made of coral reefs
ethnic makeup the race or national origin of a
countrys population
exports goods sold to other countries
gulf a part of an ocean or seas extending into the
land, larger than a bay
life expectancy the average number of years people
in a country live
literate able to read and write
mountain chain a row of mountains joined together,
also called a range
permanent pastures used for the commercial raising

of livestock
plains a large area of land that is flat or gently rolling
population density the number of people living
within a given area
rural having to do with the countryside
savanna an area with thick grasslands and short trees
territory a geographic region, such as a colony, that
is under the control of an external government
tundra a region in which small ground plants cover
frozen ground
urban having to do with cities
All About Maps

People have used maps since they first marked territory or traveled from one location to
another. In prehistoric times, people drew maps on cave walls in Europe. The early Inuit
in North America carved maps of coastlines into ivory walrus tusks.
The oldest known map comes from an ancient settlement in what is now Ukraine. That
map, made about 13,000 B.C.E., was engraved on ivory. It shows the location of someones
property, marked in a river valley between two mountain ranges.
Maps were common in ancient Greece, and for more than 1,500 years, Greece was the
center of geographic studies and cartography (the science of mapmaking) . Greek cartographers combined exploration with their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy to create
N
Scale
ARCTIC OCEAN
1,000
km
miles
1,000
Bering
Sea
Key
Aral
Sea
Se
a
Sea of
Japan
Arabian
Sea
Bay of
Bengal
Ch
in
a
Sea
an
spi
Ca
A map key or legend explains

the information shown on a
map. This information is the
key to understanding the
map. A key may include
symbols, boundary markers,
color graphs, and a scale bar.
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
So
ut
h
Parts of a Map
The scale bar shows how

much smaller the map is than
the real area it represents. It
uses inches to represent miles or centimeters to represent kilometers.
INDIAN
OCEAN
Coal
Petroleum
Iron ore
Tin
Copper
Lead
Manganese
Phosphate rock
Zinc
Chromite
Nickel
Tungsten
Gold
The compass rose is a group of direction arrows. The letters on a compass rose are
N for north, S for south, E for east, and W for west. North on a map always points
toward the North Pole.
The locator is a world or regional map inset on certain maps to show where that
place is located in relation to a larger area.
A map index in an atlas is an alphabetical listing of the places that appear on the
maps. Each place has a letter-number locator and the page number on which it
appears. The letter-number grid appears on the map, and forms a border around a map.
The maps in this book do not have map indexes or locator grids.
Kinds of Maps
Maps are very useful tools. They give an idea of
where things are in relation to one another. Here
are the different types of maps you can find to fit
your needs.
Globes The most accurate representation of Earth is
a circular model of the planet. One disadvantage of
globes is that only half of Earth can be seen at one time.
Globes arent easily portable either.
Flat maps These maps are called projections. A map projection is a way
of showing the round Earth on a flat surface. The most common map
projections are Robinson, Mercator, and Molleweid.
Mercator On this kind of map, lines of longitude are evenly spaced vertical lines.
Lines of latitude are parallel horizontal straight lines spaced farther and farther apart as they move away from the equator. This projection is often used
for navigation charts to plot a straight course. It is less practical for world
maps because the scale does not accurately show the size of landmasses in
relation to one another.
Political Maps A political map shows political units, such as countries, states, and
cities, and their boundaries. Political maps change as countries expand, diminish,
alter borders, or change their names. A collection of political maps can be found
on pages 1623.
Physical maps These are also called topographical maps. Topography is a word for
the physical features of Earths surface as shown in maps. Physical maps show
topography, such as mountains, rivers, and lakes. These maps can also show land
elevation and ocean depth. Contours, which appear on physical maps, are lines
that connect all points of land with equal elevation in the area shown. Reliefs
are the differences in elevation or heights of landforms as shown on physical
maps. A collection of topographical maps can be found on pages 2431.
10
world maps. The Greeks were among the few people in the ancient world who believed
the world was round. In 200 B.C.E., the Greek mathematician, Erasthones, calculated that
Earth's circumference measured 25,000 miles (40,233 kilometers). Centuries later, more
advanced calculations showed that he was off by only 340 miles (547 kilometers).
In 150 C.E., during the time of the Roman Empire, the Greek cartographer Ptolemy wrote
an eight-volume work called Geography. This collection of 27 maps was the first published
work ever to use a grid system of longitude and latitude for locating places throughout the
known world. Ptolemy also felt that maps should accurately show the sizes of different
regions in relation to one another. He did this by showing a world map overview and then
Thematic Maps
Thematic maps provide information about a specific topic, such as weather. Many different types of weather can be plotted on a map, including climate, wind currents, or temperatures. Another example of a thematic map is a historical map that gives information
about events that took place in a certain location. A map of the United States that
shows the locations and dates of the major battles of the Civil War is one example of a
thematic map. A world map showing the locations of the greatest number of oil wells
would be an example of a resources thematic map. A collection of thematic maps can be
found on pages 3239.
More About Thematic Maps

Mapping Medical Mysteries
In 1854, a doctor named John Snow tried to find the source of an
outbreak of deadly cholera disease in London. He drew a thematic map
of London. A dot marked the site of each death from the disease, and a
cross marked the site of each water pump. When the map was complete, the answer was
clearpeople who drank from a pump on Broad Street were the people who contracted
the disease.
Cracking Cases with Computers
Police in large U.S. cities often uses thematic maps in their efforts to
solve crimes. Using a system called Comstatshort for computer statisticsand a computer-drawn map, law enforcement officials can plot
crime locations and analyze the results to track down criminals.
11
a series of regional maps that could be larger or smaller depending on the area. Amazingly,
that is the way atlases are still structured today, almost 2,000 years later.
As important as Ptolemy's work was, he made several mistakes that would affect exploration and mapmaking for more than 1,000 years. Because Asia had not been explored, he
guessed at its size and made it much larger than it actually is. Ptolemy also made a mistake
in calculating the size of Earth. As a result, his world maps showed the western edge of
Europe only a small ocean away from the eastern edge of China.
No one knew that two more continentsNorth and South Americaas well as the
immense Pacific Ocean lay between Europe and Asia. This misconception is what led
Columbus to believe he had landed in Asia when he stepped ashore in the New World
in 1492.
During the Middle Ages, from 400-1450 C.E., maps such as Ptolemys were preserved by
Arabs, who explored much of Asia and Africa. As the Middle Ages ended, Europeans rediscovered the maps, and the age of European exploration began. The voyages of Columbus,
Magellan, and many other European explorers led to new and more accurate maps of Earth.
Longitude and Latitude
100
160
60
On the vast ocean there is no way to tell your position by

looking for landits too far away to be seen. Using a
system of imaginary lines that divides Earth into sections,
however, allows any point on the planet to be located.
Tropic of Cancer
Every point is expressed in degrees. In order to find
absolute locations, degrees are divided into minutes (')
and seconds ("). There are 60 minutes in each degree and
E Q UATO R
60 seconds in each minute.
Lines of longitude are called meridians. In the second
Tropic of C apricorn
century C.E., Greek cartographer Ptolemy set zero degree longitude
through the Canary Islands off the West Coast of Africa. This mark,
called the prime meridian, was moved many times over the centuries. Finally, an international
conference set it at Greenwich, England, in 1884. All measurements of longitude are expressed
as west or east of the prime meridian.
Lines of latitude are called parallels. They are horizontal lines that are used to measure distance in degrees north and south of the equator, which is at zero degrees latitude. The North
Pole is 90 degrees north and the South Pole is 90 degrees south. There are about 17 parallels
of latitude. Degrees of latitude are about 69 miles (111 km) apart.
80
180
40
160
140
20
60
120
20
100
80
40
20
20
40
60
12
60
40
Famous Lines of Latitude

The equator circles Earth halfway
between the North and South poles,
dividing the planet into the Northern
and Southern Hemispheres. At the equator there is no twilight. When the sun
goes down, the darkness of night
abruptly takes over.
The Antarctic Circle is a parallel of latitude
at 60 degrees, 30 minutes south. It is the
southernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the summer solstice on June 22.
The Arctic Circle is the parallel of latitude at 66 degrees, 30 minutes north. It is
the northernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the winter solstice on
December 22.
The Tropic of Cancer is a parallel of latitude 23 degrees, 27 minutes north of the
equator. It is the northern boundary of the Torrid Zone, the most northerly latitude
at which the sun can shine directly overhead.
The Tropic of Capricorn is a parallel of latitude at 23 degrees, 27 minutes south
of the equator. It is the southern boundary of the Torrid Zone, the most southerly
latitude at which the sun can shine directly overhead.
The Horse Latitudes are areas on the Atlantic Ocean at about 30 degrees north and
south of the equator. These open ocean areas are known for the low pressure and
long windless periods known as calms. These latitudes were named during the days
when explorers first sailed from Europe to North
and South America. Ships could be stranded
World Wise
for weeks in these areas without wind. To
The zero degree lines of
lighten the load and make the ships move
latitude and longitude intersect
more easily when a breeze arose, horses were
off the West Coast of Africa.
often thrown overboard.
13
The first published collections of maps appeared in the mid-1500s. These books did not
have the word atlas in their titles, but many volumes used the word because they contained
an illustration of Atlasthe giant from Greek mythology who held the world on his shoulders. In 1585, cartographer Gerardus Mercator of Belgium published the first book that was
actually called an atlas.
Mercator is most famous, however, for the type of maps he drew. He laid out his maps in
rectangles so that the lines of latitude and longitude formed a grid. Prior to Mercator,
maps were drawn in ovals with curved lines of longitude and latitude. Mercator's map was
valuable to sailors because it allowed them to plot straight-line courses across the ocean.
The Mercator projection is the most widely used map projection today.
As exploration continued into the 1700s, new techniques and tools were developed for
surveying land, which in turn led to more accurate maps. By measuring angles and distances between points, surveyors were able to learn the shape, size, and position of an area.
The new developments in surveying helped to establish boundaries of newly explored
areas. And, for some explorers who were trained in surveying, mapmaking became a much
more accurate activity.
It wasnt until 1784, just after the American Revolution, that an American made the first
Before Mercator, maps were drawn in ovals, with curved lines of latitude and longitude.
14
Map of the world drawn in a Mercator projection, 1630
map of America. Abel Buell of Connecticut created a map of the new United States that
extended as far west as the Mississippi River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition in 18041806
was the first U.S. expedition to venture into lands west of the Mississippi. During the
28-month journey, both explorers made hundreds of sketches. In 1814, Clark published a
map of the regionthe first map of the eastern and western areas of the United States.
In the late 19th century, new methods of travelthe train and later the automobile
created a booming new market for mapmakers and map publishers. Some of the first published maps, prepared by Rand McNally & Company in the 1870s, showed railroad lines in
the Midwest. With the arrival of the automobile in the early 1900s, maps became more
popular than ever. In 1917, Rand McNally published the first road maps that used numbers to identify highways.
Cartography has come a long way since the days of marking property boundaries on a
clay disk. And in the past century, change has come more rapidly than ever before.
Satellites and computers now allow cartographers to create accurate and detailed maps
more easily and quickly than has ever been possible. As much as cartography has changed,
however, the reason for mapmaking is the same as it always had been. As long as we
remain curious about our world and our place within it, we will need maps to show us
where we are going and where we have been.
15
ARCTIC OCEAN
ARCTIC OCEAN
GREENLAND
U.S.A.
(Alaska)
ICELAND
CANADA
NORWAY
DENMARK
IRELAND
UNITED
KINGDOM 1
GERM
2
16
PA C I F I C O C E A N
PORTUGAL
FRANCE 4
ITAL
14
15
SPAIN
UNITED STATES
MOROCCO
AT L A N T I C O C E A N
THE BAHAMAS
CUBA
MEXICO
HAITI
DOMINICAN REPUPLIC
JAMAICA
35
BELIZE
PUERTO 36 37
HONDURAS RICO 38
40 39
NICARAGUA
U.S.A.
(Hawaii)
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
41
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

VENEZUELA
GUYANA
SURINAME
FRENCH GUIANA
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
KIRIBATI
ALGERIA
WESTERN
SAHARA
SENEGAL
MAURITANIA MALI
GAMBIA
GUINEABISSAU
GUINEA
SIERRA LEONE
LIBERIA
CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS
NIGE
28
29
30
32
NIGERIA
31
33
34
SO TOM
AND PRNCIPE
GABON
CONGO
BRAZIL
PERU
BOLIVIA
CHILE
PARAGUAY
AT L A N T I C O C E A N
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
Key to numbered countries

28. BURKINA FASO
1. NETHERLANDS
14. ANDORRA
2. BELGIUM
15. MONACO
29. CTE D'IVOIRE
3. LUXEMBOURG
16. LIECHTENSTEIN
30. GHANA
4. SWITZERLAND
17. MALTA
31. TOGO
5. CROATIA
18. SAN MARINO
32. BENIN
6. SLOVENIA
19. HOLY SEE
33. CAMEROON
7. SLOVAKIA
20. AUSTRIA
34. EQUATORIAL GUINEA
8. CZECH REPUBLIC
21. HUNGARY
35. ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
9. MOLDOVA
22. ARMENIA
36. ST. KITTS-NEVIS
10. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
23. AZERBAIJAN
37. DOMINICA
11. ALBANIA
24. LEBANON
38. ST. LUCIA
12. MACEDONIA
25. CYPRUS
39. BARBADOS
13. YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA
26. RWANDA
40. ST. VINCENT &
&
MONTENEGRO)
27. BURUNDI
THE GRENADINES
41. GRENADA

0
1,500
km
16
miles
Scale at the Equator
1,500
FALKLAND ISLANDS
SWEDEN
FINLAND
Y
ESTONIA
RUSSIA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
POLAND BELARUS
MANY
8
UKRAINE
7
20
9
21
65
ROMANIA
LY
10
18
13
KAZAKHSTAN
BULGARIA
19
TUNISIA
TURKMENISTAN
TURKEY
25
24
ISRAEL
LIBYA
EGYPT
BHUTAN
KUWAIT
BAHRAIN
QATAR
PAKISTAN
NEPAL
UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
OMAN
THAILAND
CAMBODIA
SRI LANKA
ETHIOPIA
CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC
UGANDA
KENYA
DEMOCRATIC 26
REPUBLIC 27
OF CONGO TANZANIA
TAIWAN
BANGLADESH
DJIBOUTI
MYANMAR
INDIA
YEMEN
SUDAN
JAPAN
SOUTH
KOREA
AFGHANISTAN
IRAN
ER
NORTH
KOREA
TAJIKISTAN
CHINA
SYRIA
IRAQ
JORDAN
SAUDI ARABIA
ERITREA
CHAD
KYRGYZSTAN
22 23
GREECE
UZBEKISTAN
GEORGIA
12
11
17
MONGOLIA
SOMALIA
MALDIVES
LAOS
VIETNAM
BRUNEI
MARSHALL
ISLANDS
PHILIPPINES
PALAU
MICRONESIA
MALAYSIA
NAURU
SINGAPORE
NEW
GUINEA
SEYCHELLES
INDIAN OCEAN
SOLOMON
PAPUA
NEW GUINEA ISLANDS
INDONESIA
TUVALU
WESTERN
SAMOA
COMOROS
ANGOLA
NAMIBIA
ZAMBIA
MALAWI
ZIMBABWE
VANUATU
BOTSWANA MOZAMBIQUE
TONGA
FIJI
MADAGASCAR
MAURITIUS
NEW CALEDONIA
AUSTRALIA
SWAZILAND
LESOTHO
SOUTH AFRICA
NEW ZEALAND
Political Map of the World
N
W
E
S
ANTARCTICA
17
ARCTIC OCEAN
Political Map:
Countries of
Europe
NO
RW
AY
FI
SW
NL
ED
AN
EN
ICELAND
ESTONIA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Baltic
Sea
UNITED
K I N G D O M North
Sea
L AT V I A
DENMARK
LITHUANIA
BELARUS
IRELAND
1
POLAND
GERMANY
2
8
3
AUSTRIA
6
I T A LY
15
5
10
ROMANIA
13
11
Sea
PORTUGAL
GREECE
17
Mediterranean
Sea
Key
1. NETHERLANDS
11. ALBANIA
2. BELGIUM
12. MACEDONIA
3. LUXEMBOURG
13. YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA
4. SWITZERLAND
& MONTENEGRO)
14. ANDORRA
6. SLOVENIA
15. MONACO
7. SLOVAKIA
16. LIECHTENSTEIN
8. CZECH REPUBLIC
17. MALTA
9. MOLDOVA
18. SAN MARINO
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 19. HOLY SEE
10.

5. CROATIA
18
miles
1,000
Sea
1,000
km
Red
an
14
S PA I N
B U L G A R I A T U R K E Y Black Sea
(partial)
12
spi
19
Ca
18
HUNGARY
FRANCE
UKRAINE
16
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Mediterranean Sea
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
LIBYA
EGYPT
WESTERN
SAHARA
Re
MALI
Se
MAURITANIA
NIGER
GAMBIA
GUINEABISSAU
ERITREA
CHAD
SENEGAL
SUDAN
BURKINA
FASO
GUINEA
DJIBOUTI
BENIN
SIERRA
LEONE
CTE
D'IVOIRE
(IVORY COAST)
SOMALIA
NIGERIA
GHANA
ETHIOPIA
CENTRAL
AFRICAN REPUBLIC
LIBERIA
CAMEROON
TOGO
UGANDA
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
SO TOM
AND PRNCIPE
CONGO
GABON
KENYA
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
(ZAIRE)
RWANDA
INDIAN
OCEAN
BURUNDI
Cabinda
(ANGOLA)
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
TANZANIA
COMOROS
MALAWI
ANGOLA
MOZAMBIQUE
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
MADAGASCAR
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
E
SOUTH AFRICA
(Walvis Bay)
SWAZILAND
1,000
SOUTH AFRICA
km
0
miles
LESOTHO
1,000
Scale
Political Map:
Countries of Africa
19
ARCTIC OCEAN
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
RUSSIA
Bering
Sea
Black Sea
ARMENIA
TURKEY
CYPRUS
LEBANON
ISRAEL
JORDAN
Sea
an
spi
Ca
GEORGIA
TU
Aral
Sea
UZ
BE
K
RK
EN
AZERBAIJAN
SYRIA
IRAN
IRAQ
K A Z A K H S TA N
MONGOLIA
IS
IS
TA
TA
TA J I K I S TA N
CHINA
N E PA L
ea
dS
Re
YEMEN
SOUTH
KOREA
A F G H A N I S TA N
KUWAIT
BAHRAIN
SAUDI
ARABIA
N O R T H Sea of
K O R E A Japan
K Y R G Y Z S TA N
PA K I S TA N
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
B H U TA N
BANGLADESH
TA I W A N
INDIA
M YA N M A R
U.A.E.
OMAN
Q ATA R
J A PA N
Bay of
Bengal
Arabian
Sea
THAILAND
LAOS
PHILIPPINES
South China
Sea
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
MALDIVES
SRI LANKA
BRUNEI
M A L AY S I A
SINGAPORE
SUMATRA
BORNEO
CELEBES
JAVA
INDONESIA
INDIAN
OCEAN
1,000
km
miles
1,000
Political Map:
Countries of Asia
20
NEW
GUINEA
1,000
0
km
miles
1,000
MARSHALL
ISLANDS
PA L A U
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
PA P U A
NEW
GUINEA
NAURU
Arafura
Sea
MICRONESIA
Timor
Sea
T U VA L U
SOLOMON
ISLANDS
rie
ar
at B
INDIAN
OCEAN
G re
Gulf of
Carpentaria
Coral
Sea
rR
ee
Northern
Territory
VA N U AT U
FIJI
f
TONGA
Queensland
AUSTRALIA
Western Australia
NEW CALEDONIA
South
Australia
New South Wales
Gr
eat Aust
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Australian
Capital Territory
ra
li
an
Area of Detail
Victoria
ig
Tasman
Sea
t
TASMANIA
North
Island
South
Island
NEW ZEALAND
New South Wales
INDIAN
OCEAN
Stewart
Island
Australian
Capital Territory
Victoria
Political Map:
Countries of Oceania
21
Political Map:
Countries of
North America
1,000
km
miles
1,000
Scale
ARCTIC OCEAN
GREENLAND
W
Beaufort
Sea
Baffin
Bay
AK
E
S
Greenland
Sea
Bering
Sea
Yukon
Territory
Gulf of
Alaska
Nunavut
Northwest Territories
Labrador
Sea
Hudson
Bay
CANADA
British
Columbia
Alberta
Newfoundland
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Island
Prince
Edward
Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Ontario
WA
MT
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
OR
ID
SD
WY
IA
NE
IN
IL
UT
CA
ME
Lake
Lake Huron
Lake
WI Michigan
Ontario NY
MI
Lake
Erie
PA
MN
Great Salt
Lake
NV
HI
Lake
Superior
ND
OH
U N I T E D S TAT E S
CO
OK
NM
MA
RI
NJ
VA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
NC
SC
AR
AL
MS
1
CT
KY
TN
AZ
NH
DE
MD
WV
MO
KS
VT
Nova
Scotia
New
Brunswick
GA
LA
TX
3
FL
4
5
2
BAHAMAS
MEXICO
Gulf of
Mexico
7
9
11
Gulf of
California 10
14
13
18
Mexican States
1. Baja California
2. Baja California Sur
3. Sonora
4. Chihuahua
5. Coahuila
6. Sinaloa
7. Durango
8. Nuevo Len
9. Tamaulipas
10. Nayarit
11. Zacatecas
12. San Luis Potosi
13. Jalisco
14. Aguascalientes
15. Guanajuato
16. Quertaro
22
17. Hildago
18. Colima
19. Michoacn
20. Mxico
21. Distrito Federal
22. Tlaxcala
23. Veracruz
24. Guerrero
25. Morelos
26. Puebla
27. Oaxaca
28. Tabasco
29. Chiapas
30. Campeche
31. Yucatn
32. Quintana Roo
CUBA
12
15 16
17
19
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
31
HAITI
32
21 22
20
25 26
30
23
28
BELIZE
24
27
JAMAICA
29
HONDURAS
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
COSTA RICA
Caribbean Sea
NICARAGUA
PANAMA
Puerto
Rico
ANTIGUA
AND
BARBUDA
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

DOMINICA
ST. VINCENT AND
THE GRENADINES
GRENADA
ST. LUCIA
BARBADOS
Caribbean Sea
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
VENEZUELA
SURINAME
G U YA N A
FRENCH GUIANA
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
PERU
BRAZIL
BOLIVIA
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
PA R A G U AY
CHILE
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
U R U G U AY
ARGENTINA
N
W
E
S
Political Map:
Countries of
South America
1,000
km
miles
Scale
1,000
FALKLAND
ISLANDS
23
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
ARCTIC
OCEAN
N O RT H
AMERICA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
24
ARCTIC
OCEAN
ASIA
EUROPE
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
AFRICA
INDIAN
OCEAN
AUSTRALIA
Topographical Map
of the World
A N TA R C T I C A
25
Barents Sea
ICELAND
N
W
E
S
FINLAND
SWEDEN
Norwegian
Sea
N O R W AY
Lake
Vnern
ESTONIA
Baltic
Sea
North
Sea
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
L AT V I A
DENMARK
RUSSIA
IRELAND
Europe
BELARUS
UNITED
KINGDOM
S
L P
A Po
Rhon
e
Key
Douro
PORTUGAL
AUSTRIA
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
TS
ROMANIA
C R O AT I A
S PA I N
I T A LY
ALBANIA
MACEDONIA
Me
1,000 (305)
GREECE
dit
5,000 (1,524)
err
an
ean
Se
10,000 (3,048)
CYPRUS
300 miles/483 km
Scale
Topographical Map:
AN
TA R C T I C C I R C L
E
Antarctica
Ross
Sea
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Amundsen
Sea
Indian
Ocean
A N TA R C T I C A
South
Pole
Key
Bellingshausen
Sea
Vinson
Massif
Feet (meters)
above sea level
20 (6)
1,000 (305)
Prydz
Bay
Weddell
Sea
5,000 (1,524)
10,000 (3,048)
1000 miles/1609 km
Scale
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
M O L D O VA
Danube
B O S N I A & Y U G O S L AV I A
BULGARIA
HERZEGOVINA
20 (6)
26
iep
UKRAINE
CZECH
AT
REPUBLIC
H
IA
S L O VA K I A
SWITZERLAND
PY
R
ME
NE
TS
. ES
Dn
RP
FRANCE
Feet (meters)
above sea level
O POLAND
de
CA
r
GERMANY
BELGIUM
LUXEMBOURGS
ein
e
e
in
Rh
Topographical Map:
LITHUANIA
NETHERLANDS
Black Sea
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Atla
n
Mou
tain
s
Mediterranean Sea
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
LIBYA
WESTERN
SAHARA
EGYPT
Sahara Desert
d
Re
MALI
a
Se
Nile
MAURITANIA
NIGER
SENEGAL
e
Ni g
GAMBIA
Lake
Chad
ERITREA
CHAD
SUDAN
BURKINA FASO
GUINEA
BISSAU
GUINEA
DJIBOUTI
BENIN
NIGERIA
GHANA
SIERRA
LEONE
Lake
Assal
CTE
D'IVOIRE
LIBERIA
CENTRAL
AFRICAN REPUBLIC
TOGO
CAMEROON
Congo-Zai
re
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
SOMALIA
ETHIOPIA
UGANDA
KENYA
CONGO
SO TOM
& PRNCIPE
RWANDA
GABON
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC
OF CONGO
(ZAIRE)
Cabinda
(ANGOLA)
BURUNDI
Lake
Mt. Kenya
Victoria
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Topographical Map:
COMOROS
ISLANDS
Lake
Malawi
ANGOLA
Africa
INDIAN
OCEAN
Lake TANZANIA
Tanganika
MOZAMBIQUE
MALAWI
ZAMBIA
Na
ZIMBABWE
NAMIBIA
Key
ib
Desert
Feet (meters)
above sea level
20 (6)
BOTSWANA
Kalahari
Desert
1,000 (305)
MADAGASCAR
SWAZILAND
SOUTH AFRICA
5,000 (1,524)
LESOTHO
10,000 (3,048)
N
W
500 miles/805 km
Cape of Good Hope
Scale
27

ARCTIC OCEAN
ea
ran
ter
edi Sea
Black
Sea
TURKEY
Bering
Sea
CYPRUS
JORDAN
ia
Se
SYRIA
sp
IRAQ
Ca
SAUDI
ARABIA
Persian Gulf
Aral
Sea
K A Z A K H S TA N
RUSSIA
a
Len
Sea of
Okhotsk
Ob
T U R K M E N I S TA N
IRAN
Lake Balkash
Lake
Baikal
K Y R G Y Z S TA N
Amur
MONGOLIA
U.A.E.
A F G H A N I S TA N
YEMEN
KARAKORAM RANGE
Godwin
Austen
du
In
HIM
Gan
INDIA
N E PA L
UN
TA
CHINA
IN
gt
Yan
Brahmaputra
dy
Mt. Everest
East China
Sea
ze
aw
ad
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Ir
B H U TA N
TA I W A N
BANGLADESH
g
on
ek
Bay of
Bengal M Y A N M A R
SRI LANKA
THAILAND
South
China
L A O S Sea
PHILIPPINES
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
BRUNEI
M A L AY S I A
Key
Feet (meters)
above sea level
SINGAPORE
INDIAN
OCEAN
INDONESIA
20 (6)
1,000 (305)
W
5,000 (1,524)
10,000 (3,048)
1000 miles/1609 km
Scale
28
Topographical Map:
Asia
J A PA N
S. KOREA
AY
Arabian
Sea
N. KOREA
AL
PA K I S TA N
Sea of
Japan
ang Ho
ges
OMAN
Hu
Q ATA R
U Z B E K I S TA N
TA J I K I S TA N
KUWAIT
BAHRAIN
Yenisey
GEORGIA
ARMENIA
I S R A E LA Z E R B A I J A N
E
S
PACIFIC OCEAN
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

SOLOMON
ISLANDS
Arafura Sea
Gulf of
Carpentaria
Timor Sea
Cape
Yo rk
Coral Sea
Peninsula G
rea
tB
G R E AT S A N D Y
D E S E RT
PACIFIC
OCEAN
LP
HLANDS
Lake
Eyre
IG
L LOWLANDS
RA
ER
ef
Re
NT
AUSTRALIA
G R E AT
VICTORIA
D E S E RT
ST
FIJI
NEW CALEDONIA
r
rie
ar
EA
CE
WESTERN
P L AT E A U
VANUATU
Great
Australian
Bight
A
INDIAN
OCEAN
T
U S
RA
LI
Mt . Kos cius k o
NORTH
ISLAND
NEW ZEALAND
Bass
Strait
Tasman Sea
Southern
Alps
Tasmania
Mt. Cook
SOUTH
ISLAND
S ut he r la nd
F a lls
STEWART
ISLAND
Key
Feet (meters)
above sea level
N
W
20 (6)
S
1,000 (305)
5,000 (1,524)
10,000 (3,048)
Topographical Map:
500 miles/805 km
Oceania
Scale
29
ARCTIC OCEAN
Bering
Sea
uk
GREENLAND
Beaufort
Sea
Alaska
Baffin
Bay
on
Greenland
Sea
M t. McKinley
( Denali)
Great Bear
Lake
Gulf of
Alaska
Great Slave
Lake
Labrador
Sea
Lake
Athabasca
Fra
ser
Hudson
Bay
Y
A
ppi
ssi
La k e E
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
do
ra
Ohio
C olo
Lake
Ontario
rie
IN
Lake
Huron
TA
iss
i
UN
ga
n
Lake
Superior
U
Great
Salt
Lake
Lake Mi
ch
i
Miss our
i
Gulf
of St.
Lawrence
Mt. St. Helens
CANADA
I
Lake
Winnipeg
UNITED STATES
Death Valley
I
N
P
AP
AL
CH
N
W
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Gr
de
BAHAMAS
Gulf of
Mexico
MA
DR
ia
n
for
MEXICO
an
ali
fC
RRA
lf o
SIE
o
Ri
Gu
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
IE
NT
Y U CATA N
PEN IN SU LA
BELIZE
AL
Feet (meters)
above sea level
OR
Key
CUBA
JAMAICA
HONDURAS
20 (6)
1,000 (305)
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
5,000 (1,524)
COSTA
RICA
10,000 (3,048)
500 miles/805 km
Scale
Topographical Map:
North America
30
NICARAGUA
PANAMA
HAITI
Caribbean Sea
PUERTO
RICO
Caribbean
Sea
Or
ino
c
VENEZUELA
GUYANA
SURINAME
COLOMBIA
A
L
N
A
FRENCH
GUIANA
A
N
ECUADOR
on
Am az
PERU
BRAZIL
Lake
Titicaca
S M
A
BOLIVIA
R
I
A
G
Z
H
TA
Pa
ran
ra
g u a y.
PARAGUAY
Pa
OCEAN
A I N
N T
S
ER
A DES
PACIFIC
CA M
uguay
Ur
ATLANTIC
M t . Ac onc agua
OCEAN
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
P A
M P
Rio de la
Plata
CHILE
Key
Feet (meters)
above sea level
20 (6)
1,000 (305)
Vald es Pen in su la
5,000 (1,524)
10,000 (3,048)
500 miles/805 km
Scale
FALKLAND
ISLANDS
SOUTH
GEORGIA
Topographical Map:
Cape Hor n
South America
31
GREENLAND
ASIA
RUSSIA
EUROPE
CANADA
NORTH
AMERICA
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
ISRAEL
INDIA
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
AFRICA
Key
SOUTH
AMERICA
INDIAN
OCEAN
Gregorian
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Hebrew
AUSTRALIA
Muslim
Hindu
Calendars of the World
Mixed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM noon PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM
St. Petersburg
Moscow
Madrid
New York City
Los Angeles
Beijing
Cairo
Caracas
DATELINE
INTERNATIONAL
Lagos
Jakarta
PRIME MERIDIAN
Rio de Janeiro
DATELINE
-11 -10 -9
32
Calcutta
Mexico City
Buenos Aires
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
INTERNATIONAL
London
Paris
Johannesburg
Sydney
International Time Zones

+1 +2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
+8
+9 +10 +11 +12/-12
Religions
of the World
Key
Roman Catholic
Eastern Orthodox
Protestant
Mormon
Mixed Christian
Jewish
Sunni Muslim
Shiite Muslim
Hindu
Buddhist
Buddhist and Shintoist

Buddhist, Confucianist,
Taoist
Native
Information unavailable
Key
Indo-European
Dravidian
Uralic
Altaic
Afro-Asiatic
Niger-Congo
Nilo-Saharan
Austro-Asian
Sino-Tibetan
Austronesian
Korean
Japanese
Australian Aborigine
Other groups
Information unavailable
Languages of the World
33
N O R W AY
kroner
FINLAND
markka
ICELAND
THE
krona
NETHERLANDS
guilder
G R E AT
SWEDEN
krona
B R I TA I N
pound
DENMARK
krone
GERMANY
POLAND
Deutsche
zloty
mark
FRANCE
franc
I T A LY
PORTUGAL
JORDAN
S P A I N lira
escudo
dinar
peseta
GREECE
ISRAEL
M
O
R
O
C
C
O
AT L A N T I C
drachma
new shekel
dirham
ALGERIA
OCEAN
SAUDI
HAITI
dinar
gourde
ARABIA
riyal
CANADA
dollar
U N I T E D S TAT E S
dollar
MEXICO
new peso
VENEZUELA
bolivar
PERU
nuevo sol
BRAZIL
cruzeiro
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
CHILE
peso
ARGENTINA
new peso
RUSSIA
ruble
MONGOLIA
tugrik
SOUTH
KOREA
CHINA
won
yuan
INDIA
rupee
ETHIOPIA
D E M O C R AT I C
birr
REPUBLIC
GHANA
new cedi O F T H E C O N G O S O M A L I A
new zaire
Somali shilling
ZAMBIA
kwacha
THAILAND
baht
LAOS
new kip
INDIAN
OCEAN
SOUTH
AFRICA
rand
Key
Defense budget as a percentage
of the total economy
More than 15%

615%
Less than 2%
34
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
M A L AY S I A
ringgit
AUSTRALIA
dollar
Selected Countries and Currencies
35.9%
22.9%
J A PA N
yen
Defense Budget
Key
Inhabitants per
square mile
Inhabitants per
square kilometer
Under 2
Under 1
225
110
2560
1025
60125
2550
125250
50100
Over 250
Over 100
World Population Density
Key
Decrease
01%
12%
23%
>3%
World Annual Average

Population Growth
(Does not include

effects of migration)
35
ARCTIC OCEAN
Barents
Sea
Norwegian
Sea
Labrador
Sea
NORTH
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
North
Sea
NORTH
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Baltic
Sea
Black
Sea
Mediterranean
Sea
Sea of
Okhotsk
Caspian
Sea
Caribbean
Sea
Arabian
Sea
SOUTH
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
SOUTH
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Sea of
Japan
Aral
Sea
South
China
Sea
INDIAN
OCEAN
Bering
Sea
NORTH
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Philippine
Sea
Coral
Sea
Tasman
Sea
Oceans of the World

Weddell Sea
Ross
Sea
Key
Tropical wet
Tropical dry
Semi-arid
Arid
Marine west coast
Mediterranean
Humid sub-tropical
Warm summer
Cool summer
Sub-arctic
Tundra
Ice cap
Highland
Upland
36
World Climate Zones
Key
Ocean
Tundra, ice
Taiga
Temperate forest
Grassland
Rain forest
Desert
Chaparral
World Biomes
GREENLAND
Key
Trade winds
Currents
w est e rli e s
NORTH
NORTH
PA C I F I C
horse latitudes
OCEAN
Kuroshio
ad
a
tr
n ort h
doldrums
tr
AFRICA
rre
nt
southe
ast
SOUTH
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
westerlies
Trade Winds and Currents
Cu
t horse latitudes
ds
Fal
kla
nd
INDIAN OCEAN
S o ut h
Equatoria
l Current
Ag
a
ulh
southeast
trad
ew
in
horse latitudes
s
wind
de
tra
t
s
ea
th
or
AUSTRALIA
ds
u C u r r e nt
SOUTH
AMERICA
trade win
s
ind
OCEAN
Per
SOUTH
P A C I F I C horse latitudes
st
Equatorial
Countercurrent
doldrums
South Equatorial Current

southeast tra
de
ea
wi
ASIA
in d
Gu
nds
eam
Str
lf
horse latitudes
de
as
w est e rli e s
NORTH
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
AMERICA
NORTH
PA C I F I C
O C E A N horse latitudes
the
nor
EUROPE
ew
erlies
Cu
rr
en
w est
horse latitudes
SOUTH
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
w e s t e rli e s
A N TA R C T I C A
37
Selected Endangered Species of the World
ASIA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
North America
AFRICA
MAMMALS
Bear, polar
Cougar, Florida
Prairie dog, Utah
Puma, eastern
Wolf, gray
Wolf, red
SOUTH
AMERICA
BIRDS
Albatross, short-tailed
Crane,
whooping

Woodpecker,
ivory-billed
Australia
MAMMALS
Kangaroo, Tasmanian
forester
Wallaby, bridled
Oceans
MAMMALS
Whale, blue
Whale, humpback
REPTILES
Crocodile, American
Asia
South America
MAMMALS
Cat, little-spotted
Deer, marsh
Monkey, spider
Puma, Costa Rican
Sloth, maned
BIRDS
Condor, Andean
Falcon, peregrine
Parrot, red-browed
REPTILES
Crocodile, American
Africa
Europe
MAMMALS
Cheetah
Chimpanzee, W. African
Gorilla, mountain
Zebra, Cape mountain
MAMMALS
Bear, polar
Lynx, Spanish
Wolf, gray
MAMMALS
Bear, brown
Bear, polar
Cheetah
Dolphin, Chinese river
Elephant, Asian
Elephant, Indian
Leopard, snow
AUSTRALIA
Lion, Asiatic
Panda, giant
Rhinoceros
Tiger
Wolf, gray
BIRDS
Albatross, short-tailed
Stork, Oriental
REPTILES
Python, Indian
Source: Data compiled by World Conservation Monitoring Center
ARCTIC OCEAN
EUROPE
Pine marten
Chamois
White-toothed shrew
Greater horseshoe bat
Alpine marmot
NORTH AMERICA
Bald eagle
Chuckwalla
Snowshoe hare
Mountain beaver
American red squirrel
ASIA
Giant Panda
Sloth bear
Hog badger
Large Indian civet
Leopard cat
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
SOUTH AMERICA
Capybara
Guanaco
Common marmoset
Patagonian cavy
Spectacled bear
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
AFRICA
Cheetah
Giraffe
Galago
Aardvark
Meerkat
INDIAN
OCEAN
Selected Unique Animals

of the World
38
AUSTRALIA
Koala
Kangaroo
Quokka
Duckbill platypus
Echidna
ARCTIC OCEAN
Bagpipes
United Kingdom
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Cajun/Zydeco
Louisiana
Hula
Hawaii
Kodo drummers
Japan
Balalaika
Russia
Flamenco
Spain
ASIA
Gong
Tibet
Salsa
Puerto Rico
Mariachi
Mexico
Reggae
Jamaica
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Sitar
India
Talking drum
West Africa
Gamelan
Indonesia
AFRICA
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
INDIAN
OCEAN
Didgeridoo
(Aboriginal)
Samba
Brazil
AUSTRALIA
Panpipes
Peru
Mbube
South Africa
Tango
Argentina
Origins of Selected Musical Styles and Instruments
ARCTIC OCEAN
NORTH
AMERICA
Niagara Falls
Canada/United States
Sears Tower
Illinois
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Golden Gate
Bridge
California
Aztec
Temple
Mexico
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Bay of Fundy
Canada
World Trade
Center
New York
Red Square
Russia
Rock of
Gibraltar
Dome of
the Rock
Parthenon
Israel
Greece
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Mount Fuji
Japan
Great Wall
China
Mount Everest
Nepal/Tibet
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
Taj Mahal
India
Petronas Towers
Malaysia
AFRICA
Great Barrier
Reef
Australia
INDIAN
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
Iguaz Falls
Brazil/Argentina
ASIA
EUROPE
Coliseum
Italy
Great Pyramids
Egypt
Panama
Canal
Panama
Machu
Picchu
Peru
Stonehenge
England
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe
Ayers Rock
Australia
AUSTRALIA
Selected Wonders and Landmarks Around the World

39
Afghanistan
Land area rank
40
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
39
fewest people
BE
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
K
UR
EN
IST
TA
AN
N
A
M az ar - e S h ar if
iv
mu R e r
Kabul
H er at
Khyber Pass
er
F ar ah
I S
nd
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
miles
km
200
200
the lower section of Afghanistan is

Northern Plains and later forms
made up mostly of deserts, high
part of the border between
plateaus, and semidesert regions.
Afghanistan and Iran.
The Rigestan
Desert accounts for Afghan father and son
about one-quarter
of the land.
Some important
rivers also run
through the country. The Amu
River makes up the
border between
Afghanistan and
two of its eastern
neighbors
Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan.
The Hari River
irrigates the fertile
Cotton
2%
Other
29%
Karakul
wool
and hides
5%
Carpets and rugs
13%
Other
39%
Dried fruit
and nuts
51%
Exports
$80 million
40
Farms / cropland 12%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
Hel
ma
Kan d ah ar
Afghanistan is a landlocked country

in south central Asia. The Hindu
Kush is a very large mountain chain
that divides Afghanistan into three
regions. The Central Highlands are
located in the middle of the country
and have an area of about 160,000
square miles (414,400 sq km). They
consist mainly of deep valleys and
tall mountains.
The Northern Plains extend from
the northwestern border of Iran to
the beginning of the Pamir
Mountains near Tajikistan. This
region has very rich soil and produces many of the countrys crops.
Valuable natural gas and mineral
deposits are also located there.
The Southwestern Plateau in
iv
er
I R A N
i Riv
Rigestan
D esert
The Place
sh
u
nd
Hi
A N TA R C T I C A
Har
Official Name: Islamic

EQUATOR
State of Afghanistan
Continent: Asia
Area: 250,000 sq mi.
(647,500 sq km)
Capital City: Kabul
Largest City: Kabul
Unit of Money: Afghani
Major Languages: Afghan Persian, Pashtu
Natural Resources: Natural gas, crude oil,
coal, salt, copper, talc
TAJIKISTAN
KIS
At a Glance
CH
UZ
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
most people (1)
Permanent
pastures
46%
Forests
3%
Land Use
Afghanistan
(continued)
The People
The population
and way of life have
changed greatly
for Afghanis over
the last three decades.
Because of an ongoing
civil war, many people
have fled the country or
relocated to safer areas.
Afghanis are also very
youngalmost half are
Afghan children
under 15 years old. The
average life span in the country is
north of the Hindu Kush mountains.
45 years.
Much of Afghanistans population
There are many different ethnic
lives in rural areas. The majority
groups living throughout Afghanistan. of these residents are farmers with
The Pashtuns are the largest group
fairly small plots of land. Afghanis
and inhabit the southern and eastern
that live in urban areas consist of
areas. The Tajikswho are mostly
craftsmen, merchants, and governfarmers and craftspeoplelive in the
ment workers. The countrys capital
northeast and west. The Uzbek farmhouses about one half of the urban
ers and the Turkmen herdsmen live
population.
Uzbek 5%
Other 3%
Hazara
19%
Pashtun
52%
Tajik
21%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 1%
Shi'a Muslim
15%
Sunni
Muslim
84%
Major Religions
Education
Although elementary education is
free and officially required wherever
it is offered in Afghanistan, the
ongoing civil war disrupts most
schooling. Despite these services,
however, only about one quarter of
the countrys children attend school.
Because of this, only about one
third of the Afghanistan population
is literate. As a result of the civil
Goods Ownership
Literate
32%
per 1,000 people
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
war, women are no longer given

educational opportunities.
Popular Culture/Daily Life

In rural areas, Afghanis live in social
groups that are similar to tribes.
Family structure is very important
in the community. People socialize
within their community and help
each other with chores.
Religion is also very important
in Afghanistan. About 99% of the
population is Muslim. Afghanis celebrate many religious holidays and
national feasts with dancing. The
countrys national attan dance is well
known. Another pastime is the
singing of folk music.
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
Government
Type: Transitional government
(warring factions)
Structure: None
Leader: Military leaders
Defense
40,000 army personnel
870 tanks
0 major ships
233 combat aircraft
Afghan bird shop owner
41
Albania
Land area rank
146
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
128
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Republic

EQUATOR
of Albania
Continent: Europe
(27,400 sq km)
Capital City: Tirane
Largest City: Tirane (244,200)
Unit of Money: Lek
Major Languages: Albanian, Greek
Literacy: 72%
Land Use: 38% forest, 21% arable, 15% meadows,
5% permanent crops, 21% other
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, coal,
chromium, copper
Government: Emerging democracy
Defense: $50.4 M
Shkodr
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Adriatic
Sea
MACEDONIA
Tiran
Durrs
A N TA R C T I C A
Elbasan
ITALY
GREECE
N
0
0
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
15 in/38 cm
0F/-18C
J F MA M J J A S O N D
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Albania is a small country on the

Balkan Peninsula in the Adriatic
Sea. From the edge of its northern
border of Serbia and Montenegro
(Yugoslavia) to Greeces border in the
south, the country measures about 210
miles (340 km) long.
Albania is separated into two main
regionsthe highlands in the north,
south, and east; and the lowlands in
the west. In the highlands, the North
Albanian Alps reach peaks of up to
8,800 feet (2,700 m). Albanias highest Albanian farm boy
peakKorab at 9,025 feet (2,751 m)
is in the central uplands. Because of its mountainous
terrain, Albanias average elevation is about twice the
average of other European countries.
Albanias lowlands run along the border of the Adriatic
Sea and make up about 30% of the country. This section
is used to grow the majority of Albanias crops.
80F/27C
Manufactured
goods
Other
14%
15%
Crude
materials
25%
Exports
$228 million
42
miles
km
50
E
S
50
The People
The Place
100F/38C
Kor
Vlor
Approximately 95% of the population is ethnic

Albanian. About 3% of the people are Greek, and generally live in the southern part of the country. The
majority of Albanians work as farmers or in agriculture. Many of the remaining population work
in industry. About one-third of the people live
in urban areas. Life expectancy in Albania
is 69 years.
From 1967 to 1990,
Albania was considered an
atheist country, and all of
the mosques were closed.
Today, about 70% of the
population is Muslim.
Traditional dancing is very
popular in rural areas.
Because of the Islamic
influence, men and women
usually do not dance
together in public.
Both modern and traditional art are important to the
people of Albania. Folk artincluding clothing, wooden
items, and woolen rugsare specialties. Folksongs are
also very popular in the country, and are sometimes
accompanied by a lute player. Often, musicians will join
together to play music for special occasions.
Miscellaneous
manufactured
articles
46%
Greek 3%
Other 2%
Albanian
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Greek
Orthodox
20%
Roman Catholic 10%
Muslim
70%
Major Religions
Algeria
Land area rank
10
largest country (1)
smallest country
Population rank
34
most people (1)
fewest people
Mediterranean Sea
S P A I N
At a Glance
Official Name: Democratic
and Popular Republic
of Algeria
Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
Area: 919,591 sq miles
(2,381,740 sq km)
Capital City: Algiers
Largest City: Algiers (1,721,607)
Unit of Money: Algerian dinar
Major Languages: Arabic (official), French
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, iron
ore, phosphates
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Oran
Che
lif Ri
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
a
Atl
MOROCCO
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Annaba
Constantine
Algiers
Strait of Gibraltar
o
s M
un
Batna
ve r
ta
ins
TUNISIA
Ghardaa
Bchar
AUSTRALIA
LIBYA
A N TA R C T I C A
N
W
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
miles
km
Erg is covered by
sand dunes and has
an average altitude
between 1,300 to
2,000 feet (396 to
607 m) above sea
level. The Great
Western Erg is
also covered by
sand and has lower
elevationsit even
reaches sea level
in some places. Neither of these
areas is inhabited.
In addition to being a very dry
country, Algeria is also a fairly
mountainous one. In fact, several
mountain ranges run through the
country, separating the land into
different sections. The northern
Refined
petroleum
19%
Natural gas
31%
400
N I G E R
400
part of coastal Algeria is made up of

small ranges, with several bays and
plains surrounding them. Moving
south, the coastal plains are called
the Tell. The Atlas Mountains
which form two distinct ranges separated by plainsare bordered to
the south by the High Plateaus.
Further south, the Sahara Atlas
mountain chain extends from the
border of Morocco to the center of
the country.
The most important river in
Algeria is the Chelif, which flows
through the Tell Atlas region of the
country. It flows from east to west,
and eventually reaches the
Mediterranean Sea. The Chelif
River is used mainly for irrigation
and as drinking water.
Farms / cropland 3%
Other 4%
Average Rainfall
Algeria is the second-largest country

in Africa and the tenth-largest country in the world. The majority of
landapproximately 80%is
desert. Known as the Algerian
Sahara, this region is divided into
two sections. The Great Eastern
The Place
a
r
e r t
Tamanrasset
M A L I
Algiers, Algeria
a
h
D e s
MAURITANIA
Crude
petroleum
46%
Permanent pastures
13%
Forests
2%
Other
82%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Land Use
$13 billion
43
Algeria
(continued)
The People
Approximately three-quarters of the
Algerian population are ethnically
Arab, while the other main group
consider themselves Berber. Smaller
groups within the Berber population
include the Kabyle, Shawia,
Mzabites, and the Tuareg.
The average age of Algerians is
very youngmore than 50% of the
population is under 18 years old.
Until the latter half of the 1980s,
Algeria had a very high population
growth rate. It only began to decline
as the government urged a limited
family planning program. Today
the birthrate in the country is still
fairly high28 births for every
Education
Formal education is required for
children aged 6 to 15 in Algeria.
Approximately 90% of all primary
school children and about 50% of
all secondary school children are
enrolled today. The largest groups
of children who are not in school
are girls and those living in very
rural areas. As the student population grows, Algeria is having a tough
time finding qualified teachers and
adequate school space. To help solve
the problem, almost one-quarter of
the national budget is assigned to
school funding.

The official religion of Algeria is
Islam, and it is practiced by almost
the entire country. This strong reliTuareg man with camel
White 1%
1,000 people. The average life

expectancy in Algeria is relatively
goodit is 67 years for men and 70
years for women.
Because of the harsh climate and
poor land quality in the southern part
of the country, most Algerians live in
the urban areas of the coastal lowlands
and nearby mountain valleys. The
country is quickly becoming more
urbanized because of internal migration and population growth. Slightly
less than one-third of the population
work in government jobs, more than
one-quarter work in service and
industry, and about one-fifth work in
agriculture. Algeria also has a high
unemployment rate of 28%.
Since Algeria gained its independence from France in the early 1960s,
the country has made several changes
to its education system. Today
schools teach the majority of their
class in Arabic instead of French, and
they stress the importance of learning
Berber
24%
Arab
75%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 1%
Sunni
Muslim
99%
Major Religions
science and technology. Some 62% of
the population is literate today.
Government
Type: Republic
Structure: Executive
Leader: President/Prime Minister
Defense
Literate
62%
960 tanks
30 major ships
170 combat aircraft
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
gious influence has affected the

lifestyle of many Algerians, and how
they view the traditional roles of
men and women. Because it is
against customs for a woman to be
seen by a man outside
her family, many women
still wear veils in public.
Men and women are
considered two very
different groups within
the society. Typically,
men and women go
through an entire day
without interacting with
one another. Parents usually arrange

marriages for their children. They
consider the family to be the most
important part of society. The husband heads the family, and his wife is
expected to obey and support him.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
73
26
TVs
Cars
40
9
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
Andorra
Land area rank
199
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

204
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
FRANCE
AFRICA
P Y
R E
te
N
AUSTRALIA
Vali
A N TA R C T I C A
Va
lir
Andorra La Vella
Va
li
E S
Orie n t e
el
Soldeu
Encamp
W
Les Escaldes
E
S
Sant Juli de Lria
Gr
an
S PA I N
El Serrat
r a del N
o
SOUTH
AMERICA
ra
Official Name: Principality of

EQUATOR
Andorra
Continent: Europe
Area: 174 square miles (450 sq km)
Population: 67,627
Capital City: Andorra La Vella
Largest City: Andorra La Vella (19,566)
Unit of Money: French franc and Spanish peseta
Major Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castillian
Literacy: 100%
Land Use: 56% meadows, 22% woodland, 2% arable,
20% other
Natural Resources: Mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Defense: Has no defense budget; defense provided by
France and Spain
0
0
miles
km
10
10
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Motor vehicles and parts 20%
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Only about one-third of the Andorran population

was actually born in the country. The remainder of
the inhabitants come mostly from Spain, France, and
Portugal. About 95% of Andorrans live in urban areas,
The Place
with approximately twoAndorra is a small, landlocked country in the
thirds of the population
Pyrenees Mountains. It is bordered to the north
living in the capital,
and east by France and to the south and west by
Andorra La Vella. In
Spain. Andorra is one of the smallest countries in
smaller hamlets an entire
Europe, measuring just 16 miles (25 km) long
village may consist of just
and 20 miles (30 km) wide. The country has a
a few dozen people. On
fairly temperate climate with cold, snowy winters
average, there are 377
and warm, dry summers.
people per square mile
Andorran
friends
Because the majority of Andorras land is either
(140 people per sq km).
steep mountain peaks or narrow valleys, hardly
Although the country is
any of it can be used for crops or farming. The highest
small, culture and celebration play a big part in the
point in the country is the peak of Coma Pedrosa at
Andorran way of life. Most towns in the country hold
9,668 feet (2,947 m). The lowest point in Andorra is La
village festivals. During these celebrations, local resiFarga de Moles on its border with Spain at 2,756 feet
dents enjoy dancing, singing, and special food and
(840 m). The majority of commercial land is used for
drinks. Many music festivals are held throughout the
grazing animals.
nation, which include classical and jazz music. Life
The major river in Andorra is the Gran Valira, located
expectancy is 83 years.
in the southern part of the country. Other rivers include
Andorra has become a popular tourist location because
the Valira del Oriente and the Valira del Norte. Marble
of its climate, and it gets many visitors in both summer
quarries and iron deposits are found throughout Andorra. and winter months. This thriving business employs a
Tall pine and birch forests cover most of the mountains.
good deal of the population and fuels the economy.
Other
38%
Food and
beverages 6%
Exports
Clothing
13%
Electrical
machinery
and apparatus
13%
Newspapers and
periodicals 10%
French 6% Other 3%
Other
14%
Andorran
30%
Spanish
61%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
86%
Major Religions
$47 million
45
Angola
Land area rank
23
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
71
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Cabinda

Angola
Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
(1,246,700 sq km)
Capital City: Luanda
Largest City: Luanda (1,200,000)
Unit of Money: New kwanza
Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu
Natural Resources: Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore,
phosphates, copper
miles
km
250
W W
C O N G O
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
250
E
S
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Luanda
AUSTRALIA
Malange
A N TA R C T I C A
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Luena
Lobito
Benguela
Lubango
Huambo
Bie
Plateau
Menongue
ZAMBIA
Namibe
The Place
Angola is on the southwest coast of
Africa. It stretches for about 800
miles (1,287 km) between The
Democratic Republic of Congo to
the north and Namibia to the south.
Angola has an average width of
about 675 miles (1,086 km) between
its eastern boarder with Zambia and
the Atlantic Ocean.
This seventh-largest African
country is divided into three main
geographic regions. The very
narrow coastal plain runs along
Angolas Atlantic border. It only
reaches about 90 miles (150 km)
in width at its widest point. The
main vegetation in this part of the
country is palm trees.
Moving westward into the center
of Angola, the land begins to rise,
like a series of steps, into rugged
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Farms / cropland 2%
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
0F/-18C
highlands. The
N A M I B I A
largest section
called the Bie Plateaureaches
A small Angolan territory,
its highest elevation at 8,600 feet
Cabinda, is located to the north of
(2,625 m) above sea level. This
the country in Congo. Lying close
plateau makes up about one-tenth
to sea level on the Atlantic Ocean,
of Angola. Its jagged terrain has
Cabinda mostly consists of thick
produced several waterfalls and
tropical rain forests.
rapids that are
Banco Nacionale de Angola
used for hydroelectric power.
To the east of
the highlands lies
a very large plateau
that makes up
about two-thirds
of the country.
This vast area has
an average elevation between 3,300
to 5,000 feet (1,000
to 1,520 m).
Diamonds
3%
Other
22%
Mineral fuels
75%
Permanent
pastures
23%
Forests
43%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$4 billion
46
Other
32%
Land Use
Angola
The People
Angola consists of more than 90
different ethnic groups, however,
just 5 of them account for 90% of
the population. The largest group
is Ovimbundu, followed by the
Kimbundu, the Bakongo, the LundaChokwe, and the Nganguela. Most
ethnic groups coexist peacefully.
Only about one-third of Angolas
population lives in urban areas, and
the country has a population density
of just 24 people per square mile (9
per sq km). About 70% of Angolans
live in the northern section of the
country and along the coast.
Not surprisingly, the countrys

economy depends mostly on agriculture. In fact, the agriculture industry
employs about two-thirds of Angolas
total work force. Some crops grown
in the country include cassava, sweet
potatoes, corn, and coffee.
A little more than 40% of the
population is younger than 15 years
of age. This is because Angolan
women give birth to an average of
6 children. Angola also has one of
the highest death rates in Africa.
The average life expectancy at birth
is just 47 years. Less than 3% of the
population is 65 years or older.

Since the civil war broke out in 1975,
the general state of life in Angola has
been poor. Crime is high in urban
neighborhoods, and gangs control
Railway station, Benguela, Angola
Other 10%
Lunda-Chokwe/
Nganguela
15%
Bakongo
13%
Ovimbundu
37%
Kimbundu
25%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
15%
Indigenous
beliefs
47%
Roman
Catholic
38%
Major Religions
Education
Angolas education system has suffered greatly because of an ongoing
civil war. Education is supposed to be
free to citizens, and is required for
children aged 7 to 15. In 1992, an
education campaign began and student enrollment more than tripled to
just under one million. As fighting
resumed, however, many could no
longer attend classes.
With few trained teachers and
inadequate schools, the literacy rate
for Angolans is low. About 56% of
(continued)
Government
Literate
42%
Type: Multiparty democracy

Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
NA army personnel
the male population is literate.

Approximately 28% of women know
how to read and write. There is only
one universitythe University of
Agostinho Netoin the country.
NA tanks
the less developed areas. The health

system has collapsed with the high
number of war injuries and famine
victims. In addition, there is only 1
doctor for every 14,300 people.
Even though the war has plagued

Angola for some time, some traditions and customs are still practiced.
Angolans are very good storytellers,
and pass these tales on to younger
generations. They are also highly
skilled craftspeople who can create
beautiful sculptures out of wood,
clay, copper, and ivory.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
14
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
47
Antigua and Barbuda

Land area rank
smallest country
Population rank
200
largest country (1)
206
most people (1)
fewest people
EUROPE
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
N
Codrington
ASIA
Barbuda
AFRICA
Official Name: Antigua &

EQUATOR
Barbuda
Continent: North America
Population: 66,970
Capital City: St. Johns
Largest City: St. Johns (36,000)
Unit of Money: East Caribbean dollar
Major Languages: English
Literacy: 96%
Land Use: 18% arable, 9% meadow, 11% forest, 62%
other
Natural Resources: None
Government: Executive lead by a governor-general
Defense: $3.3 M
LA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
TI
ri
OC
A N TA R C T I C A
ea
EA
bb
n
S
ea
St. John's
0
miles
0 km
Willikies
Antigua
10
English Harbour Town
10
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Domestic exports 22%

Re-exports
[significantly, petroleum
products re-exported to
neighboring islands]
78%
Average Rainfall
Most of the people of Antigua and Barbuda are direct

descendents of African slaves brought to the islands to
work on the sugar crops during colonial
The Place
times. Some Europeans, such as British,
Antigua and Barbuda is made up of three
and Portuguese, as well as Lebanese,
separate islands. Together they have a total
also live on the islands.
of 95 miles (153 km) of coastline. Antigua is
Life in Antigua and Barbuda is
the main island and has an area of 108
pleasant. Extended families are very
square miles (280 sq km). It reaches a maxiimportant to the cultural life on the
mum of 1,330 feet (405 m) above sea level.
islands. There is little internal conflict
There are no forests or rivers in Antigua.
in the country, and no great difference
Jumby Bay, Antigua
Bordered by the Caribbean Sea on the west
between the social classes. Over the
and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Antigua enjoys a
last several decades, women have moved up in society
warm climate year-round.
and many now hold college degrees and good jobs.
Barbuda is the second-largest island and covers just 62
More than 80% of the residents are employed by
square miles (161 sq km). Located about 25 miles (40 km)
commerce and tourism services. Because there are
north of Antigua, Barbuda is a very different island. It is
few natural resources on the islands, Antiguans and
made of coral and is fairly flat, reaching just 143 feet
Barbudans rely on the tropical climate and sandy beaches
(44 m) above sea level. Much of Barbudas land is covered
to bring in revenue. About 11% of the population works
by forest. There is a lagoon on the western side of the
in agriculture and grows cotton, fruits, and vegetables.
island that borders Barbudas only settlement.
Some 7% work in industry.
The third island of the country is called Redonda,
About 64% of Antiguans and Barbudans live in rural
and it is located about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of
areas. The country has a population density of 384 peoAntigua. Redonda is actually a giant uninhabited rock
ple per square mile (148 people per sq km). The average
measuring .05 square miles (1.3 sq km). It rises about
life expectancy is 71 years, and there is 1 doctor for
1,000 feet out of the Caribbean Sea.
every 3,750 people.
Other 3%
Mostly
Black
Anglican
Other
45%
Protestant
42%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$45 million
48
Roman
Catholic
10%
Argentina
Land area rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
31
fewest people
most people (1)
BOLIVIA
At a Glance
BRAZIL
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
U r ugu
ay
Paran
River
Cordoba
Santa Fe
Mendoza
io
p
m
a
de
URUGUAY
Pla
ta
Buenos Aires
La Plata
Mar del Plata

Bahia Blanca
P a t a g o n i a
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Humid Pampas.
This region is
primarily used for
grazing sheep and
growing cereal.
The North
region of Argentina is broken into
the Gran Chaco and Entre Rios.
The Gran Chaco is a lowland area
between the Andes and the Parana
River. Because of its poor drainage,
it is the least inhabited part of the
country. Entre Rios is a strip of lowland bordered in the east by the
Comodoro
Rivadavia
N
Falkland
Islands
Chemical
products
6%
21%
Tierra del
Fuego
0
0
miles
km
400
400
Permanent crops
1%
Food and
live animals
35%
Exports
Uruguay River and on the west by

the Parana River.
The four main rivers in Argentina
are the Parana, the Uruguay, the
Paraguay, and the Rio de Plata.
Iguacu Falls are located on a tributary
of the Parana. Several lakes are also
located throughout the country.
Vegetable
and animal
oils 10%
Machinery and
transport equipment
11%
W
S
Petroleum,
petroleum products
4%
Other
Average Rainfall
80F/27C
Resistencia
PACIFIC OCEAN
The Place
ANDES MOUNTAINS
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
15 in/38 cm
ra
San Miguel
de Tuchman
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Pa
ASIA
AFRICA
Argentina is the
second-largest
country in South
America. Its varied
landscape is divided into several
different regions.
The Andean
Ushuaia, Argentina
region is located
along the countrys western border.
This mountainous area is broken into
the Northwest section and Patagonia.
In the Northwest, the Andes reach up
to 22,000 feet (6,700 m) high. As the
mountain chain reaches Patagonia,
the peaks are smaller.
The flat, grassy plains of the
Pampas make up the second region
of Argentina. The Pampaswhich
lie in the center of the countryhave
two different climates. The western
section is called the Dry Pampas
and the eastern section is called the
gu
LE
CHI
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ay R
PARAGUAY
Official Name: Argentine Republic

Continent: South America
Area: 1,056,636 square miles
(2,736,690 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Buenos Aires
Largest City: Buenos Aires
(12,960,976)
Unit of Money: Argentine peso
Major Languages: Spanish (official), English,
Italian, German
Natural Resources: Oil, natural gas, coal, iron, zinc
Manufactured
products 13%
Farms/
cropland 9%
Other
19%
Forests
19%
Permanent
pastures
52%
Land Use
$25 billion
49
Argentina
(continued)
The People
Unlike most other South American
countries, the people of Argentina
are mostly of European descent.
Indian 1%
Mestizo
14%
White
85%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant 2% Other 6%
Jewish 2%
Roman
Catholic
90%
Major Religions
Many Argentines
have ancestors from
Italy or Spain.
French, Polish,
British, and German
immigrants have
also come to the
country in large
numbers. Because
of this, the native
Argentines have
become a minority
group in their own
country.
Approximately
90% of the population lives in urban
neighborhoods. In fact, about 40%
of the people live in the crowded
capital city, Buenos Aires. Argentinas
birth rate and population growth
have seen some of the slowest
increases on the continent. Life
The family structure is very

important in Argentina, and almost
90% of the population is Roman
Catholic. Although only 2% of the
population is Jewish, it is the largest
concentration in South America.
The majority of Argentines work in
the service and industry fields.
Education
Argentina has established one of the
best education systems in South
America. Children begin attending
free public school at age 5, and are
required to stay in school until they
are 14 years old. Many students
continue on to higher education
in both public and private schools.
In 1997, there were 5.2 million
students in primary school and 2.6
million students in secondary
Gauchos

The high rate of European immigration to Argentina has had a great
50
Government
Literate
96%
Type: Republic
Structure: Multiparty democracy
Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

296 tanks
school. Argentina also has about

25 national universities and many
private institutions.
impact on the style of

music, literature, and
art that can be found in
the country. As traditional South American
customs have blended
with different European
ideas, a new, distinct
culture has evolved.
One national symbol
that is often associated with
Argentina is the gaucho. Gauchos
rode through Central Argentina in
the early 1800s, rounding up wild
16 major ships
237 combat aircraft
horses and cattlemuch like the

cowboys in the western United
States. Gauchos represent courage
and self-reliance to Argentines.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
219
135
115
59
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Armenia
Land area rank
141
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

130
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
miles
50
GEORGIA
0
50
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Vanadzor
ASIA
Gyumri
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Ejmiadzin
AUSTRALIA
Aras River
Hr
a
Official Name: Republic of Armenia

Continent: Asia
EQUATOR
(28,400 sq km)
Capital City: Yerevan
Largest City: Yerevan (1,202,000)
Unit of Money: Dram
Major Languages: Armenian (official), Russian
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 24% pastures, 17% arable, 15% forests,
3% crops, 41% other
Natural Resources: Small deposits of gold and copper
Government: Republic headed by a president
Defense: $77 M annual defense budget; 60,000
active military personnel
km
Sevan
R.
an
zd
AZERBAIJAN
Sev
Yerevan
ana
Lak Lich
e
TURKEY
A N TA R C T I C A
AZ
N
W
ER
BA
Kapan
IJA
IRAN
Aras River
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Russian 2%
Azeri 3%
Average Rainfall
Approximately 70% of Armenians live in urban areas.

In fact, more than one-third of the population lives
in the capital, Yerevan. Despite this trend, agriculture
and farming still employ more than one-third of the
The Place
people. Other major job providers include the service
Armenia is a landlocked country that has a very diverse
and manufacturing industries. Even though Armenia has
landscape. The majority of Armenia is mountainous and
become more industrialized, about 70% of the populahas an average elevation of 5,900 feet (1,800 m). Mt.
tion still lives in poverty.
Aragats is the countrys highest point at 13,432 feet
Armenians are generally well
(4,094 m). There are also several extinct volcanoes
educated. Ten years of schooling
in the region.
are required from age 6 through
The lower parts of the country are semi-desert.
age 16. After that, students may
Only a few plants, such as juniper and honeysuckle,
continue at a vocational school or
can exist in these harsh conditions. The higher
a university. About 99% of men
meadows, however, provide good pastures in the
and 98% of women are literate.
summer for grazing animals. Certain crops, such as
Life expectancy is 66 years.
peaches, grapes, pomegranates, and figs, are able to
Slightly more than half of the
grow on the countrys flatter regions and plains.
Armenian population is female
Other crops, such as cereal, tobacco, potatoes, and
and almost one-third of the
some fruits, can grow at higher elevations.
people are under the age of 16.
The major rivers of Armenia are the Aras and
Armenians enjoy theater and
Armenian produce vendor
the Hrazdan. The Aras River makes up part of
ballet performances. Opera and
Armenias western border with Turkey and flows
other types of music are also
southward through Azerbaijan. The Hrazdan flows from very popular. Traditional handicrafts, such as carpet
the Aras River near Yerevan into Sevana Lake, located
weaving and embroidery, have been a pastime in the
near the eastern border of the country.
country for hundreds of years.
Other
42%
Mineral
products
10%
Other 2%
Other 6%
Jewelry
33%
Exports
Machinery
and equipment
15%
Armenian
93%
Ethnic Makeup
Armenian
Orthodox
94%
Major Religions
$290 million
51
Australia
Land area rank
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
ASIA
Great
Australian
Bight
Adelaide
li
ar
ng
Ri
ve
Brisbane
NGE
Average Rainfall
RA
ID
G
Port Augusta
Perth
NEW SOUTH
WALES
Newcastle
Sydney
Canberra
VICTORIA
N
Melbourne
E
miles
Tasman
Sea
TASMANIA
500
Hobart
much of the Australian population

makes its home here.
Most Australians consider everything west of the Great Dividing
Range to be the Outback. The western part of the country is known as
the Western Australian Shield. This
area has several deserts, including
the Great Sandy, the Gibson, and
half of the Great Victoria.
Two of the countrys other land
features have become unofficial
national symbols of Australia. Ayers
Rock, which is located near the
middle of the country, towers 1,100
feet (335 m) above the ground and
is the worlds largest monolith. The
Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of
Queensland, is another of Australias
well-known features. It is the largest
living thing in the world.
Farms / cropland 6%
Food and
live animals
20%
Crude
materials
19%
Exports
$68 billion
52
IN
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Kalgoorlie
Petroleum, petroleum
products, and
natural gas
4%
Other
27%
Basic
manufactures
13%
QUEENSLAND
Ayers Rock
0 in/0 cm
Rockhampton
3 in/8 cm
ri
20F/-7C
ef
Mackay
T
6 in/15 cm
Bar
40F/4C
G reat Victoria
D esert
Albany
Re
EA
9 in/23 cm
GR
60F/16C
er
Charleville
Geraldton
Coral
Sea
Townsville
Mount Isa
AUSTRALIA
Although Australia is the smallest

continent on Earth, it is also the
worlds sixth-largest country. It is
bordered by the Indian Ocean to the
west and the Pacific Ocean to the
east. The country has an area of 2.9
million square miles (7.68 million
sq km), and a coastline that stretches
for 16,010 miles (25,760 km).
The majority of Australia Ayers Rock, Australia
is very flat and dry. In fact,
only about 6% of the continent is above 2,000 feet (610
m) in elevation. The highest
point in the country is
Mount Kosciusko at 7,310
feet (2,228 m) above sea
level. About one third of the
country is desert, and another third is semi-desert.
One section of Australia,
however, has a much more
12 in/30 cm
NORTHERN
TERRITORY
Alice Springs
G ibson
WESTERN D esert
80F/27C
Cairns
G reat Sandy
D esert
S
appealing climate
0
km
500
and terrain.
Located in the eastern region of the
country, the Great Dividing Range
consists of rolling hills, thick forests,
fertile soil, and a good supply of
water. This range extends from
northern Queensland down to southern Tasmania. Because of its qualities,
15 in/38 cm
Cooktown
Derby
100F/38C
at
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Gulf of
Carpentaria
Wyndham
SOUTH
AMERICA
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
re
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Commonwealth of
Australia
Continent: Oceania
(7,617,930 sq km)
Capital City: Canberra
Largest City: Sydney (3,700,000)
Unit of Money: Australian dollar
Natural Resources: Bauxite, coal, iron, ore,
copper, tin
Darwin
INDIAN
OCEAN
AFRICA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Arafura Sea
NORTH
AMERICA
most people (1)
INDONESIA
EUROPE
At a Glance
0F/-18C
largest country (1)
53
Mineral fuels and

lubricants 17%
Other
21%
Forests
19%
Permanent
pastures
54%
Land Use
Australia
The People
The people of Australia come
from many different countries and
backgrounds. The Aborigines are
descendents of the original inhabitants of Australia who came from
Southeast Asia some 40,000 years
ago. Today they only make up 1%
of the population, or 250,000 people. Many Aborigines have moved
from their rural tribes into the cities
and towns. Adjusting to this major
life change has been very hard for
them, both financially and socially.
The majority of Aborigines live in
Queensland, New South Wales,
Western Australia, and the
Northern Territory.
In the last 25 years, Australia has
seen a very large increase of Asian
immigrants and tourists. Today,
Asians are the second-largest ethnic

group after whites with 4% of the
population. In fact, some 50% of all
immigrants each year are from Asia.
The Japanese are also the most common tourists in the country.
About 85% of the population
lives in urban areasmostly in the
Great Dividing Range. Almost
three-quarters of Australians, or
about 73%, work in the service
field. Another 22% are employed by

industry. And although the country
is known for its giant sheep and cattle ranches, only about 5% of
Australians work in agriculture.
Australia has a fairly large youth
populationabout a quarter of its
inhabitants are under the age of 16.
The average life expectancy at birth
for women is 83 years, and for men
it is 77 years.
Aboriginal and other 1%

Asian 4%
White
95%
Australian kids play with a kangaroo

A very strong aspect of Australian
culture centers around the Aborigines
and their unique practices. Because of
Australias isolated location, much of
the culture and art forms of these
tribes were not influenced by any
other group for almost 40,000 years.
Today, researching early aboriginal
Other
24%
Anglican
26%
Other
Christian
24%
Roman
Catholic
26%
Major Religions
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Except for federally run schools in
Canberra, the primary and secondary
education system in Australia is run
by each individual state. Children
between the ages of 5 and 15 are
required to go to school. Attendance
rates are highsome 99% of both
primary and secondary students, as
well as 30% of tertiary students,
(continued)
Government
Literate
99%
Type: Democratic
Structure: Federal state system
Leader: Queen/Prime Minister
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
attend classes. The Outback area

has the lowest attendance rate. Some
students also pay to attend nongovernment schools. Universities are
funded by the federal government,
but are run by outside parties.
Although Australians can go to any
university throughout the country,
customs and preserving existing art
forms are very important in Australia.
Aboriginal plays and music are also
being used to educate other cultures
in Australia about the continents
early inhabitants.
The populated parts of Australia
generally have a very temperate climate, allowing people to spend their
free time outdoors. Sports, such as
swimming, cricket, tennis, golf, and
basketball, are very popular
90 tanks
15 major ships
125 combat aircraft
many attend classes within their own

state. Some 500,000 students attend
a university annually.
throughout the country. Picnicking
and hiking in the bush are also
favorite pastimes.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
484
503
446
196
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
53
Austria
Land area rank
116
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
86
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
AFRICA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Austria
Continent: Europe
Area: 31,945 square
miles (82,738 sq km)
Capital City: Vienna
Largest City: Vienna (1,500,000)
Unit of Money: Austrian schilling
Major Languages: German
Natural Resources: Iron ore, crude oil, timber, lead
Da
nu
SOUTH
AMERICA
Bod
en
Lak see
e
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
ITA LY
0
Other
33%
miles
R.
Exports
Graz
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
CROATIA
50
50
Machinery
and transport
equipment
39%
$58 billion
54
M ur
Klagenfurt
is about 3,000 feet (910 m). Several

mountain ranges divide Austria from
east to west, and are separated by
vast valleys. The North Tirol Alps
and the Salzburg
Alps are located
in the middle
of the western
part of Austria.
In the south, the
Hohe Tauren
reaches up
12,457 feet
(3,797 m) at
Grossglockner
the highest point
in the country.
The Otztal Alps,
Gailtaler Alps,
and Zillertale
Alps run through
the southernmost part of
Austria.
Iron and
steel 6%
Road
vehicles 7%
R.
rz
M
T i r o l
SWITZ.
SLOVAKIA
Vienna
Innsbruck
A L P S
LIECH.
Paper and paper

products
6%
Average Rainfall
Vienna, Austria
Danube R
.
Linz
Salzburg
0 km
Austria is a fairly mountainous

nation in central Europe. In fact,
the average elevation in the country
Riv
G ERMA N Y
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
be
er
AUSTRALIA
Chemical
products 9%
Several rivers run through the

country. The Danubeflowing
across the northern part of the
countryis Austrias main river.
It is fed by the Inn, Traun, Ybbs,
and Enns. In the south, the Mur
and the Murz are the main rivers.
Austria also has several large lakes.
Lake Bodensee forms the western
border of the country between
Germany and Switzerland.
The climate in Austria depends
on the location and elevation.
Temperatures average 28F (0C)
in winter and around 74F (21C)
in summer. In the valleys, the threemonth-long winters are usually
cold and harsh. Summers are short
and warm, with spring and fall
generally mild. Austria receives
about 27 inches (68 cm) of rain
annually. There is normally less
precipitation in the valleys than
in the mountains.
Other
20%
Forests
39%
Farms/
cropland
18%
Permanent
pastures
23%
Land Use
Austria
The People
Almost 99% of the population is ethnic Austrian. Small groups of
Hungarians, Croats, Czechs, and
Slovenes also live in the country,
mainly in the south and east. Many of
these minorities came to Austria as
refugees after World War II. Some
gypsy communities also make their
homes in the country.
About 55% of the population is
urban, while 45% of Austrians make
their homes in rural areas. There
are approximately 250 people per
square mile (98 people per sq km).
(continued)
Some 20% of the population lives

in Vienna, the capital city. About
68% of Austrians work in services.
Another 29% is employed by manufacturing, and produce metal products, chemicals, foods, and paper
products. Women account for about
40% of the work force.
The family is very important
in Austrian culture. In fact, many
young adults live at home with their
parents until they are married. The
average life expectancy for Austrians
is 74 years for men and 80 years
for women.
Other 1%
Protestant
5%
Austrian
99%
Ethnic Makeup
None or
Other 17%
Roman
Catholic
78%
Major Religions
Austrian herdsman
Education
The Austrians have a very strong
education system, which is ranked
seventh in the world. It requires children between the ages of 6 and 15 to
attend school. Every student spends
four years in elementary school.
Students who do not plan to attend a
university will then continue with
elementary school, or go on to a
vocational school. University-bound
students will enter a secondary school
until age 18. There are currently
about 380,000 children attending elementary school and 790,000 children

Austria has a very rich background
in the performing and visual arts,
and many of its museums and
galleries are known throughout
the world. Some famous Austrian
composers and performers include
Government
Literate
99%
Type: Federal republic

Leader: President/Chancellor
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
in secondary and vocational schools.

Austria has about 18 colleges and
universities. Vienna University was
founded in 1365 and is the countrys
largest. Approximately 240,000 students currently attend a university.
Mozart, Beethoven, Bruckner,

Schubert, Strauss, and the Vienna
Boys Choir. Many art formssuch
as stained-glass windows, handcarved chests, Vienna lace, and
Augarten porcelainare also
associated with Austria.
169 tanks
0 major ships
48 combat aircraft
475
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
413
387
181
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
55
Azerbaijan
Land area rank
114
smallest country
largest country
Population rank
87
fewest people
most people
EUROPE
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
RUSSIA
ASIA
Caspian
Sea
AFRICA

EQUATOR
of Azerbaijan
Continent: Asia
(86,100 sq km)
Capital City: Baku
Largest City: Baku (1,140,000)
Unit of Money: Manat
Major Languages: Azer (official), Russian, Armenian
Literacy: 97%
Land Use: 25% meadows, 18% arable, 5% permanent
crops, 11% forests and woodland, 41% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore
Government: Republic headed by a president
Defense: $109 M
GEORGIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
3 in/8 cm
iver
Astara
IRAN
W
0
miles 50
0 km 50
The People
Slightly more than half of the population lives in urban
areas. The majority of Azerbaijanisabout 80% live
in the countrys valleys and lowland areas. These areas
are easier to farm, and many are irrigated. Most of the
countrys industrial centers are also located here. About
20% of the people make their
homes in the mountains.
Culture, tradition, and education
are valued highly by Azerbaijanis.
Handicrafts, such as pottery,
copperware, metal carving, and
carpet weaving, are an important
part of the countrys heritage.
Throughout the country, people
have access to museums and art
galleries. There are also more than
President of Azerbaijan, 4,500 libraries in Azerbaijan. Most
Heydar Aleyevich Aliyev of the population is literate. Life
Azerbaijan is a very young countryone-third of the
population is under the age of 14. The country also has
a high birthrate, with about 180,000 babies born each
year. About 50% of the population makes up the labor
force. Some 32% of workers are in agriculture, while
another 26% work in industry.
Petroleum
products
58%
Daghestani 3% Other 2% Russian

3%
Armenian 2%
Azeri
90%
Armenian
Orthodox 2%
Russian
Orthodox
3%
Other 2%
Muslim
93%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$789 million
56
Naxivan
20F/-7C
Aras R
Metals 3%
Other 3%
Cotton
21%
Rive
su
6 in/15 cm
TURKEY
ca
40F/4C
Baku
Aras
9 in/23 cm
Xankndi
60F/16C
Food products 7%
Machinery and
equipment
8%
12 in/30 cm
IA
Sumqayit
Krdmir
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
Gnc
100F/38C
EN
Mingevir
ss
AR
Le
Azerbaijan is a mid-sized country south of Russia on the

eastern coast of Asia. The Greater Caucasus Mountains
extend through the northern part of the country, and
the Lesser Caucasus mountains make up its western
border with Armenia. The Caspian Sea borders the
country to the east. Azerbaijan also has a small enclave
called Nagorno located in the northeastern part of
Armenia, and a larger area called Naxcivan in the southern part of Armenia.
The landscapes of Azerbaijan vary greatly. About 40%
of the country is made up of lowlands, with a maximum
height of 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level. Some
peaks in Azerbaijan, however, reach up 14,714 (4,485 m)
high. These mountain slopes have dense forests, including beech, oak, and pine trees. The climate is mild in the
winter, but scorching during its five-month-long summer.
Even though very little of Azerbaijans land is used to
grow crops, the country produces many agricultural
goods. Some of the items grown include wheat, cotton,
grapes, tobacco, potatoes, and tea.
Xamaz
Caucasu
Greater
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Ski
AUSTRALIA
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Bahamas
Land area rank
164
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
176
fewest people
most people (1)
Grand
Bahama
At a Glance
Freeport
Official Name: Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Area: 3,888 square miles (10,070 sq km)
Population: 297,852
Capital City: Nassau
Largest City: Nassau (191,942)
Unit of Money: Bahamian dollar
EQUATOR
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 32% forests, 68% other
Natural Resources: Salt, aragonite,
timber
Government: Constitutional parliamentary democracy
Defense: $20 million
Great Abaco
Nassau
New
Providence
Andros
Island
Cat Island
San Salvador
(Watling Island)
Great Exuma Island

EUROPE
Long Island
W
Crooked Island
Mayaguana
AUSTRALIA
CUBA
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
The People
Most native Bahamians have ancestors who came from
Africa. A small percentage of white people also live in
the country. Life expectancy is 74 years.
During the last 30 years, many Bahamians have moved
from undeveloped areas into busy cities. About 85% of
the population lives in urban areas. There are 75 people
per square mile (30 people per sq km). Approximately
67% of Bahamians live on the island of New Providence
(mostly in Nassau). Other highly populated islands
include Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, and Long Island.
Almost half of the
Bahamian peoplesome
42%work in the
tourism industry. Another
third hold government
jobs. In rural communities, some Bahamians
work in fishing occupations. Although the
A market in Nassau
Bahamas has one of the
best economies in the
Caribbean, there are also many poor immigrant families.
Traditional Bahamian musicGoombayis similar
to African music and has a strong drum beat. The
Junkanoo parades are also a favorite in the country.
Other 13%
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
Salt 8%
Methodist 6%
White
15%
Re-exports
47%
Crayfish
32%
Exports
Great Inagua
Matthew Town
A N TA R C T I C A
The Bahamas is made up of about 700 islands and 2,400

cays in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern coast of
Florida. The Bahamas consists of many islands, and
therefore is called an archipelago. These islands only rise a few
feet above sea level. In fact, the
highest point in the country is
Mount Alvernia, which rises just
206 feet (63 m) high. No rivers
run through the country.
The Bahamian islands spread
over
90,000 square miles
Nassau, Bahamas
(233,000 sq km) of ocean. All
together, the islands have 2,200 miles (3,542 km) of
coastline. The largest island is Andros, which measures
104 miles (167 km) long and 40 miles (64 km) wide.
The subtropical climate of the Bahamas produces
only two seasonsboth with mild weather. Winter lasts
from December until April, and summer stretches from
May until November. The Bahamas warm climate is
well-suited to many types of flowers, including orchids,
bougainvillea, and jasmine. Some of the trees found on
the islands are cork, black olive, and palm.
12 in/30 cm
E
S
AFRICA
The Place
15 in/38 cm
ASIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
80F/27C
100
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Eleuthera
NORTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
miles
km 100
Other
Protestant
18%
Black
85%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
19%
Other 5%
Baptist
32%
Anglican
20%
Major Religions
$202 million
57
Bahrain
Land area rank
192
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

162
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: State of Bahrain

EQUATOR
Continent: Europe (Middle East)
Population: 645,361
Capital City: Manama
Largest City: Manama (148,000)
Unit of Money: Bahraini dinar
Major Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi,
Urdu
Literacy: 85%
Land Use: 6% meadow, 2% arable, 2% permanent
crops, 90% other
Natural Resources: Oil, natural gas, fish
Government: Traditional monarchy
Persian Gulf
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Manama
E
S
Al Muharraq
Ar Rifa
A N TA R C T I C A
Gulf of
Bahrain
Al Gharbi
Gulf of
Bahrain
Ar Rumaythah
SAUDI
ARABIA
QATAR
0
miles
10
0 km 10
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other 10%
Average Rainfall
Bahrains population is youngapproximately 35% of the

people are less than 15 years old. This is because the
The Place
country has a very high birth rate. The population grows
by about 2% every year. There are many more men in the
Located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain
country than women. Life expectancy is 75 years.
consists of 33 islands in the mid-western region of the
Almost 90% of Bahrainis
Persian Gulf. Bahrain is the only island country
live
in cities. Many people
in the Middle East.
live in Manama. About
Bahrain Island, the countrys largest and most
three-quarters of the labor
populated island, is about 30 miles (48 km) long
force is employed in indusand 10 miles (16 km) wide. The island makes up
try, which includes oil and
about 88% of the countrys total land area.
aluminum smelting. Only
Bahrain Island is fairly flat. The highest point is
42% of those workers, howAd-Dukhan, which is only 440 feet (134 m) above
ever, are native Bahrainis.
sea level. Sandy plains and a few salt marshes lie
Compared to other
in the southern and southwestern regions. Along
Mosque,
Bahrain
Middle-Eastern countries,
the northern coastal areas are many freshwater
Bahrain is one of the most
springs. Because these springs can be tapped for
liberal nations. Even though marriages are still arranged
irrigation, some fruit and vegetable crops can grow there.
by families, women do enjoy some freedom. They are
For most of the year, Bahrain is very hot and dry.
allowed to get an education and are not required to
During winterwhen temperatures hover around 65F
wear veils in public.
(18C)the country gets most of its annual 3 inches
Traditional arts and crafts are common in Bahrain.
(7.6 cm) of rain. During summer, temperatures average
Fishing
boats called dhows are produced just outside the
a high of 90F (32C). Despite this harsh environment,
capital. Gold work, woven cloth, and pottery are other
Bahrain is known for its lush landscape, and more than
types of handiwork found throughout the country.
200 different kinds of plants grow there.
Aluminum
products
15%
Petroleum and
natural-gas
products 75%
Exports
$5 billion
58
Other 6%
Iranian 8%
Other
Arab
10%
Asian
13%
Bahraini
63%
Ethnic Makeup
Sunni
Muslim
25%
Shi'a
Muslim
75%
Major Religions
Bangladesh
Land area rank
95
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Brahmapu
Rangpur
AUSTRALIA
River
(P
a)
Pabna
Ri
ve
Sylhet
Nasirabad
Riv e
Brahmanbaria
Dhaka
na
Narayanganj
INDIA
Comilla
Jessore
Barisal
Khulna
gon
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
J A S O N D
miles
km
100
100
he
Mouths of t
Gan
ges
MYANMAR
B a y o f B en g a l
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
s
g Hill
100F/38C
eg
Rajshahi
es
18 in/46 cm
Sirajganj
ng
120F/49C
A N TA R C T I C A
Ga
Chittagong
Bangladesh is located in southcentral Asia. The country is almost

completely surrounded by India,
except for a small common border
with Myanmar. Bangladesh also has
360 miles (580 km) of coastline on
the Bay of Bengal.
Each region of the country has a
unique landscape. In the south, bordering the Bay of Bengal, the land
is relatively flat. It has an average
elevation of less than 30 feet (9 m).
Northeast of these plains the
Chittagong Hills form part of
Bangladeshs borders with India and
Myanmar. This diverse region has
peaks that measure up to 2,000 feet
(610 m) above sea level.
The triangle-shaped piece of land
that lies between the Ganges
J F M A M J
tr
ve
INDIA
The Place
0F/-18C
Ri
AFRICA
Chitta
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Peoples
Republic of
Bangladesh
Continent: Asia
(133,910 sq km)
Capital City: Dhaka
Largest City: Dhaka (3.6 million)
Unit of Money: Taka
Major Languages: Bangla
(official), English
Natural Resources: Natural gas,
timber
Jamuna
At a Glance
most people (1)
0 in/0 cm
A Bangladesh rice field
59
Bangladesh
(Continued)
Tea 1%
Fertilizers 2%
Raw jute 2%
Other
11%
Hides, skins, and

leather 7%
Ready-made
garments
57%
Fish and prawns

10%
Jute manufactures 10%
Exports
$4 billion
Other 5%
Permanent
pastures
5%
Forests
15%
Farms/ cropland
75%
Land Use
and Jamuna rivers in the northwest

is called the Barind Tract. The
Madhupur Tract lies in the north
central part of the country. This
region has high plateaus and small
hills. Moving east, the Northeastern
Lowlands are characterized by many
lakes. This region is also quite hilly.
Every part of Bangladesh is
directly affected by water. There are
five main river systems in the country: the Ganges, the Meghna and
Surma, the Jamuna, the North

Bengal, and the Chittagong Hill
Tracts. These rivers are constantly
changing their courses and transforming Bangladeshs landscape.
The rivers overflow each year
between June and October, flooding
the surrounding areas. Although this
helps deposit fertile soil throughout
the floodplains, this powerful surge
is also hazardous for people, animals, and crops.
The weather patterns in

Bangladesh also affect the countrys
flooding. It is one of the rainiest
countries in the world. In the
monsoon (rainy) season, water levels
may rise more than 15 feet (4.5 m)
and flood about 65% of the country.
When India has heavy rains, the
already swollen rivers carry even
more water into Bangladesh.
Cyclones are also a threat to people,
animals, and property.
Resources
Farm land
Forests
Pastures
Other
Light engineering
Rice
Rice is one of the main foods

in the Bangladeshi diet.
60
Bangladesh
The History
Known as Bengal, this part of Asia
was first ruled by Buddhist kings
beginning in the 8th century. Bengal
was later conquered by Muslim
invaders in the 13th century, and
much of the population converted
to Islam. In the 16th century,
Bengal became part of the Mogul
Empire. In 1642, the British East
India Company established a settlement in Bengal, and within 100
years, the country was entirely
under British rule.
The area was divided between
Pakistan and India after Indian
independence in 1947. In 1971, East
Pakistan declared its independence
as the country of Bangladesh. After
The People
Bangladesh has a very high population density. The average number
of people per square mile ranges
from 1,900 (886 people per sq km)
in most regions to 2,800 people per
square mile (965 people per sq km)
in the countrys most fertile areas.
This density is what the United
A Dhaka street vendor
(Continued)
a brief civil war, Pakistan acknowledged Bangladeshs independence

in 1974. Since then, many
government officials have been
killed or forced out of office.
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
140 tanks
4 major ships
57 combat aircraft
Bangladeshi women
States would be like if half of its

entire population lived in Wisconsin.
Approximately 80% of all
Bangladeshis live in rural areas.
Sometimes small villages are so
close together that it is hard to tell
them apart. This is especially true
in the rainy season, when flooding
forces many people to live in the
same area. In villages,
electricity and safe
drinking water are
often difficult to obtain.
Throughout
Bangladesh, and especially in villages, family
settlements include
many generations
and extended-family
relatives. Marriages
are usually arranged
by the heads of both
large families.
Separation and divorce
are officially permitted,
and polygamy is
allowed for Muslims.
Women are slowly
moving into the
Bangladesh work force,
and there are now
women in politics.
Other 1%
Hindu
11%
Muslim
88%
Major Religions
Other 2%
Bengali
98%
Ethnic Makeup
About 65% of the Bangladesh
population works in agriculture,
25% work in services, and another
10% are employed in mining and
industry. The average income is very
lowan engineer makes about $71
per month. Government officials
earn some of the highest incomes,
though more than half of the population lives below the poverty line.
There is 1 doctor for every 5,200
people, and the average life span for
Bangladeshis is 56 years.
61
Bangladesh
(Continued)
Education
Children in Bangladesh are not
required to attend school. For those
who do attend, education is free. The
Bangladesh school system includes
primary school, secondary school,
and higher education. Children
attend primary school from about
age 6 to 10. About 80% of primary
school-aged children attend. Because
of its poor education system, only
about 38% of the population can

read and write.
Secondary school is divided into
three levelsjunior secondary, high
school, and intermediate college.
About 17% of children eligible for
secondary school actually take classes.
Out of those who graduate, 4% of
college-aged students go to a university. Besides general universities,
Bangladesh also has schools that
specialize in engineering, law, crafts,

and agriculture.
Literate
38%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Flooded street

Performing arts such as music
and dance are very popular in
Bangladesh. The four main types
of music include devotional, classical, light classical, and popular.
Some types of popular music are
sari, bhawaiya, bhatiali, and marfati.
Jatra, a kind of opera that tells local
legends, is popular in rural areas.
Many people also go to concerts.
Dancing is a popular recreation
in Bangladesh. In fact, there are
several dances that originated in
the country, including manipur, baul,
dhali, and snake dances. Each dance
has a special meaning and is usually
performed only on the occasion
with which it is associated. Other
popular dances in Bangladesh are
62
Mini-taxis
the kathakali and the bharata-natya.

Soccerknown in Bangladesh as
association footballis the countrys
most popular sport. Tennis, badminton, field hockey, and cricket
are also played there. Ha-do-do is a
popular game played by most

Bangladeshi children. A player from
one team must go over to the other
while chanting, and see how many
people he or she can tag without
taking a breath.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
Services
25%
Agriculture
65%
Industry
10%
Labor Force
0.4
19
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Barbados
Land area rank
201
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

178
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Official Name: Barbados
Continent: North America (Caribbean)
Population: 275,330
Capital City: Bridgetown
Largest City: Bridgetown (6,070)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Barbadian dollar
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 37% arable, 5% meadow,
12% forests, 46% other
Natural Resources: Crude oil, fish, natural gas
ATLAN T IC
OCEAN
Speightstown
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Bathsheba
ASIA
Holetown
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Bridgetown
AUSTRALIA
Oistins
N
A N TA R C T I C A
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Clothing 1%
Chemicals 10%
Electrical
components 10%
miles
0 km 5
The People
Barbados is a small island

country in the Caribbean Sea.
It is about 21 miles (34 km)
from north to south at its
longest point, and 14 miles
(23 km) from east to west at
its widest point. The western
coast has calm seas and sandy
beaches, but the eastern coast
is rocky with rough water.
Barbados is the farthest east of
all the Caribbean Islands.
The island consists mainly
Ragged Point lighthouse
of coral. On some parts of
Barbados, the coral is 300 feet (90 m) thick. Water soaks
through the coral and creates underground streams and
caverns. Most of the coastal areas are fairly flat, but the
central part of the island has rolling hills.
Much of the level land in Barbados has been cultivated.
Although sugarcane is the main crop, guavas, avocados,
mangos, and citrus fruit are also grown there. Some native
Barbadian vegetation includes bearded figs, mahogany and
palm trees, lilies, wild roses, and cactus.
80F/27C
E
S
The Place
100F/38C
Food
17%
Almost three-quarters of Barbadians are descendents of

African slaves brought to the island between 1600 and
1800. Some Asians, Indians, and Europeans also live
there. Although Barbados has an English influence,
many customs and traditions have been mixed with
African ways of life.
The Barbadian population is overwhelmingly female,
because many native men travel
abroad to find work. The service
industry employs 75% of the
Barbadian labor force. About 15% of
workers are employed by industry,
and 10% work in agriculture. The
average weekly wages for a foreman
in the oil business are about $280.
Barbados is one of the most densely
populated countries in the world.
There are about 1,800 people per
The population is about evenly split
between urban and rural areas.
Many Barbadians are young
about one-quarter of the population is less that 15 years
of age. Life expectancy is 75 years. About 70% of all
births occur out of wedlock.
Re-exports
24%
Other
38%
Exports
White
4%
Roman
Catholic
4%
Other
16%
Black
80%
Ethnic Makeup
Methodist
7%
Pentecostal
8%
Other
29%
Anglican
40%
Other
Christian 12%
Major Religions
$235 million
63
Belarus
Land area rank
83
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
73
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
LATVIA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
RUSSIA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Belarus
Continent: Europe
Area: 80,154 square
Capital City: Minsk
Largest City: Minsk (1.6 million)
Unit of Money: Belerusian rubel
Major Languages: Byelorusian (official), Russian
Natural Resources: Forest, peat, oil, natural gas
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Vitsyebsk
LITHUANIA
Minsk
Lida
Belarus is located in eastern Europe.

This landlocked country consists
mostly of flat lowlandsmore than
half the surface area of Belarus is
less than 700 feet (213 m) above sea
level. There are three main lowland
areas in the country. The Polatsk
Lowland lies in the northeastern
part of Belarus, and the Nyoman
Lowland is located in the north-
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
100F/38C
0F/-18C
F M A M J J A S O N D
Average Rainfall
Castle, Belarus
POLAND
Baranavichy
Babruysk
Homyel'
Brest
Pinsk
Pripet Marsh
Mazyr
western corner.
The Central
0
miles
0
km
100
Byanrezina Plain
lies in the middle
of the country. To the south of this
wide plain are the Pripet Marshes,
the largest swamp area in Europe.
These lowlands are divided by
rolling hills and upland. Some of the
higher parts of the country are made
up of ridges formed by glaciers. The
Belarusian Ridgethe
largest ridge in the
countryruns from the
Polish border to just
north of Minsk. The
highest point in the
country is Dzyarzhynsk
Mountain at 1,135 feet
The Byelavyezhskaya
Forest is located on the
countrys western border
with Poland. It is the
Other
22%
Foodstuffs
18%
Machinery
34%
Chemicals
26%
100
UKRAINE
Exports
$5 billion
E
S
largest area of primeval mixed forest

in Europe. Approximately 285
square miles (738 sq km) of the 485square-mile (1,256-sq-km) forest lie
within Belarus. The rest of the
country has a mix of deciduous and
coniferous forests.
Belarus has a temperate climate
characterized by high humidity. The
country has cold winters. During
January, temperatures average
around 21 F (-6 C). In the north,
temperatures as low as -40 F
(-68 C) have been recorded.
However, Belarus also experiences
warm summers. During July,
temperatures average approximately
64 F (18 C). Belarus receives from
20 to 26 inches (50 to 66 centimeters)
of precipitation each year.
Other
21%
Farms/
cropland
30%
Forests
34%
0 in/0 cm
64
Mahilyow
Hrodna
es
The Place
Orsha
Barysaw
A N TA R C T I C A
River
Dnieper
Land Use
Permanent
pastures 15%
Belarus
The People
The people of Belarus are still in a
transitional period following the
break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
After the break-up, the economic situation in the country worsened, and a
rise in the cost of living has made life
hard for the large lower and middle
classes. There are 4.3 million people
in the work force, and 40% of them
are employed by industry and construction. Another 40% of workers
are in the service industry.
About 68% of Belarusians live in
cities while the other 32% reside in
rural areas. There are 127 people per
The largest concentration of people
English class in Minsk
Education
Children in Belarus are required to
attend school between the ages of 7
and 16. Approximately 187,000 students are enrolled in classes today.

Participating in sports is one of the
most popular pastimes in Belarus.
There are about 70 different sports
played throughout the country. Some
of the most popular include soccer,
ice hockey, basketball, wrestling, and
is in the northern part of the country.

The south is sparsely populated
because of the marshy conditions.
Ongoing medical problems after
the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster
in nearby Ukraine still plague
Belarus and its health services. In
fact, the average number of cancer
Ukrainian 3%
Polish 4%
(Continued)
and leukemia victims has risen by

10,000 since the accident. Many
facilities have been built to care for
these patients and doctors have been
specially trained to treat them. On
average, there is 1 doctor for every
246 people. The average life
expectancy in Belarus is 68 years.
Other 2%
Other
20%
Russian
13%
Eastern
Orthodox
80%
Byelorussian
78%
Major Religions
Ethnic Makeup
About 75% of all

eligible primary
school- and
secondary schoolaged children go
to school. Most
classes are still
taught in Russian,
although it is
not the official
language of the
country.
About 18% of
college-age students enroll in a
university. Some
of Belaruss universities include
the Belarusian Agricultural
Academy, Homyel State University,
and Hrodna State University. There
are also special medical and technological institutes in Belarus.
boxing. There are more than 450
specialized childrens sports schools
and 8 Olympic sports schools. More
than 200,000 students study at the 13
schools established for sports specialization. Coaches and sports specialists
train at the Sports Academy.
Literate
98%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
2,348 tanks
0 major ships
349 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
302
158
48
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
65
Belgium
Land area rank
140
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
76
fewest people
most people (1)
Official Name: Kingdom of Belgium

Continent: Europe
(30,230 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Brussels
Largest City: Brussels
(949,000)
Unit of Money: Belgian franc
Major Languages: Flemish, French, German (all official)
Natural Resources: Coal, natural gas
North
Sea
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
A
F L
NETHERLANDS
Brugge
S
E R
N D
SOUTH
AMERICA
Antwerp
G E RMA N Y
At a Glance
Gent
Brussels
Kortrijk
AUSTRALIA
Tournai
Meu
Mons
A N TA R C T I C A
se R
ive
Liege
Namur
Charleroi
S
N E
E N
D
A R
Bastogne
F R A N C E
LUXEMBOURG
N
W
0
0
Brussels, Belgium
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
100F/38C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Belgium is a small country in northwestern Europe. Although most of

Belgiums borders are shared with
France, the Netherlands, Germany,
and Luxembourg, the country has
about 40 miles (64 km) of coastline on
the North Sea at the Strait of Dover.
The northern
half of Belgium,
known as the
Anglo-Belgian
Basin, consists
of three regions.
Moving from
west to east, they
are Flanders, the
Central Plateaus,
and Kempenland.
These regions
are mostly flat coastal plains, with
a temperate climate. Winters are
cool and foggy, and the summers
are fairly mild.
The Flanders region, in the
northwestern part of the country,
has two main areas. From the coast
of the North Sea to about 10 miles
Petroleum
products
3%
Other
20%
Machinery
28%
25
25
(6.2 km) inland, Maritime Flanders

features several dunes and dikes.
The rest of the region is known as
Interior Flanders. It has a top elevation of 300 feet (91 m). Kempenland
does not exceed 330 feet (100 m) in
elevation and is mostly pastures and
developed industry.
The southern part of Belgium
includes the Ardennes foothills
where the land rises to its highest
point of 2,277 feet (694 m) at
Botrange. There are meadows and
orchards in this region. To the south
of Ardennes is Cte Lorraines. The
terrain is mostly rolling hills. Many
cropsincluding barley, oats, potatoes, and wheatare grown there.
Many areas throughout southern
Belgium have thick forests.
Other
34%
Plastics 5%
Textiles 5%
Chemicals
17%
Iron and steel 6%

Diamonds 7%
Forests
21%
Farms/
cropland
25%
Permanent
pastures
20%
Food 9%
Exports
$172 billion
66
miles
km
Land Use
Belgium
The People
(Continued)
Mixed or other 12%
Over the last century, the

majority of Belgians have
settled in cities. In fact, only
3% of the population still
lives in rural areas. Belgium
is one of the most densely
populated countries in
Europe, averaging about 798
people per square mile (333
people per sq km).
A street artist in Brussels
The native people in
Belgium are slowly becomfoods, metals, and motor vehicle
ing outnumbered by foreign-born
assembly. About 3% of the work
citizens. Many immigrants are comforce is employed by agriculture
ing to the country, and their birth
growing crops such as sugar beets,
rates are higher than those of native
grain, fruits, and vegetables. While it
Belgians. The largest concentrations
is common for women to work, they
of foreign-born citizens are in the
earn about 25% less than men do.
western mining and industrial towns.
Overall, Belgians enjoy a healthy
Almost 70% of Belgians work in
services. Some 28% of the population style of living in one of the richest
countries in Europe. A banker averis employed by industry and work
ages about $1,430 per month, while
mostly in engineering, processed
Walloon
33%
Fleming
55%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
and other
25%
Roman
Catholic
75%
Major Religions
bakers earn about $10 an hour.
Although unemployment runs fairly
high, most Belgians save up to
20% of their annual income. Life
Education
Belgians are free to choose the type
of education their children receive.
Both public and private primary and
secondary schools are popular. More
than 99% of all school-aged children in Belgium attend classes, and
the school system is ranked seventh
in the world. Depending on the
region, classes are taught in
German, French, or Flemish.
When students finish primary
school, they must choose which type
of secondary school to attend. One
type of school offers vocational train-

Belgium is known throughout the
world for many of its performing and
visual arts. Several famous painters,
including Jans van Eyck and Hans
Memling, are from Belgium.
Flanders, a popular area among
artists, features several painting
schools. Great musicians Orlando di
Lasso and Josquin des Prez are also
part of Belgiums artistic tradition.
Government
Literate
99%
Type: Federal parliamentary

democracy
Leader: King/Prime Minister
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

334 tanks
ing, and the other type offers classic

curriculum to prepare students for
college. Several universities also offer
higher education.
Belgium is a country with many
festivals. Most of these celebrations
focus on the different seasons. In
spring, the Binche and Stavelot carnivals take place in Walloon. During
the summer, Belgians enjoy the
dragon battle at Mons. Christmas,
St. Nicholas, and New Years festivals
take place in winter. Some festivals,
especially in Flanders, focus on
regional history and religion.
2 major ships
133 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
516
447
398
162
19
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
67
Belize
Land area rank
150
largest country (1)
smallest country
Population rank
179
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
Official Name: Belize
Continent: North (Central) America
Population: 256,062
Capital City: Belmopan
Largest City: Belize City (47,723)
Unit of Money: Belizean dollar
EQUATOR
(official), Spanish, Mayan
Literacy: 70%
Land Use: 2% arable, 2% meadow,
Natural Resources: Timber, fish
GUATEMALA
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Dangriga
San Ignacio
Caribbean
Sea
ta
in
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
ay
n
ou
Punta Gorda
miles
km
50
50
A N TA R C T I C A
HONDURAS
The People
Garments
9%
Marine
products
10%
There is much cultural diversity in Belize because most

of the people are descendants of immigrants. The ethnic
make up of Belize changes frequently. Many immigrants
from Mexico, South Asia, and the Middle East have settled in Belize over the last few decades. At the same
time, many native Belizeans have left the country. The
Mestizos are of mixed Mayan and European ancestry.
The Creoles have African-European ancestry. Almost
half of the Belize population is under 15 years of age.
The people of Belize enjoy a wide variety of lifestyles.
Dress, foods, religions, entertainment, and language can
vary by community. Even with different customs, people
coexist peacefully. Life expectancy is 69 years.
There are distinct social classes in Belize. The middle
class is able to afford
expensive items. The
poor, however, often
rely on social services.
In the Belizean labor
force, one-third are
employed by agriculture. Another 16% of
the population work
in services, 15% in
government, and 11%
in commerce.
Re-exports
12%
Raw
sugar
30%
Bananas
14%
Orange
concentrate
14%
Exports
$166 million
68
Belmopan
ASIA
Other 11%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
15 in/38 cm
Belize City
EUROPE
Located on the northeast coast of Central America,

Belize is the second-smallest mainland country of the
Americas, as well as the least populated.
The landscape of Belize is quite diverse. The northern
half of the country is fairly flat, with a top elevation of
less than 200 feet (60 m). This section is made up mostly
of limestone lowlands, coastal swamps, and cays. Just off
the coast lies the Belize Barrier Reefthe second-largest
barrier reef in the world. The southern part of Belize is
mountainous. The Maya Mountains extend from the
southwestern border of Guatemala to the
center of Belize. Victoria Peak has an elevation of 3,681 feet (1,122 m)the highest
spot in the country. The southern part of
the country averages more than three times
as much rain per year as the northern part.
Almost half of the country is covered by
forests. Some 50 different species of trees
grow in the country, depending on climate.
Some of the most common trees in Belize
include mahogany, cedar, and pine.
Mayan Temple
Mangrove trees also grow along the coast.
80F/27C
W
S
The Place
100F/38C
Orange Walk
NORTH
AMERICA
Corozal
MEXICO
Other 8%
Garifuna 7%
Maya
11%
Mestizo
44%
Creole
30%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 8%
Protestant
30%
Roman
Catholic
62%
Major Religions
Benin
Land area rank
102
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
95
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
BURKINA FASO
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: Republic of Benin

EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(110,620 sq km)
Capital City: Porto-Novo
Largest City: Cotonou (472,290)
Unit of Money: CFA franc
Major Languages: French (official), Fon, Yorba
Literacy: 37%
Land Use: 13% arable, 4% permanent crop,
Natural Resources: Oil, limestone, marble, timber
Government: Multiparty democratic republic
AFRICA
Djougou
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other
45%
Seed
cotton 2%
ge
r R
i
GHANA
ve
NIGERIA
TOGO
Abomey
Cotonou
Porto-Novo
Ouidah
miles
km 100
100
ATLANTIC OCEAN
The People
Although Benins population is not extremely large, the
country has one of the highest population growth rates in
western Africa (3.3%). This is because the countrys birth
rate is higher than the rest of the region
while its death rate is lower. Almost half
of the country is under the age of 15.
The majority of Benineseabout
68% of the populationlive in the
southern coastal areas. About 500,000
people are settled around the port
of Cotonou. Many reside there to
be close to the commercial part of
the country, since this is the only
large city. More than 75% of
Beninese live in rural areas. The
population decreases sharply in the
north. There are only a few villages Yaroba woman
scattered throughout this dry area.
Quality of life in Benin depends on the area in which
a person lives. In Cotonou, there are new buildings,
movie theaters, and hotels. In less developed areas, customs are much more traditional. Extended families live
together, and many aspects of daily life center around
the town marketplace.
Other 1%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Ni
Parakou
A N TA R C T I C A
Benin is a 420-mile(675-km) long country

on the western coast
of Africa. The Atlantic
Ocean forms its
southern coast.
There are five distinct regions in Benin. Village of Ganive, Benin
The highest point in
the country is in the Atakora Mountains, in the northwest, which reach 2,103 feet (641 m) above sea level. In
the northeast, the sloping Niger Plains extend down to
the Niger River valley. There are four plateaus rising up
toward the center of the country. To the south of these
plateaus lies the barre region. This fertile area is slightly
hilly, with a top elevation of about 1,300 feet (400 m).
In the southern region of Benin, the coastline is low and
flat, with many lagoons and marshes.
Benins climate differs in the northern and southern
regions. In the north, there are two seasonsone rainy
and one dry. In the south, however, there are four
seasonstwo wet and two dry.
15 in/38 cm
Natitingon
AUSTRALIA
The Place
80F/27C
Kandi
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Malanville
ASIA
Cotton
yarn
50%
Exports
Crude
petroleum
3%
Christian
15%
Muslim
15%
African
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
70%
Major Religions
$192 million
69
Bhutan
Land area rank
132
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
142
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: Kingdom of Bhutan

EQUATOR
Continent: Asia
(47,000 sq km)
Capital City: Thimphu
Largest City: Thimphu (27,000)
Unit of Money: Ngultrums and Indian rupees
Major Languages: Dzongkha (official)
Literacy: 42%
Land Use: 2% arable, 6% meadow, 66% forest,
26% other
Natural Resources: Timber, hydropower, gypsum,
calcium carbide
Government: Monarchy
Defense: India guarantees security
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Thimphu
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
70
Other
40%
NEPAL
a
Brahmaput r
BANGLADESH
$77 million
miles
km 50
ve
50
Most Bhutanese have settled in the fertile areas of

the Lesser Himalayas and
along the southwestern
border near India. The
least populated areas of the
country are the cold Great School girls in Bumthang
Himalayas region and the
mosquito-infested borders of the Duars Plains.
About 90% of the Bhutanese people live in small, isolated rural villages. An important feature near each village
is a dzong. It serves as both a monastery and a local
administrative office. A dzong is the citizens main source
of political support. Life expectancy is 53 years.
The general way of life in Bhutan differs between the
three main ethnic groups. The Bhote make up the largest
ethnic group and live in the northern, central, and western
parts of the country. Each family is run by the father, but
either sons or daughters can inherit land. Women are also
free to choose their own husband and petition for divorce.
The Sharchops, indigenous people related to the
Bhote, live mostly in the eastern part of the country.
Although they share the same religion as the Bhote, they
are not as strict. The Nepalese, the third ethnic group,
are mainly Hindus. They are divided by a strict social
caste system that influences marriage and employment.
Electricity
25%
Exports
Ri
The People
Cement 13%
Fruit and
vegetables
10%
Samdrup
Jongkhar
Phuntsholing
Indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Average Rainfall
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
Tongsa
Tashigang
15 in/38 cm
60F/16C
I N D I A
Bhutan is a small, landlocked country in south-central

Asia, between China and India.
The landscape of Bhutan can be divided into three
distinct areas. In the north, the Great Himalayas reach a
height of more than
24,000 feet (7,300 m).
Alpine shrubs and grasses
grow on the high slopes,
and the climate remains
fairly dry.
To the south of the
Great Himalayas are the
Lesser Himalayas. These
Kangpara Valley, Bhutan
mountain slopes are covered with dense forests.
Among the smaller peaks lie cultivated valleys that
range from 5,000 to 9,000 feet (1,524 to 2,743 m) high.
The Duars Plain lies in the southern part of Bhutan.
The area is about 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 km) wide and
has a hot, steamy climate. The northern half of the region
is mostly covered with dense vegetation. Southern Duars
consists of bamboo jungles and grassy plains.
12 in/30 cm
H I
M A
L A Y A S
Paro
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
80F/27C
C H I N A
ASIA
Timber and wood

manufactures 12%
Nepalese
35%
Bhote
50%
Ethnic Makeup
Indian- and
Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism
25%
Lamaistic
Buddism
75%
Major Religions
Bolivia
Land area rank
27
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
85
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
os
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
dre
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Bolivia
(1,084,390 sq km)
Capital City: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)
Largest City: La Paz (1.1 million)
Unit of Money: Boliviano
Major Languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara
(all official)
Literacy: 83%
Land Use: 3% arable, 25% meadows, 52% forests,
20% other
Natural Resources: Tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc
Government: Republic
Di
de
oM
AFRICA
miles
km 200
200
B R A Z I L
Ri
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
P E R U
E
S
A N TA R C T I C A
Lake
Titicaca
La Paz
Cochabamba
Alt
Santa Cruz
Sucre
no
S
D E
ipla
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Oruro
Potosi
Tarija
CHILE
PARAGUAY
ARGENTINA
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other 5%
Soybeans 16%
Average Rainfall
Although the overall population

density for the country is very low
at 18 people per square mile (7
people per sq km), more than half
The Place
of the Bolivian population lives on
Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South
the Altiplano. The economic conAmerica. It measures approximately 950 miles (1,503
ditions there are some of the worst
km) long and about 800 miles (1,287 km) wide.
in the country. Bolivia is the poorThe Andes Mountains run along the southwestern
est nation in South America.
border of Bolivia. The Cordillera Occidental lies along
Bolivia is a country with almost
Bolivias western border with Chile. Parts of this range
40% of the population under the
include several active volcanoes.
age of 15. Only about half of these
The mountain chain to the east is called the
children receive an education.
Cordillera Oriental. Its northern section is called the
And less than half of the infants
Bolivian woman
Cordillera Real and has peaks that reach more than
in the country receive immuniza20,000 feet (6,096 m) high. Lying between the mountion against common diseases. Life expectancy is 62 years.
tain ranges is the Altiplano, a plateau
Many of the countrys traditions and
Cathedral of San Francisco, La Paz
that measures about 500 miles (804 km)
customs come from a mix of Indian and
long and 80 miles (129 km) wide.
Mediterranean cultures. For instance,
In western Bolivia is Lake Titicaca
much of the music is based on Spanish
South Americas largest lake. To the
dances, but it uses Indian instruments
north and east of the Andes is the
such as the sicu, kena, and tarkato creOriente region, which makes up about
ate the tunes. During Oruroone of the
two-thirds of the country. The landcountrys most important cultural music
scape in the Oriente includes swamps,
festivalsthere is an exciting competition
plains, savannas, and tropical forests.
between Indian dance and music groups.
Other
27%
Zinc 12%
Silver 5%
Timber 6%
Tin 6%
Natural gas
7%
Petroleum
11%
Exports
$1 billion
Gold 10%
White
15% Quechua
30%
Mestizo
30%
Aymara
25%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
71
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Land area rank
128
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
121
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
CROATIA
Sava River
Bihac
Prijedor
Banja Luka
Zenica
RO
Tusla
ASIA
AFRICA
Srebrenica
SOUTH
AMERICA
Sarajevo
AUSTRALIA
Gorazde
Mostar
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
100F/38C
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small nation on the

west-central section of the Balkan Peninsula in southern
Europe. Bosnia makes up most of the country, in the
northern and central regions. Herzegovina is the southernmost triangular section below Sarajevo.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is mountainous. The highest
point in the country, Maglic, measures 7,828 feet (2,386
m) high. Peaks in the north reach more than 6,000 feet
(1,828 m) above sea level. Much of this
Mostar, Bosnia
area is covered with dense forests and
experiences short, cool summers and long,
harsh winters. The terrain in the south is
much less dramatic. It is mainly used for
farming and the temperatures there are
more moderate.
A little more than 15% of the countrys
land is cultivated. Corn, wheat, and potatoes are raised in the north. On the large
farms in the south, soybeans, pomegranates, and citrus fruits are grown.
Not
available
Exports
$152 million
72
Adriatic Sea
0
0
miles
km
50
50
ER
(S
BI
ALBANIA
The People
The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are trying to
recover from a devastating civil war. When Bosnia
declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, both
the Croats and the Serbs wanted to divide up the new
Muslim country between themselves. Three years of
fighting followed, and tens of thousands of Bosnians
were killed. Most of the cities were also destroyed. Life
The largest source of conflict in the country today
is ethnic disagreement. Before the war, the Serbs,
Bosnians, and Croatians coexisted peacefully because
the Yugoslavian government promoted cultural freedom. Now there is much bitterness between the groups.
About 2 million people have
been displaced by the war,
and more than 1 million have
fled the country.
In cities where jobs can be
found, both men and women
are employed. Women are
also expected to do all of the
housework and cooking.
Orthodox Serb and Muslim
women stay at home with
their children.
Croat
22%
Serb
40%
Muslim
38%
0 in/0 cm
EG
NORTH
AMERICA
EUROPE
Y
U
A GO
N
D SL
M AV
O
N IA
TE
N
Official Name: Republic of Bosnia

and Herzegovina
Continent: Europe
EQUATOR
(51,233 sq km)
Capital City: Sarajevo
Largest City: Sarajevo (525,000)
Unit of Money: Convertible marka
Major Languages: Croatian, Serbian,
Bosnian (all official)
Literacy: 92%
Land Use: 39% forest, 20% meadows, 14% arable
land, 5% permanent crops, 22% other
Natural Resources: Coal, iron, bauxite, timber
Government: Emerging democracy
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant 4% Other 10%

Roman
Catholic
15%
Muslim
40%
Greek
Orthodox
31%
Major Religions
Botswana
Land area rank
45
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
147
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
ANGOLA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ZAMBIA
ASIA

EQUATOR
Botswana
Continent: Africa
(585,370 sq km)
Capital City: Gaborone
Largest City: Gaborone (110,973)
Unit of Money: Pula
Major Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy: 67%
21% other
Natural Resources: Diamonds, copper, nickel, salt
Government: Parliamentary republic
AFRICA
Okavango
Delta
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
ho
b e R.
ZIMBABWE
Maun
Francistown
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It

is approximately 600 miles (965 km) from north to
south and from east to west.
There are three distinct geographic regions in
Botswana. The hardveld area in the east consists of rocky
hills. To the northwest lies the Okavango Swamp.
This large, marshy area measures 4,000 square miles
(10,000 sq km). The south is mostly characterized
by the Kalahari Desert, which is semidesert that
contains some grass and scrub plants. There are
sand dunes in the southwestern part of the Kalahari.
Botswanas terrain is mostly flatthe average
elevation throughout the country is 3,300 feet
(1,000 m) above sea level. In the southern part of
the country, however, some elevations reach up to
4,600 feet (1,400 m).
The climate in Botswana is very dry. The Chobe
River, which runs along Botswanas western border
with Namibia, is the countrys only permanent
source of surface water. Rainfall is inconsistent, and
droughts can last for several years.
Other
34%
Diamonds
28%
Copper
Nickel 21%
17%
Exports
Selebi Phikwe
N A M I B I A
KALAHARI
DESERT
Li
p
po
Gaborone
Kanye
W
SOUTH AFRICA
0
miles
km
200
200
The People
The population of Botswana is fairly small due to the
countrys lack of water. There are just 8 people per
square mile (2.4 people per sq km). The majority of
Botswanas peopleabout 75%live in rural areas. The
eastern part of the country is the most densely populated, while the southwest and west-central areas have the
lowest population.
Many people in Botswana are poor, even though the
average personal income in the country is one of the
highest in Africa. There are few jobs, and unemployment runs as high as 40%. Because
of this, many people from Botswana
work in South African mines.
People who work in Botswana earn
a living mainly in agriculture.
The healthcare system in
Botswana is generally poorthere is
1 doctor for every 5,150 people.
The government is trying to
improve primary care for the entire
population. It now monitors the
nutritional intake of its citizens during times of drought. Almost half of
the countrys population is under 15
years of age. The average life
expectancy in Botswana is 40 years.
Kalanga,
Basarwa, and
Kgalagadi
4%
White 1%
Batswana
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous Christian
beliefs
50%
50%
Major Religions
$2 billion
73
Brazil
Land area rank
Population rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
74
Sao Luis
os
ap
aj
Fortaleza
Teresina
Imperatriz
io
ei
Belm
Natal
i sc
Macei
Fr
nc
Aracaju
Rio Sa
o
ia
Recife
Rio
Rio
Ara
Xin
gua
gu
Porto Velho
R io T oc
an
io
ti n s
ad
Marajo
Island
Santarem
PERU
Salvador
EUROPE
ASIA
BOLIVIA
Cuiaba
Braslia
AFRICA
AL
Goiania
NT
AN
SOUTH
AMERICA
Belo Horizonte
Campo Grande
Vitoria
Campinas
Ri
PARAGUAY
A N TA R C T I C A
oP
ar
an
PA
AUSTRALIA
Sao Paulo
Nova Iguau
Rio De Janeiro
CHILE
Curitiba
Florianopolis
ARGENTINA
0
0
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
E
S
Porto Alegre
URUGUAY
0 in/0 cm
ra
Rio Branco
ru
Pu
io
Am
ve
z on R i
EC
UA
DO
R
u ru a
R io J
Average Rainfall
40F/4C
9 in/23 cm
60F/16C
NA
Manaus
Brazil is the fifth-largest country

in the world and covers about half of
South America. Stretching for about
2,900 miles (4,666 km) from north
to south, Brazil borders all but two
countries on the continent. Brazil
also has 4,600 miles (7,402 km) of
coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
Brazil can be divided into two
main regionsthe Amazon River
Basin in the north, and the Brazilian
Highlands in the south. The
Amazon River begins in Peru and
is 4,000 miles (6,440 km) long. It
has more than 200 tributaries and
drains almost one-third of Brazil.
The grassy northern lowlands that
12 in/30 cm
Macap
a zo n R
i ver
Am
A
A M A Z O N I
PACIFIC
OCEAN
80F/27C
ATLANT IC
OCE A N
Rio Negro
The Place
15 in/38 cm
FRENCH
GUIANA
RI
COLOMBIA
NORTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
SU
VENEZUELA
Official Name: Federative

Republic of Brazil
(8,456,510 sq km)
Capital City: Brasilia
Largest City: Rio de Janeiro
(6,011,181 people)
Unit of Money: Real
Major Languages:
Portuguese
(official), Spanish,
EQUATOR
English, French
Natural Resources:
Bauxite, gold,
iron, ore
0F/-18C
ANA
GUY
At a Glance
miles
km
400
400
Brazil
surround the
Amazon act as a
floodplain for the
mighty river. Shallow
lakes and swamps, as well as
mangrove forests, are found there.
The massive Amazon Rain Forest is
also located there. It grows along
the river delta and covers about
one-third of the country.
The Brazilian Highlandsalso
known as the Planalto Central
make up the majority of the countrys
landmass. Throughout this region,
peak elevations range from 6,000 to
9,500 feet (1,828 to 2,895 m) above
sea level. The Guiana Highlands
are located on the very northern
tip of Brazil. There, Neblina Peak
the countrys highest pointreaches
9,888 feet (3,013 m) high.
Parrot
Amazon River
Non-electrical machinery
and apparatus 9%
Iron and steel 9%
Motor vehicles 6%
Mineral ores 6%
Wood pulp, paper,
and paper products 6%
Other
Footwear and
47%
leather products 3%
Electrical machinery
and apparatus 3%
Aluminum
Coffee 4%
and related
Refined sugar and
products 3%
Exports confectionery 4%
Farms/cropland 6%
Other
14%
Permanent
pastures
22%
Forests
58%
Land Use
(Continued)
Orchid
The Great
Escarpment is a
massive fault block
that extends from
Rio de Janeiro
northward for 1,600
miles (2,575 km)
along Brazils eastern coast. It consists Tapir calf
of deep valleys and
rounded mountain peaks. South of
Rio de Janeiro, the fault line is called
Serra do Mar. This section averages
about 3,000 feet in elevation with
walls that drop straight down to the
Atlantic Ocean.
Resources
Farm land
Forests
Pastures
Other
Manufacturing
Cattle
Coffee beans, grown in the highlands,

are one of Brazils chief exports.
Coffee
75
Brazil
(Continued)
The History
In 1500, after landing on the area
that is now Brazil, Portuguese
traders befriended many of the
native Indians. The area was then
used to cultivate and export sugar.
In addition to agriculture, the land
was also used for cattle ranching and
gold mining. Portugal fought with
many European countries for control of the Brazilian territory.
In 1821, Dom Pedrothe son of
Portugals prince regentarrived in
the Brazilian territory to govern the
area for Portugal. A year later, he
declared Brazils independence and
Dom Pedro
The People
With its large size and hospitable
terrain, Brazil supports a very large
population. In fact, the country has
the fifth-largest population in the
world. Most Brazilians are concentrated along the countrys eastern
seaboard. Many favelas, or poor
communities, are located in the

northeast. The most industrialized
and technological region of Brazil is
in the south.
Only about one-quarter of
Brazilians live in rural areas. The
urban population has been steadily
growing as poor families move to
the city looking for a better life. This
has created many crowded cities that
cannot support the demand for work,
and resulted in a low standard of
living. Life expectancy is 63 years.
Most family members tend to stay
close to each other in Brazil. Relatives
Father and daughter in Fortalezas market
Other
30%
Roman
Catholic
70%
Major Religions
Black 6% Other 1%
Mixed
38%
White
55%
Ethnic Makeup
76
was crowned emperor of the new

country. Portugal recognized
Brazils independence in 1825.
Government
Leader: President
Defense
546 tanks
25 major ships
273 combat aircraft
usually live in the same area and hold

many family gatherings and celebrations. In poorer communities, large
families may even share the same
house. Some of these practices are
becoming less common, however, as
family members move to urban areas.
The social and economic conditions in Brazil vary widely by class.
Approximately 50% of the countrys
population is in poverty. The large
lower class is primarily made up of
migrant workers. The smaller group
of upper-class Brazilians can afford
modern conveniences.
Brazil
Education
As with the many social differences
between the upper and lower classes
in Brazil, the quality of education
depends on personal wealth. Many
upper-class Brazilians send their
children to private schools in France
or Switzerland. Even middle-class
families try to send their children
to private schools within Brazil.
Poorer children attend inadequate
state-run schools that have
little funding and less-qualified
teachers.
Although the poor regions of
northeastern Brazil have about half
(Continued)
of the primary schools in the country, the students who manage to

attend make up just one-third of the
nations student body. About 20% of
the population cannot read or write,
and more than 60% have received
just 4 years of schooling.
Literate
83%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Brazilian boys
Samba player
Woman in Carnival costume
Brazilian woman, Salvador de Bahia
days before Lent. Parades of people

in elaborate costumes fill the streets,
and there is much singing, dancing,
and eating. Latin-influenced beats
drive samba, which often uses a
wide variety of percussion instruments. Samba music is very popular

in Brazil. Many samba dancers
and musicians entertain during
Carnival celebrations.
Indians, Africans, and Portuguese

have all influenced Brazilian culture
and way of life. The Portuguese
heritage, however, dominates
Brazils language, religion, and
traditions. In some areasincluding
the southeastern coastal region near
Rio de JaneiroAfrican influences
are apparent in the native dishes,
religions, and dance music.
One of the most famous celebrations in Brazil is Carnival. This
four-day festival takes place
throughout the country during the
Agriculture 13%
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
Industry
38%
Services
49%
204
1
TVs
Cars
90
83
Phones
VCRs
NA
Labor Force
PCs
77
Brunei
Land area rank
170
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

174
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: The Sultanate

EQUATOR
of Brunei
Continent: Asia
Population: 343,653
Capital City: Bandar Seri Begawan
Largest City: Bandar Seri Begawan (50,000)
Unit of Money: Bruneian dollar
Major Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: 89%
Land Use: 1% arable, 2% permanent crops,
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, timber
Government: Constitutional sultanate
South China Sea

ASIA
Brunei
Bay
AFRICA
Pekan Muara
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Bandar Seri Begawan

Pekan Tutong
Bangar
A N TA R C T I C A
Kuala Belait
Pekan Seria
E
S
0
0
miles
km
MALAYS IA
20
20
The People
120F/49C
18 in/46 cm
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
The people of Brunei enjoy a healthy economy and a

high standard of living due to the countrys great oil
wealth. Healthcare and education are free. Life
The Place
Approximately 60% of the Bruneian population lives
Brunei is on the northwest corner of the island of
in urban areas. Many reside in Bandar Seri Begawan,
Borneo. The country actually consists of two different
Seria, and Kuala Belait. The interior of Brunei is home
areas of land, separated by the Malaysian state of
to a small number of indigenous people.
Sarawak. Brunei lies south of the South China Sea with
The Language and
100 miles (161 km) of coastline. About 70% of
Literature Bureau in
Brunei is covered by tropical rain forest.
Brunei promotes cultural
The western section of Brunei is the larger
activities in the country.
area. Just inland from the beaches lies a coastal
The Art and Handicraft
plain that stretches from east to west for 56 miles
Centre displays traditional
(90 km). The land becomes more hilly towards
items made in Brunei,
the southern part of the country, climbing more
including boats, silver
than 1,650 feet (500 m) above sea level.
products, bronze tools,
The eastern section of Brunei is much more
and baskets.
mountainous, especially in the southeast.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and
The population celeThere, the countrys highest point, Pagon
Kampong Ayer
brates many festivals and
Peak, reaches 6,070 feet (1,850 km) above
holidays. One of the most
sea level.
important, His Majesty the Sultans Birthday, takes place
Brunei has a tropical climate with temperatures
in July. The entire country joins in the parades, firebetween 76 and 86 F (24 and 30C). The country
works, and special food. In February, Bruneians celegets plenty of rain, averaging 100 inches (254 cm) on
brate their country with National Day.
the coast and 150 inches (388 cm) in the interior.
Petroleum
products
3%
Other 9%
Natural gas
42%
Crude
petroleum
46%
Chinese
16%
Buddism
14%
Malay
67%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$3 billion
78
Indigenous
6%
Other
11%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
and other
15%
Christian 8%
Muslim
63%
Major Religions
Bulgaria
Land area rank
103
largest country (1)
smallest country
Population rank
88
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ROMA N IA
Riv
be
u
Da n
Ruse
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Bulgaria
Continent: Europe
Area: 42,683 square
Capital City: Sofia
Largest City: Sofia (1,114,476)
Unit of Money: Lev
Major Languages: Bulgarian (official)
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 43% arable, 2% permanent crop,
Natural Resources: Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Bulgaria is in southeastern Europe. Its eastern coastline

runs along the Black Sea for about 214 miles (345 km).
To the north, the Danube River forms most of the
countrys border with Romania.
There are three main physical regions of Bulgaria.
The fertile Danubian Plain lies in the northern part
of the country and takes up about 30% of the total
area. Most of this region has an elevation below 700
feet (210 m). To the south lie the Balkan Mountains.
These mountains cross the country and average about
2,368 feet (722 m) in elevation. The third section of
Bulgaria consists of a large mountain chain called the
Rila-Rhodope massif, and is located to the south and
west of the Balkans. This chain is larger than the
Balkan Mountains.
The climate in Bulgaria varies by region. In the lowlands and central valley, the winters are cold and snowy,
while the summers are warm. In the southeastern part
of Bulgaria the climate is more Mediterranean and may
suffer from summer droughts. The country averages
about 30 F (-1 C) in the winter and around 70 F
(21 C) in the summer.
Textiles
Other
and
37%
knitwear
3%
Food,
beverages,
and tobacco
17%
Exports
$5 billion
Shumen
KAN
SL
VI
BAL
Sliven
O
G
Ri
la
Varna
MOUNTAINS
Sofia
YU
A N TA R C T I C A
Pleven
Vratsa
AUSTRALIA
er
Black
Sea
Burgas
Stara Zagora
-R
ho
Plovdiv
dop
MACEDONIA
TU RK EY
G REECE
N
E
Aegean Sea
miles
50
0 km 50
The People
About three-quarters of the Bulgarian population lives
in cities. There are about 207 people per square mile
(74 people per sq km). While rural dwellers usually live
in single-family houses,
city dwellers live in
apartments. Bulgaria
does not have enough
urban housing. Life
About 40% of the
Bulgarian people work
in industries such as
machine building,
Bulgarians in a horse-drawn carriage
metalworking, and
engineering. Another
18% of Bulgarians work in agriculture, growing crops
such as grain, oilseed, fruit, tobacco, and vegetables.
Education in Bulgaria is free, and it is required for
children between the ages of 6 and 16. Approximately
97% of primary school-aged children go to school.
They attend classes for 7 years. About 75% of secondary school-aged children attend classes. They remain in
school for 3 to 5 years, depending on what they study.
Although Bulgarians are influenced by many Western
items such as clothes and movies, much of the population still enjoys traditional folk music and dancing.
Chemicals
and plastics
26%
Machinebuilding and
metalworking
equipment
17%
Gypsy 3%
Turkish
9%
Macedonian
3%
Bulgarian
85%
Ethnic Makeup
Jewish 1%
Other 1%
Muslim
13%
Bulgarian
Orthodox
85%
Major Religions
79
Burkina Faso
Land area rank
73
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
65
fewest people
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
most people (1)
M A L I
ASIA
Official Name: Burkina Faso

EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(273,800 sq km)
Capital City: Ouagadougou
Largest City: Ouagadougou (441,514)
Unit of Money: Communaute Financiere Africaine
frank
Major Languages: French (official)
Natural Resources: Manganese, limestone, marble
R
er
ig
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
N I G E R
AUSTRALIA
Ouahigouya
Kaya
A N TA R C T I C A
Ouagadougou
ite
Wh
Koudougou
lta
R.
R.
lta
Vo
Vo
d
Re
Bobo-Dioulasso
Black Volta
Banfora
Fada-N'gourma
BENIN
N
R.
GHANA
W
E
S
TOGO
COTE D'IVOIRE
Straw merchant, Burkina Faso
The Place
Burkina Faso is a small, landlocked
country in western Africa. Formerly
called Upper Volta, this country
consists mainly of a large plateau.
To the southwest are sandstone
plateaus. They are bordered by
the Banfora Escarpment, which rises
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Hides and
skins 9%
km 100
100
area receives almost four times as

much rain as the north. Because of
this, most of the farming in Burkina
Faso is done in the south. Peanuts,
cotton, rice, and corn are major crops.
There are three main rivers in
Burkina Faso. The Black Volta
begins in the western part of the
country and flows northward before
turning south. It eventually makes
up part of Burkina Fasos southern
border with Ghana. The river is the
countrys lowest point at 656 feet
(200 m) above sea level. The Red
Volta begins near the center of the
country and also flows southward
into Ghana. The White Volta is just
to the east of the Red Volta and
begins near the capital city. It flows
into Ghana as well.
Other
15%
Other
18%
Raw cotton
42%
Gold
12%
Live
animals
19%
Exports
$298 million
80
miles
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
up to about 500
feet (150 m)
above sea level.
In the north and
northeast, rocky
hills tower above
the sand below.
The climate
in Burkina Faso
is hot and dry,
especially in the
northern part of
the country. This is because much of
the area lies in the Sahelthe outer
reaches of the Sahara Desert. The
northern vegetation is mostly shrubs
with some grasses. It is very hard to
irrigate this area because there is no
surface water. The climate in the
south, however, is more tropical. This
Forests
50%
Permanent
pastures
22%
Land Use
Burkina Faso (Continued)

and related industries employ about
90% of the workforce and account
for half of the countrys supply of
food. The climate and weather conditions in Burkina Faso make the
success of the crops very unpredictable. Inconsistent rain, droughts,
and desert growth make farming
very difficult.
The countrys annual population
growth rate of 2.8% is another
strain on the economy. There are
approximately 6.6 children born to
every woman in Burkina Faso, and
almost half of the population is
under the age of 15. Currently,

there are not enough jobs to support the population. Many workers
travel south to Ghana and Cte
dIvoire to look for work.
The extreme poverty in Burkina
Faso also affects the countrys health
care system. The death rate is high,
and few people receive medical
treatment they need because there
is just 1 doctor for every 57,300
people. Diseases such as malaria
and AIDS are widespread. The
average life expectancy in Burkina
Faso is 45 years.
The People
Burkina Faso has a weak economy,
and most of the population lives in
poverty. The average shopkeeper,
for example, makes just $60 per
month. One of the main reasons for
the countrys weak economy is its
dependence on agriculture. Farming
Education
The education system in Burkina
Faso is weak and underfunded. All
schooling is free, and children aged 7
to 14 are required to attend classes.
Only about 40% of all primary
school-aged children are enrolled, and
just 9% of secondary school-aged
children attend classes. The education
system is based standard subjects, but
vocational subjects and life skills are
increasingly being emphasized.

Even in hard times, the people of
Burkina Faso have maintained strong
cultural ties and traditions. The
country has about 60 different ethnic
groups, and each has its own distinct
way of life and art forms. The largest
and most influential group is the
Mossi. Their famous red-and-white
antelope masks stand more than 7
feet (2 m) tall and are often worn at
funerals. The Bobo, another group,
Christian 10%
Mossi
24%
Muslim
50%
Indigenous
beliefs
40%
Gurunsi Senufo, Lobi

Bobo, Mande, Fulani
and other
76%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
The country has one of the lowest

literacy rates in the worldapproximately 29% of men and 9% of
women can read and write.
Government
Type: Parliamentary
Literate
19%
Defense
NA army personnel
NA tanks
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
are known for their large butterfly

masks, which are symbols of fertility.
The woodcarvings of the Lobi
people are believed to protect their

families and are very valuable.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
81
Burundi
Land area rank
147
largest country (1)
smallest country
Population rank
99
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
Lake Kivu
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
RWANDA
ASIA

EQUATOR
Burundi
Continent: Africa
(25,650 sq km)
Capital City: Bujumbura
Largest City: Bujumbura (215,243)
Unit of Money: Burundi franc
Major Languages: Kirundi & French (official)
Literacy: 50%
Land Use: 43% arable, 8% permanent crops, 35%
meadows, 2% forest, 12% other
Natural Resources: Nickel, uranium, cobalt, peat
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Cibitoke
Bujumbura
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0
0
miles
km
50
50
Tutsi 14%
Twa 1%
Tea 8%
Coffee
81%
Hutu
85%
Indigenous
beliefs
32%
Muslim 1%
Christian
67%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$40 million
82
Bururi
Burundi is a poor country. Many diseases, including

AIDS, malaria, influenza, and measles, are common
throughout the nation. There is just 1 doctor for every
17,240 people, and the welfare system covers only
employed citizens. The average life expectancy in
Burundi is about 45 years, and the death rate is
extremely high compared to the world average.
There are about 648 people per
square mile (250 people per sq km),
which means Burundi has one of
the highest population densities in
Africa. On average, most women
have seven children. The population
of Burundi is 93% rural. In many
cases, extended families live together.
Most homes consist of a group of
small grass huts.
Even though all education is free
in Burundi, only about half of all
school-aged children attend classes.
In the classrooms, there is just 1
teacher for every 67 students. The traditions in Burundi
are mostly passed down by telling stories and singing
instead of written literature. Musical instruments, such
as the zither and the indingidi (fiddle), accompany some
traditional Burundian songs.
Animal hides and skins 1%

Other 8%
Cotton 2%
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
TANZANIA
ka
nyi
nga
Ta
ke
La
12 in/30 cm
vu
The People
Burundi is a landlocked country in eastern central

Africa. It is 165 miles (265 km) from east to west and
215 miles (345 km) from north to
south, making it one of the smallest
countries on the continent.
Burundi sits on top of a high
plateau. The Ruvubu River basin
the southernmost part of the Nile
basinis located on this plateau.
The western part of the country is
mountainous, with dense forests
covering most of the slopes.
The highest point in the country
measures 9,055 feet (2,760 m) above Burundi school
sea level at Mount Heha. The lowest
point is Lake Tanganyika, on the
countrys western border. It has an elevation of 2,532 feet
The climate of Burundi is mostly tropical with high
temperatures and humidity. Burundi experiences two
wet seasons and two dry seasons.
15 in/38 cm
Ru
Gitega
CONGO
(ZAIRE)
The Place
80F/27C
Bumbanza
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
Muyinga
Ngozi
AUSTRALIA
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Cambodia
Land area rank
89
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
64
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
LAOS
THAILAND
ASIA
Official Name: State of

EQUATOR
Cambodia
Continent: Asia
(176,520 sq km)
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Largest City: Phnom Penh (900,000)
Unit of Money: New riel
Major Languages: Khmer (official), French
Natural Resources: Timber, gemstones, iron ore,
manganese
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Angkor Wat
Siemreab
To
A N TA R C T I C A
Cambodia is on the southwestern

part of the Indochinese Peninsula of
Southeast Asia. The country is 280
miles (450 km) long and 360 miles
(580 km) wide at its widest points.
The sprawling central plains
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
ap
Krachen
VIETNAM
Phnom Penh
Gulf of
Thailand
N
Kampot
0
miles
km
100
100
of Cambodia cover about threequarters of the countrys land area.

Toward the west, a section of these
fertile plains surround the Tonle
Sap, Southeast Asias largest lake.
The Tonle Sap is drained by the
Mekong River, the worlds tenthlargest river,
which flows
from the
countrys
northern border with Laos
to its southern
border with
Vietnam.
Within
Cambodia,
the Mekong
is 315 miles
(505 km) long,
To the east of
the Mekong
E
S
are the eastern highlands, which

average 1,200 feet (360 m)
in elevation.
Southwestern Cambodia is mountainous. The Kravanh Mountains
extend to Cambodias eastern border
with Vietnam. Phnom Arualthe
countrys highest point at 5,948 feet
(1,813 km)is also located in this
mountain range. The Damrei
Mountains, with an average elevation
of 1,600 feet (490 m), are located to
the south.
Cambodia has a tropical monsoon
climate. March and April are the
hottest months, and December
and January are the coolest. The
wet season lasts from May to
October. Depending on the location, Cambodia gets between 55
and 200 inches (140 to 508 cm) of
rain each year. The wettest areas are
in the southwestern hillsides.
Average Rainfall
Giant stone sculpture, Bayon, Cambodia
eS
Kampong Cham
The Place
nl
Batdambang
e k o n g Ri v e r
AUSTRALIA
Rubber 6%
Other
10%
Other
15%
Re-exports
50%
Logs 12%
Timber
17%
Permanent
pastures
11%
Forests
66%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Land Use
$615 million
83
Cambodia
(continued)
The People
The people of Cambodia have been
slowly rebuilding their lives since
the end of a violent civil war during
the late 1970s. More than a million
people were killed, and the economic,
healthcare, and education systems
were destroyed. Cambodia is one of
the poorest countries in the world.
The majority of Cambodians
approximately 80%live in rural
areas. The highest concentration of
people is in the cultivated central
plains. Most work in agriculture
an industry that employs about 80%
of the country. Rural Cambodians
dress in simple, comfortable clothes.
The majority of rural homes are
made of palm leaves and bamboo.
Many of these houses are built on
raised bamboo stilts to avoid flooding

during the rainy season. A typical
rural village includes several of these
types of homes built around a
Buddhist monastery.
In urban areas, life is not too differentwith raised homes and
monasteries. Cities, however, suffer
from frequent crime. A small number of wealthy and middle-class
Cambodians live in luxury villas.
Urban residents normally wear

western-style clothing.
Cambodia has the worlds highest
rate of orphans and widows. This is
because many of the countrys men
died under the Khmer Rouge regime,
which dominated from 1975 to 1979.
Many households in Cambodia are
headed by women. Women manage
household finances and dominate the
vending booths at local markets.
Chinese 1%
Vietnamese
5%
Other 5%
Theravada
Buddhism
95%
Khmer
90%
Major Religions
Ethnic Makeup
Education
The fighting and upheaval during
the late 1970s destroyed much of
the education system. About 5,000
teachers survived the crisis, the rest
fled the country or were killed.
Many new teachers have been
trained and school enrollment has
greatly increased during the last
decade. Education is free in
Cambodia, and almost all primary
school-age children are enrolled.
Many adults who could not attend
classes during their youth also go to

Much of Cambodias cultural institutions and crafts were lost during
Cambodian girls perform a traditional dance
Other 4%
Government
Literate
35%
Type: Multiparty liberal democracy

Leader: First and Second
Prime Ministers
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%

250 tanks
primary school. About 25% of

secondary school-aged children go
to school, and 1% of Cambodians
go to college.
the years of fighting. Most literature
that survives today has been passed
down through the generations by
oral storytelling. Many
Cambodian legends are
based on the epics from
India. Classical and folk
dancing have also survived. Classical dancers
perform with a pinpeat
orchestra consisting of
drums and gongs.
Craftspeople are again
producing items that
0 major ships
25 combat aircraft
were once treasured in the country.

These crafts include silver work,
stone sculpture, baskets, and beautifully woven clothing.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Cameroon
Land area rank
53
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
60
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Lake Chad
miles
100
0 km 100
Official Name: Republic of Cameroon

Continent: Africa
(469,440 sq, km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Yaounde
Largest City: Douala (1,029,731)
Major Languages: English and French (both official)
Natural Resources: crude oil, bauxite, iron ore,
timber
N
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
E
S
N I G E R I A
Maroua
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Garoua
C H A D
A N TA R C T I C A
Kumbo
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
CENTRAL
AFRICAN
region is a coastal
Bafoussam
REPUBLIC
er
v
i
Nkongsamba
plain that extends
R
ga
na
Sa
from the Sanaga
Kumba
Mt. Cameroon
River to the
Yaounde
Douala
southern border.
This area has an
Bight of
average elevation
Ebolowa
Biafra
of 2,000 feet (600
EQUATORIAL
GABON
m) and is covered
GUINEA
C O N G O
by a dense rain
surrounding Lake Chad. Mountains
forest. The central section of the
and volcanoes make up the western
country stretches north of the
part of Cameroon. Here, the counSanaga River. This
trys highest peak, Mount
area includes the
Cameroon, the highest point in
Adamawa Plateau
western Africa, reaches 13,435 feet
which reaches
(4,095 m). The soil in this part of
4,450 feet (1,357
the country is very fertile.
m) above sea level.
The tropical location of
The ground cover
Cameroon gives the country a hot
in this area graduclimate averaging around 80F (25
ally shifts from
C) throughout the year. The souththick forests to
ern part of Cameroon gets the most
grassy savanna. To
rain. The north has one dry season
the north, the land
and the south has two.
turns to marshes
Other 3%
Average Rainfall
Cameroon lies on the central west

coast of Africa. It is shaped like a
triangle and divides western and
central Africa. To the west, the
countrys 250-mile- (402-km-) long
coastline borders the Bight of
Biafra, part of the Atlantic Ocean.
The northern tip of the country
touches Lake Chad.
The country is divided into four
main physical areas. The southern
Ngaoundere
Other
25%
Cotton
4%
Coffee
7%
Aluminum
7%
Cocoa 8%
Crude
petroleum
38%
Farms /
cropland
15%
Permanent
pastures
4%
Forests
78%
Lumber
11%
Exports
Land Use
$2 billion
85
Cameroon
(continued)
The People
There are about 230 different ethnic
groups, which speak 24 different
languages, in Cameroon. The western
highlands are home to the largest
number of ethnic groupsincluding
the Bamilekea people who speak
Bantu, a language spoken mainly in
southern Africa. In general, ethnic
groups that speak Bantu-type languages are found in the southern
regions of Cameroon. In the northern
and eastern areas of the country, most
ethnic groups speak Sudanic languages. Among these groups are the
Fulani, a Muslim people who make up
10% of the population. French and
English are recognized as the official
languages of Cameroon, however,
French is the most widely spoken
non-African language. English is spoken mainly in Western Cameroon.
The religious beliefs practiced in

Cameroon also follow regional
geography. Muslims are found
mainly in the north. Christians are
found mainly in the south. More
than half the people in Cameroon
follow traditional indigenous beliefs.
Cameroon has an average population growth rate of 2.8%. This is
fairly high by world standards, but is
average for African countries. Each
woman has an average of 5.8 children, and almost half of the countrys population is under the age of
15. Cameroon is now the fourteenth
most-populous country in Africa.
Approximately 58% of the
Cameroonian population lives in
rural areas. The highest population
density is in the western mountains.
The least populated areas are the
southeast and the Adamawa Plateau.
Education
Cameroon has one of the highest
school attendance rates in Africa.
Approximately 85% of all primary
About 26% of secondary schoolaged children are enrolled in classes.
Mission schools are a very important
factor in the Cameroon education
process and are partly financed by
the government.
The University of Yaounde is the
main source of higher education in

Cameroon offers some of the most
popular music in all of Africa.
One favorite type of music, called
makossa, has a strong dance rhythm
and is played in clubs and discos.
Makossa music can be played by
many different instruments, from
the traditional thumb piano to
guitars and synthesizers.
Cameroon is fairly well known for
some of its arts and crafts, especially
from the smaller grassland tribes.
The sculpture is very bold and
Eastern
Nigritic
7%
Other
14%
Northwestern
Bantu
8%
Fulani 10%
Kirdi
11%
Cameroon
Highlanders
31%
Equatorial
Bantu
19%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
16%
Christian
33%
Indigenous
beliefs
51%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Unitary republic; multiparty
presidential regime
Literate
63%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
the country. It offers classes in arts,

sciences, and law. There are approximately 35,000 students enrolled in
Cameroons various universities.
expressive. Wood carving is very
detailed and includes masks, ritual
objects, and large house posts.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
22
TVs
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Cameroonian woman
86
The most populated urban areas are

in the southern part of the country.
NA tanks
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Canada
Land area rank
smallest country
largest country (1)

35
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
ARCTIC
OCEAN
At a Glance
UNITED STATES
Tuktoyaktuk
Melville
Island
Banks
Island
Devon Island
Baffin Bay
Prince of
Wales
Island
Ba
ffi
nI
sla
nd
Victoria Island
av
is
ra
St
Great Bear
Lake
Mackenzie R.
YUKON
TERRITORY
it
Whitehorse
NUNAVUT
RO
NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES
Iqaluit
CK
Yellowknife
Hud
son S
trait
Great Slave
Lake
MO
UN
ALBERTA
Edmonton
Vancouver
Calgary
Hudson
Bay
Churchill
SA
SK
AT
CH
EW
AN
INS
Prince
George
NE
UN
DL
AN
Saskatoon
Lake
Winnipeg
QUEBEC
ONTARIO
Winnipeg
Lake
Nipigon
AFRICA
Charlottetown
Thunder Bay
EQUATOR
Quebec
Lake
Superior
SOUTH
AMERICA
UNITED STATES
0
A N TA R C T I C A
miles
km
500
500
gan
N
E
Lake Michi
AUSTRALIA
St. John's
Gulf of
St. Lawrence
Moosonee
Regina
FO
MANITOBA
EUROPE
ASIA
Labrador
Sea
Ungava
Bay
Lake
Athabasca
TA
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
Victoria
NORTH
AMERICA
ICELAND
G REEN LA ND
Beaufort Sea
PACIFIC OCEAN
Official Name: Canada

(9,220,970 sq. km)
Capital City: Ottawa
Largest City: Toronto
(3,863,105)
Unit of Money: Canadian dollar
Major Languages: English and
French (both official)
Natural Resources: Nickel, zinc,
copper, gold, lead
Ellesmere
Island
Montreal
Sudbury
Lake
Huron
Fredericton
Halifax
Ottawa
NEW
BRUNSWICK
Kingston
Toronto
Lake
Ontario
PRINCE
EDWARD
ISLAND
NOVA
SCOTIA
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Windsor Lake
Erie
The Place
Canada is the second-largest country
in the world in total area, and thirdlargest in land area. It occupies
approximately 40% of the North
American continent. It is so large
that it spans six different time zones.
Canada can be divided into six
broad physical areas. The largest of
these areas is the Canadian Shield,
which makes up about half of the
country. The Shield surrounds the
Hudson Bay, reaching eastern, central, and northwestern Canada from
the Great Lakes to the Canadian
Arctic. The Shield averages less than
2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level,
but reaches 7,000 feet (2,000 m) on
the north rim.
Several lowlands surround the

Canadian Shield. The largest of
these lowlands are the interior
plains, which extend from the Arctic
Ocean to the U.S. border. They also
reach from the Canadian Shield to
the edge of the Rocky Mountains.
To the south and southeast are the
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence lowlands
that extend from southern Ontario,
up the St. Lawrence, and out to the
Atlantic Ocean. Also in this area is
the mountainous Appalachian
region, which extends from eastern
Quebec out to Newfoundland.
The Western Cordillera extends
down the western coast along the
Pacific Ocean. This 500-mile-
Vancouver, Canada
(804-km) wide mountain belt reaches

peaks of more than 10,000 feet
(3,048 m). The northern part of
Canada includes the tundraa cold,
dry area with very little vegetation.
The Arctic Archipelagoa group
of thousands of islandsis also to
the north.
Farms/cropland 5%
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
Other
59%
Motor
vehicles
23%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$209 billion
Permanent
pastures
3%
Lumber 6%
Crude petroleum 4%
Newsprint and paper
products 4%
Wheat 2%
Wood pulp 2%
Other
38%
Forests
54%
Land Use
87
Canada
(continued)
The People
Even though Canada is a huge country, it is very sparsely populated. The
population density of 8 people per
square mile (3 people per sq km),
however, is misleading. More than
three-quarters of all Canadians live
in urban areas, and almost all make
their homes in some 25 major metropolitan areas. In fact, about 75%
of all Canadians live within 250
miles (402 km) of the U.S. border.
About 62% of the population lives
in Quebec and Ontario. Another
17% of the population lives in the
Prairie provinces, 13% resides in
British Columbia, and 8% inhabits
the Atlantic provinces. Fewer than
1% of Canadians live in the
Northwest Territories.
More than one-third of Canadians
have British ancestry. More than
one-fourth have French

ancestry. English and
French are official languages of the country.
Immigration plays a
major role in sustaining
the countrys population. Ottowa green market
Approximately 16% of
Canadians are immigrants, with
declining birth rates.
45% coming from Asia and 25%
Life expectancy is 79 years. Native
from Europe. The country encourpeople in the country suffer from
ages immigration because of its
high unemployment and death rates.
Other 9%
Indigenous
Indian and
Inuits
4% Other
European
20%
Other
35%
British
origin
40%
French
origin
27%
Anglican
8%
Ethnic Makeup

In general, daily life in Canada is
similar to life in the United States.
Much of the clothing, food, and
Toronto skyline
88
United
Church 12%
Major Religions
Education
The United Nations has ranked
Canadas overall education system
first in the world. Each province is
responsible for maintaining its own
education system. The federal government only manages education
policies for the Yukon and
Northwest Territories. Because of
this individual management, school
procedures differ among provinces.
However, most children go to
kindergarten for one year, and then
Roman
Catholic
45%
Government
Literate
97%
Type: Federation with parliamentary democracy

Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
enter an eight-grade elementary

school. About 90% of graduates then
move onto a four-year secondary
school. Approximately 70% of students go on to study at a university.
entertainment are the same. However,
its history under both British and
French rule, and focus on immigration, creates a unique blend of culture
and traditions.
Sports are popular in the country.
Lacrosse, once played by Canadas
indigenous people, continues to be a
favorite. Ice hockey and Canadian
football are also very popular.
Over the last 50 years, the music
industry has become a major focus
in Canada. Opera is now quite popular in Vancouver, while orchestras
114 tanks
19 major ships
140 combat aircraft
in Montreal and Toronto have won

international acclaim. Popular
Canadian musicians such as Celine
Dion, Anne Murray, and k.d. lang
are known all over the world.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
780
626
493
220
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Cape Verde
Land area rank
smallest country
173
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)
172
most people (1)
At a Glance
0
Ribeira Grande
Official Name: Republic of Cape Verde

Continent: Africa
(4,030 sq km)
EQUATOR
Population: 405,163
Capital City: Cidade de Praia
Largest City: Praia (62,000)
Unit of Money: Cape Verdian escudo
Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo
Literacy: 72%
Land Use: 9% arable, 6% meadows, 85% other
Natural Resources: Salt, basalt rock, limestone, fish
Government: Republic lead by a president
Defense: $3.8 million
miles
km
50
50
Santo Antao
Mindelo
Sao Vicente
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Sao Nicolau
ASIA
Preguica
Sal
Castilhiano
Santa Maria
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Boa Vista
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
AUSTRALIA
Curral Velho
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Tarrafal
Maio
Maio
Fajazinha
E
Furna
Brava
Fogo
Santiago
Praia
The People
Because the country suffers from frequent droughts and
has very few natural resources, many Cape Verdeans
emigrate to Europe to find work. In fact, there are more
Cape Verdeans living outside of the country than on the
islands. About 50% of the population is under the age
of 16.
Of the Cape Verdeans that choose
to stay on the islands, about 57%
work in agriculture. But even with
some rainfall, only 4 of the 10 islands
can support crops. Most of the population lives in povertythe average
yearly income is $1,190 per person.
Health conditions on the islands are
also poor, and there are fewer than
100 doctors in the entire country.
Tuberculosis, parasitic diseases, and
bronchitis are common problems.
The average life expectancy in Cape
Verde is 70 years.
There are approximately 260 people per square mile
(99 people per sq km) in the country. About 50% of
Cape Verdes population lives in Sao Tiago. Other high
concentrations of people live on the coasts of Santo
Antao and Sao Vincente. Approximately half of the
population lives in rural areas.
Other 1%
Average Rainfall
Cape Verde is a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean

about 385 miles (620 km) west of Mauritania. There are
10 main islands, divided into the Westward and Leeward
groups. The Westward, or Barlavento, group to the north
include Santo Anato, Sao
Vincente, Sao Nicolau, Santa
Luzia, Sal, and Boa Vista. The
southern Leeward, or Sotovento
group, are Sao Tigo, Brava,
Fogo, and Maio.
The Cape Verde islands were
formed by volcanoes, and most
are quite mountainous. Three
islands are made up of plains
and lowlands. The highest point
in the country is Pico de Cano
Coconut tree, Cape Verde
on the island of Fogo. It measures 9,281 feet (2,829 m) above
sea level and is the only active volcano in the group.
Cape Verdes climate is hot and dry. The temperature
ranges from 77 F (25 C) in January to 83 F (28 C) in
July. The small amount of rainfallaveraging 10 inches
(25.4 cm) a yearmakes droughts common. Vegetation
consists of shrubs and other desert-like plants.
Other
25%
Bananas
12%
Fish
and fish
preparations
63%
Exports
African
28%
Creole
71%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholicism
fused with
Indigenous Beliefs
Major Religions
$13 million
89
Central African Republic

Land area rank
43
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
127
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Central

EQUATOR
African Republic
Continent: Africa
(622,980 sq km)
Capital City: Bangui
Largest City: Bangui (706,000)
Major Languages: French (official), Sangho
Literacy: 60%
Land Use: 3% arable, 5% meadows, 75% forest,
17% other
Natural Resources: Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold
CHAD
Ch
ar
iR
AFRICA
E
S
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
SUDAN
Ndele
The Place
The Central African Republic lies in the middle of the
African continent on the northern edge of the Congo
River Basin. This landlocked nation is approximately
500 miles (805 km) north of the equator.
Most of the Central African Republic is located on a
low plateau that ranges from 2,000 to 2,600 feet (610 to
790 m) above sea level. The flat central plains gradually
rise in the north to an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,400 m)
at Mount Toussoro. Located to the northwest is 4,700foot (1,500-m) Mount Ngaouri, the countrys highest
point. The land also rises in the west, where the Karre
Mountains reach 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The Ubangi
River flows along the countrys southern border with
Zaire and, at 1,100 feet (335 m) above sea level, is the
lowest point in the nation.
The climate in the Central African Republic is hot
and humid. The average annual temperature hovers
around 80 F (26 C). The south receives about 70
inches (178 cm) of rain a year, and a dense rain forest
covers most of the southwest. The north, however,
receives about 8 inches (20 cm) of rain per year and is
covered by savanna grasses with few trees.
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Wood
products
15%
Bambari
Bangassou
Ub
ang
iR
iver
Bangui
Berberati
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
(ZAIRE)
CONGO
Other 8%
Diamonds
50%
Exports
miles
km
200
200
About 65% of
Central Africans live
in rural areas, and
the majority of the
population lives in
the southern and
western parts of the
country. A large
number of urban
dwellers reside in the
nations capital, Bangui.
The Central African Republics population growth rate
is offset by its high emigration and infant mortality rates.
More than 40% of the countrys population is under the
age of 15. The average life expectancy is 45 years. Many
factors contribute to this, including a lack of doctors,
insufficient food, and poor sanitation.
Agriculture employs 85% of the population and plays
a major role in the lives of the men and women in the
Central African Republic. The men of the country hunt
and trap food for their families, as well as tend to the
commercial crops. The women gather, produce, and
prepare family meals.
Religious activities are important to Central Africans.
Men, women, and children take part in church services,
religious school, and community groups.
Other 11%
Sara
10%
Coffee
16%
The People
Cotton
12%
$171 million
90
Bossangoa
Bouar
Other 7%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
100F/38C
CAMEROON
A N TA R C T I C A
Mandjia
21%
Baya
34%
Banda
27%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
24%
Roman
Catholic
25%
Muslim Protestant
25%
15%
Major Religions
Chad
Land area rank
22
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
83
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
L I B Y A
Official Name: Republic of Chad

Continent: Africa
(1,259,200 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: NDjamena
Largest City: NDjamena
(594,000)
Major Languages: French and Arabic (both official)
Literacy: 45%
35% other
Natural Resources: uranium, natron, kaolin, fish
Aozou
N
W
S A H A R A
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Faya-Largeau
N I G E R
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Lake Chad
S U D A N
Abch
NDjamena
N I G E R I A
h ar
iR
iv
er
iv
L ogo n e
A N TA R C T I C A
er
Sarh
miles
200
0 km 200
Moundou
CAMEROON
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Non-indigenous 2%
Average Rainfall
Chads population consists of two main groups

Muslims and non-Muslims of native African origin. The
Muslims, which include nomadic Arabs and non-Arab
The Place
people, live in the north and east. The non-Muslim
Chad is a landlocked country in north central Africa. Part
population lives mainly in southern Chad. The Sara is
of the Sahara Desertthe largest desert in the world
the largest non-Muslim group and accounts for about
stretches across the northern section of the country.
25% of the countrys population.
One noticeable feature of Chad is the Chad
The population density in
Basin that rises into plateaus and mountains
Chad averages just 16 people per
in the east, north, and south. Chads highest
point is in the north at Emi Koussi, with an
Approximately 77% of Chadians
elevation of 11,204 feet (3,415 m).
make their homes in rural areas,
Lake Chad, located in the southwestern
and most people live in the south.
part of the country, has a surface area of
More than half of all urban dwellers
63,000 square miles (16,317 sq km) and is the
live in the capital, NDjamena.
fourth-largest lake in Africa. Chads two main
Most Chadians live in poverty.
NDjamena, Chad
rivers, the Chari and the Logone, flow from
Chad has the seventh-lowest per
the southeast and empty into Lake Chad. The
capita income in the world. A
Logone River is about 600 miles (970 km) long, while
butcher, for example, makes $36 per month. Less than
the Chari measures 750 miles (1,200 km) in length.
half of the population can read and write, and about
The northern desert portion of Chad is very hot and
40% of primary school-aged children attend classes.
dry. The area mostly consists of sparse vegetation and
Health conditions in Chad are poor, and the death
sand dunes. The central and southern parts of the coun- and infant mortality rates are high. The health centers
try have three seasonshot, rainy, and cool. Shrubs,
in the country provide only limited services. The life
trees, and tall grasses grow there.
expectancy in Chad is 45 years.
Other
25%
Live sheep
and goats
5%
Live cattle
11%
Cotton
lint
59%
Exports
Sara
and
related
groups
49%
Muslim
groups
49%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
25%
Christian
25%
Muslim
50%
Major Religions
$259 million
91
Chile
Land area rank
38
largest country (1)
smallest country
Population rank
61
most people (1)
fewest people
PERU
At a Glance
0
0
miles
km
200
200
EUROPE
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
EQUATOR
Coquimbo
Valparaiso
Santiago
Rancagua
A R G
E N T
I N A
ATAC
Antofagasta
O C E
A N
to west. Chile has 3,998

miles (6,435 km) of
coastline on the Pacific
Ocean. It also has control
over several South Pacific
islands.
In terms of physical geography, Chile is divided into three
regions that run from north to
south. The Andes Mountains
are located in the eastern part
of the country and extend for
nearly the length of Chile.
These mountains also form a
natural border with neighboring
Argentina. In the north, the
Andes reach peaks between
16,500 and 19,500 feet (5,000
to 6,000 m). Toward the center
of the range, the peaks increase
in height.
The intermediate depression
lies to the west of the Andes
and occupies the middle of the country. Its
temperate climate and fertile soils make the
depression the most agriculturally productive
area in Chile. On the western stretch lie the
coastal cordilleras. These mountain ranges form
a divide between the intermediate depression
and the Pacific coast. The mountain peaks in
this area are much smaller than in the Andes,
often not exceeding 6,500 feet (1,981 m).
E S
A N D
A N TA R C T I C A
M O U
N T
A I
N S
AMA DESERT
AUSTRALIA
Other
30%
Talca
Concepcion
Temuco
N
Valdivia
Puerto Montt
Isla Grande
de Chiloe
E
S
Coihaique
Puerto
Natales
Punta Arenas
Str a i
llan
age
Tierra
Del F
uego
Wood
products
7%
Other metals
and minerals
8%
Permanent
pastures
18%
Copper
37%
Fruits
8%
Exports
$17 billion
92
BOLIVIA
Iquique
SOUTH
AMERICA
Farms/cropland 5%
Average Rainfall
Chile is a very narrow country

that extends down the southwestern
coast of South America. From its
southern border with Peru to the
southern tip of the continent, Chile
measures about 2,700 miles (4,300
km) long. The country averages
about 110 miles (177 km) from east
Arica
ASIA
AFRICA
t of M
Villarica Volcano, Pucon, Chile
NORTH
AMERICA
P A C I F
I C
Official Name: Republic of Chile

Capital City: Gran Santiago
Largest City: Gran Santiago (5,076,808)
Unit of Money: Chilean peso
Major Language: Spanish
Natural Resources: Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates
Other
55%
Fish and
fishmeal
10%
Forests
22%
Land Use
Chile
The People
The Chilean population is almost
entirely urban, with about 85% of
the people living in cities. About
Mapuche Indian woman
90% of the population lives in the

central part of the country, and
nearly one-third of Chileans live in
the capital, Santiago. The cities in
Chile are modern, with skyscrapers
and bustling commercial districts.
As more poor families move to
urban areas looking for work,
Chiles cities are becoming overcrowded and surrounded by slums.
The social classes in Chile are
divided into three groups according
to wealth. A small class of rich elite is
generally of European descent. These
people live in luxury apartments or
large houses. Mestizos, mixed race
Chileans, make up the middle class,
and they generally work in government or professional jobs. Mestizos
live in smaller apartments and houses.
Chilean Indians and poor mestizos
live in run-down apartments. Life
Rural Chileans make their living
mainly by farming. Some work as
sharecroppers, but many own their
own farms. Farmers usually live

in one- or two-room houses that
sometimes lack running water
and electricity. Most farmers earn
very little and struggle to support
their families.
Protestant 11%
Roman
Catholic
89%
Major Religions
Amerindian 3%

Much of Chiles popular culture and
its arts are centered in Santiago.
The Chilean National Symphony
Orchestra plays European classical
music. The Municipal Ballet and the
National Ballet of the University of
Chile are well known throughout
the country. Many cultural events
Other 2%
White and
Mestizo
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Education is free in Chile. Children
are required to attend eight years of
primary school. After that, they may
choose to move on to a secondary
or vocational school. Almost all primary school-aged children attend
classes, and about three-quarters
move on to a secondary education.
In addition, private schools run by
religious or ethnic groups are very
popular in Chile. One source of
higher education is the University
(continued)
Government
Literate
95%
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
119 tanks
of Chilewidely considered one

of the best institutions in Latin
America.
take place between March and

November, the fall and winter.
Many outdoor recreational activities are also available. The Pacific
coast beaches are popular for sunbathing, and skiers flock to the
countrys many challenging slopes.
Football (soccer) is also a favorite
and draws huge crowds.
13 major ships
110 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
201
74
50
36
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
93
China
Land area rank
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

1
fewest people
EUROPE
R U S S I A
Am
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
ur
AFRICA
EQUATOR
AUSTRALIA
KA
ZA
KH
TA
Hulun Nur
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
94
R.
g
H
ua
Beijing
Chengdu
L A
Y A S
Lhasa
Chongqing
NEPA
I N D I A
miles
km
500
Jilin
Fushun
Sea
of
Japan
JAPAN
Wuxi
E a s t
Shanghai
Hangzhou
C h i n a
Ningbo
S e a
Nanchang
Nanjing
Jixi
Huainan
Fuxin
Jinzhou
Yingkou
NORTH
Tangshan
Dalian KOREA
Tianjin
Shijiazhuang
Taiyuan
Yellow
Handan Jinan
S e a SOUTH
e
KOREA
Qingdao
Hu a n g H
Kaifeng
Xian
Xuzhou
T I B E T
500
BHUTAN
Bay
of
Bengal
The Great Wall of China
an
e
tz
Wuhan
Huangshi
Changsha
Guiyang
Fuzhou
Kunming
Taipei
Liuzhou
Guangzhou
TAIWAN
Shantou
Nanning
MYANMAR
(BURMA)
Hong Kong
VIETNAM
LAOS
to the west, and the Kunlun to the

north. Mt. Everestthe worlds
highest elevation at 29,035 feet
(8,850 m)is in the Himalayas. Two
of the worlds longest riversthe
Average Rainfall
20F/-7C
Hohhot
Baotou
Datong
Lanzhou
H
DES
GLA
BAN
6 in/15 cm
Yumen
40F/4C
ver
m Ri
9 in/23 cm
Korla
ri
Ta
PAKISTAN
China is in eastern Asia and is the

second-largest country in the world
in total land area, and the largest
population. It shares borders with
14 countries, as well as the Pacific
Ocean.
China is made up of eight main
land areas. The Tibetan Highlands
lie in the southwestern section of
the country. This region is a huge
plateau surrounded by several
mountain chains, including the
Himalayas to the south, the Pamir
60F/16C
D E
S E R T
TAJIKISTAN
The Place
12 in/30 cm
Changchun
He
Official Name: Peoples

Republic of China
Continent: Asia
(9,326,410 sq km)
Population: 1,273,111,290
Capital City: Beijing
Largest City: Shanghai
(13,560,000)
Unit of Money: Yuan
Major Languages: Chinese,
Mandarin
Natural Resources: coal, iron
ore, crude oil, mercury, tin
80F/27C
B I
Hami
KYRGYZSTAN
15 in/38 cm
Urumqi
A N TA R C T I C A
Kashi
Qiqihar
MANCHURIA
Harbin
M O N G O L I A
Karamay
Yining
At a Glance
ive
r
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
most people (1)
HAINAN
S o u t h
C h i n a
S e a
S
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
Huang He and the Yangtze

begin in the highlands.
The Xinjiang-Mongolian
Uplands lie in the northwestern
corner of China. The eastern part
China
of this areawhich consists of the
Ordos Desert and parts of the Gobi
Deserthas a harsh climate. The
Tian Shan Mountains lie in the
western part of the uplands.
The Mongolian Border Uplands
are located in the north central
part of the country. The Greater
Hinggan Mountains are there,
and the terrain is very rugged. In
the middle of the country are the
Central Highlands. This area consists of many mountains, including
the Qin Ling range with peaks of
12,000 feet (3,658 m). The hilly
Sichuan Basin, in south central
China, is one of the countrys main
agricultural areas.
In northeastern China lie the
Eastern Highlands. This region
includes the Shangdong Peninsula
and eastern Manchuria. Some
of Chinas oldest forests grow
here. To the west of the Eastern
Highlands are the Eastern
Lowlands. The lowlands extend
down the east coast to the Yangtze
River. The hilly Southern Uplands
make up southeastern China.
Textiles, rubber and metal products 22%
Farms/cropland
10%
Other
33%
Forests
14%
Other
37%
Permanent
pastures
43%
Land Use
(continued)
Inedible raw
materials 3%
Mineral fuels
and lubricants 4%
Chemicals and
allied products 6%
Exports
Machinery
and
transport
equipment
21%
Food and
live animals 7%
$183 billion
Resources
Farm land
Manufacturing
Pastures
Chemicals
Forests
Other
Oil
Rice
Tea, grown in large fields,
Tea
is an important crop in China.
Sheep
95
China (continued)
The History
China's written history goes back
3,500 years. The country has one of
the worlds oldest civilizations.
China was once divided into several small states. In 221 B.C. the Qin
dynasty established an empire.
During the next 2,000 years, the

empire went through many wars and
rebellions. The Chinese Empire
weakened in the 1800s and revolutionaries overthrew the empire in
1911. China became a republic in
1912. The Kuomintang (Nationalist
Party) ruled the republic.
In 1949, the Chinese Communist
Party took over. The Communist
government today controls most
of China's industries, trade and
finance, and education.
passed laws to slow growth. Men cannot marry before they are 22, and
women must be at least 20 years of
age. Families are limited to one child.
There are two main types of
housing in the big cities. Some people live in traditional, one-family
houses. Many others live in large
apartment buildings. Most families
are assigned to an apartment by
their place of employment. In
crowded areas, two families must
sometimes share an apartment.
In rural areas, families usually live
in three- or four-room houses.
Some do not have electricity or runZhaung 1%
Hui 1%
The People
China has the worlds largest populationabout 20% of the worlds
people live there. Although China
has about 100 cities with a population
of more than a million people each,
most Chinese live in small towns and
villages. Many inhabit crowded eastern China. Even though the western
part of the country accounts for half
of Chinas land area, only about 10%
of the population lives there. The
Chinese government, concerned
about its population increases, has
96
Other 5%
Han
Chinese
93%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian 1%
Buddhist
3%
Muslim 2%
Other
94%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Communist state
Leader: Premier/President
Defense
2,200,000 army personnel
8,000 tanks
102 major ships
4,970 combat aircraft
ning water. Farmers work long days

for little pay.
Customs in China today are
more relaxed than in the past. Most
women work outside of the home,
and men often take part in household chores. Today, young people
can also choose whom they want to
marry rather than having a marriage
arranged by their families.
Tea fieldworkers
China (continued)
Many art styles are popular in China.
Some Chinese artists even receive
money and support from the government. Communists feel that art
should represent the goals of a society.
Chinese painting began thousands
of years ago. Calligraphy, a type of
decorative handwriting, is considered

a branch of Chinese painting. Chinese
music is also very popular. It is different from Western music because the
Chinese scale has fewer notes.
Recreational activities in China
vary by area. In the cities, there are
many more cultural opportunities,
including museums, theaters, and

sporting events. In rural areas, many
villages have libraries and recreation
centers where people gather to
watch television or movies. There
are also areas to play sports, including basketball and table tennis, the
national sport.
Chinese law requires every child to

attend school for at least nine years.
Children enter primary school at the
age of 6 or 7. School lessons usually
include history, geography, math,

science, painting, and politics.
After completing primary school,
students may attend secondary
schools. Junior middle school
continues for three years, and senior
middle school lasts for two years.
Subjects in these schools include
English, chemistry, physics, and law.
Vocational schools in the country also
teach classes in agriculture and industry. Although about 60% of Chinese
students enter secondary schools, few
complete the entire program.
Social services 4%
Construction
and mining
7%
Other
10%
Agriculture
and Forestry
53%
Industry and
commerce
26%
Labor Force
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
27
TVs
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Education
A strong education system has always
been important in Chinese culture
and to the Communist government.
Schoolboy
Literate
82%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
97
Colombia
Land area rank
28
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
28
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
Caribbean Sea
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Barranquilla
AFRICA
Cartagena
SOUTH
AMERICA
Monteria
AUSTRALIA
PANAMA
V E N E Z U E L A
Pereira
oR
Puerto Carreo
Bogot
AN
Popayn
Bucaramanga
Villavincencio
DE
Buenaventura
Cali
S M
O
UNT
Medellin
oc
A N TA R C T I C A
AIN
Cucuta
Orin

EQUATOR
Colombia
(1,038,700 sq km)
Capital City: Bogota
Largest City: Bogota (5,237,635)
Unit of Money: Colombian peso
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore
ASIA
Pasto
BRA ZIL
ECUADOR
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
98
This area includes Cristobal

Colon, the countrys highest
peak at 18,947 feet (5,775 m)
above sea level.
The Eastern Plains make up
almost 60% of Colombia. The south
is mostly covered by tropical forests,
while the north has grassy prairies.
PERU
0
0
miles
km
200
a
Am
200
zo
R.
The climate throughout the country

varies by elevation. Colombia generally has one or two wet seasons and
one or two dry seasons each year.
Cartagena, Colombia
Farms / cropland 5%
Average Rainfall
Colombia is on the northwestern tip

of South America. It is the fourthlargest country on the continent.
Colombia is also the only South
American country with coastlines
touching both the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans.
There are three main regions in
Colombia. The Coastal Lowlands
surround the areas bordering the
Caribbean Sea in the north and the
Pacific Ocean in the west. The
Caribbean Lowlands have cities,
ports, and plantations. The Pacific
Lowlands consist of wet swamps and
thick forests.
The Andes Mountains comprise
three main ranges, the Cordillera
Central, Cordillera Oriental, and
Cordillera Occidental. They cover
approximately one-third of the
country, beginning in southwestern
Colombia and extending to the
Venezuelan border in the northeast.
Food 7%
Coal 8%
Other
15%
Petroleum
products
27%
Coffee
15%
Textiles
and apparel 8%
Forestry
and fisheries 10%
Exports
$11 billion
Chemicals 10%
Other
8%
Forests
48%
Permanent
pastures
39%
Land Use
Colombia
of the Andes Mountains. The mines,
farms, and factories there provide
work for most families. Only 2% of
Colombians live in the hot Eastern
Plains region.
Approximately 70% of the people
live in urban areas. The middle and
upper classes mainly inhabit the
cities. City dwellers are usually better off than rural settlers because the
urban areas offer better educational,
cultural, and medical opportunities.
Many urban residents live in nice
Bora woman
Black-Amerindian 3%
Amerindian 1%
(continued)
houses or apartment buildings and

work in professional occupations.
Colombias smaller rural population are called campesinos. They are
usually poor, and build homes from
local materials. Families are usually
large, and several generations may
live in the same house. Many rural
Colombians move to cities looking
for work, but end up living in slums
on the outskirts of town. These slums,
called tugurios, rarely have running
water. Life expectancy is 71 years.
Other 5%
Black 4%
The People
White
20%
Colombia has the second-largest

population in South America.
Almost all Colombians live in the
western part of the country. In fact,
almost 75% of the population make
their homes in the valleys and basins
Mestizo
58%
Roman
Catholic
95%
EuropeanAfrican
14%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
The education system in Colombia
is a blend of the French and U.S.
education systems. Colombia
requires children to attend school
for at least five years, and almost all
primary-school-aged students go to
class. About half of all children go to
secondary school. It is harder to get
an education in rural areas than in
cities. Many rural schools only offer
two or three grades, and some

Colombians take part in many
sporting events. Soccer is extremely
popular, as well as basketball, bull
fights, and car races. The Andes
also offer an excellent place to ski.
Tejoa popular native gameis
similar to horseshoes.
Folk songs and dances are also an
important part of the Colombian
culture. They originate from the
earlier Indian, Spanish, and African
traditions. Each part of the country
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
91%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
12 tanks
schools have closed. For students

who complete secondary school,
Colombia has about 40 universities.
has its own special ties to particular

songs and dances. Many are performed at regional fairs.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
108
108
32
33
TVs
Cars
NA
Phones
VCRs
PCs
6 major ships
74 combat aircraft
Bogot Cathedral
Comoros
Land area rank
179
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

163
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Mitsamiouli
Official Name: Republic of Comoros

Continent: Africa
Area: 838 square miles (2,170 sq km)
Population: 596,202
Capital City: Moroni
Largest City: Moroni (17,267)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Comoran franc
Major Languages: Arabic and
French (official), Comoran
Literacy: 57%
7% meadow, 18% forests, 30% other
Government: Independent republic headed
by a president
G r a nde C om or e
ASIA
AFRICA
Fomboni
M ohe l i
A N TA R C T I C A
Mozambique
Channel
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
100
0
0
miles
km
50
MAYOTTE
(FRANCE)
50
The People
The majority of the Comoran population is split
between Anjouan and Grande Comoreeach island
houses about 200,000 people. Because of its small size,
Anjouan has one of the worlds highest population
densities, with about 550 people per square mile
(1,350 people per sq km).
The people of
Comoros are
extremely poor. The
nations economy
depends almost
entirely on agriculture, which employs
about 85% of the
population. About
Grande Comore
70% of Comorans
live in rural areas.
Many residents build their houses from large palm leaves.
A small group of wealthy Comorans lives in stone
houses. Many wealthier men also have several wives.
The people of Comoros suffer from many diseases
and a lack of food. There are very few doctors or medical facilities on the islands. The death rate on the island
is very high, especially among children. The life
expectancy in Comoros is 60 years.
Roman Catholic
14%
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
Ouani
Anj oua n
Domoni
Moya
AUSTRALIA
Comoros is an archipelago, or group of islands, in the

Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean. It is about
200 miles (320 km) north of Madagascar and 180 miles
(290 km) east of Mozambique. There are four main
islands in the archipelago, but one is controlled by
France. The other three are Anjouan, Moheli, and
Grande Comore. There are also several smaller islands
in the group.
The major islands are volcanic in origin and are
mountainous. Below these peaks are valleys and plateaus.
Mangrove swamps grow along the coasts of many of the
islands. The region has a cool season from May to
October, and a hot season for the rest of the year.
Grande Comore is the largest of the islands with an
area of 443 square miles (1,147 sq km). This island is also
the home of Karthalathe countrys highest peakat
7,746 feet (2,361 m) above sea level. Karthala has one of
the largest craters of any active volcano. Although there is
little topsoil on the island, Grande Comore has dense rain
forests on the slopes of Karthala. The other islands have
rich soil that supports many crops.
12 in/30 cm
EUROPE
The Place
15 in/38 cm
Dembeni
SOUTH
AMERICA
80F/27C
Moroni
NORTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
I N D I A N
O C E A N
Other
21%
Cloves
9%
Vanilla
43%
Ylang-ylang
27%
Exports
$11 million
Polynesian,
African, Indonesian,
Persian and
Arab groups
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
86%
Major Religions
Congo
Land area rank
63
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
132
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC
CAMEROON

the Congo
Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
Area: 131,853 square
Capital City: Brazzaville
Largest City: Brazzaville (596,200)
Major Language: French (official)
Literacy: 75%
7% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, timber, potash, lead
Government: Republic lead by a president
ASIA
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
AFRICA
Ousso
SOUTH
AMERICA
GABON
15 in/38 cm
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The Republic of the Congo is in west central Africa.

Its only coastline is in the southwestern part of the
country and extends for about 44 miles (71 km) along
the Atlantic Ocean.
The Republic of the Congo can be split into six geographical regions. In the southwest, the Coastal Plain
extends from the Atlantic Ocean to about 40 miles (64
km) inland. The Mayombe Escarpment lies beyond the
Coastal Plain. This group of plateaus ranges from 1,600
to 2,600 feet (490 to 790 m) above sea level. To the
north of these plateaus is the Niari Valley. This farming
region is covered by forests and grassland. To the east of
this valley is the Stanley Pool Region, which is also used
for agriculture.
The Bateke Plateau is located in the center of the
Congo. This grassy area has deep, wooded valleys. The
Congo River Basin lies in the northern part of the country and has many swamps. The majority of the country
experiences hot and humid weather throughout the year.
Southern coastal areas receive the most rainfall.
Wood and wood

products
8%
er
iv
g
Mossendjo
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC
OF THE
CONGO
(ZAIRE)
Brazzaville
Loubomo
Madingo-Kayes
Pointe-Noire
miles
km
200
200
The People
There are four main
ethnic groups in the
Congo. The largest
group is the Kongo,
and they live mostly in
the southwest region
near Brazzaville. The
Kongo are farmers.
The MBochi inhabit
the northern area
Congo hospital
where the savanna and
the forest meet. Many MBochi work as clerks. The
Sangha also share the northern forest region. The Teke
live in the central region of the Congo. They hunt and
fish for a living. Life expectancy is 47 years.
The Congolese population is almost evenly divided
between urban and rural areas. The population density
averages 21 people per square mile (7 people per sq km).
The densest parts of the Congo are the southeastern border near Brazzaville and the southwestern coastal area.
Economic conditions for the middle class are fairly
stableCongolese earn higher wages than workers in
most other African countries. Approximately 75% of
Congolese work in agriculture, while the other 25%
work in commerce.
Other 7%
Petroleum and
petroleum products
85%
Exports
Oyo
Con
AT LAN T I C
OCEAN
The Place
80F/27C
E
S
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
Uban
NORTH
AMERICA
gi Ri
ver
EUROPE
Other 3%
Muslim 2%
Teke 17%
MBochi
12%
Sangha
20%
Kongo
48%
Ethnic Makeup
Animist
48%
Christian
50%
Major Religions
$1 billion
101
Congo (Zaire)
Land area rank
12
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
23
fewest people
most people (1)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CAMEROON
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name:
Democratic Republic
EQUATOR
of the Congo
Continent: Africa
miles (2,267,600 sq km)
Capital City: Kinshasa
Largest City: Kinshasa (2,653,558)
Unit of Money: Zaire
Major Languages: French (official), Lingala,
Kingwana
Natural Resources: Cobalt, copper, cadmium,
crude oil
Uba
ngi R
.
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
Bumba
go R
iv
er
Mbandaka
SOUTH
AMERICA
CONGO
AUSTRALIA
SUDAN
Lake Albert
Con
Lake
Victoria
L. Kivu RWANDA
Bukavu
BURUNDI
GABON
A N TA R C T I C A
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
40F/4C
miles
200
0 km 200
tral Africa. It is the third-largest

country on the continent. Although
the majority of the country is landlocked, Congo
does have a
25-mile- (40-km)
long coastline on
the Atlantic
Ocean.
The largest
part of Congo
is the central
basin that lies
along the Congo
River. This area
accounts for
about 60% of
the country. The
wide plain varies
from 2,300 to
1,110 feet (700 to
338 m) above sea
level, and has
Diamonds
17%
Other
55%
Crude
petroleum
11%
Coffee 9%
Lake
Tanganyika
Kananga
Kamina
Lake
Mweru
Likasi
Lubumbashi
E
Z A M B I A
dense rain forests. High plateaus

surround most of the basin. In the
north, these plateaus rise up to
4,000 feet (1220 m).
A coastal plain extends to the
Cristal Mountains. The eastern part
of the country is mountainous and
contains part of the East African
Rift System. Margherita Peakthe
countrys highest pointis located
near Congos eastern border with
Uganda and reaches 16,765 feet
(5,110 m) above sea level. Several
large lakes also lie along the eastern
borders, including Lakes Albert,
Kivu, Tanganyika, and Mwera.
Congo has four main climatic
regions. Near the equator, the
country is hot and humid. To the
north and south of the equator, the
climate is tropical. The west coast has
a temperate climate, while the mountain areas have cool, wet weather.
Farms/cropland 3%
Permanent
Other
pastures
13%
7%
Forests
77%
Copper 8%
Exports
$2 billion
102
N
0
0 in/0 cm
ver
ai Ri
9 in/23 cm
as
60F/16C
12 in/30 cm
TANZANIA
Kalemi
A N G O L A
80F/27C
OCEA
15 in/38 cm
IC
100F/38C
NT
Lake Kivu, Congo
Hebo
Kikwit
LA
The Democratic Republic of Congo,

formerly known as Zaire, is in cen-
Kinshasa
Matadi
AT
The Place
UGANDA
Kisangani
MALAWI
At a Glance
Land Use
Congo (Zaire) (continued)
Kimbanguist
10%
Other
10%
Roman
Catholic
50%
Muslim
10%
Protestant
20%
Major Religions
Congolese men play a board game
The People
Almost three-quarters of Congos
population lives in rural areas. The
majority of people live in the eastern
highlands and along the regions
major rivers. The country averages
50 people per square mile (21 people
per sq km), but its urban centers are
more highly concentrated.
A small wealthy class lives in the
capital, Kinshasa and enjoys some
Western-style conveniences. In
many cities, the poor live in slums
and shantytowns. The rural poor
live in small thatched huts. It is
Education
The education budget receives little
funding in Congo. Because of this,
approximately 70% of the countrys
schooling is offered by the Catholic
Church. About 78% of primary
school-aged children go to school,
but only 24% of children attend
secondary school classes.
Congo has four universities. Two
of these schools are in Kinshasa, one
is located in Lumbumbashi, and one

The cities support and encourage the
arts and cultural life in Congo.
Music, dance, painting, and sculpture
are very popular in the country.
Congolese music is enjoyed throughout Africa, and it has inspired many
national dances. Two of the main
difficult for Congos people to mix

modern and traditional values
because they are so different. The
government strongly promotes
loyalty to African heritage.
Due to frequent political conflicts
and economic collapse, the social
conditions in Congo are not good.
Much of the country lives in poverty.
Most families are largethe average
woman has more than 6 children.
Half of the Congolese population is
under the age of 15.
The healthcare system receives
little funding and offers few services.
is in Kisangani. Approximately 60,000
students attend each university.
Bantu
and Hamitic
45%
Other
55%
Ethnic Makeup
Because treatment is often unavailable, infectious disease and death
rates continue to rise. Malaria and
AIDS are widespread throughout
Congo. About 10% of all newborns
die. The life expectancy at birth is
less than 50 years.
Government
Type: Dictatorship
Leader: President
Defense
Literate
77%

60 tanks
0 major ships
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
cultural institutions in Congo are

The Academy of Fine Arts and the
National Institute of the Arts.
Many different sports are also
popular in Congo, including soccer,
swimming, boxing, and basketball.
Riverboat racing also draws large
crowds.
22 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
103
Costa Rica
Land area rank
129
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
124
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
L. Nicaragua
NICARAGUA
Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica

Continent: North (Central)
America
(50,660 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: San Jose
Largest City: San Jose
(318,765)
Unit of Money: Costa Rican colon
Major Language: Spanish (official)
Literacy: 93%
Land Use: 6% arable, 7% crops, 45% meadow,
34% forest, 8% other
Natural Resources: Hydropower potential
Government: Democratic republic
Caribbean
Sea
Liberia
Canas
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Quesada
ASIA
Puntarenas
AFRICA
Alajuela
Limon
San Jose
Cartago
SOUTH
AMERICA
E
S
AUSTRALIA
San Isidro
P A C I F I C
OC E A N
A N TA R C T I C A
0
0
miles
km
Cortes
Golito
PA N A M A
50
50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
104
Amerindian 1%
Chinese 1%
Black 2%
Average Rainfall
The Costa Rican population is evenly divided between

rural and urban areas. The population density is 175
people per square mile (70.5 people per sq km).
The Place
Approximately 75% of the population has settled in
the countrys central plateau. This fertile area provides
Costa Rica is in southern Central America. The Pacific
excellent farming, and about 27% of the work force is
Ocean lies to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the
employed by agriculture. Another 35% of Costa Ricans
east. Costa Rica also governs Cocos Island, located
are employed in the service industry, and 33% work for
about 300 miles to the southwest.
the government. Life expectancy is 71 years.
Costa Rica has three major mountain chains that
In the rural areas,
run through itthe Cordillera de Talamanca,
many farming families
Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de
live in bright wooden
Guanacaste. These chains divide the country
houses or adobe cottages.
into three regions, including the Caribbean
In the cities, most people
Lowlands, the Central Highlands, and the
live in row houses. Many
Pacific Coastal Strip.
wealthy people live in
The Caribbean Lowlands are a large area
large Spanish-style
of tropical swamps and jungles that extend
homes with fancy gardown the eastern coast of Costa Rica. This
dens. These wealthy
region reaches an average daily high temperacitizens are usually
ture of 100 F (38 C). In the interior, the
plantation owners.
fertile Central Highlands are divided into the Costa Rican child
Most Costa Ricans
Meseta Central and the Valle del General. To
enjoy playing sports and attending sporting events. Some
the west, the Pacific Coastal Strip consists of lowlands
favorites include soccer (the national sport), basketball,
that average between 75 F to 100 F (25 to 38 C)
baseball, bullfights, and tennis.
each day.
Other
45%
Fish and
shrimp 5%
Ornamental
plants, leaves,
and flowers 4%
Other 5%
Bananas
24%
Coffee
16%
Exports
$3 billion
Textiles,
clothing, and
footwear 6%
White and
Mestizo
96%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
Cte dIvoire
Land area rank
66
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

57
fewest people
most people (1)
MALI
At a Glance
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Cte dIvoire
Continent: Africa
(318,000 sq km)
Capital City: Yamoussoukro (U.S. recognizes
Abidjan as capital)
Largest City: Abidjan (1,929,079)
Natural Resources: Crude oil, diamonds, manganese,
iron ore, cobalt
AFRICA
Odienn
E
S
AUSTRALIA
Biankouma
Bouak
A N TA R C T I C A
Cte dIvoirealso known as the

Ivory Coastis in west central Africa.
Korhogo
GUINEA
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
BURKINA FASO
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
GHANA
Lac de
Kossou
Man
Abengourou
Daloa
Yamoussoukro
Gagnoa
LIBERIA
Agboville
Abidjan
Sassandra
y
Ivor
miles
km 100
100
Coast
Gu l f o f Guine a
ATL ANT I C
To the south, a
coastline 320
miles (515 km) long touches the Gulf
of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cte dIvoire can be broken into
Cte dIvoire, near Ghana
OCEAN
four main physical regions. The

coastal fringe extends about 40
miles (64 km) north from the Gulf
of Guinea. There are many lagoons
in the eastern part of this region.
Beyond the coastal fringe is the
equatorial forest zone. This dense
forest is shaped like a triangle, with
its base extending along the border
of Liberia. To the east lies the
cultivated forest zone. Some of this
forest has been cleared for farming.
The savanna stretches across the
northern part of the country. The
Komoe National Park covers about
4,500 square miles (11,655 sq km)
of this region.
The tropical climate in the southern part of Cte dIvoire brings
hot, rainy, and humid weather and
four seasons. The northern savanna
has two seasons with extreme
temperatures.
21 in/53 cm
Cotton and
cotton cloth
4%
Other
26%
Fish
products
7%
Petroleum
products
9%
Cocoa beans
and products
34%
Exports
$4 billion
Coffee
and coffee
products
11%
Wood and
wood products
9%
Other
25%
Forests
22%
Permanent
pastures
41%
Land Use
Farms/cropland 12%
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
18 in/46 cm
0 in/0 cm
105
Cte dIvoire
(continued)
The People
There are more than 60 different
ethnic groups living in Cte dIvoire.
Of the five major groups, the Baoule
live in the central region, the Agni
inhabit the east, the Senoufou are
found in the north, and the DanYacouba and Malinke live in the west.
Many Ivorians live along the
countrys coastal fringe in the south.
About 58% of the population live
in rural areas. Extended family
members usually live together in
a small group of homes in a village.
These homes are made of mud
and have thatched or metal roofs.
Cte dIvoires urban areas consist
Education
Education in Cte dIvoire is free,
and children are required to attend
classes if there is a school nearby.
Approximately 75% of elementary
aged children go to school, but only
20% of students make it to high
school. The National University
of Cte dIvoire, founded in 1958,
is in Abidjan and averages about
21,000 students a year. Many
Ivorians attend universities in foreign

Although French culture has greatly
influenced the way of life in Cte
dIvoire, many ethnic groups are
Orange and banana vendors, Abidjan
mainly of younger Ivorians that

have come there in search of work.
Many city dwellers also live in mud
homes. Almost all non-Africans, and
some rich Africans, live in modern
buildings.
The urban standard of living in
Other
33%
Cte dIvoire is better than in most

other African countries. A dentist,
for example, earns about $600 per
month. Health conditions are
improving, but the average life
expectancy is 46 years of age and
infant mortality is high.
Christian
22%
Baoule
23%
Malinke
11% Senoufou
15%
Ethnic Makeup
countries. Fewer than half of Ivorians

are able to read and write.
Indigenous
beliefs
60%
Muslim
18%
Bete
18%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
41%

NA tanks
NA major ships
Literacy
NA combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
well known for their traditional art

forms. The wood carvings of the
Dan, Baoule, and Senoufou peoples
are the best known. The Dan create
masks of the human facial expressions and large rice spoons. The
Baoule carve masks of recognizable
people that are used mainly in
special ceremonies. The Senoufou
combine the characteristics of
antelopes, wart hogs, and hyenas
when they create their masks.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
59
TVs
15
11
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Croatia
Land area rank
126
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

117
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
H U N GA RY
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Croatia
Continent: Europe
(56,410 sq km)
Capital City: Zagreb
Largest City: Zagreb (708,770)
Unit of Money: Croatian kuna
Major Language: Serbo-Croation
Literacy: 97%
Natural Resources: Oil, coal, bauxite, iron ore
Government: Presidential/parliamentary democracy
Defense: $1.8 billion
SLOVENIA
AFRICA
Zagreb
Karlovac
SOUTH
AMERICA
Rijeka
AUSTRALIA
Osijek
Slavonski Brod
Pula
A N TA R C T I C A
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
3 in/8 cm
6 in/15 cm
ITA LY
i a
N
40F/4C
20F/-7C
(SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO)
YUGOSLAVIA
9 in/23 cm
lm
Split
60F/16C
12 in/30 cm
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
100F/38C
Croatia is in southern Europe. It has a 1,104-mile(1,778-km-) long southern coastline that extends along
the Adriatic Sea. In the south, a 12-mile- (20-km-) wide
part of Bosnia-Herzegovina separates a small strip of
Croatian coastline from the rest of the country.
There are two physical regions in Croatia. The
Dalmacia is the coastal region between BosniaHerzegovina and the sea. It consists mostly of rocky
cliffs. The Dalmacia has mild winters and hot summers.
The Pannonian Plains are in the northeast, near the
border with Hungary. They are mostly fertile farming
areas. The plains have bitter winters and dry summers.
The Dinaric Alps extend
down Croatias eastern border
with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Here
the 6,007-foot (1,831-m)
Dinara is the countrys highest
point. A smaller coastal range
has created more than 1,000
offshore islands, as well as gulfs,
bays, and inlets.
Zagreb, Croatia
The Place
Zadar
BOSNIA
AND
HERZEGOVINA
S
0
miles
a
Dubrovnik
50
E
S
0 km 50
The People
There is a wide financial disparity in
Croatia. A small portion of the population is very wealthy, while the vast
majority of the country suffers from
poverty. The average monthly wages
in the country are about $149. Many
families have a hard time buying
basic necessities.
The main reason for this poverty
is the lack of jobsabout 17% of
workers are unemployed. About
30% of the work force is employed
by industry, 19% by government,
Croatian man
and 4% by agriculture.
About half of the population lives in cities. The most
populated cities are Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek. In
the cities, people usually live in old stone buildings. On the outskirts of town, high-rise apartments are common. Rural families often live in
one- or two-story wooden houses.
Family closeness is very important in
Croatia. Although the father is the traditional
head of the household, womens roles are more
modern in Croatia than in most other countries
in the region. Life expectancy is 74 years.
Raw materials except fuel 5%

Food and
Miscellaneous
live
ready-made
Other
animals
products
17%
9%
29%
Mineral
fuels and
lubricants
Machinery
9%
and transport
equipment 18%
Chemical
products 13%
Exports
$4 billion
Muslim 1%
Other 9%
Serb
12%
Croat
78%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
1%
Orthodox
11%
Other 11%
Roman
Catholic
77%
Major Religions
107
Cuba
Land area rank
101
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
67
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
UNITED STATES
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Cuba
Continent: North
(Central) America
(110,860 sq km)
Capital City: Havana
Largest City: Havana (2,175,995)
Unit of Money: Cuban peso
Natural Resources: Cobalt, iron, nickel, copper
G u l f
o f
M e x i c o
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Marianao
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Pinar Del Rio
Camaguey
Las Tunas
C a r i b b e a n
S e a
Holguin
Bayamo
Guantanamo
Santiago De Cuba
U.S. Naval Base
Cayman Islands
(U.K.)
N
E
S
miles
km 100
square miles (105,006 sq km). The

island measures 745 miles (1,199
km) long and reaches a width of 124
miles (200 km).
Almost 75% of the country consists
Raw tobacco and

tobacco products
5%
Fish
products
6%
Other
12%
100
HAITI
JAMAICA
of fertile plains and lowlands with

natural water supplies. This landscape
is ideal for farming, and is very unusual in the Caribbean Islands. Many
crops are grown, including sugarcane,
rice, and coffee.
Cuba is divided by three main
mountain chains. The tallest is
the Sierra Maestras in the east.
Its highest peakthe Real de
Turquinomeasures 6,578 feet
(2,005 m) tall and is the highest
point in the country. In the west,
the Sierra de los Organos reach
about 2,500 feet (800 m) above sea
level. The Sierra de Trinidad in the
south rise 3,800 feet (1,150 m) high.
Cuba has a subtropical climate
with hot weather year round.
Temperatures range from 70 F
(21 C) in the winter to 90 F (32
C) in the summer. Rainfall is fairly
heavy in the mountains, but
decreases moving south.
Other
18%
Sugar
64%
Minerals
and concentrates
11%
Exports
$2 billion
108
Citrus and other agricultural products 3%
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Matanzas
Santa Clara
Cienfuegos
Havana, Cuba
Cuba is an archipelago off the southern tip of Florida in the Caribbean

Sea. The main island is the largest in
the West Indies, covering 40,543
Havana
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Forests
24%
Farms /
cropland
31%
Permanent
pastures
27%
Land Use
Cuba
The People
Life has gotten progressively harder
for Cubans since the breakup of the
Eastern European communist bloc,
its major trading partner. There are
food shortages, and the government
has set up a rationing program to
provide people with staple foods.
Three-quarters of the Cuban
population lives in urban areas. There
are not enough houses for everyone,
and apartment buildings are overcrowded. Often, two families must
share one apartment. In rural areas
people live in bohiosthatched-roof
houses with dirt floors.
Urban residents usually work in
government agencies or factories.
This accounts for about 52% of the
workforce. In rural areas, many people are farmers. Agriculture employs
another 20% of the work force. The
average income in Cuba is about
$2,800 a year. There

are no real economic
classes in the country,
and wealth is evenly
distributed.
The life expectancy
in Cuba is 76 years
of agethe highest in
all of Latin America.
The government has
built many new hospitals and clinics in the
past several decades.
Cuban boys
Chinese 1%
Black
11%
Other
15%

Sports are a favorite pastime in
Cuba. Baseball, track and field,
EuropeanAfrican
51%
White
37%
Roman
Catholic
85%
Major Religions
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Education is a high priority in Cuba.
The curriculum follows the MarxistLeninist system and combines manual
work with academic studies. The
government provides free schooling
for everyone, and children are
required to attend classes from ages
6 to 16. About 95% of all primary
school children and 91% of all secondary school children attend classes.
(continued)
Government
Literate
96%
Literacy

Leader: President, Council of State
President, Council of
Ministers
U.S. rate = 97%
Defense
Adults can also take basic education classes. College graduates can
take special classes in
business, medicine, and
engineering.
volleyball, swimming, and
basketball are some of the
most popular. Athletic facilities and fields are free to
the public, but very few
Cubans have the sports
equipment to play. Many
children play baseball with
rocks and sticks.
Cuban music, especially salsa,
has become very popular throughout the world. A wide variety of
percussion instruments and guitars

1,700 tanks
6 major ships
162 combat aircraft
are featured in the music, which is

mostly a blend of Spanish and
African styles.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
203
52
23
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
109
Cyprus
Land area rank
166
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
158
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
TURKEY
Official Name: Republic of Cyprus

Continent: Europe
(9,250 sq km)
EQUATOR
Population: 762,887
Capital City: Nicosia
Largest City: Nicosia
(149,100)
Unit of Money: Cypriot pound
Major Languages: Greek (official), Turkish, English
Literacy: 94%
Land Use: 12% arable land, 5% crops, 13% forest,
70% other
Natural Resources: Copper, pyrites, asbestos,
gypsum, timber
N
W
E
S
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Mediterranean Sea
ASIA
Rizokarpaso
AFRICA
Yialoussa
SOUTH
AMERICA
Kyrenia
AUSTRALIA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Readymade
garments
35%
Citrus fruits
33%
Other
32%
Exports
$1 billion
110
Nicosia
Lefkoniko
Famagusta
f e r zone
Larnaca
Paphos
Limassol
0
0
miles
km
50
50
The People
Although both Greeks and Turks live in Cyprus, they
mostly remain separate. Greeks account for more
than three-quarters of the population and inhabit the
southern two-thirds of the island. They are Christians.
Turkish Cypriots make up about 20% of the population
and live in the northern third of Cyprus. They are
Muslims. Life expectancy is 77 years.
About 53% of Cypriots live in urban areas. Cities
have modern homes and apartment buildings made
from concrete or stone. Services and industry employ
about 85% of the
workforce. In
rural areas,
Cypriots work
mainly as farmers.
They usually live
in mud-brick
houses.
The Greek and
Turkish communities have different
school systems.
Greek Orthodox priest, Cyprus
The Greek system
is run by the Ministry of Education and children ages 5 to
15 are required to attend classes. Turkish education is run
by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Other 4%
Average Rainfall
Cyprus lies off the southern

coast of Turkey, and is the
third-largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea. It is 140
miles (220 km) long and reaches
about 60 miles (90 km) at its
widest point.
The interior of Cyprus conPaphos, Cyprus
sists of flat plains and is called
Mesaoria. It is bordered to the north by Kyrenia Range.
These mountains follow the entire northern coastline and
have a top elevation of 3,343 feet (1,019 m). In northeastern Cyprus, the island narrows to form the Karpas
Peninsula. In the southern part of the country, the
Troodos Mountains dominate the landscape. Mount
Olympus is in this range and reaches the countrys top
Cyprus experiences hot, dry summers, as well as a
cool and rainy season from October to March. The
islands average temperature is 70 F (21 C). The
annual rainfall rarely exceeds 20 inches (50 cm).
Polis
U.
The Place
Lefka
bu
N.
A N TA R C T I C A
Morphou
Other 4%
Muslim
18%
Turkish
18%
Greek
78%
Ethnic Makeup
Greek
Orthodox
78%
Major Religions
Czech Republic
Land area rank
117
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
75
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Czech

EQUATOR
Republic
Continent: Europe
Area: 30,365 square
Capital City: Prague
Largest City: Prague (1,213,299)
Unit of Money: Koruna
Major Languages: Czech (official), Slovak
Natural Resources: Coal, kaolin, graphite, clay
G ERMA N Y
AFRICA
E
S
POL A N D
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Ust nad
Labem
Liberec
Hradec
Kralove
Prague
A N TA R C T I C A
M O R A V I A Ostrava
Plzen
Olomouc
B O H E M I A
Cesk
Budejovice
Da
nu
be
Brno
SL OV A K IA
Ri
v e r
A U STRIA
miles
km
50
50
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The Czech Republic is a landlocked

country in eastern Europe. Its maximum distance from north to south
is about 175 miles (280 km). At its
widest point, the country measures
about 305 miles (490 km).
The two main regions in the
Czech Republic are Bohemia in the
west and Moravia in the east. The
Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and
the Bohemian Basin lie in the center
of the country. These elevated
plateaus and rolling hills make up
most of the countrys farmland.
Several mountain ranges surround the interior of the Czech
Republic. The Sudety Range lies
to the north and includes the
Krkonose Mountainsthe highest
point in the country at 5,259 feet
(1,603 m). To the west, the Sumava
Mountains make up part of the
Bohemian Forest. This highland
Prague, Czech Republic
area is located on the countrys

western border with Germany. Part
of the Carpathian Mountains extend
into the southeastern part of the
country.
Mineral fuels and

Other 4%
lubricants 5%
Inedible crude
Machinery
materials,
and transport
except fuel
equipment
5%
33%
Chemicals
9%
Manufactured
goods
29%
Miscellaneous
manufactured
articles 15%
Exports
The Czech Republic experiences

warm summers and cool winters.
The average temperatures range
from 22 F (-5 C) in the winter to
70 (21 C) in the summer.
Other
12%
Forests
34%
Farms /
cropland
43%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures 11%
$22 billion
111
Czech Republic
(continued)
Czech boy with fishermen
The People
Most people in the Czech Republic
live comfortably and can afford
basic appliances. Some can even
afford vacation homes. Some members of the population, including

single mothers and the elderly, have
a tougher time financially. About
44% of Czechs are employed in
services, and another 32% work in
industry. Less than 7% of Czechs
work in agriculture.
About 65% of the Czech population lives in urban areas. The
population density is around 339
people per square mile (130 people
per sq km). Because of a housing
shortage, many city dwellers must
live in crowded apartments.
A growing number of foreign
refugees and illegal immigrants has
made shortages worse in the Czech
Republic. Approximately half a million people pass through the country
each year.
The health system is fairly good
in the Czech Republic. Some of the
more polluted cities, however, have
high infant mortality rates. There

is one doctor for every 270 people.
The life expectancy in the country is
about 74 years.
Polish 1%
Other 2%
Slovak 3%
Czech
94%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
13%
Major Religions
Education
The Czech Republic requires that
children attend school between the
ages of 6 and 15. These 10 years are
considered elementary education.
Students can then go on to a fouryear secondary or vocational school.
There are also two-year teaching
schools. Most educational institutions are run by the government,
but there are also about 250 private
schools in the country.
Charles University, in Prague, is

There are many popular forms of
recreation in the Czech Republic.
Marketplace in Prague
Athiest
40%
Roman
Catholic
39%
Protestant
5%
Orthodox
3%
Government
Literate
99%
Type: Parliamentary democracy

Defense
Literacy
NA army personnel
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
the most important school in the

country. It is also one of the oldest
schools in Europe.
Many people like to watch television
and movies, or see a ballet, opera, or
musical performance. Others like to
watch or play soccer. Hiking is popular in rural areas.
Many types of folk
art are associated
with the country,
including handpainted eggs and
glass, puppets, and
modrotisk (a painted
fabric). The Czechs
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
have also become known for their

animated movies and puppet films.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
309
314
245
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
Denmark
Land area rank
134
smallest country
largest country (1)

105
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Kingdom of

EQUATOR
Denmark
Continent: Europe
(42,394 sq km)
Capital City: Copenhagen
Largest City: Copenhagen (1,353,333)
Unit of Money: Danish krone
Major Languages: Danish (official), Faroese
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 61% arable land, 6% meadow, 12% forest,
21% other
Natural Resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish, salt
Government: Constitutional monarchy
miles
Alborg
50
0 km 50
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
SWEDEN
Randers
AUSTRALIA
Jutland
Herning
A N TA R C T I C A
Vejle
Kolding
Arhus
Silkeborg
Horsens
Copenhagen
Roskilde
Odense
Sjaelland
Naestved
Fyn
North
Sea
Bornholm
Lolland
Baltic Sea
POLAND
GERMANY
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Non-electrical and electrical

machinery 25%
Average Rainfall
More than half of the Danish population lives on the

islands surrounding Jutland. About one-quarter of the
Danes live in the Copenhagen area on the island of
The Place
Sjaelland. There are many manufacturing plants near
Denmark is in northern Europe. It is made up of
Copenhagen, and industry employs about 19% of the
Jutland, the main peninsula, and 482 other islands.
work force.
Denmark is almost completely surrounded by water, and
About 85% of Danes live in urban areas. City dwellers
has 4,545 miles (7,314 km) of coastline. Greenland,
often reside in apartment buildings. People living in the
about 1,300 miles (2,090 km) to the west, is a
suburbs and in rural
province of Denmark.
areas usually live in
Denmark can be split into five physical land
single-family houses.
regions. The largest region in Denmark is the EastMost rural residents
Central Hills. This rolling landscape makes up most
are farmers who
of Jutland and many nearby islands. Narrow fiords
operate their own
(inlets) occur along the steep-cliffed coastline.
small farms.
The Western Dune Coast is made up mainly of
Denmark has
sandy beaches and covers almost the entire west
one of the worlds
coast. The Western Sand Plain is flat and sandy. The
highest standards
Northern Flat Plains at the top of the country conof living. The social
sist mainly of farmland. To the east, Bornholm and
welfare system has
its surrounding islands are made mostly of granite.
prevented the
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark has a mild and damp climate. Winter
development of
temperatures average 32 F (0 C), and summers
slums. Higher eduaverage 63 F (17 C). The country gets about 24 inches cation is free, and the national health service provides
(61 cm) of rainfall annually.
free medical care. Life expectancy is 77 years.
Furniture 5%
Pharmaceuticals 5%
Textiles and clothing 5%
Exports
$49 billion
Other 2%
Other
Christian
2%
Other 7%
Fresh or frozen
swine meat 6%
Other
54%
0 in/0 cm
Faeroese
and Inuit
1%
Danish
96%
Ethnic Makeup
Evangelical
Lutheran
91%
Major Religions
113
Djibouti
Land area rank
151
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)
166
most people (1)
At a Glance
ERITREA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: Republic of Djibouti

Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
(21,980 sq km)
Population: 460,700
Capital City: Djibouti
Largest City: Djibouti (200,000)
Unit of Money: Djiboutian franc
Major Languages: French and Arabic (both official)
Literacy: 46%
Land Use: 9% meadows, 91% other
Natural Resources: geothermal areas
Red
Sea
Y E M E N
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
N
W
E
S
0
0
miles
km
S O M A L I A
50
50
The People
The Djibouti population consists of two main ethnic
groupsthe Issas and the Afars. The Issas make up
about three-fifths of the population and live mainly in
the southern part of the country. The Afars account for
about two-fifths of Djiboutins and live in the northern
and western areas. About 80% of Djiboutins live in
urban areas. The population density is 67 people per
The wealth in Djibouti is held mostly by government
employees, and much of the country is poor. The monthly
minimum wage is just $99, but some managers can earn
$4,375 monthly. A large percentage of the workforce is
unemployed. A very
large refugee population puts a strain
on the countrys
economy.
The Djibouti
health care system
is weak. There is 1
doctor for every
4,200 people, and
the average life
expectancy is 50
years of age.
Other 5%
Afar
35%
Unspecified special
transactions
72%
Exports
Djibouti
Ali Sabieh
Live
animals
15%
$40 million
114
Yoboki
E T H IOP IA
Food and food products 13%

Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Gulf of Aden
A N TA R C T I C A
Djibouti is in northeast Africa. It sits on the Gulf of

Aden, the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
This small African country
can be divided into three main
regions. The coastal plain is in
the eastern part of Djibouti.
The Gulf of Tadjoura cuts into
this plain near the center of
the country. The coastal plain
does not rise more than 650
feet (200 m) above sea
level. Volcanic plateaus
rise up in the central and southern parts of
Djibouti to a top elevation of about 5,000 feet
(1,500 m). They are bordered by plains and lakes.
In the northern part of the country, mountain
ranges tower up to 6,650 feet (2,028 m) high.
Djibouti is a very hot, dry place. Temperatures
range from 85 F (29 C) in the winter to 106 F
(41 C) in the summer. The country averages
about 10 inches (25 cm) of rain annually. Most of
the landscape is desert, and very little vegetation
grows there.
80F/27C
Obock
Tadjoura
The Place
100F/38C
Balho
Issa
60%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian 6%
Muslim
94%
Major Religions
Dominica
Land area rank
187
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
202
most people (1)
fewest people
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
AFRICA
Average Rainfall
0F/-18C
Bananas
39%
3 in/8 cm
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
ib
Roseau
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
IC
60F/16C
Other 9%
Re-exports
3%
Marigot
12 in/30 cm
Portsmouth
A N TA R C T I C A
ea
La Plaine
ea
Martinique P
0
0
miles
km
e
assag
20
20
MARTINIQUE
The People
Dominica is a small island in the Caribbean Sea, about

320 miles (515 km) north of Venezuela. The island has
92 miles (148 km)
of coastline.
Mountains dominate Dominica. A large
range extends through
the country from north
to south. The islands
highest elevation is
Mount Diablotin at
4,747 feet (1,447 m).
A large plain lies in the middle of the mountain range.
Several lowland areas also exist on the coast.
The volcanoes in Dominica are probably extinct, but
some geologists believe the islands thermal springs have
shown some volcanic activity. Past volcanic eruptions have
provided the island with rich soil, and many tropical plants
grow there. Some regions are rain forests. Temperatures in
Dominica range from 65 F (18 C) to 90 F (32 C). The
mountains receive the most rain, averaging about 400
inches (1,00 cm) each year.
15 in/38 cm
AUSTRALIA
The Place
80F/27C
Guadeloupe Passage
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Official Name: Commonwealth of

EQUATOR
Dominica
Population: 70,786
Capital City: Roseau
Largest City: Roseau (20,775)
Major Languages: English (official) French
Literacy: 97%
3% meadows, 67% forest/woodland, 8% other
Natural Resources: Timber
GUADELOUPE
ASIA
Slightly more than half the people in Dominica live in

urban areas. The population density is 245 people per
square mile (87 people per sq km). Most Dominicans
live in single-family houses or thatched-roof huts.
Agriculture plays a large role in Dominican life.
About 60% of the labor force works on farms growing
bananas, grapefruit, limes, and vegetables. Most other
workers are employed by
agricultural processing
plants.
Dominica is one of the
poorest nations in the
Caribbean. A field worker
is paid about 70 cents per
hour, while an office worker
earns about $3.50 an hour.
The population in
Dominica is fairly young
more than a quarter of
Dominicans are under the
age of 15. Education is
required for children ages 5
to 15. The average life
expectancy on the island
is 78 years.
Manufactured
exports
49%
Protestant
15%
Black and Carib
Amerindian
Other 8%
Roman
Catholic
77%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$52 million
115
Dominican Republic
Land area rank
131
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
84
AT
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Dominican Republic
Continent: North
America
(48,380 sq km)
Capital City: Santo Domingo
Largest City: Santo Domingo (1,313,172)
Unit of Money: Dominican peso
Major Languages: Spanish (official)
Literacy: 83%
Land Use: 23% arable land, 7% crops, 43% meadows,
Natural Resources: Nickle, bauxite, gold, silver
Government: Representative democracy
Monte Cristi
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Mao
AUSTRALIA
H i s p a n i o
l a
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
La Vega
San Francisco
De Macoris
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other
32%
Gold 5%
Cacao 7%
Exports
$815 million
116
Cotui
OC
EA
E
S
Samana
Bonao
San Jose
De Ocoa
Santo
Domingo
San Pedro
De Macoris
Azua
Bani
Barahona
La Romana
San Crisobal
M
0
Cari
bbean Sea
a
on
miles
km
as
50
50
The People
More than 60% of Dominicans live in cities. Many
urban workers are employed in manufacturing or by
the government. Some also fish for a living. Most city
dwellers live in crowded apartment buildings. People
living in rural areas are generally farmers. They either
own their own small farms or work for large plantations. Many rural Dominicans live in shacks with straw
roofs. Government-built
bungalows, however, are
becoming more common.
Distribution of wealth
varies widely. Older families with Spanish roots are
the countrys wealthiest.
The native black population remains the poorest.
The culture in the
Dominican Republic is a
mix of African and Spanish
traditions. Well-known
ethnic music mixes Spanish
maracas and African
drumming. Baseball is
a popular sport. Life
Black 11%
Average Rainfall
The Dominican Republic occupies about two thirds of the

island of Hispaniola. It shares the island with Haiti. The
country is part of the West Indies, with
coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea
and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dominican
Republic is about 575 miles (925 km) off
the southeast coast of Miami.
The Dominican Republic is a very
mountainous country. The Cordillera
Central extends from the western border
with Haiti across the interior of the
country. Duarte Peak is the highest
elevation in the West Indies at 10,417
feet (3,175 m). The Sierra de Neiba and
the Sierra de Bahoruco are also in the
west. Lake Enriquillo lies between these
mountains and is the lowest point in the West Indies.
In the northern part of the country, the Vega Real is
the Dominican Republics most important farming area.
In the east the land is relatively level.
IC
Esperanza
Santiago
San Juan
Neiba
NT
Puerto Plata
HAITI
A N TA R C T I C A
LA
ge
At a Glance
most people (1)
sa
fewest people
Ferronickel
32%
Raw sugar
13%
Raw coffee
11%
Other 5%
White
16%
Mixed
73%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
Ecuador
Land area rank
72
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

62
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA

EQUATOR
Ecuador
(276,840 sq km)
Capital City: Quito
Largest City: Guayaquil (1,877,031)
Unit of Money: Sucre
Natural Resources: Petroleum, fish, timber
C O L O M B I A
ASIA
AFRICA
Esmeraldas
Ibarra
SOUTH
AMERICA
Santo Domingo
de los Colorados
AUSTRALIA
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
A N TA R C T I C A
Quito
Manta
Ambato
Portoviejo
Guayaquil
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Galapagos
Islands
Gulf of
Guayaquil
Cuenca
Machala
P E R U
Loja
0
0
(Not in position)
miles
km
200
200
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Ecuador is on the western coast of

South America. It has 1,390 miles
(2,237 km) of coastline along the
Pacific Ocean. Ecuador also owns
the Galapagos Islands, a 3,000square-mile (7,800-sq-km) archipelago to its west in the Pacific Ocean.
Ecuador has three
main regions. In the
west, the Coastal
Lowland lies
along the Pacific
coast. This flat
plain varies from 12
to 100 miles (19 to
160 km) in width
and covers about a
quarter of the country. The southern
part of the
lowland
is
desert.
Tropical
Pacific
Sea Lion
forests in the
Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador
center of the plain give way to

swamps and marshes in the north.
The Andes Highland, or Sierra,
consists of two Andes mountain
chains that extend down the center
of the country. Some of the mountain
peaks tower 20,000 feet (6,100 m)
above the ground. The Andes
Basic manufactures
3%
Other
Crude
17%
materials
2%
Mineral fuels
30%
Highland covers about a fourth of

the country.
The Eastern Lowlandsalso
called the Orientehas many tropical forests along the Amazon River
Basin and the foot hills of the
Andes. This area makes up about
half of Ecuador.
Other
15%
Food and
live animals
48%
Farms / cropland
11%
Permanent
pastures
18%
Forests
56%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Land Use
$3 billion
117
Ecuador
(continued)
The People
Ecuador is a poor country. Approximately 60% of the population lives
in poverty. Economic conditions vary
by race. Most white Ecuadorans live
in cities and work in business, or they
own large farms run by managers.
They have comfortable, modern
lifestyles.
Black and mestizo Ecuadorans are
worse off. Many mestizos live along
the coast in small wooden homes.
They work as farm hands on large
plantations. Others live in the cities
and are employed as servants or
clerks. The black population lives
mostly on the northern part of the
coastmany work as fishermen.
The Indian population in Ecuador
has very little contact with any other
ethnic groups. They live mainly in
Education
Ecuador requires children ages 6 to
14 to attend school. Most schools,
however, are located in urban areas,
villages in the Andes. Some work as

farm hands, and some Indian women
sell pottery or woven clothing.
Health care in Ecuador is inadequate. It is improving in the poor
urban neighborhoods, but there are
very few clinics or hospitals in rural
areas. Malnutrition and intestinal
disease are common. The life
expectancy in Ecuador is 72 years.
Ecuadoran Indian girl
Other 5%
Spanish 10%
Black
10%
Amerindian
25%
Mestizo
55%
Roman
Catholic
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
which means few rural children get

an education. About 90% of children receive a primary education.
Only about 10% of secondary
school-aged children attend class.
About 25% of Ecuadorans go to
college. The major educational
institutions in the country are the
Central University of Ecuador, the

Pontifical Catholic University, and
the University of Cuenca.
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
Literate
90%

0 tanks
0 major ships
Literacy
0 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
Ecuadoran market

Due to the mix of ethnic groups,
Ecuadors customs vary by region.
Indians of the Andes play their
traditional songs on flutes and
118
panpipes. On the coast, many

Spanish and black traditions have
blended together to give the region
a unique culture.
There are many institutions in
Ecuador dedicated to preserving the
countrys heritage. Some museums
include the School of Fine Arts,
The Museum of Colonial Art, and
The National Museum of Fine Art.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
82
18
TVs
Cars
36
Phones
12
NA
VCRs
PCs
Egypt
Land area rank
30
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
15
fewest people
At a Glance
Mediterranean Sea
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Alexandria
Beni Suef
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
200
200
Mediterranean Sea. The Red Sea

makes up most of the countrys
eastern coast.
Egypt is divided into four main
regions. The Nile Valley, on each side
S U D A N
of the giant river, and the Delta are in

the eastern part of the country. In
Egypt, the Nile River begins at the
border with Sudan and travels northeast to the Mediterranean Sea
approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km).
Most of Egypts farmland is in this
region. The Aswan High Dam, in the
southern Nile Valley, provides water
for crop irrigation. Behind the dam,
Lake Nasser stores floodwater.
The Western Desert, also known
as the Libyan Desert, is in the southwest part of the country, and is part
of the giant Sahara Desert. It covers
about 60% of Egypt. The Qattara
Depressionthe countrys lowest
point at 436 feet (133 m) below sea
levelis found here.
The Eastern Desert, also known
as the Arabian Desert, is east of the
Nile. It is also part of the Sahara.
This area is a flat plateau for about
80 miles (130 km), and then
becomes hilly near the coast.
Farms/ cropland 2%
Average Rainfall
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
Se
6 in/15 cm
miles
km
ed
Aswan
Lake
Nasser
40F/4C
D E S E R T
T
E R
E S
9 in/23 cm
Luxor
L I B Y A N
E
Qena
N
W
SAUDI
ARABIA
er
60F/16C
iv
12 in/30 cm
SINAI
A
B I
80F/27C
Asyut
L I B Y A
15 in/38 cm
Nile R
El Minya
Suez
R A
El Giza
AUSTRALIA
JORDAN
Suez
Canal
Cairo
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
Port Said
Tanta
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Egypt is on the northeast coast of

Africa. A small part of the country
the Sinai Peninsula desertis in
Asia. To the north of Egypt is the
ISRAEL
Nile Delta
Official Name: Arab

EQUATOR
Republic of Egypt
Continent: Africa
(995,450 sq km)
Capital City: Cairo
Largest City: Cairo (6,800,000)
Unit of Money: Egyptian pound
Major Languages: Arabic (official), English, French
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, iron ore
The Place
most people (1)
Other
33%
Basic
metals and
manufactures
5%
Cotton
yarn, textiles,
and clothing
13%
Petroleum
and petroleum
products
49%
Exports
Permanent
pastures
0%
Other
98%
Forests
0%
Land Use
$5 billion
119
Egypt
(continued)
Rural Egyptians traditionally farm

land or raise animals. Many people
have to rent the land they farm.
These peasants usually live in small
huts. There, daily work is often
divided by family roleshusbands
are in charge of the farming, wives
cook and help in the fields, and
children care for the animals.
In the city, life is different. There is
a severe housing shortage and a lot of
traffic. Many people live in crowded
apartments or huts wherever they can

find room. There is a wide economic
gap between the upper and lower
classes. Middle-class Egyptians work
in businessespoor city dwellers
work in factories.
Egypt has a relatively poor health
care system. There is only 1 doctor
for every 1,350 people, and there is
just 1 hospital bed for every 500
people. The average life expectancy
is 62 years.
Pyramids, Giza
Other 1%
Coptic Christian and other 6%
The People
Most Egyptians live along the Nile
River, even though this area only
accounts for about 4% of the countrys land. There are slightly more
people living in rural areas than in
urban cities. There are also some
Bedouin nomads in desert regions.
Eastern
Hamitic
99%
Muslim
(mainly Sunni)
94%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
The Egyptian government requires
all children between the ages of 6 and
14 to attend school. Once children
reach the age of 12, however, they
can generally quit school without
difficulty. About 50% of the students
who complete the elementary level
continue on to high school. About
20% of high school graduates go to
college.
The education system in Egypt
has many problems. Urban schools

Many types of recreation are popular in Egypt. The most popular
pastime in the country is spending
time with friends and family. People
gather at the outdoor markets or
enjoy a meal together. Getting
together for coffee or tea is also
common.
Soccer is the countrys favorite
sport to play and watch. Matches
draw huge crowds in Egypt. Egyptian
movies and literature have become
120
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
51%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
are overcrowded, and there are few

teachers and classrooms in rural
areas. There is also very little funding to improve the system.
quite popular in Arab communities
throughout the world.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
98
TVs
19
28
26
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
3,500 tanks
11 major ships
564 combat aircraft
El Salvador
Land area rank
152
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
98
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
miles
20
ASIA
0 km 20

EQUATOR
of El Salvador
Continent: North
(Central) America
(20,720 sq km)
Capital City: San Salvador
Largest City: San Salvador (422,570)
Unit of Money: Salvadoran colon
Literacy: 73%
Land Use: 27% arable, 8% crops, 29% meadows,
Natural Resources: hydropower and geothermal
power, crude oil
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
LA
E
S
Metapn
H O N D URA S
Chalatenango
Santa Ana
Chalchuapa
Ahuachapan
Sensuntepeque
San Salvador
Nueva San Salvador
San Vicente
Acajutla
Zacatecoluca
Jiquilisco
I F
I C
San Miguel
Usulutan
La Union
O C
E A N
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Amerindian White 1%
5%
Average Rainfall
El Salvador has the highest population density in

Central America, averaging 725 people per square mile
(273 people per sq km). About 55% of the people live in
rural areas. Most rural Salvadorans work as farmers and
live in adobe houses with dirt floors. Very poor
The Place
Salvadorans live in huts made from branches and mud.
El Salvador is on the western coast of Central America.
Living conditions in the cities vary by class. Poor
With an area of 8,124 square miles (21,040 sq km), it is
families live in crowded, run-down apartment buildings.
the smallest country in Central America.
The middle-class tend to live in row houses. Wealthier
The country has three major land areas. The
Salvadorans live
lowlands lie along the coast of the Pacific Ocean
in modern homes
in the south. They extend to about 20 miles (32
in the suburbs.
km) inland. Much of this area is used for farming.
City workers are
The Central Region makes up the interior of El
mainly employed
Salvador. The fertile soil in this area is very good for
in commerce,
farming. The Coastal Rangea large mountain
manufacturing,
chain with some dormant volcanoesextends along
and government.
the southern part of this region. A large plateau lies
Salvadorans are
just to the north.
still recovering
The Interior Highlands are in northern El
from a civil war
Salvador and are home to the Sierra Madre range. Salvadoran boys
that ended in 1992.
These mountains cover most of the highlands.
There is a high
The climate in El Salvador is tropical. Average annual orphan population as a result of the war that killed more
temperatures range from 73 F (23 C) in the mounthan 75,000 Salvadorans. Many people have emigrated
tains to 80 F (27 C) on the coast.
to other countries. Life expectancy is 70 years.
Other
47%
Raw
sugar 4%
Coffee
33%
Exports
$2 billion
Paper and
paper
products
7%
Clothing 5%
Pharmaceuticals
4%
Other
25%
Mestizo
94%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
75%
Major Religions
121
Equatorial Guinea
Land area rank
142
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
164
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Malabo

Equatorial Guinea
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(28,050 sq km)
Population: 486,060
Capital City: Malabo
Largest City: Bata (24,100)
Major Languages: Spanish (official), Fang
Literacy: 79%
Land Use: 5% arable, 4% crops, 46% forest,
45% other
Natural Resources: Timber, crude oil
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Luba
ASIA
Bioko
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
Ebebiyin
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
miles
km
50
GABON
Acurnam
50
The People
Wood
42%
Almost 80%
of Equatorial
Guineans live
on the mainland.
The majority
of people here
belong to the
Fang, an African
ethnic group.
Pope John Paul II greets a crowd in
Equatorial Guinea
Many people
living on the
island of Bioko are also of African descent and belong
to the Bubi or Fernandino ethnic groups.
More than 60% of the population lives in rural areas.
Most rural dwellers are farmers, but some also fish and
work in lumber camps. Urban dwellers usually work in
small factories.
The largest problem for Equatorial Guineans is the
countrys poor health system. Although improving basic
health services is a government priority, there are very few
doctors and little funding. As a result, malaria, measles, and
other infectious diseases spread quickly. The countrys
death rate is slightly higher than most African countries,
and the average life expectancy is 52 years of age.
Petroleum
products
45%
Exports
$197 million
122
Other 10%
Mostly Bubi
and Fang groups
0 in/0 cm
Evinayong
Ri o Muni
Other 7%
Cocoa 6%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Mongomo
Mbini
Ncue
Bata
A T L A N T I C
O C E A N
Equatorial Guinea is on the western coast of Africa.

In addition to its mainland territory, the country also
consists of five islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Mainland
Equatorial Guinea is called Rio Muni. It accounts for
10,045 square miles (26,117 sq km) of the countrys total
land area. The mainland has rolling hills and many
forests.
Biokothe countrys largest island, is located about
100 miles (160 km) northwest of Rio Muni. It measures
about 779 square miles (2,020 sq km). Bioko is a mountainous island with a rocky coast. Much of its interior is
woodedthe most common species are African walnuts
and mahoganies. Because of its volcanic origin, the
island has rich, fertile soil. Many crops grow here,
including bananas, coffee beans, and cocoa beans.
Equatorial Guinea lies on the equator and has a tropical climate. The average annual temperature is around
77 F (25 C). The country receives about 80 inches
(200 cm) of rain annually, with the wettest season lasting
from December to February.
80F/27C
Gu lf
o f
Gu in e a
AUSTRALIA
The Place
100F/38C
C A M E R O ON
AFRICA
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
90%
Major Religions
Eritrea
Land area rank
97
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
119
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
SA U D I
A RA BIA
SUDAN
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
ka R.
AFRICA
Keren
Massawa
Akordat
Teseney
Asmara
G a s h Barentu
R
Mendefera
.
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
9 in/23 cm
60F/16C
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Chemical
products 3%
Machinery
and transport
equipment 4%
Manufactured
goods 19%
Dahlak
Archipelago
Y EM EN
N
W
ETHIOPIA
S
0
0
miles
km
Aseb
100
100
DJIBOUTI
The People
More than three-quarters of the Eritreans live in rural
areas. The population density is about 96 people per
square mile (32 people per sq km). Most of these
peopleabout 80% of the Eritrean populationwork
as farmers or herders. Many households have several
generations of family. Life expectancy is 56 years.
Eritreans have different cultures, different religions and
speak different languages. Most
Eritrean Family
of the groups, however, get
along. About half the countrys
people are Christian who speak
Tigrinya. They mostly live in
the central plateau.
The Muslim population
is about the same size as
the Christians, but they are
comprised of smaller ethnic
groups. Tigre-speaking
Muslims live in the northern
plain and the western lowlands. The Saho live along
the coastal plain. The Danakil
and Bilen-speaking Eritreans
inhabit the southeast part of
the coastal plain.
Beverages and tobacco 4%

Average Rainfall
Eritrea is a narrow
country that stretches
along the northeast
coast of Africa. It has a
715-mile- (1,151-km)
long coastline on the
Red Sea.
Eritrea has four main
land regions. The Red
Sea Coastal Plain is in the southeast part of the country.
It is extremely dry and very hot. In fact, the regions
Danakil Depression has experienced some of the hottest
temperatures in the world.
To the west of the coastal plain is the South Central
Plateau Highland. This area makes up most of the
country. Elevations range from 6,000 to 8,000 feet
(1,830 to 2,440 m) above sea level.
Rolling hills extend to the north and west of the
highlands and average 2,500 to 4,500 feet (760 to 1,370
m) above sea level. To the northwest lies a large plain
that is bound by the Baraka and Gash rivers.
Red Sea
Bara
Official Name: State of Eritrea

Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
(121,320 sq km)
Capital City: Asmara
Largest City: Asmara (400,000)
Unit of Money: Birr
Major Languages: Arabic and Tigrinya (both official),
Afar, Amharic
Literacy: 20%
meadow, 6% forest/woodland, 62% other
Natural Resources: Gold, potash, zinc, copper
Government: Transitional
Other
14%
Raw
materials
30%
Food
products
26%
Exports
$71 million
Saho 3% Other 3%
Afar 4%
Tigre
and
Kunama
40%
Tigrinya
50%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 10%
Christian
45%
Muslim
45%
Major Religions
123
Estonia
Land area rank
133
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
148
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
F IN L A N D
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Estonia
Continent: Europe
(43,211 sq km)
Capital City: Tallinn
Largest City: Tallinn (442,700)
Unit of Money: Estonian kroon
Major Languages: Estonian (official), Russian,
Ukrainian
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 25% arable, 11% meadow, 44% woods,
20% other
Natural Resources: oil shale, peat, phosphorites
AFRICA
Gu l f o f Fi n l an d
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Hiiumaa
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
124
Average Rainfall
9 in/23 cm
0
0
miles
km
Textiles
16%
$2 billion
50
L A T V IA
50
The People
Other
43%
Exports
RUSSIA
Tartu
Gu l f o f
Ri g a
Estonia has the smallest population of any republic

that formerly belonged to the Soviet Union. The population density is low, averaging 80 people per square
mile (30 people
per sq km). Most
people live in the
north, however,
giving that area a
higher population
density.
About threequarters of
Estonians live
in urban areas.
Estonian women in national costume
Almost one-third
of the population lives in the capital, Tallinn. About half
of the work force is employed in the service industry.
Common jobs in that field include education, retail
trade, communication, and health care. Another 25% of
Estonians work in manufacturing. Some of these jobs
involve textiles, chemicals, foods, and machinery.
Estonians are proud of their unique culture and
heritage. Common celebrations include folk festivals
that feature costumed performers and singing. Other
popular pastimes include opera, ballet, and theater
performances. Life expectancy is 69 years.
Machinery and
equipment
16%
Metals 9%
ke
La jarv
rts
60F/16C
Vo
12 in/30 cm
Lake
Pe i pu s
Paide
Parnu
Saaremaa
Estonia is in north central Europe. The Baltic Sea lies to

the west and the Gulf of Finland to the north. In addition
to the mainland, Estonia also has
about 1,500 islands. The largest
islands are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
Estonias landscape is mainly
low-lying plains, though it does
become hilly in the southern and
central regions. About one-quarter
of the country is below water
wetlands cover 20% of Estonia,
and lakes and reservoirs cover 5%.
The two largest lakes are Lake
Peipus in the east, and Vortsjarv
in south central Estonia.
Forests cover about half of the
Taebia, Estonia
country. Common tree species
include pine, birch, aspen, and fir. The country usually
experiences cool summers and cool winters. Temperatures
range from 64 F (18 C) in the summer to below freezing
in the winter.
15 in/38 cm
Haapsalu
B alt ic
S e a
The Place
80F/27C
Narva
Tapa
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
Kohtla-Jarve
Tallinn
Food
products
16%
Other 7%
Russian
29%
Estonian
64%
Ethnic Makeup
Evangelical Lutheran,
Russian Othodox,
Estonian Orthodox
Major Religions
Ethiopia
Land area rank
26
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

18
fewest people
ERITREA
At a Glance
Blu
Ethiopia is a landlocked country in

northeastern Africa. It borders
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti,
e
ll
Nazret
re
at
Goba
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
if
t
R
Jima
Dire Dawa
S U
D A
N
ile
eN
y
Addis Abbaba
Debre Zeyit
ASIA
Gulf of Aden
DJIBOUTI
Dese
AFRICA
A N TA R C T I C A
Y E M E N
Gonder
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Red
Sea
Mekele
White Nile
Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic

of Ethiopia
Continent: Africa
Area: 432,310 square miles (1,119,683 sq km)
Capital City: Addis Ababa
Largest City: Addis
Ababa (2,200,186)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Birr
Major Languages:
Amharic (official),
Tigrinya, Orominga
Natural Resources: Gold, platinum, copper, potash
most people (1)
AUSTRALIA
Lake
Turkana
UGANDA
and Eritrea.
The Ethiopian
Plateau makes up about two-thirds
of the country and is the best farmland. The plateau averages about
6,000 to 10,000 feet (1,800 to 3,000
Ethiopians building a traditional house
KENYA
miles
km
200
200
m) above sea level. Ras Dashen, the

countrys highest point, measures
15,158 feet (4,620 m) high. The
Great Rift Valley divides the plateau
into two sections. The temperature
on the plateau varies from 60 to
75 F (16 to 22 C), depending on
elevation. The area receives about
40 inches (102 cm) of rain a year.
Lowland regions surround the
plateau. These areas are hotter and
drier than the highlands. The average lowland temperature is about
80 F (27 C). This region gets
approximately 20 inches (51 cm) of
rain each year. The northeast part of
Ethiopia consists of the Danakil
Desert. This area can get as hot as
120 F (49 C).
The vegetation in Ethiopia varies
by location. The Ethiopian Plateau
and the lowlands in the south and
east are covered mostly by grasslands. In the southwest, tropical rain
forests are prevalent.
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Petroleum products
3%
Other
16%
Pulses
4%
Hides
13%
Farms / cropland
13%
Other
22%
Coffee
64%
Forests
25%
Permanent
pastures
40%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Land Use
$418 million
125
Ethiopia (Continued)
Young Ethiopians in religious school
The People
Ethiopia has the third-largest population in Africa. The majority of the
people live on the Ethiopian Plateau
because of its great agricultural
conditions. Harsh climate and poor
soil result in few people living in
lowland areas.
Ethiopians can be divided into
two main groups. The Semites
speak Semitic
languages and
include the
Amhara, Tigre,
and Gurage ethnic
groups. Much of
this population lives
in the northern
and central parts
of the country. The
Hamites speak
Cushitic languages
and include the
Afar, Somali, and
Oromo ethnic
groups. These people live mostly in
eastern and southern Ethiopia.
About 5% of Ethiopians are of
native African descent and live on
the countrys western border.
live in rural areas. Many rural
Ethiopians live in small villages.
Their houses are made out of wood
and mud. There are some nomads
who raise livestock in rural areas,
but most are farmers. The majority

Ethiopians enjoy many sports,
including soccer, volleyball, and
tennis. Board games and card games
are also popular.
Feasts and festivals are cultural
traditions throughout the country.
Many local special events, such as
126
Afar, Somali,
Oromo
40%
Amhara
and Tigrean
32%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 3%
Indigenous
beliefs
17%
Muslim
43%
Ethiopian
Orthodox
37%
Major Religions
of the rural population is poor.
Some rural Ethiopians migrate to
cities to find work, but many urban
areas also suffer from poverty. Cities
have better health care facilities and
housing than rural areas. Life
Education
Ethiopian children are required to
attend school between the ages of 6
and 13. However, less than 40% of
elementary school-aged children,
and about 15% of secondary schoolaged children, attend classes. About
1% of college-age students seeking
a higher education attend Addis
Ababa University. The school also
has smaller branches spread
throughout the country. There are
Other
19%
Sidamo
9%
Government
Literate
36%

Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
350 tanks
also several vocational schools and

training programs in Ethiopia.
weddings, baptisms, and funerals, are

marked with family feasts. Major,
national events are religious and
often celebrated with festivals. Much
of the countrys art and poetry is
related to the Ethiopian Orthodox
religion. Modern artists are famous
for murals and stained glass.
0 major ships
22 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Fiji
Land area rank
156
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
156
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
P A C I F I C
Official Name: Republic of Fiji

Continent: Oceania (S. Pacific)
(18,270 sq km)
Population: 844,330
EQUATOR
Capital City: Suva
Largest City: Suva
(69,665)
Unit of Money: Fijian dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Fijian
Literacy: 92%
Land Use: 10% arable, 4% crops, 10% meadows,
Natural Resources: timber, fish, gold, copper
Labasa
Vanua Levu
Savusavu
Taveuni
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Lautoka
AUSTRALIA
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Molasses 3%
Timber 6%
Koro
Sea
dav
as
u P
ke
ba
Pa
ss
ag
e
sag
Kadavu
miles
km 50
50
The Fijian population can be divided into two main

groupsthe Indo-Fijians and the native Fijians. IndoFijians are descendents
of workers who were
brought to Fiji from India
to harvest sugar crops.
Many Indo-Fijians still
work on plantations, but
others have become businesspeople. The majority
of Indo-Fijians are Hindu
or Muslim. Native Fijians Fijian friends
have Melanesian and
Polynesian ancestors and
are mainly Christians. Indo-Fijians and native Fijians
seldom marry someone of a different background. Life
About 60% of the Fijian population lives in rural areas.
Approximately 21% are employed by agriculture, 18%
work in industry, and 61% work in service industries.
Fijians are known for several types of visual and
performing arts. Dance is very important in the countrys
culture, and many traditional dances that tell stories
or describe events have been passed down through the
generations. Fijian artisans make beautiful pottery and
wood carvings.
Other 5%
Other
13%
Sugar
35%
Fish 8%
Gold 10%
ag
The People
Coconut oil 1%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Ka
Fiji is an archipelago (group of islands) in the South Pacific

Ocean. It lies about 1,300 miles (2,100 km) from the
northern tip of New Zealand. Fiji is made up of about
300 islands and 500 islets. The largest islands in the chain
are Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Kadavu. Coral
reefs surround almost all of the countrys islands.
Viti Levu and Vanuau Levu are mountainous, and rise
more than 3,000 feet (914 m) above sea level toward the
center of the islands. Viti Levu has the highest elevation
in the country at Mount Tomanivi, which is 4,341 feet
(1,323 m) high. The major rivers on Viti Levu are the
Sigatoka, Rewa, and Ba. The Dreketi River is on Vanua
Levu. The deltas for these rivers provide some of the
most fertile farmland in the country.
Fiji has a tropical climate with high temperatures and
humidity. The average annual temperature for the country
is 80 F (27 C). The annual rainfall on the islands varies
by locationabout 70 inches (178 cm) fall on the western
parts of the islands while about 120 inches (305 cm) fall
on the eastern sides. Because of this, the eastern regions of
the islands have tropical forests, while the western sides
are dry grasslands.
15 in/38 cm
uk
ss
Levuka
Viti Levu
Suva
N
The Place
80F/27C
an
Pa
La
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
O C E A N
Indian
46%
Fijian
49%
Clothing
24%
Exports
$639 million
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim Other 2%
8%
Hindu
38%
Christian
52%
Major Religions
127
Finland
Land area rank
68
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
107
fewest people
most people (1)
ARCT IC OCE AN
At a Glance
Official Name: Republic of Finland
Continent: Europe
EQUATOR
(305,470 sq km)
Capital City: Helsinki
Largest City: Helsinki (525,031)
Unit of Money: Markka
Major Languages: Finnish and Swedish (both official)
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 8% arable, 76% forest, 16% other
Natural Resources: copper, zinc, iron ore
NORWAY
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
L a p l a n d
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
White Sea
Rovaniemi
A N TA R C T I C A
RUSSIA
Oulu
SWEDEN
miles
km
100
100
ot
hn
ia
Kuopio
of
Vaasa
ul
Jyvskyl
Tampere
The Place
Lahti
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0 in/0 cm
128
Average Rainfall
Finland is in northern Europe. It has

700 miles (1,126 km)
of coastline on the
Helsinki, Finland
Gulf of Bothnia to
the west. The Baltic Sea lies to the southwest and the
Gulf of Finland to the south.
The are four different physical areas in Finland. The
Coastal Lowlands on the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf
of Bothnia have some of the most fertile soil in the
country. Farming is quite common. There are also
many small lakes in this region.
The Lake District lies to the north and east of the
lowlands. Thousands of lakes cover half of this area.
The land is also heavily forested. The most common
tree species include birch, pine, and spruce.
The Upland District, in the north, covers about 40%
of Finland. The terrain in this region is hilly, and there
are many swamps and marshes. The soil is poor, and the
vegetation is sparse. Tundra (flat treeless plain) covers
the northern border.
Thousands of offshore islands make up the Coastal
Islands region. Most of these small islands have rocky
terrain and poor soil.
0F/-18C
Lappeenranta
Pori
Chemicals
and chemical
products 10%
Paper, paper
products, and
publishing 23%
Other
27%
Espoo
Baltic Sea
$38 billion
lf
Gu
in
of F
lan
ESTONIA
The People
Most Finns live in the south, where the terrain and the
climate are more hospitable. About 30% of the labor
force is employed by public services, 21% work in
industry, and 15% work in commerce. Another 12% of
the work force is unemployed.
More than 60% of the Finnish population lives in urban
areas, and about 20% lives in the capital, Helsinki. In
cities, many Finns rent or own apartments.
Rural dwellers usually own single-family
homes, either in villages or on farms.
The Finnish government provides
its citizens with excellent social and
welfare services. A health insurance
program is provided for every Finn,
pensions for the retired, and
allowances for families. Finland
has one of the highest-ranked
school systems in the world. Life
Metal
products and
machinery
40%
Other 7%
Finnish
93%
Exports
Kotka
Helsinki
Turku
Lake
Ladoga
Ethnic Makeup
Greek
Orthodox
1%
Other 10%
Evangelical
Lutheran
89%
Major Religions
France
Land area rank
48
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
21
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
UNITED KINGDOM
ASIA
BELGIUM
En
LUX.
Le Havre
Rouen
Se
ine
AUSTRALIA
Caen
Metz
Strasbourg
Paris
Brest
A N TA R C T I C A
Rennes
GERMANY
Orlans
Tours
Lo
ire
Dijon
Nantes
SWITZERLAND
AT L ANT I C
O C EAN
Limoges
Lyon
Rhone
Clermont-Ferrand
B ay o f
B i s c ay
Bordeaux
Ga
PS
SOUTH
AMERICA
h
glis
Lille
nel
n
Cha
Rhin
e
AFRICA
e
in
Se
Official Name: French

EQUATOR
Republic
Continent: Europe
Capital City: Paris
Largest City: Paris (2,152,423)
Unit of Money: French franc
Natural Resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite,
timber, fish
AL
NORTH
AMERICA
ITALY
ro
nn
Bayonne
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
France is in western Europe and is

the third-largest country on the
continent. France can be divided
into ten main regions. The
Brittany-Normandy Hills are in
the northwest. These rolling plains
have some fertile soil along the
coast and support orchards. To the
east, the fertile Northern France
Plains have some hills and plateaus.
The wooded Northeastern Plateaus
are home to half of the Ardennes
Mountains. Some crops grow on the
slopes. The Rhine Valley, near the
northeast border, has very fertile soil
and many farms.
The Aquitanian Lowlands lie along
the southwestern coast and extend
into interior France. There are beaches on the coast, turning to forests and
plains inland. The Central Highlands
are in the middle of the country and
have very poor soil. The Loire,
Toulouse
Frances longest
W
E
river, begins here.
SPAIN
ANDORRA
To the southeast,
S
0
miles
100
the French Alps
0 km 100
and the Jura
Mountains are
Eiffel Tower, Paris
home to Mont Blanc, the
countrys highest point at
15,771 feet (4,807 m).
The southern part of
France includes the
Mediterranean Lowlands.
There are many farms near
the fertile Rhone Valley
of the region. In the southwest, the Pyrenees
Mountain have peaks more
than 10,000 feet (3,000 m)
tall. Corsica, located about
100 miles (160 km) off the
mainland, also belongs to
France. It has steep hills and
a rocky coastline, but crops
grow in the valleys.
Other
31%
Plastics 3%
Machinery
and transport
equipment
43%
Chemical
products 8%
Agricultural
products 15%
Exports
Nice
MONACO
Marseille
Corsica
Mediterranean Sea
Other
18%
Forests
27%
Farms /
cropland
35%
Permanent
pastures
20%
Land Use
$275 billion
129
France
(continued)
expensive. Most large cities are free

of crime and slums, but these common urban problems do exist on
city outskirts and in suburbs.
Many rural residents are farmers
who live in single-family houses
on their own land or in villages.
While farmers earn their main
income from agriculture, many
times other family members must
work in another profession to supplement income. Workers generally
earn about $20,000 a year.
About 8% of the French population, or about 5 million people, are

immigrants. Some of the largest
groups include Algerians, Italians,
Moroccans, and Portuguese. France
also has the second-highest Jewish
population in Europe. Some immigrants have a hard time finding work
and live in the poorer neighborhoods.
The national health care system
in France pays for most of the
populations coverage. The average
life expectancy is 79 years of age.
French farmer wearing traditional beret.
The People
North
African
3%
About 75% of the French population lives in urban areas. Many city
dwellers live in fancy old apartments.
As a result of strict regulations on
traffic, noise, and construction, city
living is mostly enjoyable but also
German 2%
Jewish 1%
Other 6%
Muslim 1%
Protestant
2%
Other 3%
Roman
Catholic
90%
French
92%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
French children between the ages of
2 and 6 may attend a free preschool
to prepare for elementary school.
The majority of children attend
public schools, but Roman Catholic
Churches also run private schools.
From ages 6 to 11, children are
required to attend elementary
school. After elementary school,
they go on to a collegea four-year
school similar to junior high. By age
15, most students enter a lyce,
which is either a high school or

The French love sports. The most
popular sport is soccer. Many local
regions have their own teams. Other
favorite sports include skiing, swimming, ice skating, tennis, and rugby
(a type of football). The Tour de
France, a grueling bicycle race, is
the countrys largest and most
famous sporting event.
Planning and taking vacations is
a large part of French cultureeach
130
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
99%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
vocational school. Vocational

schools prepare students to enter
the workforce. High schools prepare
children for the university. France
has about 75 universities.
worker is entitled to five weeks paid
vacation every year. There are
1,016 tanks
60 major ships
682 combat aircraft
hundreds of resorts in the country,

and many people also have vacation
homes.
Goods Ownership
Outdoor produce markets are common
throughout France.
per 1,000 people

693
400
421
177
21
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Gabon
Land area rank
76
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
151
fewest people
most people (1)
CAMEROON
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AUSTRALIA
Oyem
Libreville
Makakou
o
Og
A N TA R C T I C A
Port-Gentil
iver
e R
Lambarn
CONGO
er
SOUTH
AMERICA
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
Massoukou
AT
Koulamoutou
iv
AFRICA
LA
N
Cong
Official Name: Gabonese Republic

EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(257,670 sq km)
Capital City: Libreville
Largest City: Libreville (419,596)
Unit of Money: CFA Franc
Major Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene
Literacy: 61%
Land Use: 1% arable, 1% crop, 18% meadow,
Natural Resources: crude oil, manganese, gold, timber
T
IC
N
W
Tchibanga
miles
km
150
150
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Uranium ore and concentrate 1%

Manganese ore and
concentrate 5%
Average Rainfall
Gabon has one of the smallest populations in Africa.

The country has a population density of just 13 people
The Place
per square mile (4.5 people per sq km). Approximately
Gabon is in west central Africa. The equator runs
half the Gabonese population lives along the coast, near
through the northern part of the country. To the south
rivers, or in the north. Many live in small villages in
is a 550-mile- (885-km-) long coast along
houses made of mud or cement. There
the Atlantic Ocean.
are many different ethnic groups in the
The western part of Gabon consists of
country. The largest group is the Fang,
a narrow band of coastal lowlands. Beaches,
and they live in the northern part of
lagoons, and swamps are found here. A
Gabon. The Omyene live along the
plateau makes up most of the countrys
Atlantic coast. Several Pygmy tribes live
interior, extending to the north, east, and
in the southern forests.
part of the south. In the north, the Cristal
A slight majority of the Gabonese
Mountains average about 3,000 feet (900 m)
population lives in rural areas. About
high. In central Gabon, Mount Iboundji,
65% of the labor force works in
the countrys highest point, reaches 3,189
agriculture. Commonly grown crops
feet (972 m). The Ogooue River begins at
include bananas, yams, cassavas, and
the Atlantic Ocean and divides the landmangoes. Some rural dwellers also raise
scape with its several tributaries.
animals and catch fish. A number of
Gabon has a hot and humid climate
people work in industry and commerce.
throughout the year. The average annual Gabonese mother and child
Although there is just 1 doctor for
temperature is 80 F (26 C). Gabon
every 2,800 people, Gabon offers
receives a lot of rain, with some areas in the north total- some of the best health care services in Africa. Life
ing more than 100 inches (254 cm) annually. Thick rain
expectancy is 58 years. The majority of children attend
forests cover about 70% of the country.
primary school.
Other 1%
Wood 12%
Crude petroleum
and petroleum
products 81%
0 in/0 cm
Other 9%
French 2%
Exports
$3 billion
Eshira
25%
Fang
35%
Other Bantu
29%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
2545%
Christian
5575%
Major Religions
131
Gambia
Land area rank
165
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
149
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of the Gambia
Continent: Africa
(10,000 sq km)
Capital City: Banjul
Largest City: Kombo St. Mary (228,214)
Unit of Money: Dalasi
Major Languages: English (official), Mandinka
Literacy: 39%
Land Use: 18% arable, 9% meadows, 28% forest,
45% other
Natural Resources: fish
Government: Republic under multiparty
democratic rule
S E N E G A L
miles
25
0 km 25
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Gambia is a narrow country on the western coast of

Africa, surrounded by Senegal to the north, east, and
south. It is approximately 200 miles (320 km) from east
to west, and a maximum of 30 miles (50 km) from north
to south. The countrys 50-mile- (80-km) long coastline
fronts the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is the smallest
country in Africa.
The main feature of the country is the Gambia River,
which cuts the country in half length-wise. The river
begins in Guinea and flows westward to the Atlantic
Ocean at Banjul, Gambias capital. Throughout the
country, the Gambia River ranges from 80 to 250 feet
(25 to 75 m) above sea level.
Gambia has a subtropical climate and experiences hot
and cool seasons. The cool season lasts from November
to May, and has temperatures of about 60 F (16 C). In
the summer, temperatures can reach 110 F (43 C).
Gambia receives about 40 inches of rain each year,
mainly during the rainy season from June to October.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
E
S
Bakau
Banjul
Sukuta
Brikama
Sukuta
Georgetown
Farafenni
Mansa Konko
Bansang
bia River
Kerewan
Gam
Bwiam
Basse Santa Su
S E N E G A L
G U IN E A = B I SSA U
The People
There are many different ethnic groups in Gambia. The
largest group is the Mandinka, and they tend to be most
influential in politics. The Fula make up about 18% of
the population and live mainly in
the eastern part of the country.
The Wolof live in Banjul and in
other western regions. The Jola
make up one-tenth of the population and also live in the west. The
Serahuli are nomads.
Gambia is one of the least
populated countries in Africa.
The population is growing quickly,
however, at a rate of 3.3% each
Man in a dance troupe
year. Women give birth to an
average of 6 children, and half the countrys population is
under the age of 16. The government is concerned with
the rapid population increase and is trying to institute
family planning programs. The population density is 315
people per square mile (122 people per sq km).
Health conditions are poor, and the country has high
infant mortality and death rates. Malaria, tuberculosis,
and parasitic diseases are very common. Life expectancy
is 55 years.
21 in/53 cm
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Domestic exports 7%
Ground nuts
9%
Re-exports
84%
0 in/0 cm
132
Average Rainfall
18 in/46 cm
Exports
$160 million
Serahuli Other 5%
9%
Jola
10%
Mandinka
42%
Wolof
16% Fula
18%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian
9%
Indigenous beliefs
1%
Muslim
90%
Major Religions
Georgia
Land area rank
120
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
111
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Georgia

EQUATOR
Continent: Europe
(69,700 sq km)
Capital City: Tbilisi
Largest City: Tbilisi (1,300,000)
Unit of Money: Lari
Major Languages: Georgian (official), Russian
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 9% arable, 4% crops, 25% meadow, 34%
forest, 28% other
Natural Resources: forest, hydropower, manganese
AFRICA
R U S S I A
SOUTH
AMERICA
S
Sokhumi
AUSTRALIA
C a
u c
a s
u s
A N TA R C T I C A
K'ut'aisi
Black Sea
P'ot'i
Bat'umi
T U R K E Y
0
miles
Kura
Ri
ver
Gori
Tbilisi
Rust'avi
ARMENIA
50
AZERBAIJAN
0 km 50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Azeri 6%
Average Rainfall
The most populated parts of Georgia lie along the Black

Sea and the Kura River Valley. The countrys population
The Place
density averages about 206 people per square mile (73
Georgia is on the southwestern border of Asia. Its coast- people per sq km). About 60% of Georgians live in
line extends for 193 miles (310 km) and meets the Black
urban areas. Many city dwellers live in one- or twoSea on the countrys western border. The country was
story homes that are built in close proximity to one
once part of the former Soviet Union.
another. In rural areas, homes tend to be more spacious.
Georgia is a mountainous country, with several
About 80% of Georgians live in poverty. Some 16% of
mountain ranges making up about 85% of its land area.
the work force is unemployed. Approximately 30% of the
Dense forests cover much of these
labor force work in
regions. The Caucasus Mountains are to
industry, while another
the north and form most of the countrys
25% are employed by
border with Russia. The countrys highest
agriculture. Both the
elevation, Mount Shkhara, is located here.
health care and education
It reaches a height of 17,163 feet (5,201
systems suffer from a lack
m) above sea level. Much of southern
of funding and resources.
Georgia is dominated by the Little
Family values and
Caucasus. They are generally less than
traditions are very
10,000 feet (3,000 m) tall.
important in Georgia.
The western part of Georgia has much
Throughout the year,
lower elevations, rarely exceeding 300 feet
extended families often
(100 m) above sea level. The Kura River
gather together to celebegins in the west and flows across the
brate holidays and
southern part of the country to Azerbaijan. Woman sweeps sidewalk in Tbilisi
special occasions. About
In the southeastern part of the country, the Kartaliniya
one-quarter of the population is under the age of 16.
Plain extends to the countrys southern border.
The average life expectancy is 65 years.
Other
28%
Chemicals
5%
Textiles
7%
Food
products
30%
Ferrous
metals 30%
Exports
$400 million
Other 10%
Russian
6%
Georgian
70%
Armenian
8%
Ethnic Makeup
Armenian
Apostolic
8%
Muslim
11%
Other 6%
Christian
Orthodox
75%
Major Religions
133
Germany
Land area rank
62
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
12
fewest people
At a Glance
W
E
S
B altic S e a
North S ea
Kiel
NE
TH
ERL
eR
iver
Magdeburg
Berlin
Essen
Leipzig
Dsseldorf
Cologne
Bonn
r
ive
BELGIUM
Elb
Hannover
R
ine
Rh
A N TA R C T I C A
er
er
AUSTRALIA
Bremen
Riv
SOUTH
AMERICA
er
We s
iv
Ems R
AN
DS
ASIA
AFRICA
POLAND
Rostock
Hamburg
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
SWEDEN
DENMARK
r
ve
O d e r Ri
Official Name: Federal Republic of Germany

Continent: Europe
(356,910 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Berlin
Largest City: Berlin
(3,477,900)
Unit of Money: Deutsche mark
Major Languages: German (official)
Natural Resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber
most people (1)
Kassel
Dresden
Frankfurt
am Main
Wiesbaden
LUX.
Mannheim
CZECH
REPUBLIC
Nrnberg
miles 100
0 km 100
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
134
Average Rainfall
Located in northern Europe,

Germany consists of five major land
regions. The North German Plain is
the countrys largest land region. It is
Rhi
ne R
iver
Karlsruhe
FRANCE
Electrical
machinery
and office
equipment
10%
Chemicals and
chemical products
13%
Other
25%
Machinery
and transport
equipment
50%
Exports
$521 billion
Da
e
ub
Riv
BAVARIA
er
Munich
A U STRIA
SWITZERLAND
about 300 feet

(91 m) above sea
level and is fairly
flat. The Elbe,
Ems, Oder, Rhine,
and Weser rivers
run through the
plain and provide
fertile valleys for
farming.
The Central
Highlands are
plateaus ranging
from 1,000 to
2,500 feet (300 to
760 m) above sea
level. They are characterized by rocky
terrain and poor soil.The Southern
German Hills are a group of escarpments, or long ridges, which run from
the southwest to the northeast. The
Unfabricated
plastics
2%
Stuttgart
Black
Forest
lowland between these escarpments

have fertile soil and are heavily
farmed. The southern Black Forest
consists of mountains that are covered
by spruce and pine trees. The area
varies between 2,500 and 3,000 feet
(762 to 910 m) above sea level.
The Bavarian Alps are part of
Europes largest mountain range.
Many peaks reach more than 6,000
feet (1,800 m). Germanys highest
point, Zugspitze Peak, rises 9,721
feet (2,963 m).
Germany has a mild climate.
Average temperatures range from
30 F (11 C) in the winter to 65 F
(18 C) in the summer. Temperatures
vary by location and elevation. For
example, the upper Rhine Valley has
a more temperate climate than the
Bavarian Mountains.
Other
20%
Farms/
cropland
34%
Forests
31%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
15%
Germany
Busy street, Hannover, Germany
The People
Germany is the second-most
populated country in Europe. The
population density averages 605
per sq km). About 85% of the population lives in urban areas. Many
cities are overcrowded, and there are
housing shortages. Many urban
dwellers work in service and industry.
People in rural areas generally own
small farms. Only about 3% of the
labor force works

in agriculture.
Workers in west
Germany earn
more than east
German workers.
About 8% of
the population
is foreign born.
Many of these
people are known
as Gastarbeiter, or
guest workers.
Turks account for
the largest single
group of Gastarbeiters. Germanys
birth rate is very low, and its population would be declining if it wasnt
for these workers.
Although German is the official
language, much of the population
speaks different dialects. Different
religions are also more dominant in
certain parts of the country
Protestants live mainly in the north
while Catholics inhabit the south
and southwest.
Germans enjoy one of the best
social security systems in the world.

There is 1 doctor for every 315 people, and the average life expectancy
is 77 years of age. The countrys
crime rates are lower than most
other European countries.

Germans spend a good deal of free
time outdoors. They enjoy biking,
sailing, swimming, hiking, and canoeing. Soccer is the most popular sport
in the country, most towns have their
own team. The many mountains in
Germany also offer excellent skiing.
Other 6%
Turkish
2%
German
92%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim 2%
Other
26%
Protestant
38%
Roman
Catholic
34%
Major Religions
Education
All German children must attend
school for at least 9 years. The
countrys individual states control
the education system in their districts.
In general, most elementary schools
have 4-year programs. After graduation, a child may choose between
several different types of schools. A
gymnasium is similar to junior high
school and prepares students for
college. Intermediate schools offer
some academics and some job
(continued)
Government
Literate
99%

Leader: President/Chancellor
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

2,695 tanks
training. Hauptschulen, or vocational

schools, concentrate on job training.
Germany also has about 60 universities. Almost all Germans are literate.
Germans also enjoy watching television, reading, or going to the movies.

German culture has produced
many world-famous writers, musicians, and painters. These talented
artists contributed to the Renaissance,
the European Enlightenment, and the
Romantic movement.
33 major ships
488 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
575
552
374
207
26
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
135
Ghana
Land area rank
81
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
50
fewest people
most people (1)
BURKINA FASO
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
A N TA R C T I C A
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
100
BENIN
TOGO
Kumasi
N
W
Koforidua
Asamankese
Accra
S
Sekondi-Takoradi
A large plain extends along the

Gulf of Guinea in southern Ghana.
The coastline consists mainly of
sandy beaches. Several rivers also
cut through the terrain. The Kwahu
Plateau is located to the north of the
Lumber
14%
NIGERIA
Gold
45%
Cocoa
26%
Nsawam
Tema
Cape Coast
G ulf o f G uine a
ATLANTIC OCEAN
plain. It stretches from the northwest to the southeast, extending

across the center of the country. To
the north of the plateau is a savanna,
or grassy plain.
Lake Volta lies in east central
Ghana. It is one of the largest
human-made lakes in the world. It
measures 250 miles (402 km) long
and has an area of 3,276 square
miles (8,484 sq km). The lake was
formed by the Akosombo Dam on
the Volta River. The White Volta
and Oti rivers also feed into the
giant lake.
Ghana has a tropical climate.
The average annual temperature is
around 83 F (28 C). The north
tends to be warmer than the south.
Ghana averages about 50 inches
(125 cm) of rain annually. The
southwest receives the most precipitation. In northern and eastern
Ghana, a dry seasons lasts from
November to March.
Other
24%
Forests
35%
Farms /
cropland
19%
Permanent
pastures
22%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$2 billion
136
km 100
Lake
V o l ta
Diamonds 2%
Electricity
Other
5%
8%
Average Rainfall
Ghana lies north of the Gulf of

Guinea in western Africa. The
southern part of the country has
335 miles (539 km) of coastline on
the Atlantic Ocean.
miles
COTE D'IVOIRE
Houses in Tamale, Ghana
The Place
Tamale
Ot i
lta
Black V o

EQUATOR
of Ghana
Continent: Africa
(238,540 sq km)
Capital City: Accra
Largest City: Accra (949,113)
Unit of Money: New cedi
Major Languages: English (official)
Natural Resources: Gold, timber, industrial
diamonds, bauxite
Bolgatanga
ASIA
White V
olt
At a Glance
Land Use
Ghana
The People
Approximately 99% of the Ghanaian
population are black Africans, and
they are divided into more than 100
different ethnic groups. Two of the
main groups, the Akan and the
Moshi Dogamba, account for most
of the population. The Akan live
mostly in central Ghana, and the
Moshi Dogamba mainly inhabit the
Ghanaian boy
coastal regions. Other major ethnic

groups include the Ewe and the
Ga in the southwest. The tribes
generally coexist peacefully.
Almost 70% of the countrys
population lives in the southern
half of Ghana. More than 65% of
Ghanaians live in rural areas and
work as farmers. Most rural dwellers
live in houses with mud walls and
thatched roofs. In
the cities, most
buildings are made
of cement. Many
urban Ghanaians
work for the
government.
The countrys
health conditions
are very poor.
There is 1 doctor
for every 23,000
people, and some
rural dwellers have
no access to clinics
or hospitals.
Sometimes there is
(continued)
not an adequate food supply, and

malnutrition is common. Many people die from treatable diseases, such
as measles, hepatitis, and malaria.
The average life expectancy is 56
years of age. The major religions
include Muslim, Christian, and
indigenous beliefs.
Other
African tribes
19%
Ga 8%
Ewe
13%
Akan
44%
MoshiDagomba
16%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 8%
Indigenous
beliefs
38%
Christian
24%
Muslim
30%
Major Religions
Education
Ghana has one of the best school
systems in central Africa. Primary
and secondary education are free,
and children between the ages of 6
and 14 are required to attend
classes. About 75% of primary
school-aged children go to school,
but just 31% of secondary schoolaged children attend classes.
The country has four institutions
of higher learningthe University
of Ghana, the University of Science

There are many different cultures
and traditions among Ghanas many
ethnic groups. Family ties are strong
throughout the country, and many
extended families gather to celebrate
the harvest, marriages, births, and
other occasions.
Government
Literate
65%
Type: Constitutional democracy

Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
NA army personnel
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
and Technology, the University of

Cape Coast, and the University for
Development Studies.
Many handcrafted items are also
produced in Ghana, including pottery, wood carvings, textiles, and
metal work. Several institutions,
such as the National Cultural
Centre and the Arts Council of
Ghana, work to teach and promote
the countrys artistic endeavors.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
15
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
137
Greece
Land area rank
96
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
69
fewest people
most people (1)
BULGARIA
Adriatic
Sea
At a Glance
MACEDONIA
Drma
Official Name: Hellenic Republic

Continent: Europe
(131,940 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Athens
Largest City: Athens
(772,072)
Unit of Money: Drachma
Major Languages: Greek (official), English, French
Natural Resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite
ITALY
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Corfu
ASIA
Xnthi
Thessaloniki
ALBANIA
N
W
Ionnina
Lrisa
Aegean
S e a Lesbos
AFRICA
TU RK EY
SOUTH
AMERICA
Agrinion
Ionian
AUSTRALIA
Athens
Ptrai
Sea
Peloponnesus
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
138
Average Rainfall
Located in southern Europe,

Greece is almost surrounded by the
Mediterranean Sea. The country has
9 major land areas. Thrace is in the
northeast. The Rhodope Mountains

are near the border with Bulgaria,
and a coastal plain lies to the south.
To the west, the Macedonian region
includes parts of the Pindus and
Other
31%
Cotton
4%
Minerals
4%
Petroleum
products
9%
Rhodes
S e a
The Acropolis in Athens, Greece
The Place
Rdos
M e d i t e r r a n e a n
Textiles
26%
Food
26%
Exports
$10 billion
Khania
0
miles
km 100
Iraklion
Crete
100
Balkan mountains. With its fertile

valleys, Macedonia is also one of the
countrys most important agricultural
areas.
Thessaly is south of Macedonia. It
is a large plain surrounded by mountains. Mount Olympus is the highest
point in Greece at 9,570 feet (2,917
m). In the northwest, the small region
of Epirus is mountainous and grows
several crops. Central Greece and
Euboea account for about 20% of the
country. The area consists of hills,
valleys, and many mountains. To the
southwest, Peloponnesus peninsula
has mountains and a rocky coastline.
It makes up one-fifth of the country.
The Ionian Islands lie off the west
coast of the mainland. Important
crops, such as olives, grapes, and
citrus fruits, grow here. The rocky
Aegean Islands lie between Greece
and Turkey in the Aegean Sea. Crete
is the countrys largest island, and is
mainly hilly with fertile valleys.
Other
12%
Forests
20%
Farms /
cropland
27%
Permanent
pastures
41%
Land Use
Greece
Greek boy on the island of Rhodes
merce. A teacher earns about $500

per month, while a doctor makes
about $950 each month.
During the last 40 years, many
rural residents have abandoned their
farms to find jobs in the cities. This
has resulted in a housing shortage in
many cities. About 20% of Greeks
still work in agriculture. About 8%
of the land is devoted to growing
crops, including wheat, corn, barley,
sugar beets, and olives.
The population density averages
The People
Other 2%
Greece is a mostly urban country

about two-thirds of the population
live in cities or their suburbs. Almost
30% of the population live in Athens.
Most cities have new and old sections.
The new sections have tall apartment
buildings, modern shopping plazas,
and mass transit systems. Many urban
residents work in tourism and com-

Greek culture includes many types of
arts and crafts. Weavers create beautiful clothing and rugs. Embroidery
and silver jewelry-making are also
Greek traditions. Folk music is
played throughout the country, and
common instruments include the
clarinet and the bouzouki, a type of
mandolin. Traditional folk dances are
held at many festivals. Other festivals
feature ancient Greek dramas.
about 205 people per square mile

(81 people per sq km). The most
densely populated parts of the country are the coastal areas and the
interior plains. The mountainous
areas and the Aegean Islands have
the fewest people.
The National Health Service provides the nation with its health care
coverage, but it is severely understaffed. Many Greeks travel abroad
for major surgeries. The average life
expectancy is 78 years of age.
Other 1%
Muslim 1%
Greek
Orthodox
98%
Greek
98%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
Public education is free in Greece.
Children between the ages of 6 and
15 are required to attend school.
Elementary school has 6 grades,
as does the high school program.
More than 99% of elementary
school-aged children attend class,
and 97% of secondary school-aged
children go to school.
There are 16 universities and
colleges in Greece. The largest
institutions include Aristotelian
(Continued)
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic
Literate
95%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

2,268 tanks
University in Thessaloniki and the

University of Athens. About 28% of
college-aged students attend classes.
Greeks also enjoy sports, especially
soccer and swimming.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
362
195
172
94
4
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
21 major ships
351 combat aircraft
Street in Athens, Greece
Grenada
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
208
largest country (1)
197
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Grenada

EQUATOR
Population: 89,227
Capital City: St. Georges
Largest City: St. Georges (4,564)
Major Languages: English (official), French
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 15% arable, 18% crops, 3% meadows, 9%
forest, 55% other
Natural Resources: timber, tropical fruit
Defense: Minimal spending
P e ti te
M a rti n i q u e
Hillsborough
AFRICA
Carriacou
W
ea
Land area rank
SOUTH
AMERICA
ea
AUSTRALIA
Ronde
A N TA R C T I C A
ri
Victoria
G r e na da
Grenville
St. Georges
IC
0
0
miles
km
10
10
The People
Unemployment is common in Grenada, and wages

are usually low. Most Grenadians work in service,
agriculture, manufacturing, or construction. There are
Grenada is a group of islands in the West Indies. The
also many single-parent families. Birthrates are high
main islands that make up the country are Grenada,
compared to the rest of the West Indies, and about 46%
Ronde, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. They lie
of the population is under the age of 16. The populaabout 90 miles (140 km) off the northern coast of
tion grows by about .8% each year.
Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea.
More than 80% of Grenadians live in rural areas. In
Grenada, the main island, is mountainous. A large
fact, the capital city, St. Georges, is the countrys only
ridge extends down the center of the island and reaches
urban area. The population density averages 705 people
a top elevation of 2,757 feet (840 m) above sea level at
per square mile (283 people per sq km).
Mount Catherine. The area is covered by dense forest.
Governments fund
In the center of the country is Grand Etang, a
Grenada nutmeg factory
most of the schools in the
large lake formed in the crater of a volcano.
country. Children
Many bays, harbors, and beaches are located
between the ages of 6 and
along the southern coast.
14 are required to attend
The islands rich volcanic soil is very fertile.
classes. Compared to
A variety of tropical vegetation grows there,
countries of similar size
including bananas, coconuts, and limes. Many
and wealth, Grenadas
spices also thrive in Grenada, such as nutmeg,
health care services are
vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger.
good. There is 1 doctor
The country has a warm tropical climate, with
for every 1,700 people.
temperatures averaging around 80 F (26 C)
The average life
year round. The coastal regions receive about
expectancy is about
60 inches of rain annually while the mountains
70 years of age.
get about 200 inches (510 cm) a year.
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The Place
Other
29%
Clothing 6%
Bananas 9%
Re-exports
11%
Fish
16%
Exports
$24 million
140
Other Protestant
Sects 33%
Cocoa
beans
15%
Nutmeg
14%
Mostly African
Ethnic Makeup
Anglican
14%
Roman
Catholic
53%
Major Religions
Guatemala
Land area rank
104
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
63
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
W
Official Name: Republic of Guatemala

Continent: North (Central) America
(108,890 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Guatemala City
Largest City: Guatemala City
(1,150,452)
Unit of Money: Quetzal
Natural Resources: Crude oil, nickel, fish
E
S
Flores
MEXICO
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Caribbean
Sea
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Quezaltenango
Mo tag na Riv er Zacapa
Guatemala City Jalapa
A N TA R C T I C A
miles
Mazatenango
100
H ON D U RA S
Jutiapa
Escuintla
0 km 100
Lake Atitlan
Guatemala is the northernmost

country in Central America, east of
Mexico and north of Honduras and
El Salvador. The country has 250
Puerto Barrios
Lake
Izabal
Coban
AUSTRALIA
PACIFIC OCEAN
The Place
BEL IZE
miles of coastline on the Caribbean

Sea to the east and on the Pacific
Ocean on the west.
The country can be split into three
major land areas. The Northern Plain
EL SA L V A D OR
is covered mostly by tropical rain forest. There are also some grassland
areas. Lake Izabal, the countrys
largest lake, lies in the eastern part of
the region. The Northern Plain is the
least developed part of Guatemala.
The Highlands extend from east to
west across the center of the country.
The tallest mountain in Central
AmericaVolcan Tajumulco
reaches an elevation of 13,845 feet
(4,220 m). Guatemalas longest river,
the Motagna, also begins in this area
and flows for 250 miles (402 km).
The Pacific Lowlands are in the
south. The region is mainly farmland,
with cotton and sugar cane plantations. Many of the countrys rivers
flow through the lowlands before
draining into the Pacific Ocean.
The temperatures of Guatemalas
tropical climate vary by elevation.
Lower regions reach around 80 F
(27 C) throughout the year, while the
highlands rarely exceed 70 F (21 C).
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other 5%
Average Rainfall
Farms /
cropland
17%
Coffee
23%
Other
52%
Exports
Sugar
10%
Bananas 8%
Vegetable
seeds 4%
Legumes 3%
Forests
54%
Permanent
pastures
24%
Land Use
$3 billion
141
Guatemala
(continued)
The People
Two main groups characterize the
Guatemalan populationIndians
and Ladinos. These groups are
based loosely on ancestry, but
Indians may adopt the Ladino way
of life and vice versa. People are
placed into one of these groups
depending on how they live, what
language they speak, and what
clothes they wear.
Indians account for about 44% of
the countrys population. They are
Amerindian
44%
Mestizo
(Ladino)
56%
Ethnic Makeup
part of individual
communities, not
tribes. Most speak
one of the many
Maya Indian
languages. Although
many Indian communities speak the same Mayan Indian Girls, Tikal, Guatemala
languages, they rarely
associate with each other. Indians are
Most Ladinos are of mixed
usually poor and have little access to
Spanish ancestry and make up about
education or health care. They live in 56% of the population. They are
rural areas or small towns.
designated mainly by their income
and social class. Ladinos belong to
the lower, middle, and upper parts of
society. Most, however, are farmers
and are as poor as the Indians. Many
Roman Catholic,
Ladinos live in cities or towns, and
Protestant, Traditional
Mayan
have better access to medical services
and educational opportunities. The
Ladino population is growing faster
Major Religions
than the Indian population. Life
Education
The education system in Guatemala
is poor due to shortages of schools
and teachers. Children between
the ages of 7 and 13 are required
to attend class, but only 55% of
primary school-aged children do so.
Government
Literate
56%
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
About 15% of high school-age

students go to school. There are few
or no schools in many rural areas,
and few teachers speak the Indian
languages. Because of this, many
Indians cannot read or write.
Guatemala has 5 universities, and
about 8% of college-aged

For both Indians and Ladinos,
religious celebrations are the main
type of recreation. Many of these
celebrations include large feasts,
fireworks, and marimba music.
142
Indians also perform traditional

dance enacting historical events.
Some of the countrys traditions
vary by culture. Ladinos enjoy playing soccer and basketball. They also
like to go biking. Indians still play
traditional Mayan games. They also
produce beautiful arts and crafts,
such as pottery, woven textiles, and
wood carvings.
NA army personnel
NA tanks
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
students attend classes. The largest

university is the University of San
Carlos.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
45
TVs
27
Cars
16
NA
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Guinea
89
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)

77
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
SENEGAL
ig
GUINEA-BISSAU
R.
fi n
Siguiri
an
Ba
Lab
ka
Ri
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
er
iv
er
AFRICA
Bok
A N TA R C T I C A
R.
IC
N
W
on
Di
Kankan
Kindia
Conakry
SIERRA
LEONE
CTE D 'IV OIRE
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Guinea
Continent: Africa
Area: 94,927 square
Capital City: Conakry
Largest City: Conakry (654,000)
Unit of Money: Guinean franc
Literacy: 36%
17% other
Natural Resources: Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold
MALI
amb
G
ASIA
r a ni
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ve
At a Glance
Macenta
E
0
miles
km
LIBE RIA
100
100
The People
Diamonds
6%
Coffee
9%
Indigenous beliefs
7%
Christian
8%
Other 10%
Other 9%
Bauxite
43%
Sosso
20%
Fula
40%
Malinke
30%
Gold 13%
Exports
$748 million
Alumina
16%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
85%
Major Religions
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Fish 3%
Most of the Guinea population are black Africans.

Approximately 75% of the population belongs to one of
the countrys three main
The Place
ethnic groups. The Fula
Located on the west coast of Africa, Guinea has a
make up the largest group
200-mile- (320 km-) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
and generally live in the
There are four main land areas. Lower Guinea is
Fouta Djallon region.
a coastal strip on land in the west. This swampy
The Malinke are slightly
area receives about 110 inches (279 cm) of rain
smaller in population,
annually. Temperatures in Lower Guinea average
and inhabit most of
75 F to 85 F (23 C to 30 C).
northeastern Guinea.
Fouta Djallon is a high plateau in central Guinea.
The Sosso make up about
This area is cooler than the coastal regions and
one-fifth of the Guinea
receives between 60 and 100 inches (150 to 254 cm) of Typical Guinea village near Conakry
population, and live
rain each year.
along the Pacific coast.
Upper Guinea is in the north and is mostly savanna,
About three-quarters of the population lives in rural
or grassland. This area is the driest part of the country,
areas. Most rural dwellers are farmers. They grow their
and receives about 60 inches (152 cm) of rain annually.
own food, and sell what is left over for profit. Many live
The Forest Region is in the southeast. This hilly area
in mud houses with thatched roofs. In cities, people
includes Mount Nimba, Guineas highest point. It
mostly work in business, service, and manufacturing.
measures 5,748 feet (1,752 m) above sea level. The
Guineas health care system is inadequate, and the
region is cool but humid. This area receives approximately infant mortality rate is high. Malaria,
75 to 100 inches (190 to 254 cm) of rainfall each year.
tuberculosis, and respiratory diseases 51 in/130 cm
40 in/100 cm
There are many rivers in Guinea, including the
are common. There is 1 doctor for
35 in/90 cm
Gambia, Bafing, Dion, and Sankarani. Mangrove trees
every 11,650 people. The average
frequently grow along the mouths of the rivers.
life expectancy is 45 years of age.
0 in/0 cm
143
Guinea-Bissau
Land area rank
143
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
150
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Guinea-Bissau
Continent: Africa
(28,000 sq km)
Capital City: Bissau
Largest City: Bissau (109,233)
Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo
Literacy: 54%
Natural Resources: fish, timber, bauxite, phosphates
Defense: $8 million
SENEGAL
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
Canchungo
A N TA R C T I C A
Bafat
Bissau
Gab
G
eb
a
Farim
Ri
ve
r
SOUTH
AMERICA
N
W
IC
GUINEA
Cati
0
0
miles
km
50
50
The People
Other 3%
Papel
7%
Cashews
86%
Exports
$26 million
144
Christian 5%
Other 16%
Balanta
30%
Mandinga
13%
Fula
20%
Manjaca
14%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
45%
Indigenous
beliefs
50%
Major Religions
Cotton 5%
Lumber
6%
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The majority of the population consists of black

Africans, who belong to approximately 20 different
ethnic groups. The largest group is the Balanta, whose
The Place
values and traditions center on family. The secondlargest group is the Fula, who are mainly Muslims. The
Guinea-Bissau is a tiny country on the western coast of
Manjaca are mainly horticulturists, while the Mandinga
Africa. To the west, the countrys 217-mile- (350-km)
are mostly agriculturalists.
long coastline opens to the Atlantic Ocean.
About 80% of Guineans inhabit
Three main land regions make up the
rural areas. The population density
country. In the west, the coastal lowlands
is 102 people per square mile (33
cover about one-third of the country.
people per sq km). Most rural
Thick mangrove swamps account for
dwellers live in straw huts with
most of the vegetation. This is the rainithatched roofs and work in agriest part of Guinea-Bissauit receives 70
culture or in the fishing industry.
to 100 inches (180 to 254 cm) of precipiGuinea-Bissau is one of the
tation annually.
20 poorest countries in the
The interior plain extends from the
world. Most people cannot
northern border of Senegal to the Geba
afford even basic necessities.
River. The region has dense forests. The Farmer in Guinea-Bissau
Only the Mestico, the countrys small elite population,
average temperature there is about 80 F (27 C)
can afford luxury items. Most schools are run down, and
throughout the year.
there are not enough teachers. Health conditions are
The northeastern highlands are made up
poor, and many people die from tuberculosis, typhoid
of several plateaus. These include the Fouta Djallon
fever, malaria, and whooping cough. The infant mortality
plateau near the border with Guinea, the Bafata Plateau in
is the worlds fourth highest, and the
central Gineau-Bissau, and the Gabu Plateau in the north24 in/60 cm
life expectancy is 49 years.
east. This regions crops include cotton and sorghum.
Guyana
Land area rank
85
smallest country
largest country (1)

160
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
AT
Morawhanna
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Co-operative
Republic of Guyana
(214,970 sq km)
Population: 697,181
Capital City: Georgetown
Largest City: Georgetown (72,049)
Unit of Money: Guyanese dollar
Major Languages: English (official)
Literacy: 98%
8% other
Natural Resources: Bauxite, gold, diamonds, timber
Defense: $7 million
LA
NT
IC
AFRICA
OCE
AN
Georgetown
SOUTH
AMERICA
New Amsterdam
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Linden
Corriverton
F REN CH G U IA N A
Population rank
V E N E Z U E L A
Es
seq
W
miles
S U R IN A M E
River
uibo
Apoteri
Biloku
100
0 km 100
B R A Z I L
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
Other 12%
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Guyana has a population density of just 10 people per

square mile (3 people per sq km), but that can be misleading. About 90% of the population is crowded in the
northern coastal area. Approximately 65% of the populaThe Place
tion lives in rural areas. The workforce of about 245,000
Guyana is in northeastern South America and is borpeople has an unemployment rate of 12%. Although
dered by Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela. To the north,
Guyana is one of the poorest nations in the western
285 miles (459 km) of coastline front the Atlantic Ocean. hemisphere, the economy is slowly growing. Most
The Essequibo River divides the country.
Guyanese make enough money
Essequibo River
Guyana has 3 main land regions. A tract of
to live, but the Indian farmers
land extends along the northern coast and
are the poorest group.
ranges from 5 to 40 miles (8 to 65 km) in
Government controls educawidth. This land lies mostly below sea level.
tion in Guyana. Schooling is
A series of dams and dikes protects the area.
free and children are required to
South of the lowland lies a thick rain forest.
attend. Primary and secondary
This woodland accounts for about 80% of
classes are sometimes held in
the country. To the west, the forest rises into
the same school because of a
the Guiana Highlands. This mountainous
lack of facilities.
region reaches a top elevation of 9,432 feet
Almost all Guyanese have
(2,875 m) at Mount Roraima. Kaieteur
access to health services. The
Fallsone of the worlds tallest single-drop
country sometimes suffers
waterfallsis also located in the highlands. It
from a shortage of doctors and
drops 741 feet (226 m). To the south of the
supplies. Poor sanitation and
forested highlands is savanna. The grassy
flooding cause diseases to
plain receives about 60 inches (152 cm) of
spread. The average life
rain annually.
Re-exports
4%
Amerindian 6%
Sugar
26%
Timber
9%
Bauxite
15% Rice
16%
Gold
18%
Exports
Other 1%
Mixed
12%
Black
32%
East
Indian
49%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
9%
Hindu
33%
Other 1%
Christian
57%
Major Religions
$546 million
145
Haiti
Land area rank
144
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
94
fewest people
most people (1)
CUBA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
e
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
AFRICA
a
AUSTRALIA
in
Gonaves
Golfe de la
Gonve
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
9 in/23 cm
Essential
oils 7%
on
Saint-Marc
ite
Hinche
Ri
ve
Les Cayes
Port-au-Prince
Jacmel
E
S
C a r i
b b e a n
Sea
miles
km
50
50
The People
Most Haitians are black Africans who live on the coast
and in the mountain valleys. These areas are popular
because of their rich soil and farming potential. Most
Haitians are farmers and have less than 2 acres (0.8 ha)
of land. They raise food for
their families and sell any
extra produce. Many farmers
also travel to the Dominican
Republic and Cuba to work
on large plantations. Farmers
usually live in one-room mud
huts with thatched roofs.
Approximately 5% of the
population is mulatto, a mix
of black and white ancestry.
Mulattos have a great deal
more money than most black
Haitian woman
Africans and belong to the
upper classes. Some work as
doctors and lawyers, and many have modern houses
and luxuries.
Health care is a problem for poor Haitians. Most
cannot afford medical attention and rely on voodoo,
or folk, treatments. There is 1 doctor for every 7,000
people. The average life expectancy is 51 years.
Other
Protestant 6%
Other 4%
Baptist
10%
Other
22%
Clothing
48%
Coffee 8%
Black
95%
Roman
Catholic
80%
0 in/0 cm
Handicrafts
15%
Exports
$90 million
146
tib
Petit-Gove
N
Other 5%
60F/16C
Ar
Jrmie
Haiti makes up the western third of the island of

Hispaniola. It is part of the West Indies in the Caribbean
Sea. Hispaniola lies between Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Haiti is shaped like a backward C. In the north, a
peninsula extends westward into the Atlantic Ocean for
about 100 miles (160 km). The Massif Du Nord mountain range runs from the tip of this peninsula to the
countrys eastern border with the Dominican Republic.
In the south, another peninsula stretches west for about 200
miles (320 km). The Massif
De La Hotte lies to the west,
and the Massif De La Selle is
to the east.
Between the two peninsulas
is the Gulf of Gonave. The
Ile de la Gonavea small
islandlies in the southern
Atlantic coastline
part of the gulf. The interior
mainland of Haiti consists of high plateaus and wide
valleys. The Artibonite River runs through the east.
12 in/30 cm
Limbe
Ile de la
^
Gonave
The Place
15 in/38 cm
Gros Morne
A N TA R C T I C A
80F/27C
Cap-Hatien
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Port-de-Paix

EQUATOR
Haiti
(27,750 sq km)
Capital City: Port-au-Prince
Largest City: Port-au-Prince (783,342)
Unit of Money: Gourde
Major Languages: French (official), Creole
Literacy: 45%
ASIA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
At a Glance
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Honduras
Land area rank
100
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
97
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
BELIZE
C a r i b b
e a n
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Honduras
Continent: North
(Central)America
(112,090 sq km)
Capital City: Tegucigalpa
Largest City: Tegucigalpa (775,300)
Unit of Money: Lempira
Literacy: 73%
Natural Resources: Timber, gold, silver, copper
Sea
AFRICA
Puerto Corts
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
San Pedro Sula
Trujillo
La Ceiba
El Progreso
Olanchito
Puerto Lempira
Macuelizo
A N TA R C T I C A
AL
EM
Santa Rosa
de Copn
AT
GU
Tegucigalpa
EL SALVADOR
PAC
Juticalpa
Comayagua
Danl
Nacaome
Choluteca
IFI
C O
CE
NICARAGUA
0
AN
miles
km
100
100
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
About 65% of Hondurans live in poverty. A plantation

worker earns about $17 per week. About 60% of the
population lives in rural areas. They are mostly poor
peasants, and some do not own the land they farm.
The Place
Rural dwellers live in small homes made from adobe or
Honduras is in the north central part of Central
wood. They have no way to travel to urban areas, and
America. Its northern coastline is 400 miles (644 km)
have little interaction with city dwellers.
long and fronts the Caribbean Sea. To the south, 40
The majority of Hondurans are mestizos, a mix of
miles (64 km) of coastline are on the Pacific Ocean.
white and Indian ancestry. Most mestizos speak Spanish,
Honduras is divided into four physical regions. The
but some also speak English. Many are Roman
Mountain Interior is the largest region and accounts for
Catholics. A small percentage of
about 60% of the country. Hondurass highest point,
Garifuna Indians live on the northCerros de Celaque, reaches 9,347 feet (2,849 m).
western coast. They speak Arawak, as
Smaller mountain slopes have thick forests. Some fertile
well as Spanish and English. About
valleys are farmed.
75,000 Miskito Indians live in the
The Northern Coast is very fertile, especially the
northeast. They are mainly Christians
Honduran
Ulua-Chamelecon Basin and the plains near the town boy
and speak Miskito.
of La Ceiba. This region grows most of the countrys
Health care in Honduras
important banana crops. Swamps, forests, and
is poor. Fewer than one-half
grasslands lie to the east.
of the population have access
Hondurass Northeastern Plain is sparsely develto doctors or medical facilioped and is mostly covered by tropical rain forests.
ties. Infectious and parasitic
This humid area is known as the Mosquito Coast.
diseases are common. The
The Southern Coast has mangrove trees along the
average life expectancy is 65
shore, which extends into a narrow plain.
years.
Black 2%
Amerindian
7%
Frozen
meats
1%
Zinc 3%
Shrimp and
lobsters 15%
Other
29%
White 1%
Other 3%
Coffee
32%
Bananas
20%
Exports
Mestizo
90%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
97%
Major Religions
$1 billion
147
Hong Kong
Land area rank
184
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
93
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
C H I N A
ASIA
Official Name: Hong Kong

EQUATOR
Continent: Asia
Area: 402 square miles
(1,042 sq km)
Capital City: Victoria
Largest City: Victoria
Unit of Money: Hong Kong dollar
Major Languages: English and Cantonese
(both official)
Literacy: 91%
permanent pastures, 22% woodland, 70% other
Natural Resources:
Government: Special Administrative Region (SAR)
Defense: Chinas Peoples Liberation Army
Sham
AFRICA
ver
n Ri
Chu
Fanling
SOUTH
AMERICA
S
AUSTRALIA
Yuen Long
Tuen Mun
A N TA R C T I C A
Tsun Wan
New Kowloon
Kowloon
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
6 in/15 cm
40F/4C
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
148
miles
km
10
10
More than 90% of the population lives in urban areas.

More than half live on Hong Kong Island and the
Kowloon
Peninsula. Many
cities are situated
along the coast,
or on major
transportation
routes. Rural
dwellers live in
the northern part
of the New
Jade market in Yau Ma Tei
Territories.
Settlements
range from tiny hamlets with just a dozen people, to
small towns. A small percentage of the population,
called boat people, lives on fishing boats called junks.
Social conditions in Hong Kong are fairly good.
There are few disagreements between ethnic groups,
and many people can afford appliances, luxury items,
and fashionable clothing. Healthcare costs are low, and
life expectancy is the second-highest of any country.
Most people live to 80 years of age. The education
system, however, is overcrowded. Many children can
attend classes only twice a week.
Other 5%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
The People
Hong Kong belongs to China, but became a Special

Administrative Region (SAR) in 1997 with its own currency and capital. It is autonomous from China, except
in military matters. The region consists of Hong Kong
Island, mainland Kowloon and the New Territories, and
several eastern islands in the South China Sea.
Hong Kong is mountainous. Mount Tai Mo, in the
New Territories, is the countrys highest peak. It rises
3,140 feet (957 m) above sea level.
This rugged terrain extends southwestward to Lantau Island, where
Lantau Peak reaches 3,064 feet
(934 m) high. To the southeast,
Kowloon Peak has an elevation of
1,975 feet (602 m).
Lowlands account for just 20%
Victoria, Hong Kong
of the land area in Hong Kong.
The Yuen Long and Sheung Shui
plains are in the north. Floodplains and river valleys also
have low elevations. The countrys only river, the Sham
Chun, forms part of the regions border with China.
80F/27C
Hong
Kong Island
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
The Place
100F/38C
Victoria
Lantau
Island
Other
33%
Clothing
33%
Office
machines 6%
Textile
fabrics 7%
Electrical
machinery 14%
Exports
$181 billion
Watches and
clocks 7%
Protestant
4%
Chinese
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
5%
Other
17%
Buddhist
and
Daoist
74%
Major Religions
Hungary
110
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
77
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
CZECH REPUBLIC
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Hungary
Continent: Europe
(92,340 sq km)
Capital City: Budapest
Largest City: Budapest (1,995,696)
Unit of Money: Forint
Major Languages: Hungarian (official)
Natural Resources: Bauxite, coal, natural gas
AFRICA
UKRAINE
SLOVAKIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Miskolc
AUSTRALIA
Gyor
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Budapest
Debrecen
Szombathely
N
AU
Szkesfehrvr
Keckemt
Danube
Lake
Balaton
SLOVENIA
CROATIA
above sea level. Hungary can be

divided into four main physical
regions, based around the Danube
River. The Danube flows from the
northwest corner of the country,
E
S
Szeged
ROMANIA
Pcs
Fuels and electrical

energy 4%
Average Rainfall
Hungary is a landlocked country in

central Europe. Its land is mostly
low and flat, with most of the country lying less than 650 feet (198 m)
ST
RIA
A N TA R C T I C A
YUGOSLAVIA
miles
(SERBIA and MONTENEGRO)
km 50
50
down the west central part of

Hungary, and into Yugoslavia.
The land west of the Danube,
excluding the northwest corner, is
called Transdanubia. This hilly
region rises into the Transdubian
Central Highlands in the north.
The Austrian Alps begin in the west.
In the middle of the region, Lake
Balaton is the largest lake in central
Europe. It covers about 230 square
miles (596 sq km). The northwest
corner of Hungary is called the
Little Plain. This small region is
fairly flat and is used for farming.
The Great Plain covers all land
east of the Danube, excluding the
northern mountains. This area
accounts for about half of the country.
The regions rich soil, especially in the
southeast, provides good farmland.
The Northern HighlandsHungarys
fourth regionare part of the
Carpathian mountain system. Thick
forests cover much of the area.
Other 5%
Food and
live animals
18%
Other
15%
Manufactured
goods
Machinery
47%
and transport
equipment
26%
Exports
Forests
19%
Permanent
pastures 13%
Farms /
cropland
53%
Land Use
$16 billion
149
Hungary
(continued)
The People
Hungary averages about 280 people
per square mile (110 people per sq
km). About 65% of the population
lives in urban areas. Many cities
experience housing shortages. City
dwellers usually live in apartments
or one-family homes. Many rural
families live in small stucco houses.
Hungarians work in services. Some
of these jobs include engineering,
education, and health care. Another
Other 7%
Lutheran
5%
Calvinist
20%
26% works in industry, and 9% of

the work force is employed by agriculture.
About half of all households in
Hungary have televisions and other
appliances. Many Hungarians also
purchase luxury cars. To afford these
goods, however, many people must
work long hours. A school teacher
earns about $160 a month.
Although medical treatment is
free in Hungary, the service is not
adequate. Many facilities lack fund-
German 3%
ing for modern equipment and necessary supplies. The average life
expectancy is 71 years. More than
two-thirds of Hungarians are
Roman Catholic.
Other 3%
Gypsy 4%
Roman
Catholic
68%
Major Religions
Education
Hungarian children between the ages
of 6 and 16 are required to attend
school. The government runs most
schools, and they are free. Some
private schools are run by religious
groups. After completing 8 years of
primary school, students may enter
one of 3 types of schools. A 2-year
vocational school offers job training.
A 3-year skilled worker training
school provides more comprehensive
Hungarian
90%
Ethnic Makeup
job training. A 4-year high school

provides a general education.
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
99%

1,016 tanks
0 major ships
Literacy
147 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%

Many Hungarians like to spend
their free time with friends and
family. Cafs and coffee houses are
popular gathering spots. Concerts
and operas are also a popular pastime. Hungarian folk music is well
known throughout the world.
Several famous classical composers,
including Franz Liszt and Bela
Bartok, were Hungarian.
Hungarians enjoy sports, especially basketball, volleyball, and
fencing. Favorite outdoor activities

include soccer, hiking, swimming,
boating, and fishing.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
409
185
180
50
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
Iceland
Land area rank
106
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

177
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
G r e e n l and
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Iceland
Continent: Europe
Area: 38,707 square
Population: 277,906
Capital City: Reykjavik
Largest City: Reykjavik (103,020)
Unit of Money: Icelandic krona
Major Languages: Icelandic (official)
Literacy: 100%
Land Use: 23% pastures, 1% forests, 76% other
Natural Resources: fish, hydroelectric power
Government: Constitutional republic
Sea
it
AFRICA
ra
SOUTH
AMERICA
Hsavik
en
safjrdhur
AUSTRALIA
Akureyri
Seydhisfjrdhur
A N TA R C T I C A
Vatnajkull
Glacier
Keflavk
N
W
15 in/38 cm
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
miles
km 50
50
A T L A N T I C
Aluminum
10%
Other Protestant
and Roman Catholic
3%
Fish
and fish
products
73%
Descendants
of Norwegians
and Celts
0 in/0 cm
N
E A
O C
The coastal lowlands are the only suitable living areas in

the country, and most of Icelands population resides
there. Almost half of the people live in or around
Reykjavik, the capital city. More than 90% of Icelanders
live in urban areas, and the population density averages
just 8 people per square mile (3 people per sq km).
In most households, both men and women have jobs
outside the home. Sometimes a person even holds two jobs.
This is often necessary because of the high cost of living
in Iceland. Wages are adequate, with office workers earning about $12 per hour. About 25% of Icelanders work in
industry and fishing. The government provides daycare
for children of workIcelandic Puffins
ing parents.
Many couples live
together before
marriageoften in
the homes of
parentsin order to
save up money for a
down payment on a
house. Sometimes
this can take years.
Life expectancy is 79
years.
Other 17%
Average Rainfall
Iceland is the westernmost country in Europe. This small

island lies in the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic
Circle. The country is a large
plateau, with lower elevations near
the coast.
Icelands interior plateau is
about 2,500 feet (762 m) above sea
level. There is very little vegetation. A large fault line extends
across the country, and earthquakes are common. Along the
coastal lowlands, grasses and some
crops grow.
There are more than 200 volcaReykjavik, Iceland
noes on the island, and some are
still active. Iceland also has more geysers and hot springs
than any other nation. Geysir, one of the countrys hot
springs, can spout superheated water up to 195 feet (59 m)
high. This is where the term geyser came from.
About one-eighth of Iceland is covered by glaciers.
Some of these giant mounds of ice measure up to threequarters of a mile (1.2 km) thick!
80F/27C
The People
The Place
100F/38C
Hafnarfjrdhur
E
S
Hfn
Reykjavk
Exports
$2 billion
Ethnic Makeup
None 1%
Evangelical
Lutheran
96%
Major Religions
151
India
Land area rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Ind
Srinagar us
AFRICA
miles
km 200
most people (1)
200
N
W
EQUATOR
C H I N A
SOUTH
AMERICA
S
AUSTRALIA
PAKISTAN
At a Glance
Ludhiana
Meerut
A N TA R C T I C A
New Delhi
du
In

India
Continent: Asia
(2,973,190 sq km)
Population: 1,029,991,145
Capital City: New Delhi
Largest City: Greater Bombay
(9,909,547)
Unit of Money: Indian rupee
Major Languages: Hindi and
English (both official)
Natural Resources: Coal, iron
ore, magnesium
Ga
nge
Jaipur
Jamnagar
Vadodara
Rajkot
Narmad
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
152
Guwahati
Imphal
Gan
ges
Bombay
Jabalpur
BANGLADESH
Calcutta
Nagpur
Ulhasnagar
Godavar
Pune
MYANMAR
(BURMA)
Varanasi
hna
B a y
i R.
Sholapur
Kris
Jamshedpur
a R.
Surat
Hyderabad
Vishakhapatnam
R.
o f
B e n g a l
Hubli
Arabian
Sea
Bangalore
Madras
Mangalore
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Patna
utra
map
Brah
Dhanbad
Bhopal
Indore
Ahmadabad
India is a large country in southern

Asia. On the west coast is the
Arabian Sea, and on the east coast is
the Bay of Bengal. The country is
divided into three main land regions.
The Himalayan mountains extend
along Indias northern border. This
giant range is the highest in
the world, and mainly separates the
country from the rest of the continent. The three separate ranges in
the chain are almost parallel to each
other. The Himalayas are about
1,500 miles (2,400 km) long and
spread out to 200 miles (320 km)
wide in some places. The highest
80F/27C
BHUTAN
Allahabad
Coimbatore
15 in/38 cm
Lucknow
Kanpur
Jodhpur
The Place
100F/38C
N EPA L
Agra
Laccadive
Sea
Cochin
Andaman
Islands
Tiruchchirappalli
Andaman
Sea
Madurai
SRI LANKA
INDIAN OCEAN
Nicobar
Islands
India (continued)
spot in the country, Kanchenjunga,
is 28,208 feet (8,598 m) high and
located near the Nepal border.
The Northern Plains extend from
the edge of the Himalayas for about
1,500 miles (2,400 km) to central
India. They vary from 150 to 200
miles (240 to 320 km) wide. The
rich soil in the Northern Plains
enables farms to thrive there. The
Ganges River, which is sacred to
most Indians, flows through the
northern part of this region out to
the Bay of Bengal. The Thar Desert
is located to the west.
Indias southern peninsula is
called the Deccan Plateau. Many
mountain ranges surround this area.
To the north, the Satpura Range
Leather
products 5%
Other
21%
borders the Northern Plains. Along

the Bay of Bengal, the Eastern
Ghats average about 2,000 feet
(610 m) above sea level. The
Western Ghats extend along the
Arabian Sea and measure about
8,000 feet (2,440 m) high.
India has three seasons. The cool
season is from October to February.
Much of the Himalayas receive snow,
and night temperatures throughout
the rest of the country are chilly. The
hot season lasts from March to June,
and temperatures range from 85 F
(29 C) along the coast to 115 F (45
C) in the Deccan Plateau. The rainy
season usually lasts from June
through September. Northern India
receives the most precipitation.
Other
16%
Agricultural
products
19%
Chemical
products 7%
Forests
23%
Diamonds
and jewelry
17%
Cotton yarn,
fabrics and thread 8%
Machinery and
metal products 11%
Exports
Garments
12%
Permanent
pastures 4%
Farms/
cropland
57%
Land Use
$34 billion
Ladakh, India
Resources
Farm land
Forests
Pastures
Other
Manufacturing
Textiles
Engineering
Chemicals
Cattle
Rice
The textile industry is an important

part of Indias economy.
Tea
153
India
(continued)
The History
The Indus-Valley civilization existed
in present-day India between 2600
B.C.E. and 2000 B.C.E. The Aryans
invaded the area around 1500 B.C.E.
and began the Sanskrit and Verdic
religions. These beliefs eventually
evolved into Hinduism. Buddhism
spread through India in the 6th
century B.C.E.Under King Asoka, the
population slowly became unified.
Many different countries influenced Indias early development.
Vasco da Gama came to India in
1498 and established Portuguese
trading. In 1526, Muslim invaders

founded the Mogul Empire in Delhi.
The English founded the East India
Company in 1612. England took
Bombay from the Portuguese in
1687, and defeated the Mogul armies
in 1757. India was transferred to the
British Crown in 1858.
After Word War I, Indian
Mahatma Gandhi inspired nationalists
to resist British rule with civil disobedience. By 1935, the country was
given a federal form of government.
India was granted independence by
1947. In 1948, it became a republic.
The People
Above: Indian girls

Below: Village man, Kishangarh, India
India is the second-most-populated

country and accounts for about 16%
of the worlds population. The population density is 816 people per
Indo-Aryans make up slightly less
than three-quarters of Indias people
and live mostly in the north. About
25% of Indians are Dravidians, and
live mainly in the south.
Almost 75% of the population
lives in rural areas. Many rural
dwellers are farmers and live in
small villages. Most homes are made
of mud and straw, and they usually
have just one or two rooms. Smaller
villages do not have running water
or electricity. Many people live
below the poverty line.
Indian cities are very crowded.
The streets are lined with store
fronts, and many families live above
or behind these shops. Many urban
dwellers are middle class, and work
in government, offices, and stores.
Because millions of people come
to urban areas each year looking
for jobs, housing is in short supply.
Many people must live without
electricity or water. Sometimes
more than 10 people share a tiny
1-room home. Life expectancy is 64
years.
Government
Defense
2,400 tanks
40 major ships
844 combat aircraft
Although it is not as influential as

in the past, a caste system still exists
in India. Castes are social groups
that determine a persons place in
society. Castes also determine what
type of job a person can hold, whom
a person can marryeven who prepares a persons food.
Family relationships are important
in India. Arranged marriages are common, but young adults sometimes
choose their spouses. Many extended
families live together. After marriage,
a woman will move into her husbands
familys house.
Mongoloid and Other 3%
Dravidian
25%
Indo-Aryan
72%
Ethnic Makeup
Sikh 2%
Other 2%
Christian 2%
Muslim
14%
Hindu
80%
Major Religions
India
Education
Children ages 6 through 14 are
entitled to a free education. About
98% of primary school-aged children go to school. Less than half of
all secondary school-aged children
receive further education. Once
children are about 10 years old,
many parents remove them from
school to work on the family farm,
or watch younger siblings.

About 6% of the college-aged
population attends one of the countrys 200 universities. Women
account for about 10% of the
enrollment. Many students choose
to study science.
(continued)
For the past 50 years, India has

worked to increase its literacy rate. A
great deal of money has been spent
building schools, training teachers,
and publishing textbooks. The effort
has been successful, as more than
half of all Indians are literate today.
Indian children, Rajasthan, India
Industry
15%
Services
18%
Agriculture
67%
Labor Force
Literate
52%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

India is well known for its movie
industry, and produces more films
than any other country in the world.
Popular topics include thrillers, love
stories, dramas, and mysteries. They
are filmed in many different
languages. The best known films are

made in Hindi, and they are seen by
people in the Middle East, Africa,
and the Caribbean.
Soundtracks from movies, called
film music, are very popular. Many
times, the music is a mix of classic
Indian melody and modern Western

styles. Indians also enjoy classical
dance. In the south, bharata natyam
is popular, while the north enjoys
kathak. Hindu epics and poems are
the source for both these dances
about Hindu deities.
Popular sports in the country
include cricket, soccer, and field
hockey. Indoor games include cards
and chess. In larger urban areas, many
people enjoy plays and concerts.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
27
TVs
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
155
Indonesia
Land area rank
16
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
S o u t h
C h i n a
S e a
VIETNAM
Andaman
Sea
most people (1)
PHILIPPINES
THAILAND
St
r
Natuna
AL
cc
A
SI
Simeulue
SINGAPORE
Su
m
at
Pakamburu
Pontianak
ra
Kap u a
Padang
Jambi
Siberut
Palembang
Telukbetung
nd
I A
N
E
0
Java
miles
km
New Guinea
Ujungpandang
ng
m
rta aya
Se aka
b
ra
r
Su
Su
ta
r
ka
gy
Jayapura
Seram
a
ar
Ba
Celebes
S e a
Jakarta
g
un
Halmahera
Samarinda
Balikpapan
Banjarmasin
J a v a
Enggano
I N
.
s R
g
lan
Bali
B a n d a
S e a
Aru
Tanimbar
Sumbawa
Sumba
Yo
O C
E A N
Manado
Borneo
sar
Nias
C e l e b e s
S e a
SIA
AY
AL
M
AY
I F
I C
Flores
Kupang
Ti
or
Arafura Sea
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
M
al
a
Medan
BRUNEI
Str
a it
of
Ma
ka
ai
t
Torres Str.
O C
E A N
300
T i m o r
S e a
AUSTRALIA
300
EUROPE
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
EQUATOR

of Indonesia
Continent: Asia
(1,826,440 sq km)
Capital City: Jakarta
Largest City: Jakarta (8,222,515)
Unit of Money: Indonesian rupiah
Major Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official),
English, Dutch
Natural Resources: Crude oil, tin, natural gas, nickel
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Village, Indonesia
156
third-largest island. The southern

three-fourths belong to Indonesia.
This area, called Kalimantan, consists mainly of tropical forests, plantations, and mountains. The countrys longest riverthe Kapuas
flows through Kalimantan for about
700 miles (1,100 km).
To the west, Sumatra is lined by
the Barisan Mountains along the
southwestern coast. The center of
the island is a broad plain. The east
is swampy. Southeast of Sumatra is
Java. The islands 112 volcanoes

have provided Java with rich soil
that is ideal for farming. Sulawesi
lies northeast of Java. The island has
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Indonesia is a group of more than

13,500 islands in Southeast Asia.
The islands cover more than 3,200
miles (5,150 km) between the
Pacific and Indian oceans. The
country is the largest archipelago in
the world.
The Indonesian islands are divided
into 3 main groups. The Greater
Sundra Islands lie to the west and
include Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and
Sulawesi. Borneo is the worlds
The Place
Indonesia (continued)
four long peninsulas and is very
mountainous, with peaks reaching
10,000 feet (3,00 m) high.
The Lesser Sundra Islands consist
of the islands between Bali and
Timor. Indonesia only controls the
western part of Timor. Many of the
Lesser Sundras are mountainous.
The islands in the west have tropical
rain forests, but the islands to the
east have drier grasslands.
The Molucca Islands are located
in the northeastern part of
Indonesia. The largest island there
is Halmahera, which covers 6,870
square miles (17,790 sq km). It is
mountainous with dense forests.
This group also includes many coral
reefs and small islands.
Indonesias climate is hot and
humid, with an average annual temperature of about 80 F (27 C).
Heavy rains fall from December
through March, and dry weather
lasts from June to October. Borneo
and Sumatra receive the most rain,
while the Lesser Sundras receive
the least.
Rice carrier in rice field
Other
47%
Footwear
6%
Textiles
and garments
21%
Wood
products
16%
Exports
Electronics
10%
Other Farms/
14% cropland
17%
Permanent
pastures
7%
Forests
62%
Land Use
$53 billion
Resources
Farm land
Manufacturing
Oil
Engineering
Cattle
Forests
Indonesia is one of the leading

oil producers in the world.
Chemicals
Pastures
Rice
Other
157
Indonesia
(continued)
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
331 tanks
15 major ships
73 combat aircraft
Woman selling black rice
The People
Indonesia has the fourth-largest
population in the world. The country
averages about 282 people per
Java is the most densely populated
island and has many industrial cities.
Although it only accounts for about
7% of the countrys total land area,
the island has about 60% of the
total population. Many city dwellers
live in modern houses or apartments. Large cities have skyscrapers
and bustling commercial districts.
About 65% of Indonesians live in
rural areas. They typically live in
small villages and work as farmers.
Many people live in traditional houses
158
History
Hindu priests had a strong influence
over the islands in the 1st century C.E.
Muslims invaded the area in the 13th
century, and most of the population
had converted to Islam by 1400. The
Dutch arrived in the late 16th century
and set up the Dutch United East
India Company to control the valuable spice trade. After a brief period of
British rule, Indonesia was made a
part of the Dutch kingdom.
During World War II, Japan
took control of the islands. When
that are built on stilts. Most rural

dwellers enjoy modern conveniences.
Each village is lead by teachers and
religious men. The community
works together to solve problems.
Approximately 300 different
ethnic groups live in Indonesia, and
more than 250 languages are spoken.
The Javanese make up about 45% of
the population and live mostly in
Java. The Sundanese make up about
14% and live in western Java. About
8% of Indonesians are Madurese
and live mostly in Madura.
Many people on the smaller, less
industrialized islands live in poverty.
Most of the countrys wealth is
controlled by a small number of
political officials and businesspeople.
The countrys healthcare system is
adequate. Many people have access
to clinics. More than 30% of all
Indonesians are under the age of 15.
Children in Bali
Japanese troops surrendered at

the end of the war in 1945,
Indonesians proclaimed independence. Allied troops fought with the
nationalists to restore prewar status.
The Netherlands-Indonesian Union
was formed in 1946, but each group
interpreted the agreement differently.
More fighting ensued, and in 1949
the country was granted independence. It became the United States of
Indonesia. A year later, the federation was dissolved and the country
became the Unitary Republic of
Indonesia.
The population grows by about

1.5% each year. The life expectancy
is 62 years.
Hindu 2% Buddhist 1%
Roman
Catholic 3%
Other 1%
Protestant
6%
Muslim
87%
Major Religions
Other
25%
Javanese
45%
Malay 8%
Madurese 8%
Sundanese 14%
Ethnic Makeup
Indonesia
Education
Indonesia requires children to
attend school for 9 years, and parents must pay a small fee for this
service. Children usually begin
school around the age of 7. Primary
school lasts for 6 years, and almost
100% of students attend. Junior secondary school is for 3 years, and
senior secondary school continues
for an additional 3 years. About half
of all secondary school-aged
children attend junior classes, and
about 30% go to senior classes.
Schools in some areas experience
teacher and textbook shortages.
Approximately 8% of college-aged

Many of Indonesias performing arts
are well known throughout the world.
The 2 most famous types of dances
include the Javanese dance and the
Balinese dance. The Javanese dance
movements are slow and depict stories
of adventure, love, or battles. Balinese
gestures are quick and usually represent religious stories. Traditional
percussion orchestras, called gamelon,
accompany the dances.
(continued)
Indonesians get a higher education.

The country has about 50 colleges
and universities. Some of the larger
institutions include Bogor
Agricultural University, Bandung
Institute of Technology, and the
University of Indonesia at Jakarta.
Literate
84%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Wayang, or shadow, puppet

presentations are very popular in
Indonesia. Puppets are made of flat
leather or wood and puppeteers
operate the dolls behind large
screens. Oil lamps cast the shadows
for the audience to enjoy. Gamelon
orchestras may also play at these
performances.
Another popular pastime in the
country is going to the movies.
Indonesians enjoy Asian, American,
Sisters, Bali
and European films. People also

watch television. Some popular
sports include soccer, badminton,
tennis, volleyball, and swimming.
Musicians, Java
Other
34%
Transport and
communications
4%
Construction
5%
Agriculture
44%
Labor Force
Manufacturing
13%
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
55
TVs
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
159
Iran
Land area rank
18
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
17
fewest people
most people (1)
ARMENIA
At a Glance
AZERBAIJAN
Caspian
Sea
TURKEY
NORTH
AMERICA
TURKMENISTAN
Ardabil
ASIA
AFRICA
Mashhad
SYRIA
Qom
Bakhtaran
AUSTRALIA
IRAQ
Esfahan
Ahvaz
A N TA R C T I C A
Abadan
N
W
S A U D I
A R A B I A
miles
km
200
200
Pe
rs
ia
Kerman
Zahedan
Bandar 'Abbas
G
ul
QATAR
f Hor
it o
ra
z
St
U. A. E.
Shiraz
KUWAIT
Gulf of Oman
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Iran is a large country in the Middle

East. The country has 1,516 miles
(2,440 km) of coastline, with the
Caspian Sea to the north, and the
Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to
the south.
Iran is essentially a large plateau
that is primarily surrounded by
mountain ranges. Most of the country is more than 1,500 feet (460 m)
above sea level, and approximately
17% of Iran has an elevation above
6,500 feet (1,977 m). The Elburz
Mountains are in the north along
the Caspian Sea. This range extends
to meet the Khorasan Mountains in
the east. The highest peak in this
volcanic range reaches more than
18,500 feet (5,638 m) high. To the
west, the Zagros range extends from
Armenia down to the Persian Gulf.
In its southern half, the mountains
consist of parallel ranges that measure up to 125 miles (201 km) wide.
Interior Iran is a plateau. This

vast, flat land is home to the Kavir
and Lut deserts. The soil there is
dry and salty. At higher elevations,
the soil is more fertile.
Iron and steel
2%
Pistachios
Other
2%
10%
Carpets
11%
Farms / cropland
11%
Petroleum
products
75%
Other
55%
Permanent
pastures
27%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$19 billion
160
Irans lowest elevations are found

along the coasts. The 400-mile(644-km-) long band of lowlands
along the Caspian Sea is about 90
feet (28 m) below sea level.
Land Use
Forests
7%
PAKISTAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
AFGHANISTAN
Tehran

Republic of Iran
EQUATOR
Continent: Asia (Middle East)
(1,648,000 sq km)
Capital City: Tehran
Largest City: Tehran (6,475,527)
Unit of Money: Iranian rial
Major Languages: Farsi (official)
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal
Tabriz
EUROPE
Iran
Sunni Muslim
10%
(continued)
Other 1%
Shi'a Muslim
89%
Major Religions
Kurd 7%
Gilaki and
Other
Mazandarani
10%
8%
Mosque, Tehran, Iran
The People
Iran is made up of several different
ethnic groups. The Persians are the
largest group and account for about
half of the population. They mainly
live in the northern and central parts
of the country and speak Farsi. The
Azeris make up about one-fourth of
the population. They live in the
northwest and speak Turkic languages. Almost all Iranians belong to
the Shia Muslim sect.
More than 55% of the people live
in urban areas. Tehran and Esfahan
are Irans largest urban areas. The

dry land and its limited water
sources play a major role in where
people have settled and how they
live. Few communities are located in
the arid eastern and central parts of
the country. A few settlements are
found near oases there. On the
interior plains, villages consist of
rectangular mud-and-straw houses.
In the mountains, square houses are
built out of mud bricks, and near
the Caspian Sea, people build 2story wooden homes.
Persian
51%
Azerbaijani
24%
Ethnic Makeup
The standard of living is fairly
low in Iran. Over the last 20 years,
imports have declined. Unemployment is high, and the wealthy oil
business is controlled by a small
elite. The government is also struggling to keep up with the medical
needs of the growing population.
Education
Iran requires children between the
ages of 6 and 14 to attend school.
Elementary schooling is free, but
there are fees for secondary education. About 97% of children attend
primary school. After completion,
students are monitored for 3 years
to determine what type of program
they will study in high school.
These programs include vocational,
science, and academic. About 53%
of secondary school-aged children

Several major festivals are celebrated
in Iran. The No-ruzor Persian
New Yearcelebration begins on
the last Wednesday of the old year
and lasts until the 13th day of the
new year. The 12th Imams birthday
is celebrated by Shiite Muslims
with festive lights and bazaars.
Government
Literate
72%
Type: Theocratic republic

Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
1,440 tanks
7 major ships
attend classes. Approximately 8%

of college-aged Iranians attend a
university, which is free.
Several handicrafts are part of the
Iranian culture. Carpet looms are
abundant throughout the country,
with each area making a distinct
type of design. Weavers also produce shawls, wool brocades, and
velvet. Many decorative objects
are also made from gold, silver,
and copper.
295 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
66
35
TVs
Cars
41
Phones
13
NA
VCRs
PCs
161
Iraq
Land area rank
56
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
44
fewest people
most people (1)
T U R K E Y
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Mosel
M
E
SOUTH
AMERICA
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Karbala
JORDAN
miles
Ba'qubah
Al Hillah
Al Amarah
An Nasiriyah
Basra
100
KUWAIT Persian
Gulf
0 km 100
small, 36-mile (58-km) coastline on

the Persian Gulf. Iraq is divided into
four major physical areas.
The Northern Plain is located
IRA N
Baghdad
An Najaf
S A U D I
A R A B IA
Karkuk
between the Tigris and Euphrates

rivers. The land is dry and hilly,
with a top elevation of 1,000 feet
(300 m) above sea level. There are
many farms in this region.
The Southern Plain stretches
from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf in
the southeast. The delta between the
countrys two main rivers provides
fertile farming area. Many dams prevent the area from flooding. In the
extreme south, the land is swampy.
The mountains in the northeast
are part of a range that extends into
Turkey. The mountains are known
as Zagros in Iraq and Taurus in
Turkey. The peaks reach elevations
of 10,000 feet (3,000 m).
The western and southwestern
regions of Iraq are covered by
deserts. The Syrian Desert also
reaches into neighboring Saudi
Arabia, Jordan, and Syria. This area
receives about 5 inches (13 cm) of
rain each year.
Farms/cropland
12%
Permanent
pastures
9%
Oil
90%
Other
79%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$NA
162
es
Ar Ramadi
Syrian
Desert
Other 10%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
ia
80F/27C
15 in/38 cm
ph
rat
A N TA R C T I C A
Ancient palace of Nebuchadnezzar, Iraq
100F/38C
.
s R
Iraq is a triangle-shaped country in

the Middle East. It is almost completely landlocked, except for a
S Y R IA
R.
The Place
AUSTRALIA
Irbil
AFRICA
i
T i gr

EQUATOR
Iraq
(432,162 sq km)
Capital City: Baghdad
Largest City: Baghdad (3,236,000)
Unit of Money: Iraqi dinar
Major Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas,
phosphates
ASIA
Land Use
Iraq
The People
Due to the extreme conditions in
the northeast and southwest, about
three-quarters of the Iraqi people
live in the southern plain between
the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Many large cities are located in this
region, as well as the countrys capital, Baghdad.
About 75% of Iraqis live in urban
areas. This number has been increasing as more and more people leave
Persian 3%
Other 3%
Sunni
Muslim
34%
rural areas to look for jobs. This great

influx of people has created job and
housing shortages in many cities.
Middle-class urban dwellers work
mostly in offices or own their own
businesses. They usually live in apartment buildings. The wealthy live in
the suburbs and commute to the cities
to work in business or government.
Iraqis in rural areas mainly work
in agriculture. Many farmers lease
land from the government. Rural
Turkish 2%
Kurdish
16%
Shi'a
Muslim
63%
Major Religions
Education
Children in Iraq can attend school
for free. Primary school lasts for
6 years, and about 96% of the
children attend. About 47% of
secondary school-aged children go
to school. In several rural areas,
education facilities are not available.
About 14% of college-aged Iraqis
attend a university. There are 6 universities in the country, which are

Iraqis have a long tradition of creating beautiful arts and handicrafts.
The most well known are rugs and
Oil pumping stations, southern Iraq
Arab
79%
Ethnic Makeup
located in Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul,

Irbil, and Al Basrah.
(continued)
City bus, outside Baghdad
dwellers in the north live in stone

houses, while farmers in the south
live in mud and brick homes. A
small part of the population, such as
Bedouin nomads, herd animals such
as sheep and goats for a living.
The people of Iran are young,
with about 45% under the age of
15. The population is also increasing by more than 3% each year.
The life expectancy is 66 years.
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
58%

2,700 tanks
1 major ship
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
carpets. Many museums located

throughout the country are dedicated
to preserving Iraqi heritage and culture. Some of these establishments
include the Iraqi
Museum, the Babylon
Museum, the Iraqi
National History
Museum, and the
Mosul Museum.
Some popular
pastimes in the
country are soccer,
310 combat aircraft
backgammon, chess, and horse racing. Festivals and family celebrations

are also enjoyed.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
68
56
34
TVs
Cars
Phones
13
NA
VCRs
PCs
163
Ireland
Land area rank
121
Population rank
123
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
Nort
At a Glance
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Food
18%
0 in/0 cm
164
Average Rainfall
9 in/23 cm
Exports
$55 billion
AT
LA
Castlebar
Irish
Sea
Athlone
Dublin
no
nR
Galway
Sh
an
60F/16C
Manufactured
Other
goods
23%
5%
12 in/30 cm
IT
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
el
100F/38C
IN
Ireland is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean in northern

Europe. The Republic of Ireland is in the southern part of
the island and makes up about
85% of the land, and Northern
Ireland accounts for the rest.
Ireland has three main land
regions. The center of the country consists mostly of lowlands.
Much of the region is used as
farmland, and there are many
Fields in the Wicklow
Mountains
meadows and pastures. Some
other areas are wooded. Peat bogs, which cover about
10% of Ireland, are also found there.
The coastline is marked by many bays and inlets. The
River Shannon flows from the Shannon Bay and is the
countrys longest river at 230 miles (370 km). No part of
Ireland is more than 70 miles (110 km) from the ocean.
There are several mountains on the island. The
Mountains of Kerry in the northeast reach the countrys
highest point at 3,414 feet (1,014 m). Other ranges
include the Donegal Mountains in the northwest and
the Mountains of Mayo in the west.
NORTHERN
IRELAND
nn
Sligo
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
IC
SOUTH
AMERICA
hC
ha
Carlow
nn
Waterford
Killarney
ha
el
Limerick

EQUATOR
of Ireland
Continent: Europe
(68,890 sq km)
Capital City: Dublin
Largest City: Dublin (915,516)
Unit of Money: Irish pound
Major Languages: Irish and English (official)
Literacy: 99%
14% other
Natural Resources: Zinc, lead, natural gas
NORTH
AMERICA
Cork
St
.G
eo
rg
e'
0
0
miles
km
50
50
The People
A little more than half of the Irish population lives in
urban areas. Although most people live in houses, apartments are becoming more popular. Most houses are
made of brick or concrete. They range in size from 4 to
7 rooms. People in rural areas have also been converting
to these types of houses from the traditional thatchedroof cottages.
Employment plays a major role in the quality of life in
Ireland. The most common areas of employment include
manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
Unemployment, however,
affects about 12% of the
workforce. The government
has been working to solve
this problem, but many Irish
emigrate to Great Britain
and the United States.
The Roman Catholic
Church influences much of
Irelands way of life. Along
with the Church of Ireland,
Irish man
it controls most of the
countrys schools. The
Churchs views also influence many people. Life
Machinery and
transport
equipment
35%
Chemical
products
19%
Other 5%
Irish
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Anglican
3%
Other 4%
Roman
Catholic
93%
Major Religions
Israel
153
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)

100
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
Official Name: State of Israel

Continent: Asia
Capital City: Jerusalem
Largest City: Jerusalem (567,100)
Unit of Money: New Israeli shekel
Major Languages: Hebrew (official), Arab
Literacy: 95%
6% forest , 66% other
Natural Resources: Copper, phosphates, bromide
NORTH
AMERICA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
Sea of Galilee
Haifa
EQUATOR
Israel is a narrow country in

the Middle East. The western
coast fronts the Mediterranean
Sea for 170 miles (273 km).
The land is divided into four
main regions.
The Coastal Plain lies along
the Mediterranean Sea. This
narrow strip of land is fertile,
especially in the Plain of Sharon
in the central part of the
region. Many of the countrys Jerusalem, Israel
citrus crops grow there.
The Judeo-Galilean Highlands stretch from northern
Galilee to the desert are in the south. The countrys
highest point, 3,963-foot (1,208 m) Mount Meron, rises
in the north.
The Rift Valley is in eastern Israel and makes up part
of the continents Great Rift Valley. The Dead Sea, a
large saltwater lake, is the worlds lowest point at 1,310
feet (399 m) below sea level.
The Negev Desert, located in the south, is the countrys
driest region. The terrain is mostly mountains and flatlands, and is sometimes used for grazing animals.
100F/38C
Nahariyya
ASIA
SYRIA
GOLAN
HEIGHTS
AFRICA
The Place
0F/-18C
LEBANON
Mediterranean Sea
At a Glance
Nazareth
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Hadera
Nablus
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Bat Yam
Holon
Ashdod
A N TA R C T I C A
Ashqelon
The People
Gaza
GAZA
Petah Tiqwa
WEST
BANK
Jerusalem
Bethlehem
Hebron
Dead Sea
STRIP
The Israeli population is
Beersheba
overwhelmingly urban,
Dimona
with more than 90% of
Negev
the people living in urban
Desert
J ORD A N
areas. There are about
N
715 people per square
W
E
mile (272 people per sq
E G Y P T
km). The Mediterranean
S
coast is the most populated
0
miles 30
0 km 30
part of the country, and
Elat
Gulf of
the Negev Desert has the
Aqaba
fewest people.
Many urban residents live in apartments. Because
Israels cities are so crowded, housing shortages and
traffic congestion are common. Many cities have skyscrapers and modern buildings. In rural areas, many
people live on kibbutzim. These are government-run
communities in which people work together in agriculture or business, and receive free food, education, and
medical care. Life expectancy is 78 years.
More than 80%
Children in Jerusalem, Israel
of Israelis are Jews.
About 2.5 million
Jews have moved
to Israel since its
founding more
than 50 years ago.
The government
provides temporary
jobs and housing
for all new Jewish
immigrants.
Machinery and
Food, beverages
transport equipment
and tobacco
30%
4%
Other
19%
Rubber and
plastic
4%
Apparel
Diamonds
5%
26%
Chemical
products
Exports
19%
$21 billion
Christian 2%
Muslim
Other 2%
(mostly Sunni)
14%
Other
(mostly Arab)
18%
Jewish
82%
Ethnic Makeup
Judaism
82%
Major Religions
165
Italy
Land area rank
71
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
22
fewest people
most people (1)
AUSTRIA
SWITZERLAND
At a Glance
Trieste
Verona
Venice
Po
Milan
Official Name: Italian Republic

Continent: Europe
(294,020 sq km)
Capital City: Rome
EQUATOR
Largest City: Rome
(2,687,881)
Unit of Money: Italian lira
Major Languages: Italian
(official), French, German
Natural Resources: Mercury, potash, marble
Turin
FRANCE
Genova
SLOVENIA
Bologna
Florence
Ancona
EUROPE
Perugia
ASIA
Corsica
AFRICA
VATICAN CITY
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
166
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Ad
ri
at
ic
Se
Foggia
Bari
AUSTRALIA
Sassari
S a r di ni a
A N TA R C T I C A
Cagliari
0
miles
Naples
Salerno
Taranto
Ty r r h e n i an
Se a
100
0 km 100
Palermo
Mediterranean Sea
ALGERIA
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
BOSNIA
Rome
SOUTH
AMERICA
Italy is a boot-shaped country in

southern Europe. Its long peninsula
has coastlines on the Adriatic Sea to
the east and the Tyrrhenian Sea to
the west.
Italy is divided into eight main
land regions. The Alpine Slope
extends across the very top of the
country. This mountainous terrain
CROATIA
SAN MARINO
Pisa
NORTH
AMERICA
The Place
HUNGARY
Sicily
Reggio di
Calabria
Catania
N
W
E
S
TUNISIA
gives way to deep valleys.

Also in the north, the Po
Valley stretches almost
completely across the
country. It is Italys most
fertile land and the entire
region is farmed. To the
east lies the Adriatic Plain,
which is not suitable for
farming.
The Apennines
Grapes, vineyard, Northern Italy
begin in westcentral Italy and extend
north and fruit in the south. Apulia
down the middle of the
and the Southeastern Plains are
country, almost to the south- located at the southeastern tip of the
ern border. In the north, the
peninsula. This area produces Italys
land is forest and pasture.
olive oil.
The central Apennines are
Sicily, an island southwest of the
farmed. The Western Upland mainland, consists of mountains and
and Plains, to the west of the plains. It is the largest island in the
Apennines, stretch down to
Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia is to
Salerno. This agricultural
the west of Sicily and has a mounregion grows grain in the
tainous terrain as well.
Metal and
processed
metal
7%
Clothing
7%
Textiles
8%
Other
26%
Machinery
and transport
equipment
42%
Exports
$251 billion
Chemicals
10%
Other
21%
Forests
23%
Farms /
cropland
41%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures 15%
Italy
Venice waterway
The People
Italy has a fairly large population.
There are 505 people per square
mile (188 people per sq km). The
most crowded areas are the northwest cities of Liguiria and
Lombardy, and the southern region
of Campania. The mountain areas
of the north and south have the
fewest people.
More than 65% of Italians live in
cities. The north is

more industrialized and
has more urban areas
than the south. Most
people live in apartments that they buy
instead of renting.
Traffic and pollution
have become major
problems in most cities.
In rural areas, people
live in single-family
homes. Many people are leaving rural
areas to find employment in the
cities.
Families are very close, and most
children live with their parents until
they are married. Many women
work, and grandparents or public
day care centers care for the children. The Italian economy is
healthy, and many people have extra
incomes, because most Italians have
Education
Children between the ages of 6 and
14 are required to attend school.
About 90% of children go to public
school. Elementary school lasts for 5
years, and about 96% of the primary
school-aged children attend. Three
years of junior high school follow,
and about 80% of the children go to
class. There are several types of senior high schools, and most last for 4
or 5 years. All students who graduate

Sports are very popular in Italy.
Soccer and basketball are the countrys favorites, and most major cities
have their own professional teams.
Many Italians also play in their free
time. Some other popular sports
include baseball, fishing, skating,
and bicycling.
Italy is well known for its art.
Some famous Italian artists include
Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and
Michelangelo. Many of the countrys
(continued)
two jobs. The northern population is

the wealthiest, while people in the
southern tip of the country are the
poorest. Life expectancy is 79 years.
Sardinian
2%
Other 4%
Italian
94%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 2%
Roman
Catholic
98%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
97%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
from high school are entitled to

attend a university, and about 30%
choose to attend.
museums, such as the Uffizi Palace

and the Galleria dell Accademia, are
among the best known in the world.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
534
423
438
90
11
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
1,319 tanks
41 major ships
369 combat aircraft
Jamaica
Land area rank
162
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
135
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Jamaica

EQUATOR
(Caribbean)
(10,990 sq km)
Capital City: Kingston
Largest City: Kingston (524,683)
Unit of Money: Jamaican dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Creole
Literacy: 85%
meadow, 17% forest, 39% other
Natural Resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Government: Constitutional parliamentary democracy
C a r
i b b
e a
n
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
S e
a
AUSTRALIA
Falmouth
Montego Bay
E
S
Port Maria
A N TA R C T I C A
Savanna La Mar
Port Antonio
Mandeville
Spanish Town
May Pen
Kingston
Portmore
Port Morant
a r
i b
b e
a n
S e a
miles
km
30
30
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Most of the people are of African or mixed African and

European ancestry. Many Jamaicans are farm laborers,
while Afro-Europeans are generally businesspeople.
The Place
Some ethnic groups, such as Chinese, Indians, and
Syrians, also live in Jamaica. A large number of Chinese
Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea. It is a part of
the Greater Antilles, an island group in the West Indies. and Syrians are shopkeepers, and some Asians work on
farms. About 5% of Jamaicans are Rastafarians. People
Jamaica has 635 miles (1,022 km) of coastline.
in this religious and political group wear unique hairThe island can be divided into three main land
styles and consider Africa their spiritual home.
regions. The eastern part of Jamaica is quite mountainEducation is free for children ages 6 to 15. Most
ous. Blue Mountain Peak in the Blue Mountains is the
country's highest point at 7,402 feet (2,256 m) above sea Jamaicans attend primary school, and about two-thirds
go to high school. As educalevel. To the south, the terrain is mainly lowtion has increased in the black
lands along the coastal plains. The center of the
community, more Jamaicans
island has many hills and plateaus.
have moved into white collar
Jamaicas climate is warm and humid.
jobs and the standard of living
Temperatures in winter months average about
is becoming better. Migrant
75 F (24 C), while summer months are usually
workers in rural areas have
about 80 F (27 C). The island has two rainy
the lowest standard of living.
seasonsfrom May to June and from September
About half of the populato November. The mountains receive about 200
tion lives in urban areas. The
inches (510 cm) of rain annually, but the coast
Kingston man
population density in Jamaica
only gets about 30 inches (76 cm).
averages about 629 people per
The country has more than 200 different
square mile (243 people per sq km). About one-third of
species of flowering plants. Some of the more common
the population is under the age of 15. Life expectancy is
trees on the island include cedar, mahogany, rosewood,
75 years.
and coconut palm.
Machinery
2%
Other
21%
Chemicals
Crude
3%
materials
50%
Food
Beverages
20%
and tobacco
4%
Exports
$1 billion
168
Mixed
7%
Other 3%
Black
90%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
(including
spiritual
cults)
35%
Roman
Catholic
4%
Protestant
61%
Major Religions
Japan
Land area rank
61
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
At a Glance
CHINA
Official Name: Japan

Continent: Asia
(374,744 sq km)
Capital City: Tokyo
Largest City: Tokyo
(7,800,000)
Unit of Money: Yen
Major Languages: Japanese
(official)
Natural Resources: Fish
RUSSIA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Hokkaido
AFRICA
Sapporo
EQUATOR
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Hakodate
A N TA R C T I C A
NORTH
KOREA
S e a
o f
J a p a n
Akita
Sendai
Niigata
The Place
SOUTH
KOREA
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Nagano
Kanazawa
H o n s h u
Tokyo
Matsue
Chiba
Yokohama
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Kobe
Nagoya
Osaka
Kita-kyushu
Matsuyama
Fukuoka
Shikoku
Nagasaki
Kyushu
P A
Kagoshima
0
miles
100
I F
N
W
E
S
0 km 100
City street, Tokyo, Japan
Average Rainfall
Japan is a large archipelago off the

east coast of Asia. The country has
four main islands and more than
3,000 smaller ones. The islands cover
more than 1,700 miles (2,736 km) of
ocean from north to south. The
Pacific Ocean extends to the east
and the Sea of Japan to the west.
Honshu, the largest island,
measures 89,000 square miles
(230,510 sq km). Three parallel
mountain ranges extend across the
northern part of the island. To the
east, the Sendai Plain lies along the
Pacific Ocean. To the west of the
ranges, the Echigo Plain borders the
Sea of Japan. The Japanese Alps are in
the center of Honshu and reach the
country's highest point of 12,388 feet
(3,776 m) at Mount Fuji. Lying to the
east of the Alps is the Kanto Plain,
Japan's largest lowland area, where
many crops grow.
100F/38C
most people (1)
0 in/0 cm
169
Japan
(continued)
hills. A thin
peninsula
extends from
the southwestern part
of Hokkaido.
Above this
peninsula lies
the Ishikari
Plain. This
large lowland
region is used
mainly for
agriculture.
Kyushu
measures
14,114 square
miles (36,554
sq km). A mountain chain extends
down the center of the island and is
covered by a dense forest. Hills
Kyoto, Japan
Hokkaido is the country's second-largest island at 30,144 square

miles (78,073 sq km). Much of the
land is covered by mountains and
Electrical
machinery
26%
Other
44%
Motor
vehicles
12%
Chemicals
7%
Textiles
2%
Iron and
steel products
4%
Exports
$421 billion
Scientific and
optical equipment
5%
Other
19%
make up the northwest, and plains

lie in the western part of Kyushu.
Shikoku is the smallest of Japan's
main islands at 7,049 square miles
(18,256 sq km). The majority of the
land is mountainous, except for a
narrow plain that extends down the
southern coast.
Buddhist priests
Farms/cropland
12%
Permanent
pastures
2%
Forests
67%
Land Use
Resources
Farm land
Forests
Pastures
Other
Manufacturing
Textiles
Engineering
Chemicals
Sheep
Rice
The chemical industry plays an

important role in Japans economy.
170
Japan (continued)
History
The Yamato clan were the first
recorded rulers of Japan. They
loosely controlled other large families in the area around 400 C.E. The
area was influenced greatly by
China throughout the 700s, and set
up a similar court system. In 1192,
the Minamoto clan took power and
set up a military government. The
military dictator was called a
shogun. A line of shoguns ruled
Japan for the next 700 years.

In 1868, the shogun system was
overthrown and Emperor Meiji
took power. A parliamentary government was formed in 1889. In a
series of wars, Japan took over land
from neighboring countries in Asia,
which eventually led to World War
II. These aggressive conquests
ended when the United States
dropped the atomic bomb on Japan
in 1945, ending World War II.
Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy
Leader: Emperor/Prime Minister
Defense
1,160 tanks
81 major ships
450 combat aircraft
The People
About 80% of all Japanese live on
the island of Honshu. Most people
live in the mountain valleys. The
second-most-populated island is
Kyushu, home to 11% of the
Japanese people. Many cities are
located in the northwest. Hokkaido
is home to about 5% of Japanese.
Many of the island's residents work
in dairy farming, fishing, and
forestry. Only 3% of the population
lives on Shikoku. Most live in the
north, where the land meets the Sea
of Japan.
More than three-quarters of the
Japanese people live in urban areas.
Big cities, especially Tokyo, are
Grandfather with his grandson
Other 1%
Japanese
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
16%
Shinto and
Buddhist
84%
Major Religions
some of the most crowded places in

the world. The overall population
density in the country is 834 people
per square mile (333 people per sq
km). Most urban dwellers have a
high standard of living, and they live
in modern apartments or traditional
houses. Living space is limited
because real estate is very expensive.
City residents usually work in
offices, stores, and banks.
About one-quarter of the people
live in rural areas. Most rural
dwellers are farmers, but many must
work a second or third job to make
enough money to support their fam-
ilies. Along the coasts, some

Japanese also work in fishing. A typical rural family lives in a traditional
wooden house. Although these
houses are cheaper than city residences, they are still expensive.
Japanese women usually marry
around the age of 25 and have children soon after. They are expected to
stay home with the children and
care for the family. Many women
return to work when their children
are older, but earn less money and
receive fewer benefits than men
receive. Life expectancy is 80 years.
171
Japan
(continued)
Education
Education is a top priority in Japan.
Children attend 6 years of elementary school, usually followed by 3
years of junior high school. Almost
the entire primary school population goes to school, while about
96% of junior high school children
do. Students spend much of their
time in schoolthey even attend
schools for half a day on Saturday.
Their summer vacations last from
late July through August.
Many students study hard to
attend prestigious private high
schools. This education lasts for 3

years. If their grades are good
enough, they may attend one of
Japan's more than 500 universities.
A university student is evaluated
Agriculture 6% Government 3%
Utilities
7%
Literate
99%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

Sports are very popular in Japan.
Both children and adults throughout
the country enjoy participating in
and watching various events. Some
of the most popular sports include
baseball, gymnastics, tennis, bowling, and golf. Kendo, a native sport,
is a form of fencing that uses bamboo sticks. Martial arts, which
include judo, karate, and aikido, are
also widely practiced. Another popular sport, sumo, is a wrestling
match between men weighing as
much as 400 pounds.
In their free time, many Japanese
also enjoy reading, watching television, and going to the movies. There
are many festivals in the country.
The New Year's Festival is one of
the most popular, and people hold
large feasts for family and friends.
Many Japanese also like to travel and
frequently visit other countries.
Goods Ownership
610
per 1,000 people

555
386
283
NA
TVs
172
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
more by the quality of the school he

or she attends than by the grades
earned there. There are twice as
many male graduate students than
there are female.
Above: Woman in kimono

Below: Tea plantation
Industry
33%
Services
and trade
50%
Labor Force
Jordan
Land area rank
113
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
108
fewest people
most people (1)
LEBANON
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Jordan is in the Middle East, and shares borders with

Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. It is almost
completely surrounded, except for a 16-mile(26-km-) long coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba. The
country has 3 main land regions.
The Jordan River Valley begins south of the Sea of
Galilee and extends down to the Dead Sea. The Jordan
River flows through the valley and
empties into the sea. This area is very
hot, usually reaching more than 100F
(38 C) in summer months.
The Transjordan Plateau begins near
the Syrian border. The plateau is
shaped like a triangle, and narrows as
it extends southward. The terrain is
made up of hills that average 3,000
Syrian desert
feet (900 m) in elevation.
The Syrian Desert is located south and
east of the plateau. This area is very dry, with only about
10 inches (25 cm) of rainfall annually. Temperatures often
reach 120 F (49 C) in the summer.
Machinery
2%
Other
27%
rra
ite
M
Exports
$2 billion
IRAQ
Syrian
Desert
Irbid
Al Mafraq
Az Zarqa'
As Salt
ISRAEL
Amman
Dead
Sea
SAUDI ARABIA
Al Karak
N
W
EGYPT
Ma'an
S
0
Al 'Aqabah
miles
km
100
100
The People
Most of the population inhabits
the highlands in the northwest.
The country has a population
density of 160 people per square
mile (50 people per sq km).
About three-quarters of
Jordanians live in urban areas.
Many city people live in modern homes or apartments with
electricity and running water.
Although some areas are quite
crowded, living conditions are Jordanian girl
good. Many
urban dwellers work in industry and
services. Life expectancy is 73 years.
In rural areas, homes are made
from mud and stone, or concrete blocks.
Many rural dwellers are farmers, while
some work in mining and construction. A
small number of Jordanians are Bedouin
nomads. They wander the country with
herds of sheep and camels.
In their free time, many Jordanians
enjoy sports. Some popular athletics are basketball,
soccer, and martial arts. Folk dancescalled debkeand
family gatherings are also popular.
Chemical
products
26%
Re-exports
19%
Fruits,
vegetables,
and nuts 6%
Phosphate
fertilizers 10%
AUSTRALIA
ed
A N TA R C T I C A
nea
SOUTH
AMERICA
SYRIA
n R.
AFRICA
Jorda
n Se
a
ASIA
Official Name: Kingdom

EQUATOR
of Jordan
Continent: Asia
(Middle East)
(88,884 sq km)
Capital City: Amman
Largest City: Amman (965,000)
Unit of Money: Jordanian dinar
Major Languages: Arabic (official), English
Literacy: 83%
Land Use: 4% arable, 1% permanent crops; 9%
meadow, 1% forest, 85% other
Natural Resources: Phosphates, potash, shale oil
Potash 10%
Circassian
1%
Armenian 1%
Arab
98%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian 4%
Sunni Muslim
96%
Major Religions
173
Kazakhstan
land area rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
55
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
R U S S I A
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Kazakhstan
Continent: Asia
Area: 1,030,810 square
miles (2,669,800 sq km)
Capital City: Astana
Largest City: Almaty (1,176,000)
Unit of Money: Tenge
Major Languages: Russian (official), Kazakh (state)
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal,
iron ore
AFRICA
S
Rudnyy
AUSTRALIA
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other
43%
Coal 5%
Kzyl-Orda
Taldykorgan
Almaty
UZ
Shymkent
BE
KI
Oil and gas

condensate
24%
Exports
C H I N A
KYRGYZSTAN
ST
AN
TURKMENISTAN
$6 billion
174
Aqtau
west, the country has a 1,176-mile

(1,894-km) coastline on the Caspian
Sea and a 630-mile (1,015-km)
coastline on the Aral Sea.
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
Ust'-Kamenogorsk
L. Balqash
Aral
Sea
12 in/30 cm
Semipalatinsk
Qaraghandy
Aral'sk
Se
80F/27C
Atyrau
ian
15 in/38 cm
R.
Astana
Aktyubinsk
sp
Ca
100F/38C
Pavlodar
Ural R.
Ural'sk
A N TA R C T I C A
Kazakhstan, in mid-western Asia,

is the second-largest republic of
the former Soviet Union. In the
sh
ty
Ir
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
ga
Vol
miles
km 400
400
In western Kazakhstan, dry plains

and lowlands border the Caspian
Sea and extend to the Aral Sea in
the southwest. The country's lowest
point, the Karagiye Depression,
measures 433 feet (132 m) below sea
level. To the east, Kazakhstan is
mountainous. The Tian Shan
Mountains border China to the east,
and Altai Mountains border
Kyrgyzstan to the southeast. Mount
Tengri, part of the Tian Shan range,
is the country's highest point at
20,991 feet (6,398 m) above sea
level. The northern part of the
country has grassy plains, while vast
desert covers the south.
Kazakhstan has hot summers and
very cold winters. Temperatures reach
around 80 F (27 C) in summer and
just above 0 F (20 C) in winter. The
average annual rainfall varies between
4 and 16 inches (10 and 40 cm).
Forests
4%
Refined
copper
10%
Rolled
ferrous metal
10%
Grain 8%
Other
16%
Farms /
cropland
23%
Permanent
pastures
57%
Land Use
Kazakhstan
The People
Slightly more than half the population
lives in urban areas. City dwellers live
in modern houses or apartments.
Many women are employed outside
the home, and may work as teachers,
doctors, or sales clerks. About 42%
of Kazakhstanis live in rural areas.
They usually reside in houses in villages that do not have running water.
Many rural dwellers are farmers. A
small part of the population are
nomadic dwellers. They carry their
portable homes, called yurts, from
place to place.
Families are very important in
Education
Schooling is free in Kazakhstan, and
children between the ages of 7 and
17 are required to attend. Classes
are taught in both Kazakh and
Russian. Primary school lasts for
three years, and about 92% of the
children in that age group attend.
Secondary school begins at age 11
and lasts for 7 years. About 91% of
secondary school-aged children
Kazakhstan. Extended family members often live together, and one

household might include parents
and their sons, as well as their wives
and families.
Living conditions in Kazakhstan
Tatar 2%
Uzbek 2%
German
3%
Ukrainian
5%
have deteriorated since the break up

of the Soviet Union. Crime and
unemployment are common, and
many families are close to or below
the poverty line. Life expectancy is
64 years.
Other 7%
Russian
35%
(continued)
Protestant
2%
Kazakh
46%
Other 7%
Muslim
47%
Russian
Orthodox
44%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
attend. There are more than 50 colleges and universities in the country,
and about 8% of students attend.
The largest schools include Kazakh
State University and Qaraghandy
State University.
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
98%

624 tanks
0 major ships
Literacy
133 combat aircraft
Kazakhstani girl
U.S. rate = 97%

Kazakhstanis enjoy spending time
with family, and hold many gettogethers and celebrations. Singing
is also popular throughout the
country. Folk songs and legends
are especially loved, and they are
performed and recited for many
occasions. Singing competitions,
called aitys, are also held.
Sports are also a popular pastime.
Some favorites include soccer,
wrestling, horse racing, and skating.
Kokpar, a native game, involves

horseback riders competing to carry
a goat or sheep into a goal.
278
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
116
43
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
175
Kenya
Land area rank
47
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
36
fewest people
most people (1)
S U D A N
At a Glance
E T H IOP IA
EUROPE
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
176
O
N
Mombasa
0
0
miles
km
200
200
land regions. In the southeast, the

coastal area stretches along the
Indian Ocean. This narrow strip of
land has beaches, mangrove swamps,
and lagoons. Some small rain forests
cover the area, and coconut palms
and cashew trees also grow there.
The southern part of the region has

fertile farmland. The coastal area is
humid all year, and has an average
annual temperature of about 80 F
(27 C).
The plains account for about
three-quarters of Kenya and cover
the interior part of the country.
Slowly rising from the coast, the
land reaches and elevation of about
4,000 feet (1,200 m) above sea level.
The area is quite dry, and receives
between 10 to 30 inches (25 to 76
cm) of rain each year. The plains
have an average annual temperature
of about 70 F (21 C).
The highlands are in the southwestern part of the country and cover
almost one-quarter of Kenya. This is
the largest farming area in the country. The annual temperature is about
67 F (19 C). Mount Kenya, the
country's highest point and the continent's second-highest mountain,
reaches 17,058 feet (5,199 m) tall.
Tea
18%
Other
54%
0 in/0 cm
T A N Z A N I A
E
IN
IA
Farms / cropland
8%
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Nairobi
Kenya is a country on the mid-eastern coast of Africa. The eastern part

of the country includes a 333-mile(536-km) long coastline on the
Indian Ocean.
Kenya is divided into three main
Machakos
The Place
Ta
Rive
Lake
Victoria
Meru
Nyeri
Nakuru
S O M A L I A
Eldoret
Kisumu
A N TA R C T I C A
Marsabit
UGANDA
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
at Rif
t Valley
Lodwar
ASIA
AFRICA
Gre
NORTH
AMERICA

EQUATOR
of Kenya
Continent: Africa
Capital City: Nairobi
Largest City: Nairobi (1,346,000)
Unit of Money: Kenyan shilling
Major Languages: English and Swahili (both official)
Natural Resources: Gold, limestone, soda ash
Lake
Turkana
Exports
$2 billion
Other
25%
Coffee
15%
Fruits and
vegetables 5%
Petroleum
products 5%
Cement 2%
Hides and skins 1%
Forests
30%
Permanent
pastures
37%
Land Use
Kenya
Kenyan girl
The People
About 75% of Kenyans live in rural
areas. The country's population density is about 130 people per square
mile (48 people per sq km). Almost
three-quarters of Kenyans live in the
fertile highlands. The dry plains are
scarcely populated. They are home
mostly to nomads and shepherds.
Many of Kenya's rural dwellers
are farmers. They raise crops and
animals for their own food, and
some have extra to sell. Many
farmers also have

other jobs to earn
extra money. Most
rural farmers live in
mud houses with
thatched roofs. Many
Kenyans move to
cities to find better
paying jobs. Some city
dwellers work in
stores, factories, and
businesses. Cities often offer sturdier, more modern houses made
out of stone or cement.
The population is made up
almost entirely of black Africans,
who belong to almost 40 different
ethnic groups. Each group has its
own language. The Kikuyu, the
largest group, make up about 22%
of the population. Other large
groups include the Kalenjin, Kamba,
Luhya, and Luo.
Kenyas population is growing by
Education
Although Kenyan children are not
required by law to attend school,
most at least attend primary school.
Only about 25% of secondary
Many Kenyan parents send their
children to school with the hope
that they will have an easier time
finding work with an education.
Government-run schools
are free and are located in most
parts of the country. In areas with

Dancing is very popular in Kenya,
and people enjoy both participating
in and watching the performances.
There are many special dances that
are performed at specific occasions,
such as funerals, births, and marriages. Ethnic groups sometimes
hold dance competitions, and traditional dances are often a part of
national celebrations.
Sports are also a favorite pastime
(continued)
about 3% each year. Most women

have about 5 children. About 45% of
the population is under the age of 15.
Meru
6%
Kisii
6%
Other
16%
Kamba
11%
Kalenjin
12%
Kikuyu
22%
Luo
13%
Luhya
14%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 2%
Muslim 6%
Indigenous
beliefs
26%
Protestant
38%
Roman
Catholic
28%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
78%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
no government schools, harambee

or self help schoolshave been set
up by private citizens. These schools
charge a fee.
in the country. The two most popular sports are soccer and running.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
15
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Kenyan school, Nairobi
76 tanks
0 major ships
28 combat aircraft
Kiribati
189
Land area rank

smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

195
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
N
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of
Kiribati
Continent: Oceania
(717 sq km)
Population: 94,149
Capital City: Tarawa
Largest City: Tarawa (25,154)
Major Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 51% permanent crops, 3% forest, 46% other
Natural Resources: Phosphate
Defense: No budget, Australia and New Zealand
provide protection
AFRICA
E
S
Ter ai n a
Ta bua e ra n
Weston Point
SOUTH
AMERICA
b
il
AUSTRALIA
e
K irim a ti
(C hristm a s)
la
n
d
s
Temaraira
B an ab a
London
Is
Bairiki
Binoinano
A N TA R C T I C A
rt
Tekarahan
Tar awa
Nikumanu
Tanyah
s
l
Phoenix
Islands
a
n
d
Lakina
P A
C I F I
C
O C E A N
C a roline
V ostok
0
0
miles
km
500
F lint
500
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other 6%
Re-exports
27%
Average Rainfall
About one-third of the Kiribati population lives on the

island of Tarawa in the Gilbert chain. Most of these
people are concentrated near the administrative center
of Bairiki. To keep Tarawa from becoming overcrowded,
The Place
the government set up a relocation program to help
citizens settle on other islands. Within the last 15 years,
Kiribati is a group of 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean
many I-Kirbati have relocated to the Teraina and
located to the south of Hawaii. The islands cover about
Tabuaeran islands in the Line group.
2 million square miles (5 million sq km) of ocean. They
Almost 85% of I-Kiribati live
measure about 2,400 miles (3,900 km) from east
in rural areas. Most live in small
to west, and 1,300 miles (2,100 km) from north
I-Kiribati girl
villages that consist of about 100
to south.
homes. These houses are made
The islands are separated into three groups.
out of wood and leaves. Houses
There are 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba to the
made out of cement blocks, howwest. To the east lie 8 Line Islands. Between
ever, are becoming more popular.
these two groups is the Phoenix chain, which also
There is also a church and a
has 8 islands.
meeting house in each village.
Almost all of the Kiribati islands were formed
The church is the center of most
from coral reefs. Many are atolls, which are ringvillage activities.
shaped reefs with a lagoon in the center.
I-Kiribati live in large extended
Kiritimatione of the Line Islandsmeasures
families. Many villagers depend
235 square miles (609 sq km) and is the largest
on fishing for food and employatoll in the world. Most of the islands are lowment. They also grow bananas,
lands, with elevations less than 13 feet (4 m)
sweet potatoes, and other crops.
above sea level. Banaba has the highest elevation
at 266 feet (81 m) above sea level.
Seaweed
4%
Fish and fish
preparations
6%
Copra
63%
Exports
$7 million
178
Almost all
Micronesian
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
41%
Roman
Catholic
53%
Major Religions
Kuwait
Land area rank
157
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
144
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
I R A N
Official Name: State of Kuwait

EQUATOR
(17,820 sq km)
Capital City: Kuwait City
Largest City: Salmiya (130,215)
Unit of Money: Kuwaiti dinar
Literacy: 79%
Land Use: 8% meadow, 92% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, fish, shrimp,
natural gas
Government: Nominal constitutional monarchy
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
I R A Q
Bubiyan
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Kuwait City
AUSTRALIA
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Other 11%
Average Rainfall
Kuwait is in the Middle East, and is one of the regions

smaller countries. It measures 120 miles (200 km) from
north to south and 110 miles (170 km) from east to west.
To the east, 310 miles (499 km) of coastline front the
Persian Gulf. The country consists mostly of mainland,
but it also has several small islands in the gulf. The
largest island is Bubiyan, which is uninhabited. Faylakah
is the most important island, and it lies about 12 miles
(19 km) from the mainland.
Most of the mainland terrain is flat desert with occasional hills. The country's highest elevation is 1,000 feet
(305 m) above sea level. Its lowest point is sea level
along the coast.
Kuwaits climate is very hot
Kuwait City, Kuwait
from April to September.
Temperatures usually exceed 120
F (49 C). In January, the temperature drops to around 60 F
(16 C). The rainiest part of the
year is between December and
March, when about 6 inches of
precipitation falls.
As Salimiya
Persian
Gulf
Shu'aybah
N
W
S A U D I
A R A B I A
Mina Sa'ud
E
S
0
0
miles
km
25
Al Wafra
25
The People
Almost all of the Kuwaiti population is
urban. The majority of the people live
near or on the coast. Most people live
in and around Kuwait City. The average
population density is 300 people per
Because of solid profits from the
oil industry, Kuwait enjoys a healthy
economy. The government provides
free medical care to everyone in the
country, including foreign citizens. Life
expectancy is 77 years. To take advanKuwaiti Elder
tage of these good benefits and continuous work, many people have moved to Kuwait.
Palestinians have been the largest immigrant group,
although many left during the Persian Gulf
War in 1991. Because of this large influx of
foreigners, Kuwaitis have become a minority in their own country.
For the last 50 years, Kuwaiti women
have enjoyed more freedom and opportunities than women in other Middle
Eastern countries. Although they cannot
vote, Kuwaiti women earn college degrees
and work outside the home.
Iranian 4%
Other 7%
South
Asian
9%
Petroleum
89%
Hawalli
Al Fuhayhil
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
Al Jahrah
Faylakah
Other
Arab
35%
Kuwaiti
45%
Other 15%
Shi'a
Muslim
40%
Sunni
Muslim
45%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$15 billion
179
Kyrgyzstan
87
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)

113
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
K A Z A K H S T A N
ASIA
Official Name: Kyrgyz

EQUATOR
Republic
Continent: Asia
(191,300 sq km)
Capital City: Bishkek (known as Frunze)
Largest City: Bishkek (626,900)
Unit of Money: Som
Major Languages: Kyrgyz and Russian (both official)
Literacy: 97%
Land Use: 7% arable, 44% pasture, 4% forest,
45% other
Natural Resources: Gold, coal, natural gas, petroleum
AFRICA
Tokmak
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in central Asia. Its

neighbors include Kazakhstan to the north, China to the
east, Tajikistan to the south,
and Uzbekistan to the west.
Mountains cover about 95%
of Kyrgyzstan. About 75% of
the country is more than 4,950
feet (1,500 m) above sea level.
The Tien Shan Mountains
extend along Kyrgyzstan's
eastern border. There, Peak
Pobedy rises 24,406 feet
(7,439 m) above sea level, and
is the highest point in the country. The Alai Mountains
lie in the southeastern part of the country. Only about
15% of Kyrgyzstan lies less than 3,000 feet (915 m)
above sea level. The country's lowest point is KaraDarya, at 433 feet (132 m) in elevation.
The climate in Kyrgyzstan varies with altitude.
Summer temperatures in the valleys are warm, but the
mountains remain cool. In winter, the valleys are quite
cold, and the mountain air is below freezing.
Oil
and gas
10%
Machinery
11%
Other
21%
Exports
$506 million
180
h i z
Kirg
UZ
Range
Ysyk-kol
Balykchy
Karakol
Naryn
BE
KI
Naryn
ST
Dzhalal-Abad
AN
Osh
n
i e
a n
S h
C H I N A
N
W
T A J I K I S T A N
0
0
miles
km
100
100
The People
The way of life in Kyrgyzstan varies by ethnic group.
Kyrgyzstani make up about half of the population. They
are Muslims, and speak Kyrgyza Turkic language.
Most Kyrgyzstani live in rural areas and work as farmers
or herders. They are organized into tribes that are
further broken down into clans. Each clan consists of
descendants of an ancestor from the father's heritage.
Older clan members are respected and lead the tribe.
People often marry members of their clan, and extended
families live together
in one house. Homes
are usually made out
of mud bricks.
Ethnic Russians
are the second-largest
group and make up
about 18% of the
population. They
mainly live in urban
areas, and reside in
concrete apartments or
stucco homes. Many
Russians work in technology and industry.
Other ethnic groups in the country include Uzbeks,
Ukrainians, and Germans. Life expectancy is 64 years.
Food products
20%
Metals
18%
Bishkek
Talas
AUSTRALIA
Light
industrial
products
20%
Uzbek
13%
Russian
Orthodox
20%
Other
17%
Russian
18%
Kirghiz
52%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 5%
Muslim
75%
Major Religions
Laos
Land area rank
79
smallest country
largest country
102
Population rank
fewest people
most people
C H IN A
At a Glance
Phongsali
MY A N MA R
(BU RMA )
Luang
Namtha
Louangphrabang
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Xiangkhoang
AFRICA
E
T
Vientiane
e
g Riv
T H A IL A N D
A N TA R C T I C A
Savannakht
er
South
China
Sea
Saravan
Pakx
S
0
0
on
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Gulf of
Tonkin
Official Name: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic

Continent: Asia
(230,800 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Vientiane
Largest City: Vientiane
(377,409)
Unit of Money: New kip
Major Languages: Lao (official), French, English
Literacy: 57%
40% other
Natural Resources: Tin, timber, gypsum
Government: Communist state
miles
km
200
KAMPUCHEA
200
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Lao Soung
9%
Average Rainfall
More than 100 ethnic groups live in Laos, and they

have been divided into 3 main categories. The Lao
Loum, or lowland Loum, make up about 68% of the
The Place
population. They live in lower elevations and work in
wet-rice cultivation. The Lao Loum speak Tai languages.
Laos is a landlocked country in southeast Asia located
Some ethnic groups in this category include the ethnic
on the northwest part of the Indochinese Peninsula.
Lao, the Leu, and the Phu-tai.
Laos is about 670 miles (1,080 km) long, and 75 miles
The Lao Theung are the Lao of the mountain slopes.
(120 km) wide.
They live at higher elevations and engage in slash-andThere are three main land features in the country.
burn agriculturean
Mountains in northern Laos extend to the
ancient farming method in
southeast and form the Annam Highlands. This
tropical areas. The Lao
mountain chain has dense forests, and makes up
Theung speak Mon-Khmer
the countrys border with Vietnam. Laoss highlanguages, and include the
est point, Phou Bia, is in this range and reaches
Khamu, the Lamet, the
9,249 feet (2,819 m) high. In the south, the top
Laven, and the Sedang.
elevation reaches about 6,500 feet (1,980 m).
The Lao Soung, Lao of
The Mekong River flows through southwestthe mountaintops, account
ern Laos and makes up most of the countrys
for about 9% of Laotians.
border with Thailand. The narrow floodplains
They also practice slashthat surround the river are very fertile and used
and-burn farming. The
for agriculture.
Laotian girls
Lao Soung speak HmongHigh plateaus are located throughout the
Mien languages and
country. The 3 main areas include the Plain of
include the Hmong, Mien, Phu Noi, and Akha ethnic
Jars in the north, the Khammouan Plateau in central
groups. Life expectancy in Laos is 54 years.
Laos, and the Bolovens Plateau in the south.
Other
24%
Coffee
8%
Electricity
9%
Wood
products
39%
Exports
Garments
20%
Lao
Theung
22%
Other 1%
Lao
Loum
68%
Ethnic Makeup
Animist
and other
Buddhist
40%
60%
Major Religions
$313 million
181
Latvia
Land area rank
124
smallest country
largest country
Population rank
139
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
Official Name: Republic of Latvia
Continent: Europe
(64,100 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Riga
Largest City: Riga (856,281)
Unit of Money: Lat
Major Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian,
Russian
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 27% crops, 13% permanent pasture,
46% forest, 14% woodland
Natural Resources: amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Lake
P e ip us
Baltic
Sea
ESTONIA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Valmiera
Aluksne
Riga
Kuldiga
Jelgava
Liepaja
A N TA R C T I C A
AUSTRALIA
We
ster
nD
vin
a
Jekabpils
Riv
er
Rezekne
Daugavpils
LITHUANIA
W
SSI
Gu lf of
Riga
Ventspils
SOUTH
AMERICA
RU
AFRICA
E
0
miles
km
50
BELARUS
50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Latvia is an urban countryalmost three-quarters

of the population live in cities. Almost one-third of
Latvians live in the capital city, Riga. Many other urban
The Place
areas are located on the coast and along rivers. The
population density averages about 95 people per square
Latvia is in northern Europe, and has 330 miles (530 km)
mile (37 people per sq km).
of coastline with sandy beaches. In the north, the coast
The population is decreasing by about 1.5% each
fronts the Gulf of Riga. The southwestern coastline
year. The death rate in Latvia is twice as high as the birth
opens to the Baltic Sea.
rate. Women have an average of
Most of Latvia consists of a low-lying plain.
1 child. The life expectancy is
In the east, a highland area is the largest section Apartment building, Riga, Latvia
67 years.
of land in the Baltic states with an elevation
Latvians only make up about
more than 660 feet (200 m) above sea level. The
57% of the population, and are
highest point in Latvia is Gaizinkalns at 1,023
a minority in the countrys capifeet (312 m). Almost half the country is forested,
tal. Other ethnic groups in
with the densest woods in the north. Some comLatvia include Russians,
mon tree species include pine, spruce, birch, and
Byelorussians, and Ukrainians.
aspen. Other landscape features include marshes,
Despite other influences,
peat bogs, meadows, and lakes.
Latvians have strong ties to
Western Latvia has mild winters and cool
their culture. The people keep
summers. The east is characterized by cold
their rich folklore alive by
winters and warm summers. Annual rainfall
telling legends and poems, and
averages between 22 and 31 inches (55 and
by singing folk songs. Much of
78 cm), and the rainiest months are July and
the Latvian folklore is about
August. The higher altitudes receive the most
family, the seasons, and myths.
precipitation.
Other
33%
Machinery
and apparatus
10%
Forestry
products
24%
Textiles
17%
Exports
$1 billion
182
Food and
agricultural
products 16%
Ukrainian
3%
Other 6%
Russian
30%
Latvian
57%
Byelorussian
4%
Ethnic Makeup
Lutheran,
Roman Catholic,
Russian Orthodox
Major Religions
Lebanon
Land area rank
163
smallest country
largest country
Population rank
125
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Tripoli
ve
Al Hirmil
ro
ra
ne
AUSTRALIA
nt
an
SOUTH
AMERICA
es
Ri
ea
AFRICA
ASIA
er
Ba'labakk
it
Juniyah
Beirut
Zahlah
l
l
S Y R I A
a
a
Lit
e
Sidon
an
Baabda e r
iv
R
ed
A N TA R C T I C A

EQUATOR
Lebanon
(10,400 sq km)
Capital City: Beirut
Largest City: Beirut (1,500,000)
Unit of Money: Lebanese pound
Major Languages: Arabic (official), French, Armenian
Literacy: 86%
Natural Resources: limestone, iron ore, salt
Tyre
W
0
0
miles
km
20
20
ISRAEL
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Lebanon has a fairly high population density of 897

people per square mile (346 people per sq km). The
majority of people live along the coast and on the westThe Place
ern slopes of the Lebanon Mountains. Approximately
85% of Lebanese live in urban areas.
Lebanon is a long, narrow country on the western coast
Religion plays a major role in Lebanese culture and
of the Middle East. It measures 135 miles (217 km) from
government. Under the countrys confessionalism
north to south , and 50 miles (80 km) from east to west.
policy, each citizens
A 140-mile- (225-km) long coastline
religion is coded on a
fronts the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
mandatory identification
Lebanon is divided into four parallel
card.
strips of land that extend from northeast
Social classes are
to southwest. In the west, a narrow
separated by large
coastal plain runs along the
economic gaps. The
Mediterranean Sea. The land rises
civil war between the
up from the plains into the Lebanon
Muslims and the
Mountains. There, the countrys highest
Christians in 1975
point, Qurnat as Sawda, reaches 10,131
increased these differfeet (3,088 m) high. To the east of the
ences. Educated
mountains is the fertile Bekaa Valley. The
Lebanon cyprus tree
Christians and Sunni
Anti-Lebanon Mountains lie long the
Muslims account for
countrys eastern border with Syria.
most of the upper and middle classes. About 30% of the
Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the chain with an
population lives in poverty and poor living conditions.
Shiite Muslims make up the majority of this group.
Much of the country has warm summers and cool
Palestinian refugees live in large camps and are not
winters. Temperatures and rainfall vary by location
citizens. Life expectancy is 71 years.
and elevation.
Fibers and fiber
products
ReOther
8%
17% exports
28%
Machinery
Paper
10%
products
22%
Food
and live
animals 15% Exports
$1 billion
Armenian Other 1%
4%
Christian
30%
Arab
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
70%
Major Religions
183
Lesotho
Land area rank
139
smallest country
largest country
Population rank
140
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
S OU T H
A F R IC A
N
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA

Lesotho
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(30,350 sq km)
Capital City: Maseru
Largest City: Maseru (45,000)
Unit of Money: Loti
Major Languages: Sesotho and English
(both official), Zulu
Literacy: 71%
Natural Resources: Diamonds, water, agricultural land
Government: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
ASIA
AFRICA
Leribe
S
SOUTH
AMERICA
Teyateyaneng
AUSTRALIA
Mokhotlong
Maseru
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
184
Mohales
Hoek
Or
r
a n ge R i v e
Quthing
A F RICA
miles
km
50
50
The People
Almost the entire Lesotho population is black Africans,
known as the Basotho. Most people live in villages of
less than 200 people. Villages include a meeting place
for the men, a church, and a school. Families build their
huts around their cattle pens. Homes are usually made
out of mud or sod and have thatched roofs. Some
wealthy Basotho live in stone houses. Most villagers
paint designs on their doors.
Most Basotho are farmers who raise crops and
livestock on the land around the village.
The village land is owned by
everyone, and the village chief
assigns a plot to each person.
Farmers with the most cattle
are considered wealthy. Women
do most of the demanding
work, such as planting and
harvesting crops, building
the home, and cooking.
The men plow the fields
and tend to the animals.
Almost half of the male
population travels into South
Africa in search of work. Life
Wool 5%
Other
19%
Food
and live
Clothing
animals
55%
6%
Footwear
7%
Furniture 8% Exports
$218 million
S OU T H
0
Other 1%
Average Rainfall
Lesotho is a small landlocked country in southern

Africa. It is completely surrounded by South Africa, and
is approximately 200 miles (320
km) west of the Indian Ocean.
About two-thirds of this
rugged country is made up of
mountains. The Drakensberg
range forms the countrys eastern
border. The countrys highest
peak, Mount Ntlenyana, reaches
an elevation of 11,424 feet (3,482
m). The Maloti Spurs join the
range in the north and form a
plateau. This plateau ranges from
9,000 to 10,500 feet (2,700 to 3,200 m) in elevation, and
is the source of two of South Africas main rivers. The
Tugela River flows to the east and the Orange River
flows to the West.
In the west, the mountains lower to foothills with
elevations of about 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The land
eventually becomes a plain with a maximum elevation
of about 6,000 feet (1,800 m).
Mafeteng
Sotho
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous beliefs
20%
Christian
80%
Major Religions
Liberia
Land area rank
108
smallest country
largest country
Population rank
131
fewest people
most people
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
GUINEA
ASIA
Official Name: The

EQUATOR
Republic of Liberia
Continent: Africa
(96,320 sq km)
Capital City: Monrovia
Largest City: Monrovia (421,058)
Unit of Money: Liberian dollar
Literacy: 38%
59% meadows, 18% forest, 19% other
Natural Resources: Iron ore, timber, diamonds
SIERRA LEONE
AFRICA
Zelimai
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Tubmanburg
Iron ore
55%
Exports
$667 million
Indigenous
African tribes
95%
Ethnic Makeup
0
0
IC
miles
km
ve
ve
Ri
os
st
St
CTE D'IVOIRE
Zwedru
av
al
Buchanan
Greenville
100
Harper
100
The People
The vast majority of Liberians are black Africans, and
can be divided into two main groups. Native Africans
have ancestors who have lived
in the country for hundreds of
years. Americo-Liberians are
descendents of African
Americans from the United
States who returned to Africa
in the 1800s. The native
Africans account for about
95% of the population. They
can be divided into 16 different
ethnic groups, such as the
Kpelle in central Liberia and
the Bassa who inhabit the
coast. Some smaller groups
include the Gio, Kru, Mandingo, and Krahn. Each
ethnic group has its own customs, languages, and territory. Americo-Liberians make up the remaining 5% of
the population and live mostly in coastal towns.
A little less than half of Liberians live in urban areas.
In cities, most people live in small houses and have
electricity. In rural areas, people live in
small villages without electricity or
39 in/100 cm
running water. Life expectancy is
32 in/81 cm
60 years.
Christian
10%
Muslim
20%
Indigenous
beliefs
70%
Major Religions
Rubber
28%
Harbel
River
Logs and
timber
8%
Americo-Liberian 5%
h
Jo
Gold 2%
Other 5%
Diamonds 2%
Gbarnga
Liberia is on Africas west coast. A

360-mile- (579-km) long coastline
fronts the Atlantic Ocean. This
lowland area has sandy beaches
with lagoons and mangrove
swamps.
East of the lowlands, a strip of
low hills extends from north to
south. Further inland, the land
rises to about 2,000 feet (600 m)
in elevation. This area includes
Liberian girl
the Bomi Hills and the Bong
Range. At higher elevations, the region has dense evergreen and deciduous forests. Some tree species include
mahogany, camwood, whismore, and red ironwood. The
valleys are grassy with scattered trees. The countrys
highest peak is Mount Nimba at 4,540 feet (1,380 m) at
Guest House Hill.
In the east, one of Liberias most important rivers
the Cavallaforms the countrys border with the Cote
dIvoire. Other rivers that cross the country from east to
west are the St. Paul, the Cestos, and the St. John.
ul
Monrovia
The Place
a
.P
Ce
St
A N TA R C T I C A
e
Riv
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
At a Glance
0 in/0 cm
185
Libya
17
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country
106
Population rank
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
TUNISIA
Official Name: Socialist

Peoples Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(1,759,540 sq km)
Capital City: Tripoli
Largest City: Tripoli (858,000)
Unit of Money: Libyan dinar
Major Languages: Arabic (official), Italian, English
Literacy: 76%
Natural Resources: Crude oil, natural gas, gypsum
Government: Jamahiriya
Mediterranean Sea
Tripoli
Al Khums
Az Zawiyah
Surt
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Darnah
Banghazi
Misratah
Gharyan
Tobruk
Ajdabiya
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Sabha
AUSTRALIA
Marzuq
S a h a r a
EGYPT
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Crude petroleum
100%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$9 billion
186
N
W
N I G E R
E
0
0
miles
km
200
SUDAN
C H A D
200
The People
Although the population density is just 8 people per
square mile (3 people per sq km), towns and cities are
fairly crowded. To avoid harsh desert conditions, about
80% of Libyans crowd along the Mediterranean coast.
This area is also important
for agriculture, which
employs about 18% of the
population.
About 85% of Libyans
live in urban areas. This
number has been slowly
increasing for the last 50
years. The big cities have
skyscrapers and apartment
buildings. Many neighborhoods are crowded, and
usually immediate family
members live together.
Urban dwellers may work in industry, services, or
government. Life expectancy is 76 years.
In rural areas, most people live in small villages.
Their homes are made from stone or brick. Many
homes have just one room. It is also common for
extended families to share the same home. Some rural
dwellers are nomads, who constantly move their flocks
to find green pastures.
Other 3%
Average Rainfall
Libya is in North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Niger

and Chad to the south, and Sudan
and Egypt to the East. Its 1,100-mile
(1,770-km) coastline in fronts the
Mediterranean Sea in the north.
The Saharathe worlds largest
desertcovers approximately 95%
of the country. The Libyan Desert
begins in the middle of Libya and
extends to the eastern border.
Interior Libya has large sand dunes.
The land slowly rises from north to Libyan friends, Tripoli
south, and mountains form part of
the countrys southern border. Bette Peak is Libyas
highest elevation at 7,500 feet (2,286 m).
The temperatures in the desert fluctuate greatly each
day. During the daytime, temperatures average about
100 F (38 C), but at night they fall to around 50 F
(10 C). Along the coast, the climate has warm summers
and cool winters. Winters average about 50 F (10 C),
and summers are around 80 F (26 C).
Al Jawf
A L G E R I A
Berber
and Arab
97%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 3%
Sunni Muslim
97%
Major Religions
Liechtenstein
Land area rank
220
Population rank
213
smallest country
largest country
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
Ri
ve
r
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Principality of

EQUATOR
Liechtenstein
Continent: Europe
Population: 32,207
Capital City: Vaduz
Largest City: Schaan (5,143)
Unit of Money: Swiss franc
Major Languages: German (official)
Literacy: 100%
25% other
Natural Resources: Hydroelectric potential
Government: Hereditary constitutional monarchy
Defense: Small police force; no army
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Liechtenstein is a tiny country in central Europe. It is

landlocked, and completely surrounded by Switzerland to
the west and Austria to the east. It is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the worldit
is surrounded by landlocked countries.
Farm girl in the alps
The Rhine River makes up
Liechtensteins western border. This
river drains most of the country. The
narrow piece of land that borders the
river to the east has rich soil and is
used for farming.
The Rhatikon Massifpart of the
Swiss Alpsdominates the eastern
two-thirds of Liechtenstein. The land
ranges in elevation from 5,900 to 8,600
feet (1,800 to 2,623 m). The slopes
have evergreen forests and majestic
snow-capped peaks.
Liechtenstein has cold winters,
with temperatures averaging about
5 F (-15 C). The mild summers
rarely exceed 82 F (28 C).
100F/38C
Exports
E
S
Eschen
A U STRIA
Schaan
S W IT Z E R L A N D
Vaduz
Triesen
Balzers
0
0
miles
km
The People
The people of Liechtenstein are overwhelmingly
urbanmore than 85% live in cities. The population
density averages 495 people per square mile (198 people
per sq km). Although agriculture was once the main
source of income for many Lichtensteiners, today it only
accounts for about 10% of the work force. Industry and
services employ most people now.
Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, and its
citizens enjoy a high standard of
living. Many foreignersalmost
35% of the populationcome to
the country to benefit from its
financial stability. The state welfare system provides good benefits,
and the healthcare system offers
advanced care. Schooling is free
and required for 8 years.
The population increases by
about 1% every year. Women have
an average of 1.6 children, and
about 20% of the population is
under the age of 15. The life
expectancy is 75 years for men and
80 years for women.
Chemical
products
Other
8%
16%
Other
Machinery
finished
47%
goods
12%
Metal
products
17%
Rhi
ne
SOUTH
AMERICA
Ruggell
Other 12%
Alemannic
88%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
7%
Other 13%
Roman
Catholic
80%
Major Religions
$2 billion
187
Lithuania
122
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country
Population rank
126
fewest people
most people
At a Glance
Gulf of
Riga
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Lithuania
Continent: Europe
(65,200 sq km)
Capital City: Vilnius
Largest City: Vilnius (575,700)
Unit of Money: Litas
Major Languages: Lithuanian (official), Russian,
Polish
Literacy: 98%
Natural Resources: Peat
LATVIA
AFRICA
E
S
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
188
Average Rainfall
Lithuania, in northern Europe, is the largest of the

Baltic States. It shares borders with Latvia to the north,
Belarus to the east, and Poland and the
Russian Federation to the south. To the
west, Lithuania has 61 miles (99 km) of
coastline on the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania consists mostly of a low-lying
plainalmost the entire country is below
660 feet (200 m) in elevation. The land
along the coast is at sea level. The central
lowlands rise to highlands in the east and
southeast. The highest point is Juazapines
near the countrys southeastern border. It
measures 964 feet (294 m) high. The
southeast also has dense forests, with oak
Vilnius, Lithuania
and pine trees.
There are more than 3,000 small lakes
in Lithuania. The country also has many rivers. The
Neman River is the countrys largest, and it flows
westward from Belarus to the Baltic Sea.
Prepared
foods
6%
Other Textiles
27% 15%
Base metals
9%
Exports
$3 billion
Siauliai
Panevezys
N e m a n R i v er
Kaunas
Vilnius
RUSSIA
(Kaliningrad Oblast)
Alytus
0
0
miles
km
BELARUS
POLAND
50
50
The People
Lithuanians make up about 80% of the countrys
population. Other ethnic groups in Lithuania include
Russians, Polish, and Byelorussians. There is very little
ethnic tension. Most residents are Roman Catholic.
About 70% of Lithuanians live in urban areas.
The population density is 150 people per square mile
(55 people per sq km). Most people work in industry,
construction, agriculture, and forestry. The
economy is stable, and
the traders in the
capital city, Vilnius, are
quite wealthy. The elite
can afford expensive
luxury items.
The countrys health
care system is adequate.
There is 1 doctor for
every 230 people.
Growing water and air
pollution are problems
and have caused an
increase in respiratory diseases and cancer. Life expectancy
is 69 years. The population grows by about 1% each year.
Education is required between the ages of 6 and 16.
Chemicals
12%
Mineral
products
12%
Live
animals
8%
Klaipda
Baltic
Sea
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Birzal
Telsiai
Machinery
11%
Polish
8%
Russian
9%
Other 3%
Lithuanian
80%
Ethnic Makeup
Mostly
Roman Catholic,
Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox
Major Religions
Luxembourg
Land area rank
177
smallest country
most people
At a Glance
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
Ptange
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Luxembourg
le
Ri
ve
Differdange
Esch
A N TA R C T I C A
FRANCE
Dudelange
0
0
miles
km
20
20
The People
Almost 90% of Luxembourgers live in urban areas. The
majority reside in the south, which is more developed
and industrialized than the north. The countrys population density averages 403 people per square mile (164
people per sq km). The busiest area is in the south center
around the capital city. Other urban dwellers live in
smaller towns. Because of the heavy concentration of
people in the southwest, the government has tried to
relocate some industries
to rural areas to balance
the population. In the
rural north, people live in
small villages. Their
houses are traditionally
made of stone.
Approximately 37%
of the Luxembourg
population is foreignborn. The most common
ethnic groups include
Portuguese, Italians, and
French. The country has a very low birthrate, and the
native-born population cannot keep up with the available
jobs. Most people are employed in trade, government,
and industry. Life expectancy is 78 years.
Chemicals
5%
Food
7%
Textiles
7%
Grevenmacher
AUSTRALIA
Other 12%
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
Echternach
.
tte R
AFRICA
Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in western

Europe. It is bordered by France to the south, Belgium
to the west, and Germany to the east.
The country is divided into two main land areas. The
northern third of Luxembourg is called the Osling. It
consists of the Ardennes Mountains that
extend from southern Belgium. This
plateau averages about 1,500 feet (450
m) in elevation and has dense forests.
The rest of the country is called the
Bon Pays or Gutland. This translates in
to good land in French and German
respectively. This region has a lower
elevation of about 800 feet (243 m).
The Alzette Rivers flows northward
through the center of the Bon Pays.
The Our, Sre, and Moselle rivers make Luxembourg tourists
up Luxembourgs border with Germany.
The fertile river valleys have rich pastures. The slopes
of the Moselle River are also covered with vineyards.
The Mullerthal is a giant beech tree forest in the
eastern-central region.
12 in/30 cm
i
re R ver
Alze
ASIA
The Place
15 in/38 cm
Diekirch
EUROPE
SOUTH
AMERICA
80F/27C
GERMANY
er
Clervaux
NORTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Our Riv
BELGIUM
Official Name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Continent: Europe
Area: 998 square miles (2,586 sq km)
Population: 442,972
Capital City: Luxembourg
Largest City: Luxembourg (76,446)
Unit of Money: Luxembourg franc
EQUATOR
Major Languages: Luxembourgian
(official), French, German, English
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 24% arable, 1% permanent
crops, 20% meadows, 21% forest, 34% other
Natural Resources: Iron ore
se
fewest people
largest country
168
Mo
Population rank
Plastics
14%
Portugese, Italian,
French and Other
37%
Luxembourgers
63%
Machinery
55%
Exports
Protestant
and Jewish 3%
Roman
Catholic
97%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$7 billion
189
Macedonia
Land area rank
149
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

143
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Former Yugoslav

EQUATOR
Republic of Macedonia
Continent: Europe
(25,333 sq km)
Capital City: Skopje
Largest City: Skopje (444,229)
Unit of Money: Macedonian denar
Major Languages: Macedonian (official), Albanian
Literacy: 89%
25% permanent pastures, 39% forests, 10% other
Natural Resources: Chrome, lead, zinc
Government: emerging democracy
YUGOSLAVIA
BULGARIA
AFRICA
Kumanovo
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Skopje
Tetovo
A N TA R C T I C A
Titov Veles
Gostivar
Va
r
da
r
R
iv
er
Prilep
Lake
Dojran
ALBANIA
Lake
Ohrid
Bitola
W
miles
20
Lake
Prespa
GREECE
S
0 km 20
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
190
Average Rainfall
Macedonia has two major ethnic groups. Macedonian

Slavs make up about 65% of the population. They speak
Macedonian and are Orthodox Christians. About 22%
The Place
of the population is ethnic Albanian. They speak
Albanian and are Muslim. Life expectancy is 73 for all
Macedonia is a landlocked, mountainous country in
groups.
southeastern Europe. Many of its mountains rise to
Macedonia has a population density of 202 people
more than 8,000 feet (2,500 meters). Mount Korabit is
per square mile (78 people per sq km). Population
the countrys highest peak at 9,026 feet (2,751 meters).
growth is low at 0.6%. About 61% of the countrys
Beech, oak, and pine forests cover 39% of the land.
people live in urban areas in apartments and high-rise
About 25% of the land is used for farming. The counbuildings. The rest of the people live in stone or brick
trys main crops are corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat.
houses in rural villages.
Macedonias three largest
Ancient monastery, Orchid, Macedonia
About 40% of
lakes are Ohrid, Prespa, and
Macedonians work in
Doiran. Its longest river
industry, and less than
Vardarbisects the country.
10% in agriculture.
Summers in Macedonia are
Other Macedonians work
hot in the mountain valleys
in service industries, such
and cool in higher elevations.
as government, health
Winters are cold and snowy.
care, and trade.
The average temperature in
Macedonia has a
the summer is 75 F (24 C),
diverse cultural life. Folk
and 34 F (1 C) in the winter.
music draws on Byzantine,
Skopje, the capital, averages
Muslim, and Middle
about 21 inches (55 centimeEastern traditions.
ters) of rainfall a year.
Other
Chemical
27%
products
6%
Raw
materials
8%
Food
products 11% Exports
$1 billion
Manufactured
products
35%
Machinery
13%
Serb 2%
Other 4%
Gypsies 3%
Turkish
4%
Albanian
22% Macedonian
65%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 3%
Muslim
30%
Eastern
Orthodox
67%
Major Religions
Madagascar
Land area rank
46
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
58
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
COMOROS
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Antsiranana
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Madagascar
Continent: Africa
(587,040 sq km)
Capital City: Antananarivo
Largest City: Antananarivo (1,000,000)
Unit of Money: Malagasy franc
Major Languages: Malagasy and French
(both official)
Natural Resources: Graphite, chromite, coal
AFRICA
el
ha
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
qu
bi
am
M
Antsirabe
R.
g o ky
oz
M ania R.
Morondava
M an
Fianarantsoa
I A
Toliara
miles
km 200
200
Tolanaro
O n i l a hy R .
fourth-largest island in the world.

The northern region of
Madagascar has fertile soil and is separated from the rest of the island by
mountains. Western Madagascar has

wide plains and fertile river valleys,
while the east features a narrow plain
along the coast. The southern end of
the island is mainly desert. Central
Madagascar is the islands highest
area; its highlands rise to altitudes of
2,000 to 4,000 feet (610 to 1,200 m).
This part of the country has been
deforested to make room for raising
crops and cattle. Madagascars major
rivers are the Betsiboka, Mania,
Mangoky, and Onilahy.
The climate is warm and humid
in coastal areas, hot and dry in the
south, and cool in the highlands.
Madagascar has many types of
plants and animals that cannot be
found anywhere else in the world.
Some 1,000 orchid species grow in
eastern Madagascar. Several varieties of baobab trees flourish in the
drier interior areas. The worlds
smallest mammal, the dwarf lemur,
is native to the island.
Farms / cropland
5%
Average Rainfall
Madagascar is about 240 miles (386

km) off the southeastern coast of
Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is the
Tomasina
Baobab trees
The Place
Antananarivo
BI
ok a R .
Mahajanga
t si b
ZA
Be
A N TA R C T I C A
nn
AUSTRALIA
C E
A N
SOUTH
AMERICA
Other
44%
Sugar 2%
Cotton fabrics
3%
Other
14%
Coffee
18%
Vanilla
17%
Shrimp
13%
Exports
$493 million
Cloves and
clove oil
3%
Forests
40%
Permanent
pastures
41%
Land Use
191
Madagascar
(continued)
The People
Madagascar is populated by several
ethnic groups of mixed Indonesian
and black African descent. People
living in the highlands are most
closely related to Indonesians.
Muslim 7%
Christian
41%
Indigenous
beliefs
52%
Major Religions
Mostly
Malayo-Indonesian
Ethnic Makeup
Rickshaw in Madagascar market
Those on the coast are more closely

related to black Africans.
The people of Madagascar are
called Malagasy. Most Malagasy
wear European-style clothing. Each
region, however, has a distinctive
straw hat that the people wear on
special occasions.
Most houses are built of brick
and have tile or thatched roofs.
The population grows at an
annual rate of about 2.8%. The
islands population density is 67

per sq km). Upland areas are more
densely populated than coastal
regions. Those living in the highland areas have higher incomes than
people living on the coast. Life
expectancy is 55 years for women
and 52 years for men.
Much of Madagascars economy is
based on agriculture. The country is
the worlds largest vanilla exporter.
Education
Most Malagasy children attend primary schools, and about 20% attend
high school. Students are required to
go to school for 5 years. Although
there are some public schools,
Protestant and Catholic missions
also educate many young people.
The University of Antananarivo,
founded in 1961, is Madagascars
major university. About 4% of the
countrys students continue on to
higher education.

Madagascar has a thriving woodcarving industry. Natives are known
Malagasy traveling through the desert
Government
Literate
80%
Type: Republic
Defense
Literacy
NA army personnel
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
Madagascar has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. About

80% of the population can read and
write.
for crafting detailed tombs and furniture. Embroidery, sewing, and
dressmaking are popular activities
for many women.
Madagascars main museums are
the Historical Museum and the universitys Museum of Art in
Antananarivo.
Malagasy believe it is very important to pay homage to the dead.
They spend time caring for their
ancestors gravesites. Some gravesites
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
look like small houses. Some Malagasy

even perform cattle sacrifices at
family tombs to honor ancestors.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
20
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Malawi
Land area rank
109
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
70
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Karonga
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Mzuzu
ASIA
AFRICA
Z A M B IA
SOUTH
AMERICA
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
E
S
Kasungu
M OZA M BIQU E
Lilongwe
Zoma
mile (837-km ) long and 50- to 100mile (80- to 160-km ) wide plateau.
Malawi has fertile soil, with about
one-third of it used for growing
crops. Mountains, grasslands,
forests, and savanna cover most of
Cotton
1%
Tea
7%
Other
22%
e
ir
am
be
zi
Blantyre
Sh
Ri
ve
A N TA R C T I C A
Fishing village, Malawi
Malawi is a small, landlocked country

in southeastern Africa. Its neighbors
are Tanzania, Mozambique, and
Zambia. The Great Rift Valley also
borders the country, which is a 520-
Nkhotakota
AUSTRALIA
Z IM B A B W E
The Place
T A N ZA N IA
asa
Lake Ny
Official Name: Republic of Malawi

Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
(94,080 sq km)
Capital City: Lilongwe
Largest City: Lilongwe (395,500)
Unit of Money: Malawian kwacha
Major Languages: English and Chichewa
(both official)
Natural Resources: Limestone, hydropower
miles
100
0 km 100
the land. Lake Nyasa (also known as

Lake Malawi), covers one-fifth of
the country. It is the third-largest
lake in Africa and has some 500
species of fish. The countrys major
river, the Shire River, flows from
the southern end of the lake to the
Zambezi River.
Malawis highest mountain,
Mount Mlanje Sapitwa, rises to
9,849 feet (3,002 m). It is eastern
Africas highest peak.
Malawis climate varies widely in
different parts of the country. The
southern lowland areas near the
Shire River valley and Lake Nyasa
have a generally hot and humid climate. Temperatures there average
78 F (26 C).
Highland areas are much cooler
with temperatures averaging 58 F
(14 C). Malawi gets about 70 inches
(180 cm) of rain a year in northern
areas and 30 inches (76 cm) in
southwestern parts of the country.
The countrys rainy season lasts
from November to May.
Farms /
cropland
18%
Permanent
pastures
Forests
20%
39%
Other
23%
Tobacco
63%
Sugar
7%
Exports
Land Use
$405 Million
193
Malawi
(continued)
The People
Most of Malawis people are black
Africans belonging to the Bantu
groups. The major members are
Chewa (in the central region),
Nyanja (in the south), Tumbuka (in
the north) Yao (southeastern border),
and Ngoni (in lower northern and
lower central regions). A small number of Europeans and Asians also live
in the country. Malawi has a population density of 227 people per square
mile (88 people per sq km). Life
expectancy is 36
years.
Malawi is a poor
country. Nearly
90% of the population lives in rural
villages. Most
inhabit round or
Lake Nyasa
oblong houses with
mud walls and thatched roofs.
Although only one-third of the land
is suitable for farming, its economy is
mostly based on agriculture. Both
Indigenous beliefs 5%
Mostly Chewa,
Yao, Chieoka, Tonga,
Tumbuka, Ngoni
and Nyanja
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
20%
Muslim
20%
Protestant
55%
Major Religions
men and women farm the land.

Women focus more on growing food
crops for their families, while the
men grow crops for sale. About 86%
of the population works in agriculture. Tea is one of Malawis single
largest exports. Most tea plantations
are owned by the wealthy Europeans.
Other important crops include sugarcane and tobacco.
Chichewa is the main language
of central and southern Malawi. In
northern Malawi, most people speak
Tumbuka.
Education
About 52% of children ages 5 to 13
attend primary school. Only 2%,
however, continue on to secondary
school. More boys (73%) than girls
(60%) attend school regularly.
Malawi has a university system
comprised of polytechnic and agriculture colleges and a university.
The University of Malawi in Zomba
is the countrys major university.
Malawis overall literacy rate is
Government
Literate
56%
Defense
Literacy
194
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
56%. About 72% of males are literate, while about 42% of females are
literate.
Fisherman, Malawi
Type: Multiparty democracy

Leader: President
Malawi has a rich oral tradition.

Several famous poets, such as Frank
Chipasula and Steve Chimombo, are
from Malawi. Malawian writers
focus on themes, such as oppression,
corruption, and power. Most works
are written and published in English.
Most Malawian tribes have their
own songs and dances. Tribe members play a handheld ulimba, which
is made from a gourd and is similar
to a drum, as well as the mambilira,
which is like the xylophone.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Dancers tie rattles and shakers

called masecheto their arms
and legs. Dances reflect a tribes
spiritual beliefs.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Malaysia
Land area rank
64
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
48
fewest people
most people (1)
Gulf of
Thailand
PHILIPPINES
W
THAILAND
it
M
al
ac
ASIA
ca
Sibu
R ajan g R.
Johor Baharu
Kuching
Borneo
SINGAPORE
Su
AFRICA
SARAWAK
Seremban
of
SABAH
Miri
Natuna
Str
ait
ra
NORTH
AMERICA
Kuantan
Kinaba tan g
BRUNEI
Kuala Lumpur
Kelang
EUROPE
g R.
at
ra
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Sandakan
an
Kuala Terengganu
MALAYA
St
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Bharu
George Town
Taiping
E
S
S o u t h C h in a
S e a
an
P ah
Official Name: Malaysia

Continent: Asia
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Largest City: Kuala Lumpur (1,145,000)
Unit of Money: Ringgit
Major Language: Malay
(official)
EQUATOR
Natural Resources: Tin,
petroleum, timber,
copper, iron ore,
natural gas, bauxite
VIETNAM
miles
200
0 km 200
Ma
ka
sar
At a Glance
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
high mountains in
the interior. Sabah has
lowlands in its eastern
section and mountains
along the northern coast.
Malaysias highest
peakMount Kinabalu
at 13,455 feet (4,101 m)
stands here. The
countrys two longest
riversthe Rajang and
Kinabatanganare also
in East Malaysia.
Malaysias climate is
generally hot and humid
year round. Some 8,000
species of flowering
plants thrive in
Malaysias coastal mangrove forests and lowland
tropical forests. The
worlds largest flower
the rafflesiagrows in
East Malaysia.
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
Inedible crude materials 6%
Average Rainfall
Malaysia is divided into two

regionsWest Malaysia (also known
as Peninsular Malaysia) and East
Malaysia. West Malaysia includes the
southern area of the Malay Peninsula
and nearby islands. Eastern Malaysia
consists of the northern section of
Borneo Island and other offshore
islands. The two regions are divided
by the South China Sea.
West Malaysia accounts for about
60% of the countrys total area. In the
northern section of West Malaysia
lies the Main Range. This mountain
range rises to 7,175 feet (2,187 m) at
Mount Tahan, West Malaysias highest point. The southern part of the
region is flat. The Pahang is the
major river of West Malaysia.
East Malaysia includes the states of
Sarawak and Sabah, and the federal
territory of Labuan. Sarawak has
swampy lowlands along the coast and
Animal and
vegetable oils
7%
Mineral
fuels
7%
Basic
manufactures
9%
Farms /
Other
cropland
17%
15%
Other
9%
Machinery
and transport
equipment
55%
Exports
Forests
68%
Land Use
$78 billion
195
Malaysia
(continued)
The People
West Malaysia is 7 times more
densely populated than East
Malaysian woman,
Kota Baharu,
Malaysia
Malaysia. The population density of

the country is 171 people per square
mile (66 people per sq km). Nearly
60% of Malaysias population is
comprised of ethnic Malays and
other indigenous peoples. Chinese
are the next largest group at 26%.
Ethnic Indians make up about 7%
of the population. Australians, Thai,
and Indonesians also live in the
country. Life expectancy is 71 years.
Nearly 56% of West Malaysias
people live in urban areas. Many
people living in rural areas migrate
to urban areas because of low unemployment rates.
In East Malaysia, almost 75% of
the population is rural. Many of the
indigenous groups practice shifting

cultivation; burning trees and grasses in an area to make room for
planting crops. After several seasons
of farming it, one area is left and a
new area is burned.
Malaysia has an uneven income
distribution. Ethnic Chinese and
Indians tend to be the wealthiest
citizens. These two groups play a
major role in the economy. They
own many farms and control most
of the countrys agriculture. Many
Malays work as laborers on these
farms. Some raise crops on small
plots or practice subsistence agriculturefarming to meet family needs
instead of growing food to sell.
Other 9%
Indian 7%
Hindu
7%
Chinese
26%
Malay
and other
indigenous
58%
Buddhist
18%
Malaysian music, dance, literature,

and visual arts reflect different influences from Chinese, Indian,
European, and Middle Eastern cultures. Batik, silverware, pewter, and
woodcarving are all common decorative art forms. Shadow-puppet
Government
Literate
84%
Type: Constitutional Monarchy

Leader: Paramount Ruler/
Prime Minister
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

26 tanks
are the National University in

Bangi, the University of Technology
in Johor Baharu, and the University
of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.
theater is popular entertainment in
the country. Malaysian instruments
include a wide variety of drums,
gongs and other percussion instruments made from bamboo and
coconut shells. Many types of wind
instruments, such as flutes, are also
part of native traditions.
4 major ships
120 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
144
99
97
58
NA
TVs
196
Muslim
53%
Major Religions
Education
Other 4%
Chinese
faiths
11%
Ethnic Makeup
In Malaysia, all children between

the ages of 6 and 16 must attend
school. Students in primary schools
can be taught in any of three languages: Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese,
or Tamil. All secondary-school
students are taught in Bahasa
Malaysia. Secondary-school students
are also required to learn English.
Malaysia has several institutions
of higher learning, including 9
universities. The main universities
Christian
7%
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Maldives
Land area rank
smallest country
210
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

175
most people (1)
At a Glance
Official Name: Republic of Maldives

Continent: Asia
(300 sq km)
EQUATOR
Population: 310,764
Capital City: Mal
Largest City: Mal (63,973)
Unit of Money: Rufiyaa
Major Languages: Dhivehi (official), Arabic, English
Literacy: 93%
Land Use: 10% arable, 3% pasture, 3% forest,
84% other
Defense: Paramilitary police force
W
Faadhippolhu Atoll
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Arabian
Sea
ASIA
E
S
Male` Atoll
AFRICA
Male`
Laccadive
Sea
Ari Atoll
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Mulaku Atoll
A N TA R C T I C A
Hadhdhunmathi Atoll
N
E
D
A
Huvadhu Atoll
N
0
N
Addu Atoll
miles
100
0 km 100
Gan
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Maldives has a population density of 2,698 people per

square mile (1,042 people per sq km). People inhabit
The Place
202 of the islands. Mal, the capital and major commerMaldives (formerly Maldive Islands) is made up of a
cial center, is the most populated atoll. About 20 of the
chain of 1,190 small coral islands grouped into clusters
islands have more than 1,000 inhabitants. Southern
of atolls about 417 miles (671 km) southwest of Sri
islands are more populated than northern islands.
Lanka in the Indian Ocean. The islands are more than
More than 40% of the population is under 15 years
510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles
old. The people reflect a variety of ethnicities, including
(130 km) from east to west, and are
Indian, Sinhalese, and African.
surrounded by barrier reefs. The
Islam is the state religion. About
islands are low-lying, with none rising
two-thirds of school-age chilto more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above sea
dren are enrolled in school.
level. Nearly 80% of the land is 3 feet
Higher education is not offered
(0.91 m) or less above sea level.
on the islands. Life expectancy
The atolls have sandy beaches and
is 69 years.
lagoons. About 10% of the land is
Maldives is one of the poorest
arable. The most common plants that
countries in the world. Tourism
grow on the islands are coconut
is its most important industry.
palms and breadfruit trees.
Fishing, boatbuilding, and boatWindsurfing
at
Maldives
Maldives has a tropical,
repairing are its other main
humid climate. The average temperasources of income. About 25%
ture is 80 F (26.7 C). The islands average 60 inches
of the labor force works in the fishing industry, 21% in
(152 cm) of a rain a year, although most of the
services and manufacturing and construction, 16% in
rain falls between May and November. The islands
trade, hotels, and restaurants, and 10% in communication
are sometimes affected by monsoons.
and transportation.
Dried
skipjack
tuna
11%
Apparel
and clothing
17%
Other Canned
fish
23%
28%
Exports
$59 million
Yellowfin
tuna
21%
Sinhalese, Dravidian,
Arab, African
Sunni Muslim
100%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
197
Mali
Land area rank
24
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
68
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
miles
200
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
0 km 200
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Mali
Continent: Africa
(1,240,000 sq km)
Capital City: Bamako
Largest City: Bamako (746,000)
Natural Resources: Gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt
Taoudenni
AFRICA
A L G E R I A
E
S
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Tessalit
Araouane
A N TA R C T I C A
M A U R IT A N IA
Tombouctou
Se
ne
ga
lR
.
Gao
ger
Ri
ver
Sgou
er
BURKINA
FASO
v
Ri
er
Ni
ig
N
L
GA
NE
SE
Bamako
GUINEA
N I G E R
Mopli
Kayes
NIG ERIA
Sikasso
BENIN
CTE D'IVOIRE
The Place
Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and

the Cte dIvoire.
Mali is a land of low plains and
rocky hills. The southern and southwestern plateaus
rise to 2,100 feet
(640 m).
Southwestern and
south central Mali
include the plains
of the Upper
Niger River
basin. About onethird of the Niger
River flows
through the
country. The
southeastern and
eastern plateaus
consist of broken
hills rising 1,000
to 2,000 feet (300
to 600m). Malis
most fertile land
is in the south.
Mali is a landlocked country in

western Africa. It is bordered by
Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania,
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Farms/cropland
2%
Average Rainfall
Guetama village, Mali
Gold
15%
Other
9%
Live animals
20%
Raw cotton
and cotton
products
56%
Other
67%
Permanent
pastures
25%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$473 million
198
The Saharan desert plain is in

northern Mali. In the west is a semiarid area called the Sahel.
Mali has three types of climates
the Sudanic in the south, the
Sahelian in the west, and the
Saharan in the north. The Sudanic
has average temperatures of 75 and
86 F (24 and 30 C). This area
receives about 20 to 55 inches (50 to
140 cm) of rain a year. The Sahel
receives 8 to 20 inches (20 to 50 cm)
of rain a year with temperatures
ranging from 73 to 97F (23 to
36C). The Saharan climate is dry.
Temperatures rise to 117F (47C)
during the day and drop to 39F
(4C) at night.
The Sahara has few plants, but the
Sudanic area has mahogany, kapok,
and baobab trees. Baobab, doum
palm, and palmyra grow in the Sahel.
Lions, panthers, hyenas, antelope,
giraffes, elephants, monkeys, snakes,
and crocodiles live in Mali.
Land Use
Forests
6%
Mali
Mali woman
The People
Mali has several African ethnic
groups. The main groups are the
Mande, Peul, and Voltaic. A nomadic
group, the white Tuaregs, roams the
Sahel and Sahara. Malis minority
white groups include the Tuaregs and

the Moors. The Bambara people, a
Mande group, make up about onethird of the total population. There is
some tension between the different
ethnic groups.
About 75% of Malis population
is rural, and about 10% is nomadic.
Some 15% live in urban areas. Mali
has a population density of 22
people per square mile (8 people per
sq km). The country has an annual
population growth rate of 3.24%.
are younger than 15 years old. A
woman in Mali has about 7
children. Life expectancy is 45
years.
Mali is one of the worlds poorest
countries. Most of the people work
in agriculture, yet 65% of the land is
desert. The Niger River and its tributaries irrigate crops. About 19% of
the labor force works in services and
1% works in industry.
Education
All children ages 7 to 16 must
attend school. About 20% of Malis
primary school age children go to
school, and 7% of students attend
secondary schools.
Students can continue on to
higher education. Bamako, the
capital, has schools of administration, medicine, and engineering.
Many students attend colleges and
universities in France and Senegal.

Dancing, woodcarving, and jewelrymaking are popular activities in
Mali. Malis national museum, the
Muse, has and a wide range of
tapestries, masks, funeral objects,
and weapons in its collections.
Malis music is based on the songs
of the jalis, or griots, who are oral
historians. The most popular instrument is the kora. The kora is a
harp-lute like string instrument
(continued)
About 90% of the people are

Muslims. About 9% follow indigenous beliefs and 1% are Christian.
Songhai 6% Other 5%
Tuareg and
Moor
10%
Mande
50%
Voltaic
12%
Peul
17%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
9%
Christian 1%
Muslim
90%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
31%
Defense
Literacy
NA army personnel
U.S. rate = 97%

NA tanks
Mali has an average literacy rate

of 31%. About 39% of men and
23% of women can read and write.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
with 21 strings stretched over

a long rosewood neck .
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
39
TVs
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Food vendor, Mali
199
Malta
Land area rank
smallest country
209
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

173
most people (1)
At a Glance
N
Official Name: Republic of Malta

Continent: Europe
(320 sq km)
EQUATOR
Population: 394,583
Capital City: Valletta
Largest City: Birkirkara
(21,551)
Unit of Money: Maltese lira
Major Languages: Maltese, English (both official)
Literacy: 88%
Land Use: 38% arable land, 3% permanent crops,
59% other
Natural Resources: Limestone, salt
Victoria
Nadur
Gozo
NORTH
AMERICA
Comino
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
Mellieha
SOUTH
AMERICA
Malta
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
miles
Sliema
Valletta
Birkirkara
ed
Paola
it
er
ra
ne
an
Rabat
Zejtun
Birzebbuga
Se a
0 km 5
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Other 2%
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Malta is one of the most densely populated countries

in the world. It has a population density of 3,210 people
per square mile (1,240 per sq km). Life expectancy is
74 years.
The Place
Malta island is more developed than Gozo and
Malta is in the Mediterranean Sea, about 60 miles (97 km)
Comino. Comino is mostly rural with very few inhabisouth of Sicily. It is made up of the inhabited islands of
tants and two hotels.
Malta, Gozo, and Comino, and the uninhabited islands
About 34% of the labor
of Cominotto and Filfla.
force
works in public
Malta island is 95 square miles (246 sq km).
services, 32% in other
Its highest areas are coralline limestone uplands
services, 22% in manufacthat form a triangular plateau, TaZuta, which
turing and construction,
is 829 feet (253 m). Blue clay slopes separate
and 2% in agriculture.
the uplands from surrounding areas.
Tourism is Maltas largest
Gozo measures 26 square miles (67 sq km).
industry. Almost 1 million
It features a broken coralline plateau in the
people visit the island each
north and low-lying limestone plains in the
yearmore than twice its
south.
population.
Malta has mild and rainy winters and hot and
Children ages 6 to 16
dry summers. The country averages about 21
must go to school. Malta
inches (53 cm) of rainfall a year.
has both public and
Maltas most abundant plants are potatoes,
Fishing boats, Malta
Roman Catholic schools.
sulla, onions, tomatoes, and vines. Carob, fig,
Students are taught in two languages: English and
and chaste trees also grow on the island. Maltas
Maltese. More than 3,000 students attend the
location and natural harbors have given it strategic
University of Malta in Valletta.
importance throughout history.
Machinery and
transport equipment,
clothing and footwear.
Printed matter
Maltese
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
0 in/0 cm
$2 billion
200
Roman
Catholic
98%
Major Religions
Marshall Islands
Land area rank
smallest country
219
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

201
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of the Marshall Islands
Continent: Oceania
(181.3 sq km)
Population: 70,822
Capital City: Majuro
Largest City: Majuro (20,000)
Unit of Money: U.S. dollar
Major Languages: Marshallese, English (both official)
Literacy: 93%
Land Use: 60% permanent crops, 40% other
Natural Resources: Phosphate deposits, marine
products, deep seabed minerals
Government: Constitutional government in free
association with the United States
Defense: United States is responsible for defense
AFRICA
Bikini Atoll
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Wotho
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
Maloelap
Atoll
i n
Namu Atoll
N
W
a i
n
Wotje Atoll
Kwajalein
Atoll
Majuro
I F
I C
O C
E A N
E
0
miles
km
Jaluit
Mili
150
150
The People
People inhabit 24 of the atolls of the Marshall Islands.
Almost half of the population lives on Majuro Atoll,
the countrys capital. About 20% of the people live on
Ebeye Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. Most people live in
wooden or cement houses with iron roofs.
The country has a population density of 973 people
per square mile (375 people per sq km) and a population
growth rate of 3.9%. Life expectancy is 65 years.
The Marshall Islands economy is highly dependent
on assistance from the United States government. The
country imports food,
clothing, and other
items from the U.S. It
has few natural
resourcesit imports
many more goods than
it exports. Agriculture,
fish processing,
tourism, and handicrafts are the islands
largest industries. Its
main commercial
crops are coconuts,
tomatoes, melons,
and breadfruit.
Other 3%
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The Marshall Islands are 34 islands in the North Pacific

Ocean. The country is divided into two chainsRalik
(western), which includes the atolls Jaluit, Kwajalein,
Wotho, Bikini, and Enewetak; and Ratak (eastern),
which includes the atolls Mili, Majuro, Maloelap,
Wotje, and Likiep. The country has a total area of 70
square miles (181.3 sq km) spread over 780,000 square
miles (2,020,000 sq km) of ocean.
Most of the country is made up of atolls. Kwajalein is
the largest atoll in the Marshall Islands and in the
world. It has an area of 6 square miles (15.54 sq km),
but surrounds a 655-square-mile (1696.5 sq-km) lagoon.
The islands in the Ratak chain are more heavily forested
than those of Ralik. Coconut and pandanus palms and
breadfruit trees are the main plants on the island. The
soil is sandy and low in fertility.
The country has a tropical climate with temperatures
averaging 86 F (30 C). Its wet season lasts from May
to November. The islands are occasionally hit by
typhoons and other severe weather.
Likiep
l i
k
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
R a
t a
k
Rongelap Atoll
Enewetak Atoll
Other
41%
Pet fish
2%
Chilled
fish
39%
Exports
Crude
coconut oil
18%
Micronesian
97%
Ethnic Makeup
Mostly
Protestant
Major Religions
$18 million
201
Mauritania
Land area rank
29
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
134
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
A L G E R I A
EUROPE

Republic of Mauritania
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
miles (1,030,700 sq km)
Capital City: Nouakchott
Largest City: Nouakchott (480,000)
Unit of Money: Ouguiya
Literacy: 38%
Land Use: 38% pasture, 4% forests, 58% other
Natural Resources: Iron ore, gypsum, fish
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
WESTERN
SAHARA
AFRICA
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Located in northwest Africa, Mauritania is divided into

two main land regions. Northern Mauritania is mostly
covered by the Sahara Desert and a few rocky plateaus.
This area measures 930 miles (1,500 km) from north to
south and 680 miles (1095 km) from east to
west. Southern Mauritania has two fertile
areasa narrow plain along the Senegal River
and a savanna in the southeast. Farmers raise
many crops, such as millet and rice, on the
plain.
The countrys coastal plains are lower than
150 feet (45 meters) above sea level. Higher,
interior plains range from 600 to 750 feet (183
to 229 meters). Mauritanias highest point is
Mount Kediet Ijill at 3,002 feet (915 meters).
Mauritania has a hot climate with varying
temperatures. Desert temperatures can rise as
high as 100 F (38 C) during the day and fall
to 45 F (7 C) at night. Northern Mauritania sees very
little rain, however southern Mauritania averages more
than 20 inches (51 cm) of rain a year. Few plants or animals are found in northern Mauritania due to its dry climate. Acacia trees grow in the south.
Fish and
fish products,
Iron ore, Gold
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$494 million
202
ATLAN
TIC
S a h a r a
N
Nouadhibou
Atar
E
S
M A L I
Nouakchott
Kiffa
Rosso
Senegal
Kadi
R.
The Place
Zourat
OC
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
SOUTH
AMERICA
SENEGAL
Ni
0
0
miles
km
ger
R.
200
200
The People
About 70% of Mauritanias people are Maursdescendants of Arabs and Berbers. The Maurs are divided into
two main groupswhite Maurs and black Maurs. These
two terms refer to social status rather than skin color.
The white Maurs, the higher class, are divided into two
groupsthe warriors and the marabout (saintly). About
30% of the people are black Africans belonging to several different ethnic groups, including the
Toucouleur, the Fulbe, the Soninke, the
Wolof, and the Banbara. Mauritanias
major religion is Muslim.
About 80% of the countrys total population lives in the south. Approximately
20% of the people are nomads. Life
expectancy is 44 years for women and 47
years for men. The population grows at an
annual rate of 2.52%
The countrys economy is based on agriculture, with 63% of the people working
as farmers and livestock herders. Mining is
another important industry. Iron ore accounts for 50%
of the countrys exports. Mauritania has an unemployment rate of 23%. About 10% of Mauritanias children
attend elementary school. Fewer attend secondary
school.
Black
30%
Mixed
Maur and
Black
40%
Maur
30%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
100%
Major Religions
Mauritius
Land area rank
180
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
152
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Mauritius

EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(1,860 sq km)
Capital City: Port Louis
Largest City: Port Louis (134,516)
Unit of Money: Mauritian rupee
Literacy: 83%
Land Use: 49% arable, 3% crops, 3% pastures, 22%
forests, 23% other
Natural Resources: Arable land, fish
AFRICA
Goodlands
SOUTH
AMERICA
Triolet
AUSTRALIA
Port Louis
Centre De Flacq
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Mauritius is made up of a group of mountainous islands

in the Indian Ocean. Its largest island, Mauritius, is
about 500 miles (800 km) east of
Madagascar and 2,400 miles (3862 km)
southwest of India. Other islands include
Rodrigues, Agalega, and Cargados
Carajos Shoals.
The island of Mauritius was formed by
volcanoes. Sugarcane fields cover almost
half the island. In the center of the island,
a plateau rises to 2,200 feet (671 meters)
above sea level. Mauritius has about 110
miles (177 km) of coastline. Coral reefs
surround most of the island.
Mauritius has a humid climate.
Summer lasts from November to April
with temperatures averaging 79F (22C).
Interior areas can receive about 200 inches (510 cm) of rain a year, mostly in the summer. Drier
areas in the southwest see almost 35 inches (89 cm) of
rain a year. Cyclones and other severe weather
often threaten the island.
Pearls and
precious stones
2%
Other
17%
Yarn
4%
Sugar
23%
Quatre Bornes
Vacoas
Rose Belle
Chemin Grenier
I N
D I
A N
Souillac
O C E A N
Maheboug
0
0
miles
km
10
10
The People
Mauritius has one of the highest population densities
in the world at 1,499 people per square mile (579
people per sq km). The country has had problem with
overpopulation since the 1960s. The two main ethnic
groups are Indo-Mauritian and Creole. About 60% of
the population lives in rural areas, in
houses with concrete or wood walls and
corrugated roofs. Nearly one-third of
the people are under 15. Life expectancy
is 71 years.
Sugar is Mauritiuss most important
industry. More than 30% of all workers
grow, harvest, or process sugarcane.
Nearly 90% of all farmland is used for
growing sugarcane. Textile production
and tourism are also important industries. The country has an unemployment
rate of 2% and supports one of the
strongest economies in Africa.
About 90% of children are enrolled in
primary education. Students can move
on to secondary education and then to college. The
University of Mauritius, founded in 1965, offers classes
in agriculture, technology, education, and administration. About 2,000 students are enrolled there.
SinoMauritian
3%
Clothing
54%
Curepipe
Creole
27%
FrancoMauritian
2%
Other 3%
Muslim
17%
IndoMauritian
68%
Christian
28%
Hindu
52%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$2 billion
203
Mexico
Land area rank
15
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
11
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Tijuana Mexicali
Ensenada
U N IT E D
200
S T A T E S
o
Ri
a
Gr
e
nd
Hermosillo
lf o
Gu
Chihuahua
fC
Los Mochis
nia
for
ali
Monclova
Nuevo Laredo
Torreon
Culiacan
Monterrey
Durango
E
S
G u l f
o f
M e x i c o
Matamoros
F
C
Cuidad
Victoria
Tampico
San Luis
Potosi
Merida
Leon
Queretaro
Poza Rica
Guadalajara S a n t i a
go R
Campeche
Pachuca
.
Morelia
Jalapa
Mexico City
Puebla Veracruz
Villahermosa
Cuernavaca
BELIZE
Coatzacoalcos
Ba ls as
Aquascalientes
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
miles
0 km 200
Ciudad
Juarez
Official Name: United Mexican

States
(1,923,040 sq km)
Capital City: Mexico City
Largest City: Mexico City
(19,750,000)
Unit of Money: Mexican new
peso
Major Languages:
Spanish (official)
Natural Resources:
EQUATOR
Petroleum,
silver, copper
Tepic
ASIA
AFRICA
R.
SOUTH
AMERICA
Acapulco
Oaxaca
AUSTRALIA
Tapachula
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Mexico has six main land regions:
the Mexican Plateau; the Gulf
Coastal Plain; the Pacific Coastal
Lowlands; the Southern Highlands;
the Chiapas Highlands; and the
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Acapulco, Mexico
Yucatan Peninsula. The Mexican

Plateau is the countrys largest land
area. It extends from the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec to the border of the
United States. This region consists
of a central plateau, which rises
from north to south. To
the west of the plateau is
the volcanic Sierra
Madre Occidental, which
reaches 9,000 feet
(2,743.2 m). The Sierra
Madre Oriental is on the
eastern side and rises to
12,000 feet (3657.6 m).
The Gulf Coastal Plain
features lagoons and lowlying swampy areas. The
dry Pacific Coastal
Lowlands have terraces,
Agricultural goods
4%
Crude
petroleum
11%
Other 3%
Manufactured
goods
82%
Other
22%
Forests
26%
Farms /
cropland
13%
Permanent
pastures
39%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$110 billion
204
mesas, and small basins. The

Southern Highlands and Chiapas
Highlands are mountainous. The
Yucatan Peninsula extends into the
Gulf of Mexico and rises to 500 feet
(152.4 m).
Lake Chapala417 square miles
(1,080 square km)is Mexicos largest
lake. The countrys major rivers
include the Santiago, Balsas, and Rio
Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande). Pico
de Orizaba (Citlaltepetl) is Mexicos
highest point at 18,410 feet (5,610 m).
Mexico has a warm climate inland
and a tropical climate along the coast.
The country has many kinds of birds,
including colorful quetzals and
hummingbirds. The worlds smallest
dogthe chihuahuaoriginated
in Mexico.
Land Use
Mexico
The People
More than half of Mexicos people
are mestizos. Europeans are the next
largest group, and live mainly in
urban areas.
Indians inhabit rural areas, such
as the Yucatan Peninsula and
Chiapas Highlands. About 95% of
the people speak Spanish. More
than 50 Indian languages, however,
including Maya, Mixtec, Nahuatl,
Otomi, Tarascan, and Zapotec are
also spoken, mainly in rural areas.

density of 132 people per square mile
(50 people per square km). About 1
out of every 4 Mexicans lives on a
farm or in a village, however, many
people have moved to the countrys
urban areas to find jobs. Mexico City,
the capital, is the largest city in the
world. Life expectancy is 72 years.
More than half of Mexicos population is under 20 years old. The
population increases at an
annual rate of about 2%.
This rate of population
growth has contributed to
a shortage of jobs in the
country. Many people
migrate to the United
States for jobs.
the people in the labor
force work in services,
22% in agriculture,
forestry, hunting, and
(continued)
fishing, 17% in manufacturing, 5%

in construction, 4.4% in public
administration and national defense,
and 4% in transportation and communications.
Other 1%
White
9%
Amerindian
30%
Mestizo
60%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
6%
Other 5%
Roman
Catholic
89%
Major Religions
Education
Children ages 6 to 14 must attend
school in Mexico. After kindergarten, a student has 6 years of elementary school and then 3 years of
basic secondary school. After that,
students can continue on to a 3 year
upper secondary school and then go
on to college.
About 85% of children attend
school and 80% finish elementary
school. About 40% complete basic
secondary school. Few attend upper
secondary school or college.

Literature, poetry, painting, and
music are important in Mexico.
Mariachis, roaming musical groups,
perform along streets and in restaurants. Folk dances are important in
Mexican fiestas. Dancers perform
hopping steps and heel-and-toe tapping during the Mexican hat dance,
also called the jarabe tapati.
Government
Literate
90%
Type: Federal Republic

Structure: Dominant executive
Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

350 tanks
Mexicos oldest and largest university is the National Autonomous

University of Mexico in Mexico
City.
Soccer and baseball are the most
popular sports. Many Mexicans also
enjoy bullfights. Mexico City has
the largest bull ring in the world,
which seats about 55,000 people.
Many families go to the town
square, or zocalo, on Sundays to
socialize. Some Mexicans enjoy
watching movies and television, or
dancing at nightclubs and discos.
5 major ships
101 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
127
97
69
27
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
205
Micronesia
Land area rank
smallest country
Population rank
190
largest country (1)
191
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Official Name: Federated States of Micronesia

Continent: Oceania
Population: 134,597
Capital City: Palikir
Largest City: Palikir (33,372)
Major Language: English
EQUATOR
(official)
Literacy: 89%
Land Use: Not available
Natural Resources: Forests,
marine products, deep-seabed
minerals
Defense: United States responsible for defense
Guam
(U.S.)
miles
km
250
250
E
S
Colonia
Yap
Ulithi
Namonnuito
Atoll
C a r
o l i
n e
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
I s l
a n d
s
ASIA
Palikir
Truk
Islands
Ponape
Satawan Atoll
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
P A
C I
F I C
AUSTRALIA
O C E A N
A N TA R C T I C A
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other 3%
Average Rainfall
More than 130,000 people live in Micronesia.

Approximately 100 of the 607 islands are inhabited. The
majority of the population are Carolinians, also called
The Place
Micronesians. Some people have Polynesian ancestry.
The official language is English, but some people
The Federated States of Micronesia is made up of 607
speak local languages. Life expectancy is 69 years.
islands north of the equator in the Caroline Island
About 75% of the population lives in rural areas and
group in the North Pacific. The total land area is 271
25% in urban areas. Many people depend on food,
square miles (702 sq km), however, the islands extend
clothes, and other goods imported from the United
across 1 million square miles (2.5 million sq km)
States. Many housof ocean.
es in urban areas
Micronesia has two types of islands
Uninhabited island, Micronesia
are made of
mountainous, volcanic islands and ringimported lumber,
shaped coral islands or atolls. The volcanic
plywood, or conislands are fertile. These islands are covcrete with metal
ered by mangrove swamps along the
roofs. Many rural
shores and dense rain forests in the valfamilies live in
leys. The atolls have infertile soil and little
houses with
vegetation.
thatched roofs and
Micronesia has a tropical climate with
walls made from
an average temperature of 80 F (27 C).
palm branches and
Rainfall depends on location. Yap receives
wood. Most people
120 inches (302 cm) of rain a year while
make a living by
the mountains receive more than 300
fishing and farming.
inches (760 cm) of rain.
Other
24%
Coconut
oil 15%
Fish
23%
Bananas
Copra 19%
19%
Exports
$73 million
206
Nine Micronesian
and Polynesian
Groups
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
47%
Roman
Catholic
50%
Major Religions
Moldova
Land area rank
137
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
116
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Edinet
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Ribnita
Orhei
miles
km
50
50
U K RA IN E
Dn
Balti
Pr
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
iv
Chisinau
ive
r R
ut
SOUTH
AMERICA
est
Official Name: Republic of Moldova

Continent: Europe
EQUATOR
(33,700 sq km)
Capital City: Chisinau
Largest City: Chisinau (676,700)
Unit of Money: Moldovan leu
Major Languages: Moldovan (official), Russian
Literacy: 97%
13% pastures, 13% woodlands, 7% other
Natural Resources: Lignite, phosphorites, gypsum,
copper
er
Tighina
Tiraspol
A N TA R C T I C A
R OM A N IA
N
W
Cahul
E
B l a c k
S e a
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
About 66% of the population is ethnic Moldovan. The

rest of the citizens are Russian, Ukrainian, and
Bulgarian. Moldova has a population density of 341
The Place
people per square mile (130 people per square km). It
Moldova is a landlocked country in southeastern
has an annual population growth of 0.04%.
Europe. It is bordered by Romania on the west and
Most of the population speaks Moldovan, which is
Ukraine on the north, east, and south. To the west of
similar to Romanian. Almost all Moldovans are Eastern
Moldova are the Carpathian Mountains.
Orthodox Christians.
Moldova is hilly with its highest elevations in the
More than half of the people live in rural villages and
forests of the central area. Moldovas highest peak is
most work as farmers. Agriculture is important to
Mount Balaneshty at 1,407 feet (429 m). Northern Chisinau, Moldova
Moldovas economy. Grapes,
and eastern Moldova have grassy uplands and
wheat, and corn are the main
plains. Most of southern Moldova is a large plain.
crops. About 14% of the popuOf Moldovas 3,000 rivers, 8 are longer than
lation works in industry. The
60 miles (95 km). Its main rivers are the Dnestr, in
countrys main industries are
the east and the Prut, in west. About 75% of the
food processing, which includes
country is covered by fertile soil. The most fertile
winemaking and agricultural
area is near the Dnestr, where many farmers grow
machinery manufacturing.
sugar beets.
Moldovan children must
Moldova has warm summers and mild winters.
attend school from ages 6 to 18.
Temperatures average 70 F (21 C) in July and 25
Almost all people age 15 and
F (-4 C) in January. The country averages 20 inches
older can read and write.
(50 cm) of precipitation a year.
Medical care is free in
Wild animals, such as badgers, boars, Siberian
Moldova, and life expectancy
stags, and wolves are native to Moldova.
is 64 years.
Metals and metal
products
4% Other
Textile
9%
products
5%
Food and
agricultural
goods
Machinery
72%
8%
Exports
$816 million
Gagauz Other 4%
4%
Russian
13%
Moldavian/
Romanian
65%
Ukrainian
14%
Ethnic Makeup
Jewish 2%
Eastern
Orthodox
98%
Major Religions
207
Monaco
Land area rank
246
smallest country
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: Principality

EQUATOR
of Monaco
Continent: Europe
Area: 0.77 square miles
(2 sq km)
Population: 31,842
Capital City: Monaco
Largest City: Monaco (30,400)
Major Languages: French (official), English
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 100% urban area
Defense: France responsible for defense
ASIA
miles
km
1/2
1/2
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Monte-Carlo
S
Port of Monaco
N
W
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
ea
ed
The People
About one-seventh of Monacos population is
Monegasquenative to Monaco. More than half of the
people are French, while the rest are Americans,
Belgians, British, and Italians. Life expectancy is 78 years.
Many wealthy people from other countries move to
Monaco because it has no income tax. Monaco has an
annual population growth rate of 0.4%.
Monacos state religion is Roman Catholicism, and
the church runs its primary schools, a high school, and a
music academy.
Tourism is
important to
Monacos economy. About
600,000 tourists
visit the country
each year.
Commerce and
manufacturing
are also important industries
Outdoor cafe in Monaco
and account for
two-thirds of Monacos income. Many foreign companies have their headquarters in Monaco because of its
low taxes.
Other Machinery
32%
27%
Carpeting
13%
Handicrafts
11%
Exports
$ NA
208
Fontvielle
e
it
Other 5%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Monaco
E
Monaco is one of the smallest countries in the world. Only

Vatican City is smaller. Monaco is on the Cote dAzur
(French Riviera) of the
Mediterranean Sea and is bordered by France. It is about 9
miles (15 km) from Nice and 5
miles (8 km) from Italy.
Monaco is at the base of
3,600-foot (1,100-m) Mount
Agel. Its land is rugged and hilly.
Monacos main harbor
The country can be divided into
four main parts. Monaco, the capital, is on a rocky crest
that rises 200 feet (61 meters), and is the location of the
royal palace. Monte Carlo is known for its casino, opera
house, luxury hotels, beaches, and shops. La Condamine
is the countrys main port area. Fontvieille is Monacos
industrial zone.
Monaco has a mild climate with temperatures averaging
50 F (10 C) in January. Summers are hotter with an average temperature of 75 F (24 C). Temperatures occasionally reach 90 F (32 C). The country has many days with
12 hours of sunshine. Rain falls about 60 days of the year.
80F/27C
La
Condamine
The Place
100F/38C
Larvotto
F R A N C E
ea
At a Glance
fewest people
largest country (1)

214
Population rank
Organic
chemicals
17%
Other
21%
Italian
16%
Monegasque
16%
French
47%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
Mongolia
Land area rank
19
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Uvs Lake
Erdenet
Hovd
M
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Mongolia is a landlocked country in east-central Asia. It

is bordered by Russia and China. The country is 1,486
miles (2,392 km) from west to east and 782 miles (km)
from north to south at its widest point.
Mongolia is comprised of a plateau and mountain
ranges. Nayramadlin Peak, part of the Mongol Altai
Mountains, is the countrys highest
Mongolian family
peak at 14,350 feet (4,374 m). The
Gobi desert lies in southeastern
Mongolia. About four-fifths of the
country is pastureland. Much of it is
used for raising livestock. Mongolias
largest lake, Uvs Lake, is 1,300
square miles (3,370 square km).
Mongolia has long, cold winters and
short, cool summers. Most rain falls
during the summer months of July and
August. The country sometimes experiences violent earthquakes. Mongolia
has many clear, sunny days, averaging
between 220 and 260 each year.
Altay
n t
a i
n s
Bayanhongor
Dalandzadagad
ert
Gobi Des
N
AUSTRALIA
E
S
A N TA R C T I C A
80F/27C
Choybalsan
Darhan
Ulaanbaatar
NORTH
AMERICA
Snbaatar
Ulaangom
EUROPE
Lake
Baykal
R U S S I A
Official Name: Mongolia

Continent: Asia
Area: 604,250 square miles (1,565,000 sq km)
Capital City: Ulan Bator
Largest City: Ulan Bator
(619,000)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Tughrik
Major Languages:
Mongolian (official),
Turkic, Russian
Literacy: 83%
Land Use: 1% arable, 80% pasture, 9% forests,
10% other
Natural Resources: Oil, coal, copper
-20F/-30C
largest country (1)
136
0
0
C H I N A
miles
km
400
400
The People
Mongolia has one of the lowest population densities in
the world, but one of the highest rates of population
growth in Asia. The countrys population density is
about 4 people per square mile (1.5 people per sq km)
and its rate of increase is 1.54%. The life expectancy
is 61.
Mongolias population is mostly made up of Mongols.
Other groups include the Kazakhs, Chinese, and
Russians. Mongolian is the official language, but several
dialects are spoken in the country. Most people speak
the Khalkha dialect. Lamaism (a form of Buddhism) and
Shamanism are the main
religions.
Most Mongolians live
on livestock farms, which
are large ranches with
small towns in the center.
The main buildings
include houses, offices,
stores, and medical posts
for people and animals.
Many people raise
livestockmostly
sheepfor a living.
Mining is a developing
industry in the country.
Live animals
Other 10%
Metals and 3%
finished
products
4%
Mineral
Textile
products
products
59%
24%
Russian
Chinese 2%
Other 2%
2%
Kazakh
4%
Mongol
90%
Muslim 4%
96%
Tibetan Buddhist
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$418 million
209
Morocco
Land area rank
55
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
37
fewest people
most people (1)
S P A I N
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
Morocco
Continent: Africa
(446,550 sq km)
Capital City: Rabat
Largest City: Casablanca (2,943,000)
Unit of Money: Moroccan dirham
Major Languages: Arabic (official) French
Natural Resources: Phosphates, iron ore, zinc
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
O
A N TA R C T I C A
Khouribga
Beni Mellal
T
A
Canary
Islands
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Morocco has fertile plains on the

coast and forested mountains inland.
The Sahara desert lies to the southeast along the border with Algeria.
The country has an average elevation of 2,600 feet (800 m).
Morocco has some of the highest
miles 100
0 km 100
mountains in northern Africa. The

Rif mountain range rises to 8,058
feet (2,456 m) at Mount Tidirhine
on the Mediterranean coast. The
Atlas Mountains, in central
Morocco, have an average elevation
of 11,000 feet (3,350 m). Mount
Toubkal is Moroccos highest peak
at 13,665 feet (4,165 m).
About 20% of Morocco is covered by cedar, fir, juniper, wild olive,
cork oak, and dwarf palm forests.
Morocco has the worlds largest
reserves of phosphate.
Morocco has two seasonsrainy
and dry. The rainy season lasts from
October to April. The country gets
most of its rainfall during this periodabout 15 inches (38 cm) a year.
Droughts sometimes occur during
the dry season. Temperatures average 66 F (19 C) to 63 F (19 C)
in January and 91 F (33 C) to 77
F (25 C) in June. Morocco lies in
an area of heavy seismic activity, and
earthquakes occur frequently.
Other 7%
Consumer
goods
20%
Food &
beverages
61%
Exports
$7 billion
210
A L G E R I A
0
0 in/0 cm
W
S
Phosphates
12%
Average Rainfall
80F/27C
Fez
Agadir
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
Oujda
Rabat
Casablanca
Marrakech
Fez, Morocco
Morocco is in the northwestern corner of Africa. It is 825 miles (1,328

km) at its longest distance and 475
miles (765 km) at its widest point. The
Strait of Gibraltar separates Morocco
from Spain by 8 miles (13 km).
Ttouan
WESTERN SAHARA
The Place
Mediterranean Sea
Strait of Gibraltar
Tangier
AFRICA
Other Farms /
11% cropland
Forests
22%
20%
Permanent
pastures
47%
Land Use
Morocco
The People
Almost all Moroccans are of mixed
Arab and Berber descent, and most
are Muslims. Arabs make up about
65% of the population. Morocco
has a population density of 175 people per square mile (68 people per
sq km). It has an annual population
growth rate of 1.89%. Life
Moroccan woman
Almost half of the population

lives in urban areas. The most
densely settled areas are in the
urban areas in the west. Rural houses have one large room that serves
as the kitchen, living room, sleeping
area, and barn. People living in rural
villages meet at a weekly outdoor
marketa suqto buy and sell
goods. Those living in urban areas
inhabit small, attached houses.
Wealthier Moroccans live in houses
or apartment buildings.
Most Moroccans wear traditional
clothing. Men and women wear a
jellabaa loose-fitting hooded robe
with long sleeves. Rural men wear a
similar garment called a burnoose.
Most men also wear a turban or a
brimless hat. Women wear a long
robe, called a caftan, at social affairs.
Some women cover their faces with
veils.
(continued)

works in agriculture, 26% in services, and 15% in industry. Morocco
has an unemployment rate of 16%.
Other 1%
Arab-Berber
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 1%
Muslim
99%
Major Religions
Government
Literate
44%
Education
Morocco provides free elementary
and high school education.
Moroccan children are required to
attend 6 years of school. Attendance
in rural areas is low, however,
because of a lack of schools and
teachers. Many rural boys stay home
to help farm the land. Also, some
Moroccans believe it is not impor-

Moroccans are known for their
leather goods, rugs, pottery, and
metalware. Much of Moroccan
painting, sculpture, and drama is
influenced by Spain and France.
Many people attend 1 of the 2
schools of fine arts in Casablanca
and Tetouan to learn painting.

Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
tant for girls to get an education.

About 31% of females and 57% of
males are literate. The countrys
average literacy rate is 44%.
Morocco has 5 non-religious universities and 25 technical schools
and institutes of higher learning.
The largest university is
Moroccan music includes Arab,
Berber, popular, and classical forms.
Literature, such as poetry, has been
inspired by Middle Eastern and
Western traditions.
Popular sports in Morocco
include soccer, basketball, and track
and field. Families like to gather and
relax at neighborhood cafs.

524 tanks
1 major ship
99 combat aircraft
Muhammad V University in Rabat.

There is also a private university, alAkhawayn, in Ifrane, and an Islamic
university, al-Qarawiyin, in Fez.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
75
39
TVs
Cars
43
Phones
18
NA
VCRs
PCs
211
Mozambique
Land area rank
35
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
ZAMBIA
T A N Z A N IA
Lake Nyasa
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
Nacala
WI
A N TA R C T I C A
Nampula
Za
Tete
m
be
zi
iv
er
Quelimane
Z IM B A B W E
Beira
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Xai-Xai
Maputo
0
0
miles
km
200
200
E
S
at 7,992 feet (2,436 m)stands in

the Chimoio highlands. Sand dunes
and swamps cover the coast.
Much of Mozambique is covered
by forests and grasslands. Cashew
trees and coconut palms are the most
common trees. Many animals, such as
crocodiles, elephants, lions, giraffes,
and zebras, are found in the country.
Mozambique has a tropical
climate. Temperatures average 68 F
(20C) in July and 80F (27C) in
January. Rainfall ranges from 16 to
48 inches (41 to 122 cm), with most
of it falling between November and
March. The south sometimes experiences severe droughts.
Farms / cropland
4%
Average Rainfall
80F/27C
I N D I A N
O C E A N
er
15 in/38 cm
iv
100F/38C
imp
op
Ocean. The
o
country has 1,535
miles (2,470 km)
of coastline.
SOUTH
Mozambique
AFRICA
is divided into
SWAZILAND
two regionsthe
lowlands in the
south and the highlands in the
north. The
lowlands,
which are less
than 600 feet
(200 m) above
sea level, consist of a wide,
flat plain and
cover most of
the country.
The highlands
are quite
mountainous.
Mozambiques
highest peak
Mount Binga
Nampula, Mozambique
Pemba
Lichinga
Mozambique is on the southeastern

coast of Africa and extends about
1,100 miles (1,770 km) from north
to south and 400 miles (645 km)
from east to west. Mozambique is
bisected by the Zambezi River. The
eastern coast-line is formed by the
Mozambique Channel in the Indian
AUSTRALIA
LA
The Place
MA
SOUTH
AMERICA
oz
C am
h
b
a
n iq
n
el ue

EQUATOR
Mozambique
Continent: Africa
(784,090 sq km)
Capital City: Maputo
Largest City: Maputo (1,095,300)
Unit of Money: Metical
Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu
languages
Natural Resources: Coal, titanium, natural gas
Other
22%
Other
29%
Shrimp
43%
Petroleum
2%
Copra 4%
Sugar 4%
Cashew nuts 6%
Cotton
12%
Exports
$226 million
212
largest country (1)
52
Forests
18%
Permanent
pastures
56%
Land Use
Mozambique
The People
Most of Mozambiques population
consists of Bantu-speaking Africans.
Other groups include Arabs,
Europeans, and Pakistanis. The
largest ethnic group is the MakuaLomwe. They make up about 40%
of the population. Portuguese is the
official language, however, very few
citizens speak it.
Mozambican woman
Mozambique has a population

(24 people per sq km). It has an
average annual population growth
of 2.57%. About two-fifths of the
population is under 15 years old.
Women have about 6 children
during their lives. Life expectancy
is 45 years.
About four-fifths of the population lives in rural areas,
and most of Mozambicans
work in agriculture. About
15% of the people work in
industry and services.
About 5% of the population works abroad.
About 50% of the
people practice traditional
African religions. Many
believe that everything in
nature has a soul, and some
worship the spirits of their
ancestors.
(continued)
Mozambique was torn apart by a

civil war, which lasted from 1975 to
1992. Tensions still exist between
northerners and southerners. The
government has been accused of
favoring the south.
Other 1%
Indigenous
tribal groups
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
20%
Christian
30%
Indigenous
beliefs
50%
Major Religions
Education
Mozambiques civil war has devastated its school system. More than
3,000 schools closed during the
fighting. About 63% of children
attend elementary school with 8%
of those students continuing on to
secondary school. The government
is currently trying to build up the
school system and enroll more
students. A university was founded
in 1962 in Maputo.
Most Mozambicans cannot read

Mozambique has a good deal of
cultural diversity. The country is
known for its Makonde carved wood
sculptures and midogo-Chopi orchestral music. Mozambique is also
famous for its marimba orchestras.
Mozambique has many talented
painters, and the country is known
for its large murals. Many are found
on building walls in Maputo.
Poetry, novels, and short stories
Government
Literate
40%
Type: Republic
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
or write. The country has an average

literacy rate of 40%. Approximately
58% of the men and 23% of the
written in Portuguese are also popular. Many authors write about the
countrys civil war.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
80 tanks
0 major ships
43 combat aircraft
Myanmar
40
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
27
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
hm
Bra
apu
tra
Mekong
iv
er
INDIA
dw
in
CHINA
in
SH
Monywa
ASIA
Pakokku
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Sittwe
AUSTRALIA
Mandalay
Taunggyi
we
River
NORTH
AMERICA
en
Sal
DE
EUROPE
LA
Rive
NG
Ch
BA
a d dy
I r r aw
Official Name: Union of Myanmar

Continent: Asia
Capital City: Rangoon
Largest City: Rangoon (2,458,712)
Unit of Money: Kyat
Major Languages: Burmese
EQUATOR
(official)
Natural Resources: Petroleum,
timber, tin
LAOS
Prome
A N TA R C T I C A
Henzada
Pegu
Ancient temple, Myanmar
24 in/61 cm
21 in/53 cm
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Basic
manufactures
5%
Other
16%
Inedible crude
materials
28%
Farms/cropland 16%
Food and
live animals
51%
Permanent
pastures
1%
Other
34%
Forests
49%
0 in/0 cm
214
Average Rainfall
18 in/46 cm
Isthm
us o
f Kr
a
Myanmar, formerly called Burma, is

in southeast Asia along the Bay of
Bengal. Myanmars eastern, western,
and northern borders are surrounded
by mountains.
Myanmar has three main land
areasthe Eastern Mountain System,
Bay
the Western
Bassein
Rangoon
of
Mountain Belt, and
THAILAND
Kyaikkami
Bengal
the Central Belt.
The Eastern
Mountain System
Andaman
separates the counSea
try from Thailand,
N
Laos, and China.
Gulf
W
E
This area features
of
0
miles
200
Thailand
the long
S
0
km
200
Tenasserim Coast
and the hilly Shan Plateau. The
Western Mountain belt has an area of (20C) in January and 85F (29C)
thick forests along Myanmars border
in July. The rainy season lasts from
with India and a group of low mounlate May to October. Average
tainsthe Arakan Yomato the
rainfall varies from area to area.
south. The Central Belt includes
Mandalay receives about 30 inches
Myanmars tallest peakHkakabo
(76 cm) of rain a year, while the
Raziwhich rises to 19,296 feet
Tenasserim Coast receives 200 inches
(5,881 m). The Central Belt also con- (510 cm). The heavy rains are
tains the Irrawaddy river valley. The
brought by monsoons. The cool
Irrawaddy River is Myanmars major
season lasts from late October to
transportation route.
mid-February. The hot season lasts
Myanmar has a tropical climate
from late February to mid-May.
with three seasonsrainy, cool, and
Temperatures can rise as high as
hot. Temperatures average 68F
100F (38C).
Andam
an Isla
nds
The Place
Exports
Land Use
Myanmar
Animist beliefs 1%
Muslim 4%
Other 2%
Christian
4%
Indian 2%
Mon 2%
Chinese 3%
Rakhine 4%
Burman
68%
Shan 9%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
The People
The people of Myanmar are called
Burmese. Most are Buddhists. The
Burmans are Myanmars largest
ethnic group and account for more

than two-thirds of the population.
Other ethnic groups include the
Karen, Shan, Rakhine, Chinese,
Mon, Kachin, Naga, and Wu. Most
of these ethnic groups live in the
hills and mountains on Myanmars
border. More than 100 indigenous
languages are spoken in Myanmar,
but Burmese is the official language.
Myanmar has a low population
mile (60 people per sq km). Its population grows at an annual rate of
1.65%. Life expectancy is 55 years.
lives in rural areas. Villages consist
of 50 to 100 bamboo houses with
thatched roofs. The houses are built

on poles above the ground for protection from floods and animals.
Most villages have a Buddhist
monastery. Boys spend a few days or
months in the monastery after an
adulthood ceremonyshin-pyuin
which their heads are shaved. Girls
go through an adulthood ceremony
called nahtwin, in which their ears
are pierced.
People in urban areas live in
small brick or concrete buildings
and usually work for the government or industry. Both men and
women in urban and rural areas
wear a longyia long, tightly
wrapped skirt made of cotton.
Education
Education is free in Myanmar.
Children are required to attend
between the ages 5 and 9. Ten years
of schooling are offered.
The country has arts and sciences
universities in Yangon and
Mandalay. Myanmar also has three
medical schools and a technical
institute. There is a shortage of
teachers in the country.

Throughout history, Myanmars art
has been influenced by religion and
royalty. Temples, pagodas, and
palaces feature paintings, wood
carvings, and sculptures. Many of
the brick temples and pagodas are
still standing, however, the wooden
palaces are in bad condition.
Other 5%
Karen 7%
Buddhist
89%
Florist, Rangoon, Myanmar
(continued)
Government
Literate
83%
Type: Military Regime

Leader: Prime minister
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

56 tanks
Myanmar has an average literacy

rate of 83%. The literacy rate is
89% for men and 78% for women.
Drama is very popular in
Myanmar. Performances center
around Buddhist legends, comedy,
dance, ensemble singing, or giant
puppets. Myanmars music emphasizes rhythm and melody. Popular
instruments include drums, boatshaped harps, gongs and bamboo
flutes.
2 major ships
91 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
215
Namibia
Land area rank
34
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
146
fewest people
most people (1)
Average Rainfall
0 in/0 cm
$1 billion
216
E
S
200
200
Keetmanshoop
Va
al
R.
SOUTH AFRICA
O r a n g e Ri ver
The People
About 90% of Namibias population is black, 7% is white.
The country has many different ethnic groups. The
Ovambo make up about half the population. They live
in northern Namibia in a region called Ovamboland.
Namibia has a population density of 6 people per square
mile (2 people per square km). About two-thirds of the
population lives in rural areas. Life expectancy is 41 years.
Most people living in Namibia fish, grow crops, or raise
livestock for a living. Some work in copper or diamond
mines. Most whites
hold administrative
jobs in urban areas.
Whites generally
have higher incomes
than blacks.
The countrys
official language is
English, but most
blacks speak one
Classroom in Windhoek, Nambia
of the 15 African
languages spoken in the country. About 80% of the
people are Christians. Enjoying musicsome of which
has been influenced by German culturedancing, rock
painting, engraving, and sculpture of toys, religious
figures, and masks are popular activities.
Karakul pelts 0.2% Other 8%

Cattle and
meat products
13%
Minerals
50%
Food and
live fish and
fish products
29%
Exports
t
e r
D e s
miles
km
Lderitz
0F/-18C
3 in/8 cm
Rehoboth
6 in/15 cm
B O TSWA N A
40F/4C
20F/-7C
9 in/23 cm
Walvis Bay
IC
60F/16C
Windhoek
Swakopmund
Namibia, formerly called South West Africa, is on the

southwestern coast of Africa. It is 820 miles (1,320 km)
long and 380 miles (610 km) wide. The country is dry
with large mineral deposits of diamonds and uranium.
Namibias three main land features are the Namib
Desert, the Central Plateau, and the Kalahari Desert.
Namib extends for 1,200 miles (1,900 km) along the
Atlantic coast. This desert area has many sand dunes.
Behind Namib is the mountainous Central Plateau,
which extends from the northern border of the country
to the southern border. To the east of the plateau is the
Kalahari. Namibia is bordered on the north by the
Kunene and the Okavango rivers. The Zambezi River
flows near the northeastern border, while the Orange
River flows along the countrys southern border.
Temperatures in Namibia average 75F (24C) in
January and 68F (20C) in June. Yearly rainfall averages 20 inches (50 cm) in the north, 8 to 16 inches (20
to 40 cm) in the center, and 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 cm)
in the south.
12 in/30 cm
E
BW
BA
M
ZI
N
LA
AT
The Place
Otjiwarongo
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
15 in/38 cm
Z amb e z i
R.
Tsumeb
SOUTH
AMERICA
80F/27C
Okav ango
AFRICA
K un e n e R .
ASIA
Official Name: The

EQUATOR
Republic of Namibia
Continent: Africa
Capital City: Windhoek
Largest City: Windhoek (161,000)
Unit of Money: Namibian dollar
Major Languages: English (official), German
Literacy: 38%
Land Use: 1% arable, 46% pastures, 22% forests,
31% other
Natural Resources: Diamonds, copper, uranium
100F/38C
ZAMBIA
A N G OL A
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
At a Glance
Damara
8%
Herero
8%
Kavango
9%
Other
tribes
19%
White & mixed

6%
Ovambo
50%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
20%
Other
Christian
30%
Lutheran
50%
Major Religions
Nauru
Land area rank
233
Population rank
223
smallest country
fewest people
largest country (1)

most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: The Republic

EQUATOR
of Nauru
Continent: Oceania
Area: 8.2 square miles(21 sq km)
Population: 12,088
Capital City: Yaren
Largest City: Yaren (559)
Major Languages: Nauruan (official), English
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 100% other
Natural Resources: Phosphates
Defense: Australia is responsible for defense
ASIA
Ronave
AFRICA
Anna
Anabar
SOUTH
AMERICA
S
AUSTRALIA
Ijuw
Uaboe
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Other 13%
Average Rainfall
Nauru is a small, oval island in the Pacific Ocean located about 2,580 miles (4,160 km) southwest of Hawaii,
and 40 miles (65 km) south of the equator. It is the
third-smallest country in the world.
Most of Nauru is plateau covered with phosphates.
Buada Lagoon is in the southern center of the island
and is surrounded by fertile land. There is also an area
of fertile land along the coast. The island has an average
elevation of 200 feet (61 m).
Nauru has a hot and
humid climate, which is
cooled by trade winds.
Temperatures range from
76F (24C) to 93F
(34C). About 80 inches
(200 cm) of rain fall a
year, although sometimes
there are droughts.
Vegetation is limited to
coconut palms, pandanus,
and brush and scrub
hardwood. Most plants
grow on the coast.
100F/38C
Phosphates
87%
0 in/0 cm
Phosphate
stockpile
A N TA R C T I C A
Exports
$25 million
Yangor
Buada
Lagoon
Anibare
Bay
Yaren
I F
I C
miles
km
O C
E A N
The People
About 58% of Naurus population are Nauruanspeople of mixed Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian
descent. Most are Christian and speak mainly Nauruan
and English. The rest of the
population comes from
Kiribati, Tuvalu, China,
Australia, and the Philippines.
These people come to mine
phosphates. Most people live
along the coast.
The government provides
Nauruans with low-rent
homes. There are 2 hospitals
and 11 clinics that provide free
medical care. Life expectancy
is 67 years.
All children from ages 6 to
17 must attend school. The
country has 5 nursery schools,
an elementary school, a high
school, a Roman Catholic mission school, and a teacher training college. The government pays the expenses of students who attend college
abroad. Some students attend boarding schools in
Australia. Nauru has an literacy rate of 99%.
Chinese
8%
Other
Pacific
Islanders
26%
European 8%
Nauruan
58%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
33%
Protestant
67%
Major Religions
217
Nepal
Land area rank
94
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
40
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
miles
km
100
100
ASIA
C H IN A
SOUTH
AMERICA
Dipayal
A N TA R C T I C A
i m
Jomsom
ar
na
AUSTRALIA
iv
er
AFRICA
li

EQUATOR
of Nepal
Continent: Asia
(136,800 sq km)
Capital City: Kathmandu
Largest City: Kathmandu (535,000)
Unit of Money: Nepalese rupee
Major Languages: Nepali (official), Newari
Natural Resources: Quartz, water, timber
Nepalganj
Pokhara
l a
y a
s
Kathmandu
Mt. Everest
Bhaktapur
Lalitpur
Janakpur
N
W
Dharan
Biratnagar
E
S
IN D IA
Ganges Ri
ve
r
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Village in western Nepal, with Himalayas
feet (3,660 m) with only grasses,

lichens, and mosses growing at
higher elevations. People herd sheep
and yaks in the mountains. Animals,
such as crocodiles, elephants, deer,
leopards, rhinoceroses, and tigers,
Food and
live animals
9%
Miscellaneous
manufactures
33%
Basic
manufactures
52%
Other
26%
Farms/
cropland
17%
Forests
42%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$419 million
218
are found in Nepals lowland jungles

and swamps.
Nepal has a tropical climate.
Eastern Nepal receives about 70
inches (cm) of rain a year, while western Nepal gets about 30 inches (cm).
Chemicals and drugs 2%

Crude materials
Other 1%
except fuels 3%
Average Rainfall
Nepal is a landlocked country that

lies along the southern slopes of the
Himalayan mountain range in south
central Asia. It is surrounded by
India to the east, south, and west,
and China to the north.
Nepal is a rugged landabout
75% of the country is covered by
mountains, including the Himalayan
mountain range, which is the highest mountain range in the world.
The rest of the country is made up
of the Tarai, a flat, fertile plain
along the countrys border with
India. Mount Everestthe highest
mountain in the world at 29,035
feet (8,850 m)is on Nepals border
with China. Nepals major rivers are
the Kosi, Narayani, and Karnali.
Nepals climate and plant and animal life vary by location. The
mountains have long, harsh winters
and short, cool summers. Forests
cover the mountains up to 12,000
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
15%
Nepal
The People
Most Nepalese are of Indian descent.
Some people are of Tibetan descent
while others are of Indian-Tibetan
descent. Nepal has a population density of 454 people per square mile
annual population increase of 2.3%.
Most Nepalese live in small
villages that have two-story houses
made of stone or mud-brick. About
90% of the people earn their living
by farming. Other Nepalese work as
blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and tailors.
Some work in the merchant trade,
government, or the tourist industry.

One group, the Sherpas, who live in
the Himalayas, are known for their
mountain climbing abilities and
serve as guides for mountain
climbers from other countries.
The majority of the population is
Hindu. Some follow Buddhism while
others combine both belief systems.
Some Nepalese Hindu men practice
polygynytaking more than one
wife. Some women living in northern
Nepal practice polyandrythey have
more than one husband. Nepal has
few doctors. Diseases such as
Buddhist
5%
Newars, Indians,
Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Sherpas
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Nepal has both primary and secondary schools. More children in urban
areas attend school than those in
rural areas, and more boys than girls
go to school.
Nepal has one university
Tribhuwan Universitywhich was
(continued)
cholera, leprosy, and tuberculosis are

common.The population has an
average life expectancy of 58 years.
Nepalese elderly
woman
Muslim 3%
Other 2%
Hindu
90%
Major Religions
founded in 1918. It has a main
campus in the capital, Kathmandu,
and other campuses throughout the
country.
Nepal has an average literacy rate
of about 28%. About 3 times more
men than women can read and write.
Government
Defense
Literate
28%

0 tanks
0 major ships
0 combat aircraft
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Buddhist boys

Popular themes in Nepals literature
and poetry include patriotism and
religion. Hinduism and Buddhism

have also inspired drama, sculpture,
painting, and architecture.
Music and dance are also popular
in the country. During religious ceremonies, musicians play drums and
wind instruments from ancient
times. Music combines both classical
and folk elements.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
219
Netherlands
Land area rank
136
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
59
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA

EQUATOR
of the Netherlands
Continent: Europe
(33,889 sq km)
Capital City: Amsterdam
Largest City: Amsterdam (724,096)
Unit of Money: Guilder
Major Languages: Dutch
Natural Resources: Natural gas, petroleum,
fertile soil
ASIA
Groningen
N o r t h
S e a
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
220
Average Rainfall
80F/27C
The Hague
Arnhem
Rotterdam
Dordrecht
Breda
Nijmegen
G ERM A N Y
Tilburg
Eindhoven
0
0
miles
km
40
B E L G IU M
Maastricht
40
up about two-fifths of the countrys

land and are the Netherlands most
fertile area. Many forests and sandy
ridges cover the Sand Plains. The
countrys highest pointVaalser Berg
at 1,053 feet (321 m)is in the
Southern Uplands.
er
15 in/38 cm
Enschede
Utrecht
Riv
100F/38C
Apeldoorn
Leiden
ine
The Netherlands is on the North

Sea in northwestern Europe and is
bordered by Belgium and Germany.
It is sometimes called Holland. That
name, however, refers only to the
western part of the country.
Almost two-fifths of the
Netherlands was once covered by
water. The Dutch pumped out the
water from these areascalled poldersby building a dike around the
area and pumping the water into
drainage canals. At one time, the
Dutch used windmills to power the
pumps, but now electric motors are
used. Because most of these areas
are below sea level, the Dutch must
drain them all the time.
The Netherlands has four main
land areasthe Dunes, the Polders,
the Sand Plains, and the Southern
Uplands. The Dunes consist of high,
sandy ridges and tall grasses along the
North Sea coast. The Polders make
Amsterdam
Haarlem
A N TA R C T I C A
Rh
The Place
AUSTRALIA
E
S
The Netherlands has a mild climate with cool winters and warm
summers. Temperatures average
60F (16C) in the summer and
30F (-1C) in the winter. The
country receives about 25 inches
(63 cm) of precipitation a year.
Touring boat, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Other
35%
Clothing
1%
Iron and steel
2%
Petroleum products
4%
Machinery
24%
Food
17%
Exports
$203 billion
Chemicals
and chemical
products
17%
Other
31%
Forests
10%
Farms /
cropland
28%
Permanent
pastures
31%
Land Use
Netherlands
The People
The Netherlands is one of the most
densely populated countries in the
world with a population density of
980 people per square mile (378
people per sq km). Life expectancy
is 78 years.
About 88% of the people live in
urban areas. About 40% of the people live in the two coastal provinces
Amsterdam flower market
of North Holland and South

Holland, which includes
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The
Hague. Most people living in the
Netherlands are Dutch. Immigrants,
however, come from Indonesia,
Morocco, Suriname, and Turkey.
People living in the city inhabit
apartments and row houses. Few
live in single-family houses because
of high land prices.
Rural life is similar to
urban life. Farms are commercial businesses. Some
people in rural areas wear
wooden shoes called
klompen to protect their feet
from water.
the labor force works in
services, 23% in manufacturing and construction,
and 2% in agriculture.
Education
All children ages 5 to 16 must
attend school. The educational
system consists of both public and
private schools. The majority of
students attend private schools.
The Netherlands has several different types of high schools, which
train students for university study or
a job. The University of Amsterdam
is the countrys largest university.
The oldest university is Leiden
University, founded in 1575.

Some of the worlds most famous
painters, such as Rembrandt,
Vincent van Gogh, and Piet
Mondrian have come from the
Netherlands. Dutch literature,
although popular within the country, is not well-known throughout
the world.
The Netherlands is famous for its
tulips. The Dutch hold many flower
festivals in the spring.
Bicycle riding, field hockey,
(continued)
About one-third of the country has

no religious affiliation. The rest of the
country is split between Roman
Catholics and Protestants.
Moroccans,
Turks & Other
4%
Dutch
96%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 2%
Roman
Catholic
34%
Unaffiliated
36%
Protestant
25%
Muslim
3%
Major Religions
Government
Literate
99%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
740 tanks
Almost all adults can read and

write. The country has a literacy
rate of 99%.
soccer, tennis, boating, sailing,
windsurfing, and ice skating are
popular sports in the Netherlands.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
625
485
371
189
36
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Rotterdam, Netherlands
19 major ships
183 combat aircraft
New Zealand
Land area rank
74
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
122
fewest people
At a Glance
most people (1)
EUROPE
Great Barrier Island
ASIA
AFRICA
Auckland
SOUTH
AMERICA
Hamilton
Rotorua
T a s m a n
S e a
AUSTRALIA
New Plymouth
North
Island
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
222
Average Rainfall
New Zealand is an island nation 1,000 miles (1,600 km)

southeast of Australia in the South Pacific. The country
is made up of two main islandsNorth Island and
South Islandand several small islands. New Zealand
has 3,200 miles (5,150 km) of coastline.
North Island features the Northern Peninsulas and
Waikato Basin, which has forests, lowlands, citrus
orchards, and hills. The Volcanic Region and Western Hill
Country, in the west, feature volcanic rock, hot springs,
and geysers. Mount Tongariro, at 9,175 feet (2,797 m), is
the highest peak on the island. The Eastern Hills, in
the east and south, consist of rugged mountains and
hills and plains. South Island consists of the Southern
Alps and High Country. New Zealands highest peak
Mount Cook at 12,349 feet (3,764 m)is there. The
Canterbury Plains, in the east, form New Zealands
largest area of flat land. The Otago Plateaus and
Basins, in the southeast, feature plains and rolling hills.
New Zealand has a mild, moist climate. July is the
coldest month and January and February are the
warmest. Temperatures range from 65F (18C) to
85F (29C) in the summer and 35F (2C) to 55F
(13C) in the winter.
Metals and
metal products
7%
Other
12%
Minerals,
chemicals
and plastics
10%
Food
and live
animals
46%
Basic
manufactures
25%
Exports
$19 billion
Napier
Westport
N
Wellington
So
ut
Al
ps
Christchurch
South Timaru
Island
r
he
Greymouth
Palmerston North
Official Name: New Zealand

EQUATOR
Continent: Oceania
(268,680 sq km)
Capital City: Wellington
Largest City: Auckland (952,600)
Unit of Money: New Zealand dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 9% arable, 5% crops, 50% pastures, 28%
forests, 8% other
Natural Resources: Natural gas, iron ore, sand
NORTH
AMERICA
Dunedin
Invercargill
C
0
0
Stewart Island
miles
km
200
200
The People
About 85% of New Zealanders were born in the countrymost descendants of British settlers. New Zealands
largest minority group is the Maori, people of Polynesian
descent. Most people speak English with an accent that is
similar to a British accent. The country has a population
density of 37 people per square mile (14 people per sq
km). Life expectancy is 78 years.
New Zealand is known for its high standard of living.
Nearly 70% of families own their own homes, and almost
every family has a car. Most people live in single family
houses. People in larger cities inhabit high-rise apartment
buildings. About 65% of the population works in services,
25% in industry, and 10% in agriculture.
Equal rights are
important to New
Zealanders. In 1893, it
became the first country
in the world to give
women the right to vote.
Sports are popular in
New Zealand. Camping,
hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, yachting,
swimming, cricket,
rugby, and tennis are
favorite activities.
Asian &
Pacific
Islanders Other 7%
4%
Maori
10%
European
79%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
Protestant
3%
Baptist
2%
Other
33%
Methodist
5%
Presbyterian
Anglican 18%
24%
Roman
Catholic
15%
Major Religions
Nicaragua
Land area rank
99
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
112
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
H O N D U R A S
Ocotal
Jinotega
Matagalpa
Esteli
Chinandega
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Len Lake
Managua
AFRICA
Managua
Juigalpa
Masaya
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Granada
ea
S
Ca
ri
bb
ea
n
EL
SALVADOR
ito Co
ast
Puerto Cabezas
Mosqu
Official Name: Republic of Nicaragua

Capital City: Managua
Largest City: Managua
(974,000)
Unit of Money: Cordoba
EQUATOR
Major Languages: Spanish
(official)
Literacy: 66%
Land Use: 9% arable, 1% crops,
46% pastures, 27% forests, 17% other
Natural Resources: Gold silver, copper
Bluefields
W
Rivas
S
Lake Nicaragua
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
A N TA R C T I C A
COSTA RICA
miles
km
100
100
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
The majority of Nicaraguans are mestizos. Most belong

to the Roman Catholic Church and speak Spanish.
Nearly half the population is under 15 years old.
The Place
At 2.92%, Nicaragua has one of the highest annual
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, by
population growth rates in Central America. The country
total area. It is bordered by Honduras on the
has a population density of 96 people
north and Costa Rica on the south. The
per square mile (37 people per sq km).
Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific
Life expectancy is 61 years for males
Ocean on the west form the countrys coastlines.
and 63 years for females.
Nicaragua has three main land areasthe
About one-third of Nicaraguas
Pacific Region, the Central Highlands, and
people are farmers. Many work on their
the Caribbean Region. The Pacific Region is a
own farms or on cooperatives, state
low area with volcanoes that extends from
farms, or private farms. People living in
Honduras to Costa Rica. Lake Managua and
warmer areas inhabit palm or metalLake Nicaragua are located there. The temroofed houses. People in cooler areas
perature averages 80F (27C) all year. The
live in adobe houses with tile roofs.
Central Highlands are Nicaraguas coolest and
About 54% of the population works in
highest areas. The countrys highest peak
services and 15% in industry.
Pico Mogoton at 6,913 feet (2,107 m)is
there. This area is rainy, averaging 100 inches
school, however, more children living
(250 cm) of rain a year. The Caribbean
in urban areas go to school than those
Region is a flat plain covered with rain forests, Nicaraguan girl
living in rural areas. Nicaragua has
and usually receives 165 inches (419 cm) of
three universities. The National
rain a year.
University of Nicaragua, founded in 1812, is the oldest
Many wild animals, such as pumas, jaguars, monkeys,
and largest. About two-thirds of Nicaraguans can read
and crocodiles, are native to Nicaragua.
and write.
Industrial
products
24%
Other
34%
Raw
sugar
6%
Beef
7%
Coffee
18%
Exports
$635 million
Crustaceans
11%
Black 9%
White
17%
Amerindian 5%
Mestizo
69%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant 5%
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
223
Niger
Land area rank
21
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
72
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
miles
ASIA
km
200
A L G E R I A
AFRICA
S a h a r a
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
M A L I
rR
ge
Ni
Agadez
A
IN
RK O
B U FAS
Niamey
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0 in/0 cm
224
Other
28%
Cowpeas
5%
Zinder
Lake
Chad
N I G E R I A
inches (17.5 cm) of rain falls in the

mountains yearly. Southern Niger is
a grassy, thinly wooded savanna that
extends from the Niger River in the
west to Lake Chad in the east. This
area is one of the hottest places in
the world, with temperatures averaging 95 to 100F (35 to 38C). The
savanna receives about 22 inches
(55 cm) of rain a year.
The Niger River is the countrys
major river. It flows 350 miles (563
km) across southwest Niger. The
river floods in January and February
and provides irrigation water for
growing crops.
Very few plants grow in Nigers
desert area, except for date palm
trees. Palm, mahogany, kapok, acacia, and baobab trees grow in the
south. Animals found in the north
include foxes, ostriches, barbary
sheep, and antelope. Elephants,
warthogs, baboons, giraffes, and
crocodiles inhabit southern areas.
Farms/cropland 3%
Average Rainfall
Camel market, Niger
100F/38C
W
Maradi
Dosso
sandy plateaus and desert. In the

center of the country is the Air
Mountain range. Nigers highest
pointMount Greboun, 6,378 feet
(1,944 m)is located there. About 7
Niger is a landlocked country in

western Africa. The country takes
its name from the Niger River.
About two-thirds of Niger is
Tahoua
BENIN
The Place
C H A D

EQUATOR
of Niger
Continent: Africa
(1,266,700 sq km)
Capital City: Niamey
Largest City: Niamey (398,265)
Major Languages: French (official), Hausa
Natural Resources: Petroleum, tin, columbite
0F/-18C
LIBYA
200
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Permanent
pastures 7%
Forests
2%
Uranium
53%
Livestock
14%
Exports
$188 million
Other
88%
Land Use
Niger
Merchant, Niger
The People
About 98% of Nigers population is
black African. Non-black minorities
include a white ethnic group called
the Tuareg and a few Asian peoples.
The major black ethnic groups are
the Hausa, Djerma-Songhai, Kanuri,
and Fula. The Hausa make up more
than half of the population. They live
in the south and work as farmers.
The Djerma-Songhai live in south-
western Niger and the

Kanuri inhabit southwestern areas. The Fula
and Tuareg are nomadic.
Most people living in
rural areas raise crops
and livestock or fish for
a living. Those living in
urban areas work in
government, services, or
business.
Ethnic groups in rural
areas have different types of houses.
Hausa live in crowded villages in
houses made of mud bricks. The
Tuareg live in tents made of skins or
mats. The Fula live in houses made
of straw and branches. City-dwellers
live in single-family houses.
Niger has one of the highest population growth rates in western
Africa. The country has a population density of 21 people per square
(continued)
mile (14 people per sq km). About

50% of the people are under 15
years old. Life expectancy is 46
years.
Other 5%
Kanuri
8%
Fula
9%
Hausa
56%
Djerma
22%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs & Christian
20%
Muslim
80%
Major Religions
Education
Many areas in Niger do not have
schools. The government runs the
public schools. There are also
Quranic schools, which teach
Muslim beliefs. Nomadic groups use
tent schools. The school moves with
the nomads as they move.
About 25% of primary-schoolage children attend school and less
than 10% of students ages 12 to 17
attend secondary schools. Nigers
major university is the University at
Niamey, founded in 1973.

Islam has influenced Nigers culture.
About 80% of the people are Muslim.
Others are Christian, and some practice traditional African religions.
Nigers ethnic groups make many
types of crafts. People make gold
and silver jewelry, pottery, leatherwork, cloth, and woodcarvings.
Traditional African music is popular.
Favorite sports in Niger include
cycling, basketball, and soccer. The
Government
Literate
14%
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
NA army personnel
Many people in Niger cannot

read or write. About 21% of the
men and 7% of the women can read
and write.
country celebrates National Youth
Week every December.
NA tanks
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Children at market, Niger
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
59
TVs
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
225
Nigeria
Land area rank
31
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
10
fewest people
Sokoto
Official Name: Federal Republic of Nigeria

Continent: Africa
Capital City: Abuja
Largest City: Lagos
(13,050,000)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Naira
Major Languages:
English (official),
Hausa
Natural Resources: Petroleum, tin, columbite,
iron ore
Lake
Chad
Katsina
Kano
Kumo
Kaduna
BENIN
Jos
Ni
ASIA
Ogbomosho
Ibadan
AUSTRALIA
Benin City
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
and grassy plains dominate the

Western Uplands. Dimlang Peak
Nigerias highest point at 6,699 feet
(2,042 m)is in the Eastern
Highlands. The Southwestern
Plains are heavily forested. Swamps
and lagoons cover
Wase, Nigeria
the coast.
Nigeria has a
tropical climate.
The north is
hotter and drier
than the south.
The average
temperature in
the north is 85F
(29C), however,
the temperature
often rises to
100F (38C).
The average
temperature in
Uyo
CAMEROON
0
0
miles
km
the south is 80F (27C). The rainy

season lasts from April to October.
Coastal areas receive about 150
inches (381 cm) of rain a year.
Northern Nigeria receives about
25 inches (64 cm) of rain annually.
Other
Forests 8%
12%
Crude petroleum
95%
Exports
200
200
Other 3%
$15 billion
226
Port Harcourt
0 in/0 cm
R.
W
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Cocoa beans
1%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Rubber 1%
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
u
en
Lagos
A N TA R C T I C A
Nigeria, on the western coast of

Africa, extends 650 miles (1,050 km)
from north to south and 700 miles
(1,130 km) from east to west.
Nigeria has many different land
areas. The Sokoto Plains in northwestern Nigeria have fertile soil.
Rivers flowing across the plains
often flood during the rainy season.
The grassy and sandy Chad Basin
in the northeast becomes swampy
during the rainy season. The
Northern High Plains make up
one-fifth of Nigeria and consist of
flat grasslands, hills, and granite
ridges. Grasslands, palm forests,
swampy plains, and rugged hills
cover the Niger-Benue River Valley
in central Nigeria. The countrys
two main riversthe Niger and the
Benuemeet there. Granite hills
g
Riv e r
Osogbo
SOUTH
AMERICA
Abuja
er
AFRICA
The Place
Maiduguri
Zaria
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
C H A D
N I G E R
At a Glance
100F/38C
most people (1)
Farms /
cropland
36%
Permanent
pastures
44%
Land Use
Nigeria
Nigerian children
The People
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It has a population
mile (133 people per sq km). The
countrys rate of population increase
is almost 3%. Nearly half the population is under 15 years old. Life
There are more than 250 ethnic
groups in Nigeria. The three largest
groups are the Hausa in the north,
Yoruba in the southwest, and Ibo in
the southeast.
Most Nigerians live in

rural areas.
Houses are
made of grass,
dried mud, or
wood and have
roofs made of
cement sheets,
metal, or
thatch.
Families live close together in a
group of houses. People living in
the cities inhabit houses or apartments.
Approximately 54% of Nigerias
labor force works in agriculture,
19% in industry, commerce, and
services, and 15% in government.
About 50% of the people are
Muslims and 40% are Christians.
Some groups living in rural areas
practice religions based on the worship of many gods and spirits. Men
and women usually wear long, loose

Nigeria is famous for its art. The
oldest known African sculptures are
clay figures created there in 500
B.C.E. Today, many tribes make
detailed carved wooden masks.
Nigerian music features drums,
xylophones, as well as string and
wood instruments. Dance themes
focus on everyday life.
Much of the countrys literature is
oral. Chants, folk stories, proverbs,
and riddles are popular forms. Writer
Hausa
21%
Other
29%
Fulani
11%
Ibo
18%
Yoruba
21%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous beliefs
10%
Christian
40%
Muslim
50%
Major Religions
robes. The men also wear short, full
jackets with shorts or pants and
small round caps. Women sometimes wear scarves tied like turbans.
Government
Education
Nigeria does not have enough
schools or teachers for its children.
About 15 million students attend
elementary school and about 3.5
million attend secondary school.
Nigeria has 30 universities. More
than 330,000 students attend college. Ahmadu Bello University in
Zaria is the largest university.
Nigeria has a literacy rate of 57%.
(continued)
Type: Republic
Leader: Chairman of the
Provisional Ruling Council
Literate
57%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
210 tanks
About 67% of the men and 47% of

the women can read and write.
Wole Soyinka, who was from Nigeria,
was the first African writer to win the
Nobel Prize for literature.
1 major ship
92 combat aircraft
Soccer is the most popular sport,

with weekly matches held throughout
the country.
Nigerian girls
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
29
TVs
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
North Korea
Land area rank
98
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
49
At a Glance
ve
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
e
Tu m
AFRICA
C H IN A
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Ya
lu
Kanggye
Kimch'aek
S e a
o f
J a p a n
Hamhung
Sinuiju
Hungnam
Wonsan
P'yongyang
Namp'o
Korea
Bay
Haeju
Kaesong
Yellow Sea
as Siberian fir,
spruce, pine, and
cedar, cover about
half the country.
North Koreas
major rivers are the
491-mile- (790-km-)
long Yalu and the
324-mile- (521-km-)
long Tumen.
North Korea has
a cool, temperate
climate with long,
cold winters and
wet summers. The
country has an average temperature of
47F (8C). Most
of North Koreas
rain falls in the
summerabout 40
inches (102 cm).
Typhoons sometimes
occur in September
and August.
SOU TH KOREA
Fertile North Korean farmland
Fishery
products
17%
Other
23%
Minerals
48%
Agriculture
27%
Farms/
cropland
16%
Forests
61%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$912 million
228
iv
N
W
Other 8%
Average Rainfall
North Korea lies on the northern

half of the Korean Peninsula in
Asia. It is separated from Russia and
China by the Yalu and Tumen rivers
in the north. The country is bordered in the south by South Korea.
The Yellow Sea, the Korea Bay, and
the Sea of Japan form the countrys
coastlines.
Almost 80% of North Korea is
mountain ranges and uplands. The
Kaema Plateau, which has an area of
4,000 square miles (10,360 sq km), is
the countrys largest upland area.
Mount Paektuthe countrys highest peak at 9,022 feet (2,750 m)is
there. The Nangnim Moutains are
in the central part of the country,
and the Hamgyong Mountains are
in the east. The rest of North Korea
consists of plains and lowlands. The
Pyongyang and Chaeryong plains in
the southwest are the countrys most
fertile areas. Coniferous trees, such
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Ch'ongjin
er
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
RUSSIA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea
Continent: Asia
(120,540 sq km)
Capital City: Pyongyang
Largest City: Pyongyang (2,741,260)
Unit of Money: North Korean Won
Major Languages: Korean (official)
Natural Resources: Coal, lead, tungsten
0F/-18C
most people (1)
fewest people
Land Use
miles
km
100
100
North Korea
The People
Most people in North Korea are
Korean. There are small groups of
Chinese and Japanese in the country.
Korean is the official language.
After the Korean War in 1953,
the government tried to make the
country more industrialized. About
two-thirds of North Koreans live in
urban areas, with the coast the most
populated region. Many work in
government-run factories. Most live
in one or two room apartments.
Few people own cars. Those living
in rural areas work on collective

farms. Collective farms are operated
by a group of farmers. About 25%
of the countrys labor force works in
agriculture, 60% in industry, and
15% in services.
North Korea has a population
annual population growth rate of
1.4%. Life expectancy is 51 years. In
recent years, a famine in the country
has affected the lives of most Koreans.
The North Korean government
Korean
100%
Buddhism
and Confusianism,
some Christianity
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
North Koreas elementary school
system is made up of grades 1 to 4,
and its senior middle school goes
from grades 5 to 10. Students must
receive government permission to
Literate
99%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

In North Korea, the government
controls an artists work and encourages work that supports Communist
Party beliefs. Art that goes against
communism is prohibited.
Most North Koreans enjoy reading poems, novels, and short stories.
The cities have theaters for drama,
opera, and movies. Drama groups
continue their education. With the

governments approval, a student
can go on to a 2-year high school, a
2-year vocational school, or a 3- or
4-year technical school. Those who
finish high school or technical
school can then continue on to college. Students who graduate from a
vocational school must complete a
year of special study before moving
on to college.
North Korea has one college, Kim
Il Sung University in Pyongyang.
The country also has 200 specialized
colleges that teach students certain
subjects, such as engineering.
travel to rural areas to perform.
North Koreans enjoy participating
in folk dances, such as the drum
dance sungmu, where dancers wear
drums around their necks.
The government also operates
gymnasiums that focus on organized
sports, such as gymnastics, and tae
kwon do, a martial art.
(continued)
discourages the belief in religion

because it goes against the teachings
of communism, even though freedom
of religion is allowed in the countrys
constitution. Confucianism and
Buddhism are the most popular belief
systems in the country.
Korean man
North Korea has a literacy rate

of about 99%.
Government
Type: Communist
Leader: President/Premier
Defense
NA army personnel
NA tanks
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
14
11
NA
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
229
Norway
Land area rank
67
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
115
most people (1)
At a Glance
0
0
200
Bare
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ARCTIC OCEAN
200
Hammerfest
ASIA
Narvik
L A P
L A N
D
SOUTH
AMERICA
Alta
Tromso
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
eg
ia
Mo
ni
LA
th
FI
N
Gu
lf
of
Bo
EN
ED
Bergen
SW
Trondheim
w
or
N
A N TA R C T I C A
nts S
ea
Kirkenes
IA
SS
RU
Official Name: Kingdom of Norway

Continent: Europe
EQUATOR
(307,860 sq km)
Capital City: Oslo
Largest City: Oslo (483,401)
Unit of Money: Krone
Major Languages: Norwegian (official)
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 3% arable, 27% forests, 70% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, copper, natural gas
miles
km
Se
fewest people
Oslo
North Sea
Stavanger
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Fish & food

products
8%
Metal
products
11%
Other
16%
Baltic
Sea
ESTONIA
LATVIA
The People
More than half of Norways population lives in the south
near the capital, Oslo. About 75% live in urban areas, and
most people live in apartments. Wealthier Norwegians,
however, own single-family homes. About
25% of the population lives in rural areas,
mainly in the southeast. People living in rural
areas have farmhouses with modern conveniences. Life expectancy is 78 years.
About 71% of the labor force works in
services, 23% in industry, and 6% in fishing, agriculture, and forestry.
Children ages 7 to 16 must go to school.
Elementary school lasts 6 years, and both
junior high and senior high last 3 years.
Students can then continue on to college.
Sports are an important part of Norwegian life. Skiing
is the most popular sport. Many learn how to ski before
they start school. Ice-skating, soccer, and swimming are
also Norwegian favorites.
Fuels
and fuel
products
54%
Norwegian
95%
Other
Christian
4%
Other 8%
Evangelical
Lutheran
88%
0 in/0 cm
Machinery
11%
Exports
$49 billion
230
Ska
Kristiansand
it
k Stra
gerra
Lapp 1% Other 4%
Average Rainfall
Norway is a narrow country in northwestern Europe.

The country is bordered by Sweden, Finland, and
Russia on the east. The Barents Sea lies to the north,
the Norwegian and North Seas to the west, and the
Skagerrak Strait on the south.
Norway is mountainous. It has an average elevation
of 1,500 feet (457 m). The Mountainous Plateau consists of rock smoothed by glaciers. The
4,500-square-mile (11,700-sq-km)
Hardanger PlateauEuropes largest
highland plainis in this area. Snow
and ice cover 1,200 square miles (3,110
sq km) of Norways uplands above
6,500 feet (1,980 m). The 188-squaremile (487-sq-km) Jostedal Glacier is
one of the largest ice fields in Europe.
Norwegian waitress
The Kjolen Mountain Range is in
northern Norway. The Long
Mountains in the south include Galdhopiggen, northern
Europes highest mountain at 8,100 feet (2,469 m). The
lowlands are Norways best farmland.
Many fiords (narrow inlets) make up Norways coastline and some 150,000 islands lie off its coast.
Drammen
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Oman
82
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)

137
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
BAHRAIN
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Pe
rs
ia
ASIA
Official Name: Sultanate

EQUATOR
of Oman
(212,460 sq km)
Capital City: Muscat
Largest City: Muscat (350,000)
Unit of Money: Omani rial
Literacy: 80%
Land Use: 5% pastures, 95% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, copper, asbestos
Gu
QATAR
AFRICA
lf
Strait of
IRA N
rmuz
Ho
Musandam
Peninsular
SOUTH
AMERICA
Suhar
AUSTRALIA
G ulf o f O m a n
UNITED ARAB
Ar Rustq
EMIRATES
Muscat
Nazw
Sur
A N TA R C T I C A
S A U D I
0
0
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Khaluf
Duqm
Arabian
Sea
Salalah
Y E M E N
INDIAN OCEAN
The People
Nearly 90% of Omans people are Arabs and almost all
are Muslims. Other ethnic groups include Africans,
Indians, Iranians, and Pakistanis.
Oman has a population density of 31 people per
square mile (11 people per sq km). It has an average
yearly population increase of 3.4%.
The life expectancy is 71 years.
Omanis living in rural areas
inhabit houses made of concrete
blocks, wood and palm thatch, or
dried mud or stone. Nomads live in
tents. Many city dwellers live in 1or 2-story houses with enclosed
courtyards.
Most people living in coastal
areas work on date palm plantations
or fish for a living. Farmers in interior sections grow dates, fruit, and
grain. People living in the city work in the petroleum
industry or as government officials, laborers, merchants,
or sailors.
The majority of Omani men wear white robes and
turbans. Women usually wear long black dresses over
their colorful clothes. Some women also wear black veils
to cover their faces.
Food and live animals

2%
Other 6%
Manufactured
goods
3%
Machinery
9%
a l i
l K h
' A
)
b
t
u
R
s e r
( D e
Oman is a small country on the Arabian peninsula in the

Middle East with coastlines on the Gulf of Oman and the
Arabian Sea on the east.
Most of Oman is desert and
mountains. The mountainous
Musandam Peninsula is in northern
Oman. Date palms grow in the fertile
Al Batinah, which lies along the coast
of the Gulf of Oman. Frankincense
trees thrive in Dhofar in the south.
Next to Al Batinah are the Al Hajar
mountains. Mount Al-Akhdar
10,086 feet (3,074 m)is the countrys highest peak. The Rub al Khali
Awakening tower, Oman
desert covers western Oman.
Temperatures in Oman can get
quite hot. Summertime temperatures can rise as high as
130F (54C). Winters are mild with temperatures averaging 63F (17C). Oman averages 6 inches (15 cm) of
rain a year. Dhofar sometimes receives as much as 25
inches (63.5 cm) of rain a year. Rare animal species, such
as the Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, mountain goat, and
loggerhead turtle, are native to Oman.
80F/27C
200
200
The Place
100F/38C
miles
km
A R A B IA
Petroleum
80%
African, Indian,
Iranian, Pakistani
10%
Other Muslim
& Hindu
25%
Arab
90%
Ibadhi Muslim
75%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$8 billion
231
Pakistan
Area rank
36
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
TURKMENISTAN
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Mt. GoodwinAusten (K-2)
AFRICA
Mingaora
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
In
Peshawar
A N TA R C T I C A
J he
AFGHANISTAN
Lahore
Quetta
us R
iver
Faisalabad
Multan
tl
ej
u
S
Bahawalpur
BA
IS
LUCH
TA
In
N
Sukkur
INDIA
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
232
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Rawalpindi
R
.
i
R
av
m
R
lu
Gujranwala
IRAN
Hyderabad
es
N
W
ar
t
er
Th
Pakistan is a country in southern

Asia. It is bordered by Afghanistan
and Iran on the west, and India on
the east. The Arabian Sea lies to the
south. The country has 650 miles
(1,046 km) of coastline.
Pakistans northern and western
highlands are mountainous and
include the Karakoram and Pamir
mountain ranges. K2, the second
highest peak in the world at 28,250
feet (8,611 m), located in the
Karakoram range. In eastern
Pakistan are the Punjab and Sind
alluvial plains, which were made of
soil deposited by rivers. The Indus,
Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers are
found in the north. The 1,000-mile(1,609-km-) long Indus River flows
through east central Pakistan to the
du
Islamabad

EQUATOR
Republic of Pakistan
Continent: Asia
Capital City: Islamabad
Largest City: Karachi
(12,100,000)
Unit of Money: Pakistani rupee
Major Languages: Urdu
(official), Punjabi, Sindhi
Natural Resources: Land,
natural gas, petroleum
CHINA
ASIA
Karachi
0
Arabian Sea
Pakistani farmer
miles
km
200
200
Pakistan
Arabian Sea. This area is quite fertile. The Baluchistan Plateau in the
southwest is dry and rocky and has
few plants. The Thar Desert in the
southeast extends into northwestern
India.
Pakistan has a dry climate with
hot summers and cool winters.
Rainfall varies by region, but the
Cotton 2%
Fish 2%
Other
Leather
12%
goods
4%
Rice 6%
Ready-made
garments
21%
country averages about 10 inches (25

cm) of rain a year. It sometimes
experiences long dry spells followed
by severe storms that flood the
country. Most rain falls from July to
September. Average temperatures
vary by area. Northern areas average
(continued)
about 75F (24C) in the summer,

with winter temperatures below
freezing. Eastern Pakistan has an
average temperature of 90F (32C)
in the summer and 55F (13C) in
the winter. Coastal areas have mild,
humid weather year round.
City bus, Karachi, Pakistan
Textile
fabrics
53%
Exports
$8 billion
Farms/
cropland
28%
Other
61%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
6%
Forests
5%
Resources
Farm land
Forests
Pastures
Other
Manufacturing
Textiles
Light Engineering
Chemicals
Cattle
Cattle are raised in

northern Pakistan.
Grains
233
Pakistan
(continued)
The History
The Indus Valley civilization formed
in what is now Pakistan around 2500
B.C.E. By 1700 B.C.E. the civilization
had collapsed and during the next
1,000 years many people from Asia
came to the region. The Persians took
over in 500 B.C.E. and then, in the
300s B.C.E., emperor Chandragupta
Maurya gained control and made the
region part of the Mauryan Empire.
Soon after, the Greeks took over, then
the Afghans, Parthians, Kushands,
and finally the Arab Muslims in 1000
C.E. The Mughal Empire, which
included India, was established in
1526. In the 1700s, Persians and
Afghans gained power, and in the

early 1800s, the Sikh and Punjab
kingdoms were in control. The
United Kingdom (Great Britain) took
over the nation in the late 1800s.
In 1906, Muslims formed the
Muslim League. Also at this time
India began a movement for its
independence from Great Britain.
Muslims called for another country
Pakistanto form. Pakistan became
an independent nation in the British
Commonwealth of Nations in 1947.
After several wars between Muslim
and Hindu groups, Pakistan became a
republic in 1956. The country went
through a civil war in the 1970s
The People
Pakistans population is made up of
many cultural groups. The main
difference between the groups is
language. Urdu is the countrys official language, however, less than
10% of the people speak it as their
main language. The Punjabis are
the largest group and speak different
dialects of Punjabi. Other ethnic
groups include the Sindis, Pashtuns,
Mohajir, and Baluch. Refugees from
Pakistani mother and child
Street vendor, northern Pakistan
Afghanistan also live in the country.

Pakistan has a population density
of 456 people per square mile (176
people per sq km). It has an annual
population increase of 2.3%. Life
Pakistans cities are highly populated. The country has 12 cities with
more than 200,000 people. Most
city dwellers work in factories, or as
shopkeepers and craftworkers. Many
live in small houses in crowded
neighborhoods. Wealthier
Pakistanis live in large, modern
houses. Most people in rural areas
are farmers or herders. Many rural
Pakistanis live in a two or three
room houses made of clay or mud.
Few houses have plumbing or
electricity, and straw mats cover dirt
floors. Rural men have more social
freedom than rural women. Women
between eastern and western

Pakistanis. Pakistan and India have
long fought over an independent
territory called Kashmir.
Government
Defense
2,050 tanks
20 major ships
430 combat aircraft
cover their faces with veils when

around strangers and avoid contact
with men outside their family.
Most men and women wear
shalwar and qamizloose pants and a
large overblouse. Women also wear a
dupattaor scarfover their shoulders and head. Turbans are popular
with the men.
About 97% of Pakistanis are
Muslims. There are also small groups
of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and
Parsis in the country. Prayers and religious rituals are an important part of
everyday life.
Other 3%
Shi'a
Muslim
20%
Sunni Muslim
77%
Major Religions
Baluch
5%
Mohajir
8%
Other 7%
Punjabi
50%
Sindi
15%
Pashtun
15%
Ethnic Makeup
Pakistan
(continued)
Literate
38%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Education
Pakistani children are not required
to go to school. The country has a
shortage of schools, teachers, and
teaching materials.
The school system is made up of
elementary school from grades 1 to
5, middle school from grades 6 to 8,
and high school from grades 9 to
10. After high school, students can
attend intermediate college for
2 years to prepare for college.
Pakistans 3 largest universities are
Pakistani school children
the University of Karachi, the

University of Peshawar, and the
University of the Punjab.
Pakistan has a literacy rate of

38%. About 50% of men and 24%
of women can read and write.
Other
19%
Agriculture
47%
Services
17%
Industry
17%
Labor Force
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
Pakistani women with veils lifted

Each of Pakistans ethnic groups has
a distinct culture. Folk literature
consists of stories and songs about
legendary or historical figures.
People living in rural areas like to
watch plays based on legends.

Movies are popular in the cities.
Ancient Buddhist monuments,
Hindu temples, Islamic palaces and
tombs, and Anglo-Mogul Gothic
mansions are found in many parts of
16
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
the country. Sculpture, ceramics,

jewelry, silk goods, and engraved
woodwork and metalwork are popular art forms.
Cricketa baseball-like gameis
the national sport.
235
Palau
Area rank
197
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

219
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
Official Name: Republic of Palau

Continent: Oceania
EQUATOR
Population: 19,092
Capital City: Koror
Largest City: Koror (12,299)
Major Languages: Palauan (official), English
Literacy: 92%
Land Use: Not available
Natural Resources: Forests, minerals, marine
products
Government: Constitutional government in free
association with the United States
Defense: Responsibility of the United States
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Konrei
AFRICA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Other
15%
Copra
16%
Koror
A N TA R C T I C A
W
S
Ngardololok
0
0
miles
km
I
Peleliu I.
30
Angaur I.
30
The People
About 70% of Palauans live on Koror Island and most
work for government agencies. The rest of the people
live in rural villages throughout the islands. Many of
these people work as farmers, but are only able to grow
enough food to feed their
families and make a small
profit. The most popular
foods in Palau are seafood and
taro, a starchy, edible underground root.
Palau has a population
density of 106 people per
square mile (40 people per
sq km). It has an annual population increase of 1.3%. Life
Most of the population
speaks both Palauan and
English. Children ages 6 to
14 must attend school. The
country has a literacy rate of
92%. About 75% of the people
are Christians, and 25% of
Palauans follow a local religion called Modekngei.
Modekngei
25%
Fish
29%
Garments
21%
Polynesian,
Malayan,
and Melanesian
Christian
85%
0 in/0 cm
Handicrafts
19%
Exports
$14 million
236
Melekeiok
Babelthuap I.
Airai
Mukeru
Palau is a chain of 200 islands that extends 100 miles

(160 km) from north to south and is 20
Rock islands, Palau
miles (32 km) wide. It lies 528 miles
(9,650 km) southeast of the Philippines
and is surrounded by a coral reef.
Babelthuap is Palaus largest island.
The northern islands were once
volcanoes and have fertile soil. The
southern islands are high coral formations. Few people live on these islands
because they are too rugged.
Palau has a tropical climate with an
average daytime temperature of 80F
(27C). More than 150 inches (380
cm) of rain fall on Palau each year.
The islands are fertile, with mangrove
swamps along the coasts and savannas.
Coconut and pandanus palms grow in
the rain forests. Animals, such as crocodiles, poisonous sea snakes, and
dugongsmanatee relativeslive in
Palaus warm waters.
80F/27C
Ngatpang
AUSTRALIA
The Place
100F/38C
Galap
Ngardmau
SOUTH
AMERICA
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Panama
Area rank
118
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
133
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
A T L A N T I C
Caribbean Sea
E
S
COSTA
RICA
Ga
tun
e
Lak
Cristbal
Panama Canal
La Chorrera
Coln
San Miguelito
Panama City
Balboa
David
La Palma
Santiago
Yaviza
ira
Chitr
EUROPE
Gulf of
Panama
ASIA
NORTH
AMERICA
N
W
Tu
Official Name: Republic of Panama

Continent: North America (Central America)
Capital City: Panama City
Largest City: Panama City (450,668)
Unit of Money: Balboa
Major Languages: Spanish
(official), English
Literacy: 91%
EQUATOR
Land Use: 7% arable land,
2% permanent crops,
20% pastures, 44% forests,
27% other
Natural Resources: Copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Government: Constitutional Republic
O C E A N
AFRICA
COL OM BIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
AUSTRALIA
miles
50
0 km 50
A N TA R C T I C A
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
White
10%
Average Rainfall
About 70% of Panamas people are mestizos and mulattos.

Most other people are of black, white, or Indian ancestry.
More than 50% of the people live in urban areas. About
The Place
75% of those people live in one of Panamas three main
citiesPanama City, San Miguelito, and Colon. About
Panama is a narrow Central American country on the
98% of Panamanians live near the canal or west of it.
Isthmus of Panama. The Panama Canal cuts through
the isthmus, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Panama has a population density of 94 people per square
mile (36 people per sq km). Life expectancy is 75 years.
Eastern Panama is primarily swamps and forest. The
San Blas and Darien Mountains, also in the east, rise
Panamanian woman
school, however, about 50% of
to 6,000 feet (1,800 m). The Central highlands are
students drop out before age 15.
mountainous. Panamas highest peakVolcan Baru
Many leave school to work to earn
at 11,401 feet (3,475 m)is there. Panamas coastal
money for their families. About 50%
lowlands are fertile. The countrys major river is the
of students who complete the sixth
Tuira and its largest lake is Gatun Lake, which was
grade finish high school. Panama has
created by the builders of the Panama Canal.
2 universitiesthe University of
Panama has a warm, tropical climate.
Panama and the University of Santa
Temperatures average 80F (27C) in lowland areas
Maria la Antigua.
and 66F (19C) in the mountains. The Pacific side
Panamanians have fiestas, which
of Panama receives 68 inches (173 cm) of rain a
feature music, dance, and special
year, while the Atlantic side gets 150 inches (381
foods, to celebrate holidays. Music is a
cm) of a rain a year.
popular form of entertainment in
Many animals, such as jaguars, ocelots, pumas,
Panama. The people also enjoy playparrots, and monkeys, live in Panama. Pine trees,
ing baseball and basketball.
cacao trees, and banana plants thrive in the country.
Other
40%
Bananas
33%
Clothing
Shrimp
3%
14%
Fish products
4%
Exports Coffee
6%
$592 million
Amerindian 6%
BlackAmerindian
14%
Mestizo
70%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
15%
Roman
Catholic
85%
Major Religions
237
Papua New Guinea

Area rank
54
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
110
fewest people
most people (1)
P A C I F I C
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Papua

EQUATOR
New Guinea
Continent: Oceania
Capital City: Port Moresby
Largest City: Port Moresby (250,000)
Unit of Money: Kina
Major Languages: English, Motu
Literacy: 72%
Land Use: 0.1% arable land, 1% permanent crops,
92.9% forests, 6% other
Natural Resources: oil, natural gas, fish
Bis
Admiralty Islands
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Papua New Guinea is in the Pacific Ocean north of

Australia. It is made up of the island of New Guinea and
a chain of islands that extend 1,000 miles (1,600 km).
New Guinea, in the east, makes up
most of the countrys area. Other
islands include the Bismarck and
Louisiade Archipelagos; Bougainville
and Buka in the Solomon Islands; the
DEntrecasteaux and Trobriand
Islands; and Woodlark Island.
Papua New Guinea is mountainous.
Volcanoes are found on the northern
coasts. Tropical forests cover 80% of
the islands inland areas, and swamps
cover the coasts.
The country has a hot and humid
climate. Temperatures average from
Waterfall, Papua
75 to 80F (24 to 28C) in lowland
New Guinea
areas and 68F (20C) at higher elevations. Papua New Guinea receives about 80 inches
(203 cm) of rain a year.
$3 billion
238
Madang
New Britain
Goroka
New
N
W
To r r e s Str ai t
E
AUSTRALIA
Bougainville
Kieta
Lae
Gu in ea
Daru
Solomon
Sea
Port
Moresby
Trobriand Islands
Woodlark Island
D'Entrecasteaux
Louisiade Archipelago
Coral
Sea
0
0
miles
km
200
200
The People
About 98% of Papua New Guineas people are
Melanesiansdark-skinned people with curly hair.
Most people live in villages and work as farmersabout
64% of the labor force works in agriculture. About 40%
of the people live in the interior valleys.
Papua New Guinea has a population density of 28
people per square mile (10 people per sq km). The annual rate of population
increase is 2.5%. Life
More than 850
languages are spoken
in New Guinea. Most
people use languages
called lingua francas
to communicate with
each other. The main
two are pidgin
English and Motu.
Approximately
65% of children go
Papua New Guinea boy in traditional dress
to school until they
are 12. About 20%
of the population has attended high school. Nearly 81%
of men and 63% of women can read and write.
Cocoa beans 1%
Other 6%
Coffee 6%
Palm oil 6%
Crude oil
32%
Concentrates
12%
Gold
23%
Copper ore
and timber 14%
Exports
Bismarck
Sea
Wewak
INDONESIA
AUSTRALIA
rk
Arc
h
Ne ipela
go
w
Ire
lan
d
Rabaul
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
O C
E A
N
ma
Roman
Catholic
22%
Melanesian
(Papuan, Negrito,
Micronesian,
Polynesian)
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
34%
Protestant
44%
Major Religions
Paraguay
Area rank
59
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)
101
fewest people
most people (1)
B OL IV IA
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Capitn Pablo
Lagerenza
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Paraguay
(397,300 sq km)
Capital City: Asuncion
Largest City: Asuncion (502,426)
Unit of Money: Guarani
Major Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy: 92%
Land Use: 6% arable land, 55% pastures, 325 forests,
7% other
Natural Resources: Copper, silver, gold
B R A ZIL
Doctor
Pedro P. Pea
om
o P
ar
Concepcin
o R
i
ay
ve
lc
Ri
Pi
A N TA R C T I C A
Ri
AUSTRALIA
Paraguay
G ra n
C h a c o
SOUTH
AMERICA
an
AFRICA
ve r
W
Asuncin
Villarrica
Lambare
iv
er
Fernando de la Mora
A R G E N T IN A
Pilar
0
miles
100
Para
na
0 km 100
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
About 95% of Paraguays people are mestizos. Other

groups include Indians, Chinese, Germans, Koreans, and
Japanese. Most Paraguayans live in the east and about
The Place
20% live in or near Asuncion, the capital. The country
Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America, borhas a population density of 36 people per square mile
dered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The Paraguay
(13 people per sq km). Life expectancy is 72 years.
River, its major river, divides the country into two land
Rural Paraguayans live in one-room houses called
regions in the west and east.
ranchos. Ranchos have dirt floors, reed, wood, or brick
Chacoalso called Occidental Paraguayis
walls, and thatch roofs. An
located in the west, and is a flat area with coarse
attached shed is used as a
grasses, forests, and salt marshes. The
kitchen. Most people in rural
Pilcomayo River flows in the southwest and
areas are farmers, however,
forms Paraguays border with Argentina. Eastern
some work on cattle ranches,
Paraguayor Oriental Paraguayhas rolling
in forestry, or in small factories.
hills, fertile soil, and forests. It lies between the
About half of the population
Paraguay and Parana Rivers. The Parana
lives in urban areas. City
Plateau is the areas most heavily forested land.
dwellers make up most of
Paraguay has a warm and humid climate. The
Paraguays middle class. Urban
Paraguayan mother and daughter
Chaco is the hottest and driest area in the country
Paraguayans inhabit small
and the Parana Plateau is the coolest and wettest.
houses made of brick or stucco
Paraguay has an average temperature of 65F (19C) in
with red tile roofs. Most people who live in the cities
July and 84F (29C) in January. Eastern Paraguay receives work as craftworkers, factory workers, government
65 inches (166 cm) of rain a year, while the Chaco gets 20
employees, office workers, and shopkeepers. Paraguays
to 40 inches (51 to 102 cm) of rain. This area sometimes
cities have better schools and more medical facilities
has winter droughts and summer floods.
than rural areas.
Hides and skins
4%
Other Soybean
15%
flour
31%
Processed
meats
5%
Vegetable
oil 7%
Oilseed
cakes 8%
Timber 9%
White, American Indian,

and Other 5%
Mestizo
95%
Exports
Cotton fibers
21%
Ethnic Makeup
Mennonite and other

Protestant denominations
10%
Roman
Catholic
90%
Major Religions
$1 billion
239
Peru
Area rank
20
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
38
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
C O L OM B IA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Peru
(1,285,220 sq km)
Capital City: Lima
Largest City: Lima (7,450,000)
Unit of Money: Nuevo Sol
Major Languages: Spanish, Quechua (both official)
Natural Resources: Copper, silver, gold
AFRICA
E C U A D O R
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Iquitos
Talara
Am
A N TA R C T I C A
az
on
Rive
Piura
Chiclayo
B RA ZIL
Trujillo
Pucallpa
Chimbote
Lima
Huancayo
Ayacucho
Cuzco
Ica
C
E
Lake
Titicaca
Arequipa
B OL IV IA
Callao
Tacna
W
E
0
Cuzco, Peru
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Highlands, extend
the length of the
country. The
highlands consist
of grassy narrow
valleys and
plateaus.
Huascaran, an
extinct volcano, is
the areas highest peak at 22,205 feet
(6,768 m). Few trees grow in the
highlands. Lake Titicaca, Perus
largest lake, is in the southern highlands. At 12,507 feet (3,812 m)
above sea level, Lake Titicaca is the
highest navigable lake in the world.
Rain forests and jungles lie east of
Other
36%
Copper
and copper
products
23%
Textile yarn
and fabric
3%
CH IL E
200
the Andes. The Amazon Riverthe

worlds largest riverflows through
this part of the country.
Coastal Peru has an average temperature of 73F (23C) from
November to April and 61F (16C)
from May to October. Temperatures
in the highlands are cooler, with the
highest elevations not rising above
freezing. Jungle areas have an
average yearly temperature of 80F
(27C). The coast receives about 2
inches (5 cm) of rain a year, while
eastern parts of the country may get
at least 40 inches (100 cm) of rain a
year. Earthquakes occur frequently
in Peru.
Clothing
and accessories
4%
Lead products 4%
Other
10%
Fish meal
fodder
13%
Zinc
products 7%
Exports
$6 billion
240
0 km
200
Farms/ cropland 3%
Average Rainfall
Peru is the third-largest country in

South America. It is in western
South America along the Pacific
Ocean.
Perus coastline is a dry, rugged
desert. The snow-capped Andes
Mountains, in the Eastern
miles
Coffee 5%
Petroleum and
derivatives 5%
Permanent
pastures
21%
Forests
66%
Land Use
Peru (continued)
The People
Peru has more Indians than any other
country in South America. About
45% of Peruvians are Indians. People
of mixed Indian and white ancestry
make up the next largest group at
37%. About 15% of the population is
of white ancestry. A number of
Peruvians have Japanese ancestry.
(20 people per sq km) and an annual
population increase of 1.9%. Life
Most of the population lives in
cities or towns. Many people work in
agriculture, mining, quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and services.
Rural families live in one-room
houses. Some have adobe walls and
thatch or tile roofs while other houses
have twig or bamboo walls and thatch
roofs. Many lower-class families in
Other 5%
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
Other 3%
White
15%
Mother and daughter with llama.
urban areas live in crowded squatter

communities. Squatters first build
their homes out of cardboard and
metal, but after saving money, build a
house out of adobe or concrete blocks.
Upper- and middle-class people,
Education
Peruvian children ages 6 to 12 must
attend school. Many rural children
do not attend school, however,
because there is a shortage of
schools and teachers. Almost all
Peruvian school children
Ethnic Makeup
mainly whites, live in single-family
houses with enclosed patios or highrise apartments.
Peru has a literacy rate of 89%.
About 95% of men and 83% of
Literate
89%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
upper- and middle-class students go

to private schools.
Peru has several universities. Its
oldest is the University of San
Marcos in Lima, founded in 1551. It
is the oldest institution of higher
learning in South America.

Music and dancing are very popular
in Peru. Radio stations play
Peruvian music, as well as songs
from the United States. Indian
musicians play drums, flutes, rattles,
and a small instrument similar to
a harp. Mestizo music consists of
those instruments and guitars, fiddles, and horns. Mestizo bands
Amerindian
45%
Mestizo
37%
perform in cafs and dance halls

around the country.
Many people enjoy going to the
movies. Soccer, basketball, volleyball,
and bullfights are also popular.
Indians are known for their sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and textiles.
Cities and towns hold an annual
festival called fera to honor their
patron saints.

300 tanks
15 major ships
90 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
95
17
TVs
Cars
31
Phones
22
VCRs
NA
PCs
241
Philippines
Area rank
70
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
13
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
of the Philippines
Continent: Asia
(300,000 sq km)
Capital City: Manila
Largest City: Manila (1,598,918)
Unit of Money: Peso
Major Languages: Pilipino, English (both official)
Natural Resources: Timber, petroleum, nickel
Laoag
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
PA
CI
Luzon
AUSTRALIA
FI
Baguio
A N TA R C T I C A
miles
km
C O
CE
Manila
Lucena
Naga
Legaspi
Batangas
Mindoro
AN
Phi l i ppi ne
Se a
Angeles
Quezon City
S o u t h
C h i n a
S e a
200
200
E
S
Calbayog
Samar
Panay
Iloilo
Tacloban
Ormoc
Leyte
Gulf
Bacolod
Cebu
Puerto
a n Princesa
The Place
The Philippines, in the southwest
Pacific Ocean, is made up of more
than 7,000 islands. The 11 largest
islands make up 95% of the countrys
area. Less than half of the islands
have names. There are three main
groups of islandsthe northern
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Boracay, Philipines
group, which is
w
la
Pa
made up of the
two large islands
Luzon and
Mindoro; the
central group,
MALAYSIA
which is a group
of 7,000 islands
called the Visayan Islands; and the
southern group, which consists of
400 islands that are part of the
Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago.
Most larger islands have volcanic
mountains. The nations highest
peakMount Apo at 9,692 feet
(2,954 m)is on Mindanao Island.
Earthquakes sometimes occur on
the islands. The countrys largest
lakes are Laguna de Bay in Luzon
and Lake Sultan Alonto in
Mindanao. Most of the countrys
rivers flow during the rainy season,
which lasts from June to February.
The Philippine Trench, which is off
the northeast coast of Mindanao, is
Other
39%
Woodcraft and
furniture 2%
Electronics
40%
Exports
$34 billion
242
Cagayan De Oro
Iligan
Mindanao
Davao
Zamboanga
C e l e b e s
S e a
one of the deepest spots in all the

oceans at 34,578 feet (10,539 m)
beneath the surface of the sea.
Banyan, palm trees, and bamboo
grow throughout the islands. Animals,
such as crocodiles, monkeys, and
snakes, can be found throughout the
country. Small animals with owl-like
eyes called tarsiers live only in the
Philippines and East Indies.
The Philippines has a hot and
humid climate. From March to May,
temperatures can rise to 100F
(38C). From June to February, the
rainy season, temperatures are cooler
at 70F (21C). Rainfall averages
100 inches (250 cm) a year.
Other
19%
Farms/
cropland
31%
Forests
46%
Computer
peripherals 2%
Ignition wiring sets 2%
Coconut oil 3%
S u l u
S e a
Garments
12%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
4%
Philippines (continued)
Farm woman, central Philippines
The People
People live on 900 of the countrys
islands. The people of the Philippines
are called Filipinos and are descendants of Indonesians and Malaysians,
known as Malays. Chinese make up
the second largest ethnic group in
the country.
The Philippines has a population
mile (270 people per sq km) and an
annual population increase of 2.2%.
Education
school. The first 2 years of school
are taught in the local dialect , then
Filipino and English are introduced.
Almost all private schools, as well as
high schools and universities, teach
in English.
More than 30% of students attend
collegemostly private or religious.
The University of the East is the
countrys largest university.

The Philippines has had many
famous artists, including painters
Fabian de la Rosa and Fernando
Amorsolo. Much of the countrys
literature consists of native legends
and poems. Myths and legends center
on the origin of the world, the first
man and woman on Earth, why the
sky is high, why the sea is salty, and
why there are different races.
Traditional theatre, literature, and
love songs called kundimans are
More than 40%

of the labor force works
in agriculture. Many
work on farms that
belong to wealthy
landowners. About
40% work in education,
government, medicine,
trade, transportation,
communication, or
financial services and
15% in manufacturing, construction,
or mining.
Filipinos have large, close families.
Men usually hold positions of authority at both work and home. Many
women, however, work in professional
fields, and the country has had
women presidents.
People in rural areas live in
wooden houses with thatch or iron
roofs. People in the cities live in
large houses or government-built
housing projects. The Philippines
The Philippines has a literacy
rate of 95%.
has more Christians than any Asian

country. About 92% of the people
are Christian, of those 83% are
Roman Catholic.
Chinese 2%
Muslim
Malay
4%
Other 3%
Christian
Malay
91%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
5%
Protestant
9%
Buddhist & Other 3%
Roman
Catholic
83%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Defense
Literate
95%

41 tanks
Literacy
1 major ship
U.S. rate = 97%

49 combat aircraft
popular. Many people enjoy watching

soap operas and movies. Filipinos
also enjoy growing flowers.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
41
TVs
17
14
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Boy drinking from coconut,

southern Philippines
Poland
Area rank
69
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
30
fewest people
Baltic Sea
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
L ITH U A N IA
Gdansk
AFRICA
Olsztyn
SOUTH
AMERICA
Szczecin
AUSTRALIA
Bialystock
Bydgoszcz
Zielona Gora
Od
er
R.
Wroclaw
Ldz
N
Radom
ul
UKRAINE
0
SLOVAKIA
The Place
Poland is a large country in central
Europe with a northern coastline on
the Baltic Sea. Polands coastal lowlands, along the Baltic coast in the
northwest, have smooth, sandy

beaches. The Baltic Lakes region in
the north is a hilly area with thousands of small lakes, forests, and
peat bogsswamps made of
Eagle Nest Trail Castle, Poland

Inset: Hay farmer, Poland
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Chemicals 8%
Mineral
fuels and
lubricants
8%
Food 9%
Exports
100
100
decayed plants. The central plains

are south of the Baltic Lakes and
make up the countrys main agricultural area. The uplands are south of
the plains and consist of hills, low
mountains, and plateaus. Polands
richest farmlands and coalfields
are there. The fertile and heavily
populated Carpathian forelands lie
further south. The forest covered
Sudeten Mountains border southwestern Poland. The countrys highest
spotRysy Peak at 8,199 feet (2,499
m)is in the Western Carpathian
Mountains. Bears and wildcats are
found there. Polands major rivers
are the Vistula, Bug, Oder, and
Warta.
Polands climate varies by area.
Coastal areas are milder than inland
sections and mountainous regions
are cool. Temperatures average 73F
January. About 24 inches (61 cm) of
precipitation falls a year.
Forests
29%
Farms /
cropland
48%
Machinery
21%
Miscellaneous
manufactured
articles 21%
miles
km
Other
10%
$26 billion
244
Other 5%
Manufactured
goods 28%
E
S
Krakow
CZECH
REPUBLIC
Lublin
st
Katowice
Czestochowa
Gilwice
BEL A RU S
Warsaw
iver
ta R
GERMANY
R.
Poznan
A N TA R C T I C A
R i v er
ug
ar

EQUATOR
of Poland
Continent: Europe
(304,510 sq km)
Capital City: Warsaw
Largest City: Warsaw (1,642,700)
Unit of Money: Zloty
Major Languages: Polish
Natural Resources: Coal, sulfur, copper
RUSSIA
(Kaliningrad Oblast)
ASIA
Vi
At a Glance
most people (1)
Permanent
pastures
13%
Land Use
Poland
Street boutique, Cracow, Poland
The People
Most people in Poland are Poles
descendants of Slavic tribes. The
countrys largest minority groups are
Byelorussians, Germans, and
Ukrainians. Most people speak
Polish, which is related to Czech,
Slovak, and other Slavic languages.
Poland has a population density
people per sq km) and an annual
population
increase of
0.01%. Life
expectancy is
73 years.
Polish families in the cities
live in 2- or
3-room apartments.
Families in
rural areas live in small brick or
wooden cottages.
About 30% of the countrys labor
force works in industry and construction, 26% in agriculture, and
44% in services. Poland has an
unemployment rate of 12%.
Most of the people in Poland are
Roman Catholic. The country has
thousands of Roman Catholic
churches and religious instruction
(continued)
centers. Other religious groups in

Poland include Protestants,
Muslims, and Jews.
German 1%
Other 1%
Polish
98%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 5%
Roman
Catholic
95%
Major Religions
Education
Polish children ages 7 to 15 must go
to school. Most attend public schools,
however, some students go to private
schools. After finishing elementary
school, students can continue on to a
vocational school or a 4-year secondary school. Secondary students can
then move on to college, but must
pass an entrance exam to be admitted.
Poland has 12 universities and
many specialized schools. The
University of Krakow, also called Jagiellonian University, was founded in
1364 and was Polands first university.

Music and dancing are popular in
Poland. Classical Polish composers
Frederic Chopin and Ignace Jan
Paderewski are known throughout
the world. Popular dances include
the mazurka and polonaise.
Polish people enjoy reading plays,
novels, and poetry. Many of the
countrys writers, such as Henryk
Sienkiewicz, Wladyslaw Reymont,
Czeslaw Milosz, and Wislawa
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
99%
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
One of Polands most famous

scholars was Nicolaus Copernicus, a
medieval astronomer who determined
that the sunnot Earthwas the center of the solar system.
Szymborska, have won Nobel Prizes.
Movies are a favorite form of enter-
per 1,000 people
137
137
36
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
5 major ships
412 combat aircraft
tainment as well. Poles also enjoy

camping, hiking and playing soccer.
Town square, Warsaw, Poland
Goods Ownership
292
1,752 tanks
NA
PCs
Portugal
Area rank
111
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
78
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
N
OC
EA
N
Braga
AZ O RE S
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Ponta Delgada
ASIA
AFRICA
A T L
AN
TIC
Official Name: Republic of Portugal

Continent: Europe
(91,951 sq km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Lisbon
Largest City: Lisbon
(677,790)
Unit of Money: Escudo
Major Languages: Portuguese
Natural Resources: Fish, forests, tungsten
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
M ADE I RA I S L ANDS
A N TA R C T I C A
Funchal
Porto
Douro Ri
ver
S
Covilha
Coimbra
Tagus Ri
Fatima
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
246
Average Rainfall
Portugal is a small country in western Europe that lies on the Iberian

Peninsula. It is bordered by Spain to
the east and north. The Atlantic
Ocean forms a western and southern coastline, which extends for
1,114 miles (1,793 km).
Most of Portugal is flat, however
there are mountain ranges in central, northeastern, and southwestern
Portugal. The coastal plains support
many farms and fishing villages.
Lisbon, the capital, and Porto are
located there. The northern and
southern tablelands and central
range are part of the Mesetaa
large plateau that covers most of
Spain. The Serra da Estrela mountains, in the central range, are the
countrys highest mountains and rise
to 6,000 feet (1,829 m), including
Portugals highest mountain
Estrela at 6,539 feet (1,993 m). The
countrys main rivers are the Douro,
iana R
Guad
Lisbon
Setbal
SPA IN
Beja
Sines
Faro
Tagus, and Guadiana rivers. The

Tagus River divides the country
in half.
Portugal has a mild climate, with
an average temperature of 70F
January. The country gets very little
rain in spring and summer. Heavy
ver
Portalegre
miles
The Place
km
100
100
rains fall in the cool winter months.

Northern Portugal receives some
snow, while the south receives none.
Northern inland areas get about 55
inches (140 cm) of precipitation a
year, while southern coastal areas
receive 20 inches (51 cm) of precipitation a year.
Left: Lisbon, Portugals capital city

Right: Fishing is an important industry in Portugal
Other
33%
Chemicals
and chemical
products
5%
Cork and
wood products
6%
Textiles
and clothing
26%
Other
20%
Machinery
21%
Forests
36%
Exports
$24 billion
Footwear
9%
Farms /
cropland
35%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
9%
Portugal
Portuguese fisherman
The People
Portuguese are a mixture of many
groups, including Celts, Greeks, and
Romans. Black Africans make up the
countrys only minority group.
About one-third of Portuguese live
in or near Lisbon and Porto. Most of
the population lives in rural areas.
Many villagers make a living by fishing
in the Atlantic Ocean or growing

grapes for wine. Many people in
rural areas have moved to the cities to
find jobs in industry. About 56% of
the labor force works in services,
23% in manufacturing, 11% in
agriculture, fishing, and forestry, 8%
in construction, and 1% in both
utilities and mining.
Portugal has a population density
people per sq km). Its population
grows at an annual rate of 0.1%.
Portuguese families have close
ties. Two or more generations of a
family will often live together in the
same house.
Most Portuguese are Roman
Catholics. Other religious groups
include Jews, Muslims, and
Protestants. Catholic priests have
important roles in government,
education, and social life in some
rural areas. Thousands of
Education
Portuguese children must attend
school between the ages of 6 and 15.
Many students leave school before
they are 15 and get jobs to raise
money for their family. Several areas
in the country have no high schools.
Portugal has 10 universities.
The largest university is Lisbon
University. Less than 2% of the
people go to college.
The countrys literacy rate is 85%.

Folk art is important to Portuguese.
Folk songs include dance music
called chulas and viras and sad songs
played on guitar called fados. The
countrys handmade pottery, lace,
and linen are popular all over the
world. Churches decorated with
elaborate paintings and sculptures
are found throughout the country.
The people in Portugal also enjoy
bullfights and soccer. In many other
(continued)
Portuguese and tourists go to

Fatima each year to visit a famous
spot where, in 1917, The Virgin
Mary reportedly appeared to three
children tending sheep.
African 1%
Portuguese
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
1%
Other 2%
Roman
Catholic
97%
Major Religions
Government
Literate
85%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

198 tanks
Approximately 89% of men and 92%

of women can read and write.
countries bulls are killed after bullfights, however, it is against the law
in Portugal to kill the bull.
14 major ships
97 combat aircraft
Mosaic in front of church
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
263
225
176
86
4
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
247
Qatar
Land area rank
161
smallest country
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
in
fewest people
largest country (1)

157
ASIA
BAHRAIN
AFRICA
of
Al Khawr
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Fertilizer
12%
Steel
24%
Oil
57%
Exports
$6 billion
248
Gul
f
SAUDI
ARABIA
Doha
Ar Rayyan
Al Wakrah
Umm Bab
N
W
Umm Said
E
0
miles
km
25
As Salw
25
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The People
Approximately 40% of Qatars population is Arab. More
than two-thirds of the countrys people were born in other
countries. Native-born inhabitants are called Qataris. Most
work in the cities or in oil fields. Many people move to
Qatar from other Arab countries to work in the oil fields.
Oil is one of the countrys most important exports.
Most of the population lives
in or near Doha in houses or
apartments. Qataris prefer to
wear traditional Arab clothes,
but some wear Western styles.
Most people practice Islam.
Qatar has a population
density of 139 people per
square mile (54 people per sq
km). Its population increases
at an annual rate of 3.35%.
Qatars population has one
of the highest average
incomes per person in the
world due to the countrys great oil wealth. The government provides free health care and housing for the poor.
Children ages 6 to 16 must attend school. Qatar has
about 160 schools. The countrys literacy rate is 79%.
Other 5%
Iranian
10%
0 in/0 cm
Dukhan
Other 7%
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
lf
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
100F/38C
Qatar is a peninsular country in the Middle East that

lies on the larger Arabian peninsula. The country has
350 miles (560 km) of coastline on the Persian Gulf and
the Gulf of Bahrain. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to
the west and the United Arab Emirates
to the south.
Much of Qatars land is flat, stony
desert. The land gradually rises in the east
to a central limestone plateau. Hills reach
heights of up to 130 feet (40 m) along the
western coast. Southern sections of the
country have barren salt flats and sand
dunes dominate in the southeast. Less
than 1% of Qatars land is arable and vegetation is found only in the north.
Qatar has hot summers and cool
winters. Temperatures can rise to 120F
Doha, Qatar
(49C) in the summer. The country
receives about 4 inches (10 cm) of rain a
year. Qatar has little natural water and must distill water
from the sea. The government has dug wells for crops
and distributes free seeds and insecticides to help people
grow grains and fruit.
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
ia
SOUTH
AMERICA
P
Al Khawayr
Official Name: State of Qatar

EQUATOR
(11,437 sq km)
Population: 769,152
Capital City: Doha
Largest City: Doha (300,000)
Unit of Money: Qatari riyal
Literacy: 79%
Land Use: 1% arable land, 5% pastures, 94% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, fish
Ba
hr
a
Population rank
Other
14%
Arab
40%
Pakistani
18% Indian
18%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
95%
Major Religions
Romania
80
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
47
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
SLOV A K IA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
U K R AIN E
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Romania
Continent: Europe
(230,340 sq km)
Capital City: Bucharest
Largest City: Bucharest (2,351,000)
Unit of Money: Leu
Major Languages: Romanian (official), Hungarian
Natural Resources: Petroleum, timber, natural gas,
coal
AFRICA
Ri
100
iv e r
Olt R
v er
Ri
miles
km
Ial o
er
Braila
lps
nian A
Ploiesti
sylva
Craiova
0
ns
Tran
v
t Ri
ai
IA
SYLVAN
Sibiu
Brasov
Ji
Y U G OSLA V IA
nt
Resita
Sire
ou
Timisoara
ver
Bacau
TRAN
VA
A N TA R C T I C A
ia
Cluj
Arad
ut
Iasi
th
Oradea
LD
Pr
pa
AUSTRALIA
ar
H U N G A RY
Botosani
SOUTH
AMERICA
Bucharest
an
100
ube
mit
a R.
Rive
Constanta
Black
Sea
BU LG ARIA
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Transylvania, Romania
try and empties into the Black Sea.

Other major rivers include the Jiu,
Olt, Ialomita, Siret, and Prut rivers.
Romanias summers are hot and
sunny, and its winters are cold and
cloudy. The country has an average
Other
47%
Textiles
21%
Mineral
products
9%
Chemicals
9%
0 in/0 cm
temperature of 70F (21C) in July

and 30F (-1C) in January.
Mountain areas receive 40 inches
(100 cm) of precipitation annually,
and the plains get 20 inches (50 cm)
of precipitation each year.
Other 6%
Average Rainfall
Romania is a country in eastern

Europe west of the Black Sea and
north of the Balkan Peninsula.
Mountains cover northern and central parts of the country and sandy
beaches extend along the coast.
Romanias mountains, which are
part of the Carpathian Mountain
range, surround the flat
Transylvania Plateau. The mountains are surrounded by plains. Most
of the countrys mountains are 3,000
to 6,000 feet (910 to 1,800 m) high.
Mount Moldoveanu, in the south, is
Romanias highest mountain at
8,343 feet (2,543 m). The
Transylvania Plateau rises to 1,200
feet (366 m). Forests cover parts of
the plateau and the mountains. The
flatlands are quite fertile and many
of the countrys cities and towns are
located there. Romanias longest
river is the Danube. It flows 900
miles (1,400 km) through the coun-
Exports
Machinery 8%
Footwear 6%
Forests
29%
Farms /
cropland
44%
Permanent
pastures
21%
Land Use
$8 billion
249
Romania
(continued)
Romanian farmer
The People
are Romanians. The next largest
group are Hungarians at 9%. Other
ethnic groups include Germans,
Gypsies, Turks, and Ukrainians.
Rural Romanians live in 2- or
3-room wooden cottages. Many decorate their homes with handmade
rugs, woodcarvings, plates, and
fences. Cities have many buildings

that are hundreds of years old alongside modern structures. Most city
dwellers live in crowded apartments.
Romanias population growth rate of
3.82% has created a housing shortage in urban areas. The country has a
population density of 244 people per
About 28.6% of the labor force
works in industry, 34.4% in agriculture, 10.4% in trade, and 5.1% in
construction. The country has an
unemployment rate of 8.8%.
Romania has one of the lowest
standards of living in Europe. Many
workers earn just enough for food for
their families. About 15% of
Romanians own television sets and
less than 2% own automobiles. Life
expectancy in the country is 70 years.
About 70% of Romanians belong
to the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Education
Romanian children must go to
school from ages 6 to 16. Students
attend elementary school for 8 years
and then take tests to determine
what they will study in secondary
school. Nearly 50% of students take
vocational classes, which prepare
them to work on farms or in factories. Some students are trained in
the arts and teaching. The top 5%
of elementary school graduates take
classes that prepare them for college.

Romanian culture has been influenced
by both Romanian and Western
traditions. Medieval paintings adorn
the outside walls of churches. Many
people go to restaurants and concert
halls to listen to orchestras play
Romanian folk music. Exhibits of
rural Romanian folk art are also popular. Teenagers enjoy listening to rock
music, watching movies and plays,
and reading books.
Romanians enjoy skiing, mountain
250
About 6% of the people are Roman

Catholics. Some people practice
Islam, Judaism, and Protestantism.
Other 2%
Hungarian
9%
Romanian
89%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
6%
Other
18%
Roman
Catholic
6%
Romanian
Orthodox
70%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Literate
97%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Romania has 7 universities; the

largest is located in Bucharest.
The country has a literacy rate
of 97%.
climbing, hiking, and swimming in
the Black Sea. Soccer is the countrys
most popular sport.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
194
99
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
1,843 tanks
7 major ships
402 combat aircraft
Produce market vendor
Russia
Land area rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)

NORWAY
Chukchi Sea
Franz Josef Land
SWEDEN
A
FINLAND
aya
Nov
White Sea
POLAND
U.S.
ait
g Str
East
Siberian
Sea
Revolyutsii I.
Murmansk
Barents
Sea
Baltic Sea
Kaliningrad
Berin
Wrangel
New Siberian
Islands
Bolshevik I.
ly
Zem
Bering
Sea
Kara Sea
Leptev Sea
St. Petersburg
Archangel'sk
Vologda
t a
n
Kirov
Voronezh
ga
Vol
Samara
Don
Volgograd
Ufa
Perm
Magadan
Yakutsk
Nizhnevartovsk
Yekaterinberg
Ir
sh
na
Sea of
Okhotsk
R.
Ye
ty
Le
Chelyabinsk
Kuril Islands
nis
Sochi
Astrakhan
ey
Amu
al
yk
ke
Ba
an
spi
Ca
0
0
miles
km
500
Irkutsk
Chita
Khabarovsk
Ulan Ude
500
JAPAN
CHINA
TA
AN
IS
ST
EN
KI
BE
RK
UZ
TU
IRAN
ur
Aral
Sea
KAZAKHSTAN
Sakhalin Island
Se
Novosibirsk
Lena
Krasnojarsk
R.
Omsk
La
Bl ack Sea
Rostov
Kazan'
Saratov
Ye nis ey
Nizhny
Novgorod
UKRAINE
Norilsk
Syktyvkar
Moscow
Yula
Yaroslavl
i n
ga
Vol
Len a R.
BELARUS
MONGOLIA
CHINA
Vladivostok
At a Glance
Sea of
Japan
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
EQUATOR
Official Name: Russian
Federation
Continent: Asia
Area: 6,562,078 square
miles (16,995,800 sq km)
Capital City: Moscow
Largest City: Moscow (13,200,000)
Unit of Money: Ruble
Major Languages: Russian
Natural Resources: Oil, natural gas, coal
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Russia is the worlds largest country in

land area extending from the Arctic
Ocean to the Black Sea and from the
Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Russia can be divided into 4 land
zonesthe tundra, the forest zone,
the steppes, and the semi-desert and
mountainous zone. The tundra is far
north and is mostly a treeless plain.
About half the land has permanently

frozen soil called permafrost.
Shrubs, dwarf trees, and moss grow
there. The forest zone, south of the
tundra, consists of conifer, aspen,
birch, elm, maple, and oak forests.
Animals, such as brown bear, deer,
elk, lynx, reindeer, beaver, rabbit,
and squirrel inhabit the region.
Steppesgrassy plainsare south
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
The Place
Crowded street in Moscow
0 in/0 cm
251
Russia
(continued)
of the forests. Northern sections

consist of wooded plains and meadows, and southern sections are
mostly treeless prairie. Russias
most fertile soil is there. Squirrels,
jerboas, and antelope live in the
steppes.
The semi-desert and mountainous
zone has dry lowlands near the
Caspian Sea and abundant vegetation
near the Caucasus Mountains. Mount
ElbrusEuropes highest peak at
18,510 feet (5,642 m)is there.
Russias longest river is the 2,734mile- (3,000-m-) long Lena River in
Siberia. Other major rivers include
the Amur, Ob, Yenisey, Volga, and
Don rivers. Russia has more than
200,000 lakes. The Caspian Sea
the worlds largest inland body of
wateris a saltwater lake 92 feet (28
m) below sea level. Lake Ladoga
6,835 square miles (17,703 sq km)
is the largest lake entirely in
Europe. Lake Baykal5,315 feet
(1,620 m) deepis the deepest lake
in the world.
Russia has long, cold winters. In
Moscow, snow covers the ground
Moscow, Russia
for 5 months each year and in the

north, 9 months. Northeastern
Russia, known as Siberia, is one of
Forestry products 4%
Precious metals
Other
4%
10%
Chemicals
8%
Fuels and
lubricants
46%
Machinery
9%
Ferrous and
nonferrous metals
19%
Exports
the coldest areas in the world.

Temperatures average -50F (-46C)
in January.
Farms/cropland 8%
Permanent
pastures
4%
Other
42%
Forests
46%
Land Use
$87 billion
Resources
Cattle
Farm land
Forests
Manufacturing
Engineering
Chemicals
Oil
Grains
Pastures
252
Other
Textiles
Engineering is an important
part of Russias economy
Russia
Kremlin, Red Square
History
Russia became a state in the 800s,
formed by Slavic peoples. For hundreds of years the country was ruled
by czars, or emperors, and czarinas,
or empresses. Russian leaders had
absolute power. Mongols ruled the
The People
Most of Russias people are ethnic
Russians, however, more than 100
minority groups also live in the
country. The largest groups are the
Tatars, Ukrainians, Chuvash,
Bashkirs, Byelorussians, Mordvins,
Chechens, Germans, Udmurts,
Mari, Kazakhs, and Armenians.
Small Siberian groups, such as
Aleuts, Chukchi, Inuit, and Koryaks,
inhabit areas in the far north.
Russia has a population density of
22 people per square mile (8 people
per sq km). Life expectancy is
66 years.
About 75% of Russians live in
urban areas, mainly in the west.
About 35 cities have populations
higher than 500,000. More than 4
million people live in Moscow and
St. Petersburg. People living in the
cities inhabit small apartments in
high rise buildings. Many cities have
housing shortages. Many families
may share kitchens and bathrooms.
Sometimes cities also face shortages
of food and goods.
(continued)
country from the 1200s to the 1400s.

Russia did not keep up with the
industrial growth of other European
nations during the 1700s. Most
people were poor peasants. People
started to oppose the czars rule in
the 1800s and 1900s, and in 1917,
revolutionaries overthrew the government. In 1918, Russia became
the Russian Soviet Federative
Socialist Republic (R.S.F.S.R.).
In 1922, the R.S.F.S.R. joined
with three other republics and
formed the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR), also
called the Soviet Union. The
R.S.F.S.R. was the largest republic
in the Soviet Union, which included
15 republics.
In 1991, communism collapsed
in the Soviet Union. Russia and the
other republics broke apart and
formed a new federationthe

Commonwealth of Independent
States.
After the breakup of the Soviet
Union, Russias government started
moving from a state-controlled
economy to one based on private
enterprise.
Many rural Russians live in single

family houses, however, there are also
some city-style apartment buildings
in rural areas. Some houses in remote
areas lack gas, plumbing, running
water, and electricity. Urban areas
have better health care and education
facilities than rural areas.
Most people belong to the Russian
Orthodox Church. The Russian
Orthodox Christmas is January 7,
and is a national holiday. Other
major religious groups recognized
by Russia include Buddhism, Islam,

and Judaism. Baptists, Mormons,
Pentecostalists, Roman Catholics,
and Seventh-day Adventists must
register with the country every year
until they have been established in
the country for 15 years. After they
have been considered established
they can publish religious literature
and open schools.
Guard, Russian
Air Force
Government
Type: Federation
Leader: President/Premier and
Chairman
Defense
19,000 tanks
308 major ships
Chuvash 1%
Ukrainian
3%
Other
10%
Tatar
4%
Russian
82%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
25%
Russian
Orthodox
75%
Major Religions
253
Russia
(continued)
Education
Russian children ages 6 to 17 must
attend school. Elementary education
consists of 9 primary and intermediate grades. When students finish
the ninth grade they can enroll in a
secondary or vocational school.

Secondary schools teach science,
math, language, literature, history,
social sciences, and physical education. Vocational schools prepare
students for jobs in technical fields,
Russian schoolgirls giving flowers to their teachers on the first day of school.
industry, and agriculture. Russia

also has schools for gifted students
and children who have physical or
learning disabilities.
Students in intermediate grades
and higher must pass a national
exam to move up to the next grade.
Students who pass the exam after
finishing secondary school receive a
certificate. Children who score high
receive a gold or silver medal.
Teachers use a number grading scale
of 1 to 5. Five is the highest grade.
Students must pass an entrance
exam to attend a university. Russia
has 550 institutions of higher
learning, including Moscow State
University, which is the largest
university in Russia.
Literate
98%
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

Russians like to watch television and
movies, read, play chess, visit museums, and participate in sports. Soccer,
gymnastics, basketball, hockey, ice
skating, skiing, and tennis are the
countrys most popular sports.
Russians also enjoy hiking, bicycling,
swimming, and fishing in the countryside. Russia has more than 660
museums and 62,000 libraries.
Many famous composers lived in
Russia. The most well known are
Modest Mussorgsky, Peter Ilich
Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff,
and Igor Stravinsky. Stravinsky
wrote many ballet scores, such as
The Firebird.
Russian ballet performances are
internationally known. The leading
ballet companies are the Kirov
254
Ballet of St. Petersburg and the

Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow. Russia
also has many art schools.
NA
Labor Force
Goods Ownership
313
per 1,000 people
105
60
28
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
Russian music student
Rwanda
148
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
91
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
C O N G O
( Z A I R E )
Byumba
Gisenyi
Lake
Kivu
SOUTH
AMERICA
Kabaya
AUSTRALIA
Kigali
Kibuye
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
6 in/15 cm
40F/4C
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Hides and
skins 5%
Tea
10%
Other 11%
E
S
er
Exports
40
40
The People
Rwanda is one of the most crowded countries in Africa.
It has a population density of 711 people per square mile
(274 people per sq km). The country has an annual population increase of 2.5%. Life expectancy is 42 years.
Approximately 80% of the people belong to the Hutu
ethnic group. About 19% are Tutsi and less than 1% are
Twa. Several wars have occurred between the Hutu and
Tutsi over control of the government. In 1994, the Tutsi
gained control of the government.
Many Rwandese farm for a living, however, most
only grow enough food to feed their families. Major
crops include bananas, beans,
cassava, sweet potatoes, and
sorghum. About 93% of the
labor force works in agriculture, 5% in government and
services, and 2% in industry
and commerce.
Most people are Roman
Catholic, however, some practice traditional African religions.
The Roman Catholic Church
runs most of the elementary and high schools. Children
must attend school from ages 7 to 15, however, there are
not enough classrooms for all the students.
Twa 1%
Indigenous beliefs
& Other
25%
Muslim
1%
Hutu
80%
0 in/0 cm
miles
km
B U R U N D I
Tutsi
19%
Coffee
74%
Ak
iv
iR
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
Butare
Kibungo
Aka g e
siz
100F/38C
N
Ru
Rwanda is a small landlocked country in eastern Africa. It

is bordered by Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.
Rwanda is mountainous. The 14,800-foot- (4,510meter-) high Virunga Mountains are in the northwest.
The countrys highest peakKarisimbi volcano at
14,187 feet (4,324 m)is there. Plateaus in the east rise
from 5,000 to 7,000 feet (1,500 to 2,100 m).
The Rusizi River and Lake Kivu are in the
west and are part of Africas Great Rift Valley.
Lake Kivu is the highest lake in Africa at
4,829 feet (1,472 m). Rwandas other major
rivers are the Akagera River in the east and
the Akanyaru River in the south.
Rwanda has a warm climate. Temperatures in
the Great Rift Valley average 73F (23C). This
Hutu women
area receives 30 inches (76 cm) of rain a year.
The mountainous areas have an average temperature of 63F (17C) and receive about 58 inches
(147 cm) of rain a year. The plateaus see temperatures rise
to 68F (20C). Yearly rainfall totals 47 inches (119 cm).
Cyangugu
Kanazi
a n yaru
Riv e r
Gitarama
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Ngarama
Ruhengeri
a R
iver
ASIA
AFRICA
I A
A N
N Z
T A
NORTH
AMERICA
EUROPE
ger
Official Name: Rwandese Republic

Continent: Africa
EQUATOR
(24,950 sq. km)
Capital City: Kigali
Largest City: Kigali (232,733)
Unit of Money: Rwanda franc
Major Languages: Kinyarwanda, French, Swahili
(all official), English
Literacy: 61%
Natural Resource: Gold, cassiterite (tin ore),
wolframite (tungsten ore)
Aka
UGANDA
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
65%
Protestant
9%
Major Religions
$62 million
255
St. Kitts and Nevis

Land area rank
212
Population rank
211
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Sandy Point
Town
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
AUSTRALIA
S
N
W
Newcastle
A N TA R C T I C A
Nevis
Charlestown
E
0
miles
0 km
The People
Almost all the people of St. Kitts and Nevis are descendants of black Africans brought to the islands by British
sugar plantation owners in the 17th century. About 65%
of the countrys people live in villages along the coasts.
Most rural inhabitants work on small farms, sugar cane
estates, or large coconut farms. About 35% of the people live in urban areas. Basseterre, the capital of St.
Kitts, is the chief urban center. Charlestown is the
largest town
on Nevis. The
government runs
a nationwide
health-care system that provides
basic care. Life
expectancy is 68
years. Most people live in wooden
houses and wear
western-style
clothing. Children
must attend
school from the
ages of 5 to 17.
Other
14%
Sugar
40%
Machinery
47%
Mostly Black
Other
22%
Roman
Catholic
7%
Moravian
9%
Exports
$39 million
256
A
a
0 in/0 cm
Basseterre
St. Kitts and Nevis is a country of 2 islands in the

Lesser Antilles island chain of the eastern Caribbean
Sea. The country lies at the northern end of the
Antilles, west of the island country of Antigua and
Barbuda. St. Kitts and Nevis islands are
Nevis sunset
volcanic in origin. The highest point is
Mount Liamuiga on St. Kitts, which
reaches a height of 3,792 feet (1156
meters). It is a dormant volcano with a
crater 745 feet (227 meters) deep. Nevis,
the greener and less settled of the two
islands, is separated from St. Kitts by a
2-mile channel. St. Kitts and Nevis has
a typical Caribbean climate with high
temperatures, strong breezes, and
moderate rainfall. This 104 square-mile(269 square-kilometer-) country has long
been a popular vacation destination for
tourists who come, mainly to St. Kitts,
for beaches, sun, and mineral springs.
15 in/38 cm
St. Kitts
AFRICA
The Place
80F/27C
Cayon
ASIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Official Name: Federation of

St. Kitts and Nevis
Continent: South
America
EQUATOR
(269 sq km)
Population: 38,756
Capital City: Basseterre
Largest City: N/A
Literacy: 90%
Land Use: 22% arable land, 78% other
Natural Resources: Sugar cane
Defense: N/A
0F/-18C
Sadlers
Ethnic Makeup
Anglican
33%
Methodist
29%
Major Religions
St. Lucia
Land area rank
193
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

189
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Gros Islet
AFRICA
Castries
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
I C
Anse La Raye
A N TA R C T I C A
a
r
Dennery
Soufriere
Micoud
a
n
N
Choiseul
W
0 miles
N
E A
O C
Official Name: Saint Lucia

EQUATOR
(610 sq. km)
Population: 158,178
Capital City: Castries
Largest City: Castries (53,383)
Major Languages: English, patois
Literacy: 67%
Natural Resources: Forests, sandy beaches, pumice
Defense: $5 million
Vieux Fort
0 km 5
E
S
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Almost 90% of the people of Saint Lucia are descendants

of black African slaves, brought to the island by early
The Place
British and French settlers. A mix of South Asians and
Europeans comprise the remainder of the population.
Saint Lucia, with a land area of 236 square miles (610
About 55% of the islanders live in rural areas, and work
sq. km), is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It
mainly on large banana farms. It is not uncommon for
is one of the Windward Islands, an island chain in the
women to run many of the small farms. Many Saint
southeastern West Indies. Saint Lucia lies about
Lucian men work in the towns
240 miles (385 kilometers) north of
or emigrate to other countries
Venezuela. Saint Lucia is considered
for work. About 45% of the
one of the most beautiful islands in the
people live in urban areas,
Windwards. The twin Pitons, conical
which lie near the coast. The
peaks south of the city of Soufriere, are
average salary of an hourly
among the most photographed natural
employee is about $87 per
features in the Caribbean. The highest
week. Many Saint Lucians
point on Saint Lucia is Mt. Gimie, an
work in service industries relatextinct volcano, which reaches a height
ed to the islands large tourism
of 3,054 feet (937 meters). The climate
industry. Crime is very rare on
has a yearly dry season from January to
the island. Life expectancy is
April, which brings intense heat to the
Saint Lucian fisherman
72 years. Children are required
land. During the rainy season, short
to attend school from ages 5 to
showers can be expected every day.
15. It has become more common in recent years for Saint
Roads in the country are found mainly on the western
Lucian women to receive a university education and
and southeastern coasts. The central part of the island
move into legal or medical careers.
is a mountainous rain forest.
Other 7%
Coconut oil
17%
Bananas
28%
Cocoa
20%
Clothing
28%
Exports
$80 million
East Indian
White 1%
3%
Mixed
6%
Black
90%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
7%
Anglican 3%
Roman
Catholic
90%
Major Religions
257
St. Vincent/Grenadines
Land area rank
208
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

193
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: St. Vincent

EQUATOR
and the Grenadines
(340 sq. km)
Population: 115,942
Capital City: Kingstown
Largest City: Kingstown (15,670)
Major Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: 96%
pastures, 36% forests, 31% other
AFRICA
Chateaubelair
Georgetown
Kingstown
Calliaqua
0 km 5
I
N
a
5
Ashton
Charlestown
Canouan
miles
Lovell Village
Mustique
i n
e s
b
b
i
r
a
C
0
Port Elizabeth
Bequia
e a
A N TA R C T I C A
S e
a
AUSTRALIA
St. Vincent
SOUTH
AMERICA
Union I.
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Most of the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

are descendants of black African slaves brought to the
islands by British and French settlers. Other ethnic
The Place
groups include Europeans and descendants of the original
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country
native Carib Indians. About 40% the people live in urban
in the West Indies about 200 miles (320 kilometers)
areas. The economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
north of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. The Atlantic
is mainly based on agriculture. Most people work on
Ocean lies off the eastern coastlines of the islands. The
farms. The main export crops include bananas and
country consists of the island of Saint
coconuts. Fishing,
Vincent and about 100 small islands of the
manufacturing, and
Grenadine chain, including Bequia, Canouan,
tourism are minor
Mustique, and Union. Saint Vincent is a
economic activities
mountainous island formed by volcanic
in Saint Vincent and
eruptions. At 4,048 feet (1,234 meters),
the Grenadines.
Mount Soufriere, an active volcano on the
Schools follow the
northern end of Saint Vincent, is the counBritish system
trys highest point. The Grenadines are
through secondary
mainly flat coral reefs. Tropical vegetation
levels. Students who
covers much of the land. Because of strong
wish to pursue highnortheast winds, temperatures in the country
er education must
seldom rise above 90 F (32 C) or fall below Palm trees along the St. Vincent coast
leave the country.
65 F (18 C). Annual rainfall varies from 60
Health care is a mix
inches (150 centimeters) on the southeast coast of St.
of state and private clinics, with more facilities available
Vincent to 150 inches (381 centimeters) in the islands
on Saint Vincent than in the Grenadine islands. Life
thickly wooded central mountains.
Eddoes and
dasheens
2%
Other
33%
Re-exports
6%
Packaged rice
10%
Bananas
35%
Exports
$46 million
258
Packaged
flour
14%
Mostly Black,
Amerindian,
European
Other
19%
Roman
Catholic
19%
Anglican
42%
Methodist
20%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Samoa
176
Land area rank

smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

185
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Official Name: Independent State of Samoa
Continent: Asia
Area: 1,100 square miles (2,850 sq. km)
Population: 179,058
Capital City: Apia
Largest City: Apia (34,260)
Unit of Money: tala
Major Languages: Samoan,
English
EQUATOR
Literacy: 97%
Land Use: 19% arable land, 24%
permanent crops, 47% forests
and woodland, 10% other
Natural Resources: Hardwood forests, fish
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Defense: N/A
re
Asau
Savai'i
ef
Pu'apu'a
E
S
Salelologa
Taga
Mulifanua
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Apia
ASIA
Matautu
AFRICA
Upolu
Lepa
SOUTH
AMERICA
reef
AUSTRALIA
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
0
0
miles
km
20
20
A N TA R C T I C A
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Most Samoans are native Polynesians. About 10% of

the population is of Samoan and European descent. The
people speak Samoan, a Polynesian language, although
many Samoans also speak English. Samoan people live
The Place
in extended family groups called aiga. The aiga elects a
Samoa, called Western Samoa until 1997, is an indematai who serves as head of the family. Many people
pendent island country in the South Pacific Ocean
live in open-sided fale (houses) which have thatched
about 1,700 miles (2,740 kilometers) northeast of New
roofs supported by poles. Samoan men usually wear a
Zealand. With a total land area of 1,100
shirt and a lava-lava, a
square miles (2,850 square kilometers),
piece of cloth wrapped
Samoa is one of the worlds smallest counaround the waist like a
tries. It has 2 main islands, Upolu and
skirt. Most women wear
Savaii, as well as several smaller islands,
a long lava-lava and an
all formed by volcanic eruption. Samoas
upper blouse called a
islands are ringed by coral reefs. Shores
puletasi. Samoans enjoy
are lined with coconut palm trees. The
singing and dancing,
rocky, reddish-brown soil near the coasts is
which serve as both a
planted with bananas; taro, a plant with an
form of recreation and a
edible underground stem; and cacao, a tree
method of handing down
Beach hut, Samoa
whose seeds are used to make chocolate
history and tradition.
and cocoa. The climate is tropical and
About 70% of Samoans
humid, but constant southeast winds keep temperatures
are farmers who raise food crops, pigs, chickens, and
between 85F (29C) and 75F (24C). The most pleascatch fish for food. Most Samoans raise their own food,
ant months are between May and September, when
build their own houses, and make most of their own
temperatures and rainfall are lowest.
clothing. Life expectancy is 70 years.
Cigarettes
3% Other
Beer
14% Coconut
5%
oil
38%
Kava
7%
Coconut
cream 23%
Copra
10%
Exports
$10 million
Euronesians 7%
Samoan
93%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian
100%
Major Religions
259
San Marino
Land area rank
226
smallest country
Population rank
fewest people
largest country (1)

216
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
12 in/30 cm
S
Domagnano
A N TA R C T I C A
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Borgo Maggioree
San Marino
ITALY
Faetano
Florentino
0
0
miles
km
The People
San Marinos people are similar to the people of northern Italy. Nearly all San Marinese are Roman Catholics
and speak Italian, and their customs are like those of
Italy. The people of San Marino are proud of their long
tradition of independence. More than 20% of San
Marinos people work in the tourist industry, which
includes hotels, restaurants, and souvenir
shops. Other people work in quarries or
in the leather or cheese industries.
Farmers raise cattle and sheep and grow
grapes and wheat. Nearly everyone
in San Marino can read and write.
The law
Castle atop Mt. Titano
requires
children
to attend
school
from the ages of 6 to 14.
After elementary and
secondary school, many
students pursue higher
education in Italy. Most
homes have a telephone,
radio, and TV. Life
Other 4%
Other 2%
Lime
33%
Ceramics
13%
Chestnuts
26%
Exports
$ NA
260
Acquaviva
Chiesanuova
Wood
26%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
AUSTRALIA
San Marino is in the Appennine Mountains of northeastern Italy, which surround it. Mount Titano, the countrys
highest mountain, is 2,478 feet (755
Sheep in lowland pasture
meters) high and has 3 peaks. On
top of each peak is a tower built
during the Middle Ages. Much of
the country, including its capital,
also called San Marino, stands on
Mount Titano. San Marino is the
second-smallest country in the
world with an area of 23 square
miles (60 square kilometers). The
countrys spectacular views, fortress
walls, cakes, wine, and colorful festivals draw thousands
of tourists every year. San Marino has a mild summer
climate, with temperatures that average about 75 F
(24 C). Winter temperatures sometimes fall below freezing. The country has an average annual rainfall of 35
inches (89 centimeters). The soil in San Marino is poor
and rocky. The mild climate and ample rainfall, however,
enable farmers to grow a variety of crops.
80F/27C
Serravalle
ITALY
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
100F/38C
La Dogana
AFRICA
nines
pe n
Ap

EQUATOR
of San Marino
Continent: Europe
(60 sq. km)
Population: 27,336
Capital City: San Marino
Largest City: San Marino (4,498)
Unit of Money: Italian lira
Major Languages: Italian
Literacy: 96%
Land Use: 17% arable, 83% other
Natural Resources: Building stone
San Marinese,
Italian
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
96%
Major Religions
So Tom and Prncipe

Land area rank
185
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

187
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Santo Antonio
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
AFRICA
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Other 4%
Average Rainfall
So Tom and Prncipe is an African country consisting

of 2 main islands and several tiny islands. The 2 main
islandsSo Tom and Prncipe
give the country its name. The
islands are in the Gulf of Guinea,
about 180 miles (290 kilometers)
west of the African mainland. So
Tom Island makes up about 85%
of the countrys area of 386 square
miles (1000 square kilometers).
Extinct volcanoes formed So Tom
and Prncipe islands, which lie just
north of the equator. The country
has humid weather from September
through May, and dry weather from
June through August. The average
annual temperature ranges from
77F (25C) in the lowlands to about 65F (18C) in the
highlands. Annual rainfall averages slightly more than
100 inches (254 millimeters).
Cocoa
96%
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Official Name: Democratic Republic

EQUATOR
of So Tom and Prncipe
Continent: Africa
(1,000 sq. km)
Population: 165,034
Capital City: So Tom
Largest City: So Tom (43,420)
Unit of Money: Dobra
Literacy: 73%
Land Use: 2% arable land, 36% permanent crops, 1%
pastures, 61% other
Defense: N/A
Prncipe
ASIA
A
A
A N TA R C T I C A
So Tom
Santana
0
So Tom
Santa Cruz
miles
20
0 km 20
The People
About 95% of the population lives on So Tom Island.
About 90% of the population is of black African ancestry. About 10% are Portuguese or of mixed black African
and European descent, called Creoles. People of
Portuguese descent from the country of Cape Verde are
the second largest group. Many Creoles own small farms
or businesses, or work on
fishing crews or as laborers.
Some Europeans own farms
and others have jobs in
technology or management.
Portuguese is the most widely spoken language in the
country. By law, children
in So Tom and Prncipe
are required to complete
elementary school, but many
do not do so. Relatively few
children go on to high
school. The countrys women
have a higher social standing
than those in most African countries, and many occupy
respected professional and governmental positions. Life
Portuguese & Creole 10%
Black
90%
Roman Catholic,
Evangelical Protestant,
Seventh-Day
Adventist
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$5 million
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
261
Saudi Arabia
Land area rank
14
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
45
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
IRAQ
ISRAEL
Pe
Tabuk
Ha'il
200
ia
E
S
IRAN
Gu
lf
BAHRAIN
QATAR
Al Hufuf
Gulf of
Oman
Riyadh
Medina
YP
Harad
ASIA
rs
Ad Damman
Buraydah
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
miles
0 km 200
KUWAIT
EG
Official Name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Continent: Asia
Area: 756,982 square miles (1,960,582 sq. km)
Capital City: Riyadh
Largest City: Riyadh
EQUATOR
(1,800,000)
Unit of Money:
Saudi riyal
Major Languages:
Arabic
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore,
gold, copper
JORDAN
U. A. E.
AFRICA
Mecca
Jiddah
At Ta'if
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
OMAN
ali
(D
SUDAN
Kh
' Al
R ub esert)
a
Abha
A N TA R C T I C A
ERITREA
Arabian
Sea
YEMEN
The Place
Saudi Arabia occupies more than
three-fourths of the Arabian
Peninsula. Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait
border Saudi Arabia to the north;
the Persian Gulf and the United
Arab Emirates to the east; Oman
and Yemen to the south; and the
Red Sea to the west. Much of the
country consists of vast deserts
where few people live and little or
nothing grows. Saudi Arabia is the
worlds leading producer of petroleum. Wealth from oil and natural
gas exports has made Saudi Arabia
a leading economic power in the
world. The landscape of Saudi
Arabia is mainly barren. Coastal
plains and rugged mountains cover
the western region. Saudi Arabias
central area is a high plateau that
has some oases where crops are
grown. Deserts hem in the plateau
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Petrochemicals
5%
Average Rainfall
to north, south, and east. Most of

Saudi Arabias rich oil fields lie
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
0F/-18C
Dahran, Saudi Arabia
Other 6%
Farms/cropland 2%
Other
41%
Petroleum
89%
Permanent
pastures
56%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$57 billion
262
within the eastern desert and along

the Gulf coast.
Forests
1%
Land Use
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian man
The People
The people of Saudi Arabia trace
their origin mainly to Arab tribes. In
the past, however, many black
Africans were brought to the region

as slaves. Many who gained their
freedom married Arabs and people
of other ethnic backgrounds. In the
western region, people of African,
Indonesian, and Indian ancestry
comprise part of the population.
People whose ancestors were Turkish
also live in the west. Saudis in the
east include descendants of people
from Iran, as well as descendants
of African slaves. Most Saudis, in
both urban and rural areas, wear traditional Arab clothes. Men wear an
ankle-length cotton or wool garment
called a thawb, which may be covered
by a jacket or cloak. A head covering
called a ghutra provides protection
against the sun and wind. It consists
of a piece of cloth held in place by
a rope band called an iqal. Outside,
most women cover their hair with a

Family ties are strong among Saudis.
Outside the home, Saudi women
have traditionally had little freedom
or opportunity for personal advancement. As the country has developed,
however, it has undergone a number
of social changes. Some changes
have affected the daily life of Saudi
women, especially in cities.
Increasing numbers of women work
in such fields as teaching and social
work. Some activities, however, are
scarf and their face with a veil, and

they wear a floor-length robe called
an abayah. Life expectancy is 71
years.
Afro-Asian 10%
Arab
90%
Ethnic Makeup
Shi'a
Muslim
15%
Sunni Muslim
85%
Major Religions
Government
Education
About 80% of all Saudi
children, boys and girls, attend elementary school. About half go on to
high school. The Saudi government
provides free university education
for all citizens. Before 1960, few
women received any formal education, and almost no women held jobs
outside the home. Since then, the
government has improved educational
opportunities for women. Today,
many educated Saudi women hold
(continued)
Type: Monarchy
Structure: King rules in consultation with royal family and
Council of Ministers
Literate
63%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
jobs in journalism, administration, and

research, and in shops and banks that
provide goods and services.
still restricted. For example, women

are not allowed to drive cars or to
travel without permission of a male
277
910 tanks
8 major ships
295 combat aircraft
guardian. Socializing with friends

and family remains the most popular
form of entertainment.
Dinner in a Saudi home
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
145
109
123
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
263
Senegal
Land area rank
86
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
74
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA

EQUATOR
Senegal
Continent: Africa
(192,000 sq. km)
Capital City: Dakar
Largest City: Dakar (1,729,823)
Major Languages: French (official), Wolof
Literacy: 33%
18% other
Natural Resources: Fish, phosphates, iron ore
Se
AFRICA
Dagana
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
6 in/15 cm
Dakar
Exports
264
Gam
Casa mance R
Ziguinchor
bia
M A L I
River
Kdougou
GUINEA BISSAU
GUINEA
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
0
0
miles
km
100
100
The People
About 95% of Senegals people are black Africans. They
belong to many different ethnic groups. The largest
ones are, in order of size, the Wolof, Fulani, Serer,
Toucouleur, Diola,
and Mandingo.
French is Senegals
official language,
but Wolof is the
most widely spoken language.
Most rural houses
in Senegal are
Senegalese schoolboys, Dakar
mud huts with
thatched roofs.
Related families often live in a close group of houses
surrounded by a wall. In cities, people live in modern
apartments. Most Senegalese men wear wide-legged
trousers and a loose-fitting cotton robe called
a boubou. Women wear colorful boubous and turbans.
Senegal faces severe health problems. Contaminated
water and food cause illness and death in the country,
especially in the rural areas. Senegal has a severe shortage of physicians. Life expectancy is 58 years. Most of
Senegals adult population cannot read or write.
Chemical
products
12%
$986 million
Kaolack
Tambacounda
Other
46%
Phosphates
3%
Diourbel
GAMBIA
Fish and
crustaceans
28%
0 in/0 cm
er
40F/4C
iv
9 in/23 cm
60F/16C
This
Mbour
Senegal is on the northwest coast of Africa at the tip of

the bulge that juts west toward the Atlantic Ocean. It is
the farthest point west of any other African mainland
nation. Rolling plains cover most the nations 74,131
square miles (192,000 square kilometers). The tiny
nation of Gambia separates southern Senegal, called
the Casamance, from the larger northern part. Sandy
beaches cover Senegals coast, which extends about
310 miles (500 kilometers) along the Atlantic Ocean.
Dakar, the capital and largest city, lies along the coast.
Senegals terrain is mainly rolling plains covered with
reddish sand. Forests cover the Casamance region in
southern Senegal. Senegal has 3 major riversthe
Senegal in the north, the Gambia in the southeast, and
the Casamance in the southwest. Senegals rainy season
lasts from July to October. Casamance receives the most
rain, about 60 to 70 inches (150 to 180 centimeters)
annually. The average annual temperature along
Senegals coast is about 71 F (22 C). Inland, the
average annual temperature is about 84 F (29 C).
12 in/30 cm
Dara
Pikine
The Place
15 in/38 cm
W
ga
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
80F/27C
ne
Sainte-Louis
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
M A U R I T A N I A
ASIA
Peanut oil
11%
Mandingo
9%
Diola
9%
Toucouleur
9%
Other 3%
Indigenous
beliefs
6%
Christian 2%
Wolof
36%
Serer
17% Fulani
17%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
92%
Major Religions
Seychelles
Land area rank
198
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

198
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Grand'Anse
ASIA

EQUATOR
Seychelles
Continent: Africa
(455 sq. km)
Population: 79,715
Capital City: Victoria
Largest City: Victoria (25,000)
Unit of Money: Seychelles rupee
Major Languages: Creole, English, French
Literacy: 58%
Natural Resources: Fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Praslin I.
AFRICA
La Digue I.
SOUTH
AMERICA
I N
AUSTRALIA
Silhouette
Island
A N TA R C T I C A
Bel Ombre
N
W
I A
N
O C
E A N
Victoria
Mah Island
E
Anse Royale
0
Takamaka
miles
50
0 km 50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Anglican
8%
Average Rainfall
About 90% of the people of Seychelles are of mixed

African and European ancestry. Other segments of the
population are Chinese, Europeans of British or French
The Place
origin, and people from India. About half of the people
Seychelles is a country of about 90 islands in the Indian
live in towns. About a third of Seychellois workers are
Ocean 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) east of the African employed by the government. Another 25% work in the
mainland. It has a total land area of 175 square miles
construction or tourism industries, and about 15% are
(455 square kilometers). About 85% of the people
farmers. Life expectanlive on Mahe, the largest island. Most of the rest Seychelles white sand beach
cy is 71 years. Most
live on the next largest islands, Praslin and La
people speak Creole,
Digue. Many smaller islands are uninhabited.
a dialect of French.
Victoria, on Mahe, is the nations capital, chief
The countrys official
port, and only major town. Seychelles consists of
languages are Creole,
granite islands and coral islands. The granite
English, and French.
islands have streams, mountains, and sandy
Most Seychellois
beaches. The soil is rocky, making farming diffichildren attend school
cult. The coral group is atollsring-shaped coral
from the age 6 to 15.
islandsand low islands that rise a few feet above
Those who wish to go
sea level. Cinnamon and coconut palms grow
on join the National
wild on much of Seychelles. The coco-de-mer, a
Youth Service, a prodouble coconut that weighs as much as 50 pounds
gram that provides
(23 kilograms) and is the worlds largest seed,
academic instruction.
grows only in Seychelles. Seychelles has a hot,
Students also learn
moist climate. Annual temperatures average from
development skills such
75 F (24 C) to 86 F (30 C).
as farming and fishing.
Canned
tuna
Other
25%
48%
Cinnamon
bark 1%
Exports
Petroleum
products
22%
Other fish
2%
Frozen
prawns 2%
Mixture of Asians,
Africans, Europeans
Ethnic Makeup
Other 2%
Roman
Catholic
90%
Major Religions
$56 million
265
Sierra Leone
Land area rank
119
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
103
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
G U I N E A
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
Sierra Leone
Continent: Africa
Area: 27, 925 square miles
(71,620 sq. km)
Capital City: Freetown
Largest City: Freetown (1,300,000)
Unit of Money: Leone
Major Languages: English (official), Mende
Literacy: 31%
Land Use: 7% arable, 1% permanent crops, 31% pastures, 28% forests, 33% other
Natural Resources: Diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite
Government: Constitutional democracy
miles
km
50
50
Kabala
AFRICA
ve
Ri
el
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
ok
Kambia
Makeni
A N TA R C T I C A
Sefadu
E
S
Freetown
Bo
er
Sembehun
Bonthe
IC
Kenema
iv
L I B E R I A
Mo
The People
Other
29%
Coffee
4%
Cocoa 5%
Re-exports 5%
Rutile 6%
Diamonds
51%
Exports
$47 million
266
Other
tribes
30%
Temne
30%
Mende
30%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
beliefs
30%
Christian 10%
Muslim
60%
Major Religions
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Creole 10%
Most of Sierra Leones people are black Africans who

form 12 main ethnic groups. About one third of the
people belong to the Mende
The Place
group in the southern part of the
country. About one third belong
Sierra Leone is a small country north of the
to the Temne group in western
Equator on the western bulge of Africa. It
Sierra Leone. About 10% of the
is among the worlds leading countries in the
people are Creoles descended
production of diamonds, which lie in gravel
from freed slaves who returned to
deposits along riverbeds and in swamps in
Sierra Leone from America in the
eastern parts of the country. Swamps cover
late 1700s and early 1800s. Most
the coastal region and extend about 20 miles
men of Sierra Leone are farmers.
(32 kilometers) inland. Inland, a coastal plain
Many grow only enough food for
extends as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers)
their families, however, and work
then slopes up to plateaus and mountains
mining diamonds during the dry
that rise to more than 6,000 feet (1,800
season. Many women sell goods
meters) near the eastern border with Guinea.
in local markets. English is Sierra
Sandy soil, on which only short grass grows,
Leones official language. Most of
covers more than half the country. Sierra
the people, however, speak local
Leone has a tropical climate with a dry seaAfrican languages. Most people
son in January and February in the south and Sierra Leone mother and child
in Sierra Leone live in poverty.
December through March in the north.
Diseases, malnutrition, and warRainfall on the coast can be as high as 195
fare combine to make the countrys
inches (495 centimeters) a year, making it one of the
life expectancy, 43 years, among the
wettest places in Africa. Temperatures average from
lowest in the world.
77 to 81 F (25 to 27 C).
Singapore
Land area rank
191
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
118
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
M A L A Y S I A
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Strai
t
re
ho
o
J
Woodlands
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Singapore
Continent: Asia
(638 sq. km)
Capital City: Singapore
Largest City: Singapore (3,044,000)
Unit of Money: Singapore dollar
Major Languages: Malay, Chinese, English, Tamil
Literacy: 91%
forests, 87% other
Natural Resources: Fish, deepwater ports
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Se
AUSTRALIA
ra
ng
oon
Harb
or
Serangoon
A N TA R C T I C A
Tuas
Katong
Jurong
Singapore
E
S
0
0
miles
km
n
Si
ga
po
St
re
ra
it
INDONESIA
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Indian 7%
Average Rainfall
Singapore is one of the worlds most densely populated

countries, with more than 11,000 people per square mile
(28,000 per square kilometer). More than 75% of
The Place
Singapores people are Chinese. Malays make up about
15% of the population, and most of the rest of the peoSingapore is an island country in Southeast Asia near
ple are Europeans or Indians. Singapore has 4 official
the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It consists of a
large island and more than 50 smaller islands. The large languagesChinese, English, Malay, and Tamil. Most
urban Singaporeans wear Western-style clothing, but
island, also called Singapore, covers 221 square miles
some Indians and Malays prefer traditional dress.
(572 square kilometers). Almost all the people live in
English is the language of instruction in all schools in
the capital, also with the name of Singapore, on the
Singapore. The government provides 6 years of free
southern coast of the main island. The citys economic
primary education to children who are citizens.
activity makes Singapore one of the most prosperous
Singapores literacy rate
countries in Asia. The other islands, half of
is one of the highest in
which are uninhabited, are about 18 square Singapore, Singapore
Southeast Asia. Schools
miles (46 square kilometers) in area. Most
of higher education in
of the Singapore islands are near sea level.
Singapore include the
Rain forests cover the central area of the
National University of
main island, and mangrove swamps run
Singapore and Nanyang
along the northern coast. Singapore has
Technological Institute.
a tropical climate. The average annual
Art, music, and theater
temperature is about 80 F (27 C). Sea
reflect the cultures of
breezes cool the country, however, and
Singapores ethnic
the temperature rarely rises above 94 F
groups. Life expectancy
(34 C). The main island receives about
is 79 years.
95 inches (241 centimeters) of rain yearly.
Other
53%
Telecommunications
Office
apparatus 8%
machines
27%
Petroleum
products 8%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$126 billion
Electrical
apparatus 2%
Industrial
machinery 2%
Other 2%
Malay
15%
Chinese
76%
Ethnic Makeup
Buddhist,
Muslim,
Christian
Major Religions
267
Slovakia
Land area rank
130
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
104
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
Official Name: Slovak

EQUATOR
Republic
Continent: Europe
(48,800 sq. km)
Capital City: Bratislava
Largest City: Bratislava (450,776)
Unit of Money: Koruna
Major Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy: 99%
Natural Resources: Brown coal and lignite, iron ore
ASIA
POLAND
CZECH
REPUBLIC
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Zilina
AUSTRALIA
ro
Trnava
Trencin
Ruzomberok
Presov
Hornad
Riv
r
e
er
i v Bansk Bystrica
Kosice
R
AUSTRIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Vah R
ive
Martin
UKRAINE
NORTH
AMERICA
Lucenec
Nitra
Bratislava
Komrno
er
Danube Riv
0
0
miles
km
HUNGARY
N
W
50
E
S
50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Slovaks make up the majority of Slovakias population.

People of Hungarian descent form the second largest
group. Smaller numbers of Czechs, Germans, Gypsies,
The Place
Poles, Russians, and Ukrainians also live in Slovakia.
About 55% of Slovakias people
Slovakia is a landlocked country in central
live in towns and cities. Rural
Europe. Formerly part of Czechoslovakia, it is Slovak climber
families generally live in singlebordered by Poland on the north, Ukraine on
family houses. Most families
the east, Hungary on the south, and Austria
own automobiles, refrigerators,
and the Czech Republic on the west. The
televisions, and washing
Carpathian Mountains cover much of western
machines. Many city families
and northwestern Slovakia. A range called the
have weekend cottages in the
High Tatras, with Mount Gerlachovsky,
country. Slovakias people enjoy
Slovakias highest peak at 8,711 feet (2,655
attending soccer matches and
meters), is a favorite vacation spot and tourist
other sporting events. Skiing is
destination. The Tatras area is also a national
also popular. Many families
park. The Danubian Lowlands make up
enjoy camping, hiking, and
southwestern Slovakia. The Danube River
mountain climbing. Children
forms the southern boundary of this region.
are required to attend 8 years of
Several rivers wind through Slovakia, includelementary school and 2 years
ing the Hornad, the Hron, and the Vah.
of secondary school. Folk arts,
Slovakias climate varies greatly by elevation.
such as basketry, glass paintings,
Temperatures range from a low of 14 F (-10
pottery, and woodcarving, are an
C) in January to a high of 68 F (20 C) in
important tradition in Slovakia.
July. Slovakia receives from 24 to 40 inches
(60 to 100 centimeters) of precipitation yearly.
Food,
beverages,
and tobacco
6%
Manufactured
goods 12%
Chemical
products 13%
Other Semimanufactured
Gypsy 2%
10%
products
Other 1%
Hungarian
40%
11%
Slovak
86%
Exports
$9 billion
268
Machinery
19%
Ethnic Makeup
Orthodox
4%
Protestant
8%
Other
18%
Roman
Catholic
60%
Atheist
10%
Major Religions
Slovenia
Land area rank
154
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
145
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
HU
ASIA
NG
AFRICA
AUSTRIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Maribor D r
Ptuj
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
Mineral
fuels
1%
Food
3%
Chemicals
11%
LY
100F/38C
A
IT
Slovenia is a small country in central Europe.

Mountains cover much of the country, and thick forests
grow on about half the land. The Julian
Alps rise in Slovenias northwest corner.
Slovenias highest point, Mount Triglav,
reaches 9,393 feet (2,863 meters) in this
range. Hilly plains spread across central
and eastern Slovenia. The central part
of the country also includes a limestone
region called the Karst, which is filled
with caves and underground channels.
A small strip of coastline lies along the
Adriatic Sea. Slovenias climate varies
greatly. Mountains have cold winters
with much snow. Heavy rains fall in early
summer. Summers are warm in mountain
valleys but cool at high elevations. The
coastline is mild with temperatures rarely below freezing. Northeastern Slovenia has cold winters and hot
summers. Temperatures can reach 100 F (38 C) in the
summer while falling below freezing in the winter.
Ljubljana
S a va River
Celje
N
W
Nova Gorica
E
S
Kocevje
CROATIA
Prian
0
Adriatic
Sea
miles
20
0 km 20
The People
About 90% of the people are Slovenes, a Slavic people
who speak Slovenian. Most Slovenes also speak another
language, usually German, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, or
English. About half of the people live in rural areas,
usually in single-family homes with steep roofs. Many
city dwellers live in high-rise apartment buildings. Most
adults can read
and write.
Children attend
8 years of elementary school and 4
years of secondary
school. Slovenia
has 2 universities
and many other
institutions of
higher education.
Festivals play an
important part in
Slovenian life.
Every February,
people in northeastern Slovenia hold a Kurenti festival,
during which they dress up in animal masks and perform rituals to drive away the evil spirits of winter.
Other
25% Machinery
31%
Basic
manufactures
Exports 29%
$8 billion
Murska
Sobota
a R iver
Kranj
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
av
AUSTRALIA
AR

EQUATOR
of Slovenia
Continent: Europe
(20,256 sq. km)
Capital City: Ljubljana
Largest City: Ljubljana (269,972)
Unit of Money: Slovenian tolar
Major Languages: Slovenian, Serbo-Croation
Literacy: 99%
Natural Resources: Lignite coal, lead, zinc
Government: Parliamentary democratic republic
Serb 2% Other 3%
Muslim
Croat
1%
3%
Other
27%
Muslim
1%
Slovene
91%
Ethnic Makeup
Lutheran
1%
Roman
Catholic
71%
Major Religions
269
Solomon Islands
145
Land area rank

smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

165
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Choiseul
Official Name: Solomon Islands

Continent: Oceania
Area: 10,633 square
miles (27,540 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Population: 480,442
Capital City: Honiara
Largest City: Honiara
(35,288)
Unit of Money: Solomon Islands dollar
Major Languages: English, Solomon Pidgin
Literacy: 30%
Natural Resources: Fish, timber, gold
Defense: Australia responsible for defense
Vella Lavella
Ne
ASIA
Gizo
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Santa Isabel
Ge
Munda
(T org
he ia
New
Sl So
Georgia
un
ot
)
d
O C
E A N
Buala
Auki
Honaira
E
S
Aola
Guadalcanal
S o l o m o n
S e a
N
W
Avuavu
Kirakira
0
0
miles
km
San Cristobal
100
100
The People
Cacao beans 3%
Other 3%
Copra 4%
Palm oil
products
10%
Timber
Fish
products
products
59%
21%
Exports
$168 million
270
I F
I C
Malaita
A N TA R C T I C A
Solomon Islands is an archipelago, or island chain, in the

Pacific Ocean about 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) northeast of Australia. The largest of its hundreds of islands are
Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and New Georgia. Not
all of the Solomon Islands chain is part of the country.
Some northern islands are part of Papua New Guinea.
Solomon Islands has a land area of 10,633 square miles
(27,540 square kilometers)
spread over about 230,000
square miles (600,000 square
kilometers) of ocean. The main
islands range from 90 to 120
miles (140 to 190 kilometers)
long and from 20 to 30 miles
(32 to 48 kilometers) wide.
Each island has a central spine
of mountains, some more than
4,000 feet (1,200 meters) high.
Rainfall in the Solomon Islands varies from 60 to 200
inches (150 to 500 centimeters) annually. Temperatures
range from 70 to 90 F (21 to 32 C).
15 in/38 cm
AUSTRALIA
The Place
80F/27C
Kia
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
Most of the approximately 440,000 Solomon Islanders

are dark-skinned people called Melanesians. About 90%
of them live in rural villages. Many people build houses
on stilts to keep the
dwellings cool. The main
foods of the people
include chicken, fish,
pork, coconuts, sweet
potatoes, and taro, a
tropical plant with edible
root-like stems. Although
English is the official
language of the Solomon
Islands, about 90 languages are spoken among
the Melanesians. Most
islanders speak Solomons
pidgin, a form of pidgin
English, to help break
Malaita, Solomon Islands
language barriers. The
nation has about 350 elementary schools and about 20 high schools. Students
may attend college locally at the College of Higher
Education. About 200 islanders go to universities in
Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Life expectancy is 72 years.
Micronesian
2%
Other 1%
Polynesian
4%
Melanesian
93%
Ethnic Makeup
Seventh-Day
Adventist
10%
United
Church
11%
Other 9%
Anglican
34%
Baptist
17%
Roman
Catholic
19%
Major Religions
Somalia
Land area rank
42
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
90
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Gulf of Aden
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
DJIBOUTI
ASIA
Official Name: Somali

EQUATOR
Democratic Republic
Continent: Africa
(627,340 sq. km)
Capital City: Mogadishu
Largest City: Mogadishu (1,000,000)
Unit of Money: Somali shilling
Major Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, English
Natural Resources: Uranium
Boosaaso
AFRICA
Berbera
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Hargeysa
Bender
Beyla
A N TA R C T I C A
ETHIOPIA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Other
38%
Agricultural
products
51%
Live
camels &
cattle
4%
Bananas Exports
7%
$130 million
O
N
A
Mogadishu
Merca
N
I
Chisimayu
0
0
miles
km
200
200
Somalia reach over 7,000 feet (2,100

meters) above sea level. Average
temperatures range from 85 F to
105 F (29 C to 41 C) in northern
Somalia, and 65 F to 105 F (18 C
to 41 C) in the south. Annual rainfall is rarely more than 20 inches
(51 centimeters), even in the south,
the wettest region. Generally, rain
falls from March to May and from
October to December. Droughts
occur frequently, however, and most
land is barely suitable for grazing
livestock. In the south, 2 riversthe
Jubba and the Shabeelleprovide
some water for irrigation. Farmers
there grow crops. Somalia has a wide
variety of plant and animal wildlife.
Wild animals include the crocodile,
elephant, gazelle, giraffe, hippopotamus, hyena, and lion.
Other 3%
Average Rainfall
80F/27C
er
15 in/38 cm
iv
Beledweyne
ve
a Ri
plains cover most

of Somalia. A
mountain ridge
rises from the
narrow coastal plain in the north.
Altitudes in some parts of northern
Nomads, Somalia
100F/38C
Jubb
Somalia is the country farthest east

on the mainland of Africa. Its coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean forms the outer edge
of the horn of Africa. Dry, grassy
Galcalo
e
K E N Y A
The Place
ell
abe
Sh
Farms/cropland
2%
Forests
26%
Permanent
pastures
69%
Land Use
271
Somalia
(continued)
The People
About 95% of Somalias people share
the same language, culture, and
religion. They are sharply divided,
however, according to traditional
clan groupings. Most Somalis belong
to 1 of 4 clans known as the Samaal.
Samaal are primarily nomadic
herders. Members of 2 other clans,
Somali men
called the Sab (or Saab), live along

the rivers in southern Somalia. Most
of the members of these clans farm
the land. Many Somalis are loyal
only to their clan, and there has been
much fighting between groups.
Minority groups in Somalia include
Arabs, Indians, Italians, and
Pakistanis. Except for the coastlands,
small trade
centers, and
cultivated areas,
much of Somalia
is unsettled.
Nomads make
up about half
the population.
They live in small
shelters made of
wooden braces
covered with
skins and grass
mats. In much
of Somalia, the
people wear traditional clothing

Somali crafts workers make fine
leather handbags and dagger sheaths.
People enjoy soccer and other sports
and games. Reciting poetry and
chanting are favorite forms of entertainment. In 1991, the country
suffered tremendously when a rebel
group called the United Somali
Congress (USC) overthrew Somalias
272
Other
15%
Somali
85%
Ethnic Makeup
Sunni
Muslim
100%
Major Religions
Government
Education
Less than 20% of all Somali children attend school. More than 75%
of Somalias adult population cannot
read or write. The countrys literacy
rate is one of the lowest in the
world partially due to the fact that
Somali only became a written language in 1972. In addition, years
of fighting and starvation have led
to the widespread collapse of the
educational system. There are,
that consists of a piece of brightly

colored cloth draped over the body
like a toga. Many men wear a kiltlike garment called a lungi or a
maowey. In the cities and towns,
some people wear western clothing.
Literate
24%
Type: Forming parliamentary

government
Leader: No internationally
recognized government
Structure: None
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
NA army personnel
NA tanks
however, the Somali National

University and several technical
institutes in Mogadishu, the capital.
military rulers and took control of

the capital area. A prolonged drought
that year, along with a disruption of
food production caused by the fighting, led to widespread starvation
throughout Somalia. By December
1992, about 270,000 Somalis had
starved to death, and United Nations
sent aid and peacekeeping forces to
the country.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
14
TVs
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
South Africa
Land area rank
25
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
26
fewest people
most people (1)
NAMIBIA
NORTH
AMERICA

of South Africa
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
miles (1,219,912 sq. km)
Capital City: Pretoria (administrative capital)
Largest City: Cape Town (2,350,157)
Unit of Money: South African rand
Major Languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa
Natural Resources: Gold, diamonds, platinum
0
0
EUROPE
miles
km
200
200
ASIA
im
po
MOZAMBIQUE
BOTSWANA
AFRICA
Pietersburg
Pretoria
SOUTH
AMERICA
Johannesburg
Soweto
R.
al
Va
Welkom
AUSTRALIA
r
e
AT
LESOTHO s
Durban
n
e
k
Umtata
r a
D
W
Beaufort West
Uitenhage
East
London
Oudtshoorn
Cape Town
Port Elizabeth
LA
De Aar
NT
IC
O
C
E
N
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Mountains Region has warm, dry

summers and cool, wet winters.
Much of the Coastal Strip has hot,
humid summers and dry, sunny winters. In the Plateau, summer days
are hot, but the nights are cool. The
N
E
S
I N D I A N
O C E A N
South Africa occupies the southern

tip of Africa, with its coastline
extending about 1,836 miles (2,954
kilometers) along both the Indian
and Atlantic oceans. It borders
Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, and Swaziland, and it
completely surrounds the country
of Lesotho. South Africas interior
is mostly plateau, called the veld.
Coastal lowlands lie in the east.
The Cape Mountains are in the far
south. The Namib Desert makes up
the west coast. The Kalahari Desert
covers much of the northwest interior. South Africa is one of worlds
leading sources of gold and diamonds. In the past 100 years, 47%
of the worlds gold has come from
the countrys mines. South Africas
main rivers include the Orange and
its branch, the Vaal. South Africa is
generally mild and sunny. The Cape
SWAZILAND
Upington
Kimberley
O r a n g e River
Bloemfontein
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
River
po
At a Glance
winter is cold. The deserts are hot

and dry. Only about one fourth of
South Africa receives more than 25
inches (64 centimeters) of rain yearly. More rain falls in the east than
in the west.
Cape Town, South Africa
Base metals
and metal
products
15%
Gold
20%
Other
48%
Exports
Food
7%
Gem
diamonds
10%
Forests
7%
Other
15%
Farms/cropland
11%
Permanent
pastures
67%
Land Use
$31 billion
273
South Africa
(continued)
South African women
The People
South Africas population includes
descendents of Africans, Asians, and
Europeans. From the late 1940s to
the early 1990s, South Africas government enforced a policy of racial
segregation called apartheid that
categorized the people into four
main racial groups: (1) black, (2)
white, (3) Coloured, or mixed race,

and (4) Asian. Apartheid policies
segregated the groups in housing,
education, employment, the use of
transportation, and other public
facilities. Although the policy ended
in 1991, the 4 groups remain
separated and follow different ways
of life. Blacks, also called Africans,
make up 75% of South Africas population. Whites make up 13% of its
people. Coloured people make up
9% of the population. Indians make
up 3% of the countrys population.
Inequalities created by oppression of
nonwhites continue to affect South
Africas racial groups. Some public
schools and some housing remain
segregated. Most high-paying jobs
are still held by whites. The average
yearly income of blacks is slightly
more than one-tenth that of whites.
Large numbers of blacks are unemployed, and many lack adequate

housing. Life expectancy is 63 years.
Indian 3%
Coloured
9%
White
13%
Black
75%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim 2%
Traditional
beliefs
28%
Hindu 2%
Christian
68%
Major Religions
Education
Until 1991, students in each racial
group were required by law to attend
separate public schools. Since then,
many black children have begun to
attend previously all-white public
schools. About 90% of whites, 85%
of Asians, 75% of Coloureds, and
65% of blacks can read and write.
All South African children ages 7
through 16 are required to attend
school. Until 1981, the law did not
require any black children to go to
school. That year, the government

Most South Africans enjoy sports,
and the countrys climate permits
them to spend a great deal of leisure
time outdoors. White South
Africans like to play rugby football
South Africas national sportas
well as cricket, soccer, tennis, and
golf. Nonwhite South Africans have
favored soccer and track-and-field
events. Some blacks have become
world champions in long-distance
running. On weekends and holidays,
274
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
82%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
began to phase in schooling requirements for black children. Today, many

areasespecially black oneshave a
shortage of schools.
250 tanks
3 major ships
243 combat aircraft
many city dwellers flock to the

beaches or tour their countrys
national parks and game reserves.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
146
101
95
21
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
South African school children at play
South Korea
Land area rank
107
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
25
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
NORTH KOREA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Ch'unch'on
AFRICA
South Korea occupies the southern

half of the Korean Peninsula in East
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
S e a
o f
J a p a n
Ch'ungju
Taejeon
A N TA R C T I C A
Yellow
Sea
N
Taegu
Ulsan
R.
Pusan
it
E
S
miles
km
100
100
Asia. More than 3,000 mostly uninhabited islands lie off the southern
and western coasts. Including the
Mineral
fuels
3%
Kunsan
Kwangju
Seoul, South Korea
100F/38C
Tonghae
AUSTRALIA
The Place
Kangnung
Seoul
Inche'on
SOUTH
AMERICA
Naktong

EQUATOR
of Korea
Continent: Asia
(98,190 sq. km)
Capital City: Seoul
Largest City: Seoul (18,850,000)
Unit of Money: South Korean won
Major Languages: Korean
Natural Resources: Coal, tungsten, graphite
Manufactured
goods
21%
JAPAN
islands, South Korea covers an area

of 37,911 square miles (98,190
square kilometers). More than 80%
of the land is mountainous, and
about two-thirds is covered by forest.
River valleys, hillsides, and some land
along the coast are used for farming.
The Southern Plain covers the
southern coast of South Korea and
is an important agricultural region.
The Naktong River, 325 miles (523
kilometers) long, is South Koreas
longest river. Seasonal monsoon
winds blow in from the southeast
during the summer, bringing hot,
humid weather. A cold, dry monsoon
blows in from the northwest during
the winter, bringing cold weather.
Summer temperatures average
between 70 F (21 C) and 80 F
(27 C). Average January temperatures range from about 35 F (2 C)
in southeastern Korea to about -5 F
(-21 C) in parts of the Northern
Mountains.
Other
13%
Other
17%
Chemicals
7%
Cheju
Farms/
cropland
21%
Permanent
pastures
1%
Machinery
52%
Forests
65%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
Land Use
$130 billion
275
South Korea
(continued)
The People
covered by mats. Traditionally,

Koreans make up almost the entire
channels under the floors carried
population of South Korea. People
hot air from the kitchen or an
of Chinese descent are Koreas
indoor fireplace to heat the rooms.
largest minority. Korean is the
In many homes today, pipes carry
official language of South Korea.
heated water under the floors for
About half of all Korean words
heat. Most people in South Korea
come from Chinese. More than
wear Western-style clothing.
75% of South Koreans live in cities
However, many wear traditional
because factories
and businesses offer South Korean market
jobs. Cities also
have universities and
better health-care
facilities. Many
South Koreans,
including those in
rural areas, live in
houses made of
bricks or concrete
blocks, with roofs of
cement tiles. Most
houses have floors
of thick stone slabs
clothing for special occasions. Such

clothing for women consists of a
long, full skirt and a tight-fitting
jacket. Men wear loose-fitting
trousers, shirts, and jackets. Life
Education
versities, colleges, and junior colleges in South Korea.
South Korea requires all children to

complete elementary school, which
is free. After completing elementary
school, a South Korean student may
go on to attend middle school and
high school. Parents pay tuition for
any secondary schools. Still, about

80% of children aged 12 to 17
attend secondary school. Technical
training to prepare students for
industrial jobs continues through all
higher levels of education. More
than 1 million students attend uni-
Confusianism Other 1%
3%
Buddhist
47%
Christian
49%
Major Religions
Korean
100%
Ethnic Makeup
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President/Acting
Prime Minister
Defense
Literate
98%
2,050 tanks
43 major ships
Literacy
461 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
School kids, South Korea

South Koreans enjoy most sports
common in the West, including
baseball, boxing, golf, soccer, table
276
tennis, tennis, and wrestling. They

also enjoy martial arts such as judo
and tae kwon do, the national sport.
South Korean orchestras perform
classical and contemporary Western
music. Television networks regularly
show dramas and comedies. South
Koreans enjoy reading novels, short
stories, and poems.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
258
207
77
49
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Spain
51
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
29
fewest people
most people (1)
Bay of Biscay
At a Glance
FRANCE
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
La Corua
ASIA

EQUATOR
Spain
Continent: Europe
(499,440 sq. km)
Capital City: Madrid
Largest City: Madrid (5,050,000)
Unit of Money: Peseta and euro
Major Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan
Natural Resources: Coal, lignite, water power
Bilbao
AFRICA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Spain is one of the largest countries

in Europe with an area of 192,818
square miles (499,440 square kilometers). The country occupies
about five-sixths of the Iberian
Peninsula, which lies in
Southwestern Europe between
the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea. Portugal occupies the rest of the peninsula. Spain
also includes the Balearic Islands
in the Mediterranean Sea and the
Canary Islands in the Atlantic
Ocean. On Spains northeastern
border, the mighty Pyrenees
Mountains separate Spain from
France. These mountains were
once a barrier to overland travel
to the rest of Europe. Africa lies
only about 8 miles (13 kilometers)
south of Spain across the Strait of
Gibraltar. Most of Spain is a high,
dry plateau called the Meseta. Hills
L
E
miles
km
uad
R io G
Majorca
ia n a
Palma
Valencia
Mlaga
Cdiz
Strait of Gibraltar
t
di
er
ra
a
ne
Se
ALGERIA
200
200
MOROCCO
Santa Cruz
de Tenerife
Las Palmas
The Place
PORTUGA
IC
LA
AT
0
Tagus River
Sevilla
S
0
Barcelona
Madrid
Crdoba
N
W
Zaragoza
Salamanca
NT
A N TA R C T I C A
R.
Rio Douro
OC
AUSTRALIA
ANDORRA
ro
Valladolid
EA
SOUTH
AMERICA
60F/16C
Eb
and mountains rise throughout the

Meseta, and north of it, a mountain
barrier extends across the peninsula.
Spain lacks many raw materials
needed by industry, and crops do
not grow well in the countrys poor
soil and dry cliCanary Islands

mate. Although
coastal areas are wetter than the
central plateau, yearly rainfall for
the entire country average less than
4 inches (10 centimeters).
Mosque, Crdoba, Spain
Other
59%
Transport
equipment
20%
Agricultural
products
13%
Other
8%
Forests
32%
Farms/
cropland
39%
Permanent
pastures 21%
Exports
Machinery
8%
Land Use
$95 billion
277
Spain
(continued)
The People
Before the 1960s, the people in each
region of Spain, such as Andalusia in
the south or Galicia in the northwest, felt greater loyalty to their
region than their country and had
little contact with Spaniards in other
regions. Today, Spain is an industrial
nation, and more than 75% of the

people live in urban areas. Spanish
people now eat better, dress better,
live in better homes, and receive
more education and better health
care today than ever before. Life
expectancy is 77 years. The country
has 2 cities with more than a million
people each: Madrid, the nations
capital and largest city, and
Barcelona. Most city people live in
apartments, and many own rather
Other 1%
than rent their dwellings. Most city

homes have electric power, and
many families own automobiles and
television sets. Electricity, improved
farming methods, and modern
equipment have helped make life
easier for Spanish farmers. But rural
standards of living are much lower
than those in the cities. Most rural
homes are made of clay and stone
covered with whitewashed plaster
for added protection from the sun.
Basque 2%
Galician
7%
Catalan
16%
Roman
Catholic
99%
Major Religions

Most Spanish factories, stores, and
offices close for 3-hour lunch breaks
and stay open until about 7 P.M.
Most people eat dinner at between
10 and 11 P.M. On weekends, city
people often drive into the Spanish
countryside for picnics or overnight
trips. Soccer is Spains most popular
sport, and many soccer stadiums seat
100,000 or more fans. Bicycle racing
is second to soccer in popularity.
Bullfighting is Spains most unusual
278
Castillian
Spanish
72%
Ethnic Makeup
Education
All children from ages 6 through 13
are required to attend school in Spain.
Many children quit school when they
reach 14, however, and the number of
students decreases at each successive
grade. Students attend primary school
for 8 years and secondary school for 3
years. They must take an additional
year of special study before entering a
university. The government controls
most of Spains primary and secondary
schools. But there are also Roman
Gyspsy 1%
Other 2%
Government
Type: Parliamentary monarchy
Leader: King/President of the
Government
Literate
96%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Catholic schools and non-religious

private schools at the primary and
secondary levels. Spain has about 30
universities.
spectacle. Most cities have a bullring, and leading matadors are
national heroes.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
396
389
294
121
8
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Spanish boy
668 tanks
26 major ships
161 combat aircraft
Sri Lanka
Land area rank
123
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
51
fewest people
most people (1)
INDIA
EUROPE
tr
lk
AFRICA
Pa
Official Name: Democratic

EQUATOR
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Continent: Asia
(64,740 sq. km)
Capital City: Colombo
Largest City: Colombo (1,994,000)
Unit of Money: Sri Lankan rupee
Major Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Natural Resources: Limestone, graphite, gems
ASIA
ai
Jaffna
SOUTH
AMERICA
Mullaittivu
AUSTRALIA
Gulf
of
Mannar
A N TA R C T I C A
Trincomalee
Anuradhapura
Puttalan
Batticaloa
N
W
Matale
Kandy
Negombo
Colombo
O C E A N
NORTH
AMERICA
Moratuwa
Kotte
Ratnapura
Badulla
I N
D I A
N
At a Glance
Kalutara
0
0
The Place
Sri Lanka is an island country about
20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of
miles
km
India. The Palk

Strait separates the
2 countries. Known as Ceylon until
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Temple, Sri Lanka
100F/38C
50
50
Natural
rubber
3%
Rubber
products
4%
Gems
6%
Other
25%
Clothing and
accessories
49%
Tea
13%
Exports
Galle
Hambantota
1972, Sri Lanka covers 24,996 square

miles (64,740 square kilometers).
The central area of the country is
mountainous. Plains surround the
mountains and cover most of the
northern half of the island. Many
species of wild animals, including
bears, birds, crocodiles, elephants,
monkeys, and snakes, are native to
Sri Lanka. More than 3,000 species
of ferns and flowering plants also
grow there. Some of the most common plants are bougainvillea, orchids,
poinsettias, and fruit trees. A rain
forest covers much of southwestern
Sri Lanka. Temperatures in the low
coastal areas average 80 F (27 C).
Temperatures in the mountains average 60 F (16 C). Average annual
rainfall ranges from about 50 inches
(130 centimeters) in the northeast to
about 200 inches (510 centimeters) in
parts of the southwest.
Other
32%
Farms/
cropland
29%
Forests
32%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
7%
$4 billion
279
Sri Lanka
(continued)
The People
The people of Sri Lanka belong to
several different ethnic groups. The
Buddhist monk
largest groups are the Sinhalese and

the Tamils. The Sinhalese, about
74% of the population, are descended from people from northern
India. Most are Buddhists. Tamils,
about 18% of the population, are
descendants of people from southern India. Most are Hindus. Most
Tamils live in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Violence
between the 2 groups led to a civil
war in the country that has continued since 1983. Most Sri Lankans
are farmers. Houses with mud walls
and thatched roofs are common in
rural areas. Many Sri Lankans, especially rural people, live in extended
families, in which more than 2 generations of the same family live
together. Most rural Sri Lankan
men wear a saronga garment
wrapped around the waist to form a
long skirt and a shirt. Sri Lankan
women wear a redde, which is a skirt
similar to a sarong, with a blouse or
jacket. For more formal occasions,

Arts are very important to the life of
Sri Lanka. Architecture, painting and
sculpture, literature, music, and dance
have flourished in Sri Lanka since
its earliest history. Much ancient art
can still be seen in ruins of some
cities and in museums in Colombo,
the capital. Dance is an important
art form today among both Sinhalese
and Tamils. Sri Lanka crafts people
make jewelry and pottery, weave
Moor 7% Other 1%
Tamil
18%
Sinhalese
74%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian
8%
Hindu
15%
Buddhist
69%
Major Religions
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
90%
Defense
NA army personnel
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
NA major ships
Many Sri Lankans attend universities in the United States.
NA combat aircraft
baskets and mats, and carve masks

and other objects from wood.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
32
TVs
10
11
15
Cars
Phones
VCRs
NA
PCs
Hindu temple
280
Muslim 8%
Government
Education
Education is highly-valued in Sri
Lanka and is free from kindergarten
through the university level. Sri
Lanka has 8 universities. Most
Sri Lankans 15 years of age or older
can read and write, and the country
has one of the highest literacy rates
among the Asian nations. Sri
Lankas schools are considered the
best of any non-industrial nation.
women may wear a sari, which is a

straight piece of cloth draped
around the body as a long dress.
Sudan
11
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
33
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
NORTH
AMERICA
E G Y P T
L I B Y A
EUROPE
Lake
Nasser
ASIA

EQUATOR
the Sudan
Continent: Africa
(2,376,000 sq. km)
Capital City: Khartoum
Largest City: Nyala (1,267,077)
Unit of Money: Sudanese pound
Major Languages: Arabic, English
Natural Resources: Crude oil, iron ore, copper
AFRICA
Port Sudan
R.
ea
ile
N
Libyan
Desert
AUSTRALIA
Atbarah
Omdurman
Kassala
A N TA R C T I C A
Khartoum
ERITREA
Wad Medani
El Obeid
N
Blue
Al Fashir
il e
Ri
ve
White Nile River
C H A D
ETHIOPIA
Waw
CENTRAL
AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
(43 C), but climb

to more than 125
F (52 C). Central
Sudan consists
largely of grassy
plains. Most of southern
Sudan is covered by
dense vegetation.
Mountain ranges rise
along the countrys
borders with
Juba
S
C O N G O
( Z A I R E )
0
0
miles
km
400
K E N Y A
UGANDA
400
Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Many

wild animals, including gazelles,
giraffes, lions, leopards, and
elephants, roam
the south.
Camel, Sudan
Farms/cropland 5%
Cotton
19%
Sheep
& lambs
14%
Gum Sesame
seeds
arabic
12% 13%
Other
29%
Average Rainfall
Sudan is in the northeastern part of

the African continent and is the
largest country in Africa with an
area of 971,374 square miles
(2,376,000 square kilometers). It is a
land of vast deserts in the north,
grassy plains in its central region,
and steamy jungles and swamps in
the south. Northeastern Sudan borders the Red Sea. Sudans most
important geographic feature is the
Nile River, the longest river in the
world. The Nile floods the flatland
of the south to form a vast swamp
called the Sudd. North of the Sudd,
the river is called the White Nile. It
meets the Blue Nile, which flows
from the mountains of Ethiopia, at
Khartoum, the capital. Between the
Blue and White Nile rivers lies El
Gezira, the most fertile area in
Sudan. North of Khartoum, Sudan
is primarily desert. Average summer
high temperatures reach 110 F
ed
SOUTH
AMERICA
Peanuts
5%
Gold
8%
Exports
Other
30%
Forests
19%
Permanent
pastures
46%
Land Use
$620 million
281
Sudan
(continued)
The People
About 50% of Sudans people are
Arabs, who make up the countrys
largest ethnic group. Some are
descended from Arab immigrants.
Others belong to Sudanese groups
that gradually adopted the Arabic
Sudanese tribesmen
language and culture. Most of

Sudans Arabs live in the northern
two-thirds of the country. Various
black African groups live in the
southern third of Sudan. These
groups include the Dinka, the
largest black African group. The
people of Sudan
use more than
100 different
languages. More
than half of the
people speak
Arabic, which is
Sudans official
language. About
four-fifths of
Sudans people
live in rural
areas. Most farm
along the Nile
River using oldfashioned tools
as they struggle
to grow enough
food for their
families. Most
women who wear modern clothing

also wear a traditional outer garment called a taub, which covers
the head and reaches to the feet.
Many men wear a long robe called
a jallabiyah. On their heads, men
wear a small skullcap called a
taqiyah. Life expectancy is 51 years.
Christian 5%
Indigenous
beliefs
25%
Major Religions
Beja 6%

Traditional handicrafts are the most
common form of art in Sudan.
Soccer is the most popular sport.
Daily life for most Sudanese is a
struggle to survive. Health services
are poor and communicable diseases
Black
52%
Ethnic Makeup
Government
Type: Transitional
Leader: President
Literate
46%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

NA tanks
receive education above secondary

school. Most of the nations adults
cannot read or write.
are widespread. Violence between

groups in the north and south has led
to 2 civil wars in the past 30 years.
People who speak out against the
government can be imprisoned. The
government controls all television
and radio stations.
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
61
TVs
282
Other 3%
Arab
39%
Education
The government provides children
with free elementary education for
6 years, but only about half of the
children attend school. After elementary school, students may attend
junior secondary schools for 3 years.
Qualified students then may enter a
4-year school for agriculture, commerce, or teacher training; or they
may attend a 3-year senior secondary school to prepare for entering a
university. About 3% of all Sudanese
Sunni
Muslim
70%
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Suriname
Land area rank
91
smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

169
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA

EQUATOR
Suriname
(161,470 sq. km)
Population: 433,998
Capital City: Paramaribo
Largest City: Paramaribo (200,970)
Unit of Money: Surinamese guilder
Major Languages: Dutch, Surinamese
Literacy: 93%
30% other
Natural Resources: Bauxite, iron ore, timber
Government: Constitutional democracy
A T L A N TIC
Nieuw
Nickerie
ASIA
AFRICA
Wageningen
Paramaribo
Nieuw
Amsterdam
Groningen
Paranam
SOUTH
AMERICA
OCE
AN
Moengo
Albina
Kwakoegron
AUSTRALIA
Brokopondo
A N TA R C T I C A
Asidonhopo
FRENCH
GUIANA
GUYANA
N
W
0
0
miles
km
100
E
S
100
B R A Z I L
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Bananas 3%
Other 1%
Petroleum 3%
Average Rainfall
People of many ethnic backgrounds live in Suriname.

Hindustanis, descendants of people from India, make up
more than one third of the countrys population.
The Place
Creolespeople with mixed European and black
Suriname, the smallest country in South America, is on
African ancestrymake up about one third. The rest of
the northeast coast of South America. Mountainous rain Surinames people are Indonesians, Maroons, American
forests cover about 80% of Suriname, and most people
Indians, Chinese, and Europeans. Maroons are the
live in the flat coastal area. Nearly half
descendants of black
of the people live in Paramaribo, the
Africans who escaped
capital, largest city, and chief port.
from slavery in the 1600s
Suriname has a narrow coastal area of
and 1700s. The most
flat swampland that has been drained
commonly used language
for farming. This area extends inland
is Sranan Tongo, also
10 to 50 miles (16 to 80 kilometers) to
called Suriname Creole,
a sandy plain that rises about 150 feet
which combines English,
(46 meters) high. Mountainous rain
Dutch, and African
forests with about 2,000 varieties of
languages. Many
trees lie farther inland, and a high
Surinamese also speak
savanna runs along the countrys southEnglish. About 65% of
Paramaribo
Harbor,
Suriname
west border. Rivers flow north to the
Surinames people from
Atlantic Ocean. Suriname is warm and
15 to 59 years of age can
moist, with an average annual temperature of 81 F
read and write. The law requires children from 7 to 12
(27 C). The annual rainfall average is 76 inches
years old to attend elementary school, and some stu(193 centimeters) in western Suriname and 95 inches
dents continue on to high school. Life expectancy in
(241 centimeters) in Paramaribo.
Suriname is 70 years.
Aluminum
9%
Rice 10%
Shrimp
& fish
10%
Black
10%
Exports
Indigenous beliefs
5%
Creole
31%
Hindu
Muslim
27%
20%
Roman
Catholic Protestant
25%
23%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
South
Asian
37%
Alumina
64%
$434 million
Other 7%
Indonesian
15%
283
Swaziland
158
Population rank
largest country (1)

155
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
N
E
S
Piggs Peak
SOUTH
AFRICA
Mbabane
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Manzini
ASIA
Usutu
AFRICA
Big Bend
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Hlathikulu
Nhlangano
Lavumisa
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Swaziland is a landlocked country in southern Africa

surrounded by the Republic of South Africa on 3
sides and by Mozambique on the east. Swaziland has
rich mineral deposits, large forests, and good farm and
ranch land. Mountains up to 4,500 feet (1,370 meters)
above sea level run along the western border. Vast pine
forests cover much of the land there. Rolling, grassy
midlands lie east of the mountains. More people live
in this region than in any other part of the country.
Farther east, the land
Eastern Swaziland
becomes a low plain
covered with bushes
and grass. The Lebombo
Mountains rise along the
eastern border. Four main
rivers flow eastward across
the country supplying the
water to irrigate crops and
to run hydroelectric
power plants.
20
The People
About 9 out of 10 people in Swaziland are black Africans.
Most people farm and raise livestock and speak siSwati,
a Bantu language. Swazi
farmers prize
their cattle and
respect people
with herds.
When a Swazi
man marries,
his family gives
his wifes family
cattle. Swazi
Children, Mbabane, Swaziland
men may have
more than 1
wife. The traditional family includes a man, his wives,
his unmarried children, and his married sons and their
families. Each family lives in a separate homestead.
Traditional Swazi clothing is made of animal skins,
leather, or brightly colored fabric. Swazi also wear
beautiful beaded ornaments. Today, most Swazi wear
Western-style clothing. Each Swazi man belongs to
a special age group organized by the local leader.
Different age groups have special parts in Swazi ceremonies. Life expectancy averages 58 years.
Citrus fruits 2%
Asbestos 2%
Paper and
paper products 2%
Cotton yarn 6%
European 3%
Other
46%
Sugar
15%
Exports
$893 million
284
miles
SOUTH
AFRICA
0 km 20
Wood and
wood products
18%
Canned fruits 2%
Siteki
E
QU
MI
ZA
MO
Official Name: Kingdom of Swaziland

Continent: Africa
Capital City: Mbabane
Largest City: Mbabane (47,020)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: Lilangeni
Major Languages: English,
siSwati (official)
Literacy: 77%
Land Use: 11% arable, 62% pastures,
Natural Resources: Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite,
hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond
deposits, quarry stone, talc
OCEAN
smallest country
IND
IAN
Land area rank
Refrigerators
7%
African
97%
Ethnic Makeup
Indigenous
Christian
beliefs
60%
40%
Major Religions
Sweden
Land area rank
58
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
82
fewest people
most people (1)
0
EUROPE
L A P
L A N
D
ASIA
AFRICA
km
200
200
CE
IC
ia
eg
ia
hn
Skelleftea
ot
Lulea
or
A N TA R C T I C A
Se
AUSTRALIA
IA
AN
SS
Kiruna
SOUTH
AMERICA
D
AN
NL
FI
Umea
of
Ostersund
Sundsvall

EQUATOR
Sweden
Continent: Europe
(410,928 sq. km)
Capital City: Stockholm
Largest City: Stockholm (703,627)
Unit of Money: Swedish krona
Major Languages: Swedish
Natural Resources: Forests, iron ore, zinc
miles
RU
NORTH
AMERICA
ul
At a Glance
E
S
Gavle
Uppsala
Stockholm
rebro
ESTONIA
Norrkping
Go
tla
nd
LATVIA
ic
Jnkping
ea
Linkping
Goteborg
Kristianstad
DENMARK
Stockholm, Sweden
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
LITHUANIA
Gotland, a fertile island covering

about 1,160 square miles (3,004
square kilometers). The climate of
Sweden varies greatly between the
southern and northern parts of the
country. Southwesterly winds from
the Atlantic Ocean give southern
Sweden pleasant summers and
mostly mild winters. The northern
part of the country has pleasant
summers but cold winters. During
winter in the south, snow covers the
ground in January and February.
The north has snow from midOctober through mid-April.
Farms/cropland 7%
Average Rainfall
Sweden and its western neighbor,

Norway, occupy the Scandinavian
Peninsula. Forests cover more than
half of the country. The far northern region of Sweden lies inside the
Arctic Circle. Sweden is a land of
beautiful lakes, snow-capped mountains, icy rivers, and rocky offshore
islands. Part of its

long coastline has
sandy beaches,
and other parts
have rocky cliffs.
From Swedens
hilly border with Norway, the land
slopes gently eastward to the Gulf
of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. The
countrys scenery varies from the
barren Kolen Mountains in the
northwest to the fertile plains in the
south. Lakes cover about a twelfth
of Sweden. Many small islands lie
off the coast. The largest is
Malmo
Other
24%
Other
29%
Iron & steel
products
6%
Permanent
pastures
1%
Machinery
47%
Forests
68%
Chemicals 9%
Paper products 9%
Exports
Land Use
$84 billion
285
Sweden
(continued)
The People
Sweden is one of the most sparsely
populated countries of Europe. Most
people live in urban areas, which are
mainly in the central and southern
parts of the country. Most Swedes
are descendants of ancient Germanic
tribes, and are closely related to the
Danes and Norwegians. The Lapps
are a large ethnic group in Sweden.
They live in the northernmost part
of the country, in Lapland. For thousands of years, they have survived by
hunting, fishing, and tending herds
of reindeer. A large number of
people from other countries have
settled in Sweden. Swedish is a language that resembles Danish and
Norwegian. People from the three
countries can usually understand one
another. The majority of adult
Swedes speak some English and a
second foreign language as well.
Outdoor activities are popular in
Sweden. Skiing
and hockey are
the chief winter
sports. Hunting
and fishing are
also popular
activities.
Swedes also
like hiking and
camping, soccer, Crowded Stockholm street
swimming, sailrelax near one of Swedens many
ing, and tennis. Many Swedes spend
lakes or in the vast northern wildertheir vacations by the sea or on the
ness. Life expectancy is 78 years.
countrys offshore islands. Others
Finnish & Lapp
3%
Other 6%
Pentecostal 1%
Other 3%
Roman
Catholic
2%
Evangelical
Lutheran
94%
Swedish
91%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education
The Swedish government requires
children from 7 to 16 years of age
to attend school. Elementary and
high school education are free for
Swedish children. The government
also operates all the universities and
most of the technical and other
specialized colleges in the country.
Many children under the age of 7
attend kindergartens run by private
individuals or organizations. The
government assists the kinder-
Government
Literate
99%
Literacy
286
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
gartens, but attendance is not

required. Every child in the fourth
through seventh grade is required
to study English, and about 90%
continue English after that.
Swedish friends

The Swedish standard of living is one

of the highest in the world. Sweden
ranks among the leading European
nations in the number of automobiles,
telephones, and television sets
it has in relation to its population.
Many Swedish families have country
homes. The Swedish government
provides a largely free medical service.
It pays pensions to the elderly, widows, and orphans. The government
708 tanks
13 major ships
393 combat aircraft
also provides health insurance and

financial aid for housing.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
940
471
419
220
22
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Switzerland
Land area rank
135
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
92
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
F R A N C E
G E R M A N Y
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Swiss

EQUATOR
Confederation
Continent: Europe
(39,770 sq. km)
Capital City: Berne
Largest City: Zurich (343,045)
Unit of Money: Swiss franc
Major Languages: German, French, Italian
Literacy: 99%
28% pasture, 32% forests, 28% other
Natural Resources: Water power, timber, salt
Government: Federal republic
Lake Constance
AFRICA
Rhine R.
Basel
SOUTH
AMERICA
Burgdorf
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Base metals
and finished
products
9%
Precision
instruments,
watches,
& jewelry
16%
Other
17%
Thun
Interlaken
Laussane
Lake Geneva
Rh
Geneva
on
R.
LIECHTENSTEIN
Chur
In
R.
St. Moritz
A
N
Martigny
Lugano
I T A L Y
E
S
0
0
miles
km
50
50
The People
The Swiss differ greatly among themselves in language,
customs, and traditions from region to region. About
one-fifth of the people of Switzerland
are foreign-born, one of the highest
percentages of foreign-born residents
of any country in Europe. Large
groups of people from Italy, Germany,
Portugal, Spain, and the former reside
in Switzerland. Most of Switzerlands
people live in cities and towns. Swiss
children go to school from 6 through
14. Students who
plan to attend a
university may go to
one of Switzerlands
7 universities or vari- Swiss skier
ous other schools of
higher learning. All universities are
free public institutions. The mountains
of Switzerland provide grand opportunities for a variety of sports. About one
third of the nations people ski. Many
also enjoy bobsledding, camping,
climbing, and hiking in the mountains.
Machinery and
electronics
30%
Romansch 1%
Italian
10%
French
18%
Exports
$99 billion
AUSTRIA
Luzern
Bern
Yverdon
Switzerland is a small landlocked European country at

the center of Western Europe. The Alps and the Jura
Mountains cover more than half of the country. Most
Swiss live on a plateau between the two mountain
ranges. The Jura Mountains extend along Switzerlands
western border and into France. The highest mountain
of the range is 5,518-foot (1,682-meter) Mont Tendre.
The Swiss Plateau lies from 1,200 to
2,200 feet (366 to 671 meters) above sea
Swiss Alps
level. The movement of ancient glaciers
has formed many lakes, including Lake
Constance and Lake Geneva. The Swiss
Alps cover about 60% of Switzerland, but
less than a fifth of the people live there.
Snow blankets most of the region from
3 to 5 months a year. The Alps include
Switzerlands highest peak, the 15,203foot (4,634-meter) Dufourspitze. The
Swiss Alps are the source of 3 main rivers
in Europe, the Rhine, the Rhone, and the
Inn-Danube.
15 in/38 cm
St. Gallen
Menziken
Biel
The Place
80F/27C
Zrich
Balsthal
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
Winterthur
Chemical
products
28%
Other 6%
German
65%
Ethnic Makeup
None 9%
Other 5%
Protestant
40%
Roman
Catholic
46%
Major Religions
287
Syria
88
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
56
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
T U R K E Y
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
ig
Official Name: Syrian Arab

EQUATOR
Republic
Continent: Asia (Middle
East)
(184,050 sq. km)
Capital City: Damascus
Largest City: Aleppo (1,591,400)
Unit of Money: Syrian pound
Major Languages: Arabic (official), French, English
Al Hasakah
ri
s
Aleppo
Euph
Al Ladhiqiyah
ra
Ar Raqqah
Idlib
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
Dayr Az Zawr
Sea
an
Tadmur
(Palmyra)
An Nabk
Duma
err
ane
Hims
Damascus
dit
Me
er
Tartus
LEBANON
Al Mayadin
iv
A N TA R C T I C A
Hamah
S y r i a n
D e s e r t
I R A Q
N
Al Qunaytirah
As Suwayda
ISRAEL
GOLAN
HEIGHTS
JORDAN
0
0
miles
km
100
100
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
288
Market, Damascus, Syria
taries provide water for a developing

agricultural area in the northeastern
part of Syria. Most of the rest of
Syria is covered by deserts and by
dry grasslands where nomads graze
Live animals
& meat
2%
Average Rainfall
Syria is a Middle Eastern country

bordered by Lebanon on the west,
Israel to the southwest, Jordan to
the South, Iraq to the east, and
Turkey to the north. Part of the
countrys western border reaches
the Mediterranean Sea. Syria is
comprised of 3 main land regions:
(1) the coast, (2) the mountains, and
(3) the valleys and plains. The coast
is a narrow strip of land that extends
along the Mediterranean Sea from
Turkey to Lebanon. Moist sea winds
give the region a mild, humid climate. The coast is one of the few
areas of Syria in which crops do not
have to be irrigated, and most of the
land is cultivated. The mountains
run from north to south and are
thinly populated. The valleys and
plains region includes river valleys,
grasslands, and deserts. This area is
the home of most of Syrias people.
The Euphrates River and its tribu-
Textiles
& fabrics
4%
Other
21%
Raw
cotton
6%
Fresh vegetables
and fruits
11%
Crude
petroleum
& petroleum
products
56%
Exports
$4 billion
their livestock. Little rain falls in

the valleys and plains region.
Temperatures average about 41 F
(5 C) in January and about 88 F
(31 C) in July.
Forests
3%
Other
22%
Farms/
cropland
32%
Permanent
pastures
43%
Land Use
Syria
The People
Most of Syrias people live in the
western part of the country. More
than 1 million people live in

Damascus, the capital and oldest
inhabited city in the world. About
90% of all Syrians speak Arabic,
Syrias official language, and
consider themselves Arabs. Most
are descended from people called
Semites who settled in ancient
Syria. Non-Arab Syrians include
Armenians and Kurds. Their
ancestors came from the north.
About half of all Syrians live in rural
areas, mostly in small villages. A few
rural people, called Bedouins, are
nomads. The rest of the population
lives in cities or towns. Many
villagers live much as their ancestors
did. They farm small plots and build
houses of stone or of sun-dried mud
bricks. Bedouins live in tents and
move about the countryside grazing
their livestock. Some Syrians, especially in rural areas, wear traditional
clothing and a large cloth head

Family ties are close among most
Syrians. Many parents share their
home with their sons and the sons
families. As in most Islamic cultures,
women in Syria traditionally have
had little freedom. However,
increasing educational opportunities
and exposure to Western ideas has
allowed women more freedom in
recent years. Health care is provided
free for all Syrians. Hospitals often
covering. In the cities, most people

wear Western-style clothing. Life
Armenian, Turkmen,
Circassian 2%
Kurdish
6%
Other 3%
Arab
89%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian 10%
Other
Muslim
16%
Sunni
Muslim
74%
Major Religions
Government
Education
Syria provides free education for
both boys and girls. Syrian law
requires all children from 6 through
11 years old to go to school. Many
children in the rural areas do not
attend school, however, because of a
shortage of classrooms and teachers.
About 30% of all adult Syrians
cannot read or write. Higher education is provided free for Syrians at
(continued)
Type: Republic
Literate
71%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
4,600 tanks
universities in the cities of Aleppo,

Damascus, Homs, and Latakia.
lack modern equipment, however,

and medical services do not extend
to all areas of the country.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
58
59
9
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
3 major ships
579 combat aircraft
Syrian woman
Taiwan
Land area rank
138
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
46
fewest people
most people (1)
East China Sea
CHINA
EUROPE
Taipei
ASIA
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
290
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
it
a
tr
an
Quemoy
(Taiwan)
Hualien
T'ainan
South
China Sea
N
W
Kaohsiung
Taitung
P'ingtung
E
0
Other
37%
Transportation
equipment 5%
T'aichung
Changhua
Chiai
exports goods such as

televisions, radios, calculators, clothing, textiles,
plastic goods, plywood,
and toys to many countries
including Germany, Japan,
and the United States.
Taiwans farmers grow
asparagus, citrus fruits,
corn, mushrooms, peanuts,
pineapples, rice, sugar,
sweet potatoes and tea in
the countrys western
lowlands. Coal is Taiwans
most important mineral.
Copper, gold, limestone,
natural gas, petroleum,
salt, and sulfur are also
mined there.
Taiwans forests are its
most valuable resource.
Cedar, hemlock, and oak
trees are the most valuable
trees for lumber.
Synthetic
fibers 5%
Ta
iw
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Taiwan is a mountainous island

country located 90 miles (145 km)
from the southeast coast of China,
and separated from China by the
Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is one large
island and several smaller ones.
Taiwan covers 12,456 square miles
(32,260 square kilometers) of land
and has thick forests and mountains
that run from north to south. Yu
Shan (Mount Morrison) is Taiwans
highest peak and stands 13,113 feet
(3,997 meters).
Taiwans weather is subtropical,
with temperatures averaging 80 F
(27 C) during the summer and 65
F (18 C) in the winter. Typhoons
that occur between July and
September bring heavy rains, and
the country can sometimes get as
much as 100 inches (254 centimeters) of rain in one year.
Taiwan is an economic power that
Hsinchu
SOUTH
AMERICA
The Place
Chilung
T'aoyuan
AFRICA
O C E
A N
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: Taiwan

EQUATOR
Continent: Asia
(32,260 sq. km)
Capital City: Taipei
Largest City: Taipei (2,696,073)
Unit of Money: New Taiwan dollar
Major Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official),
Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Natural Resources: Timber, small deposits of coal,
natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos
P A
C I
F I
C
At a Glance
Electrical
machinery
22%
$122 billion
50
Philippine Sea
50
Lungshan Temple, Taipei, Taiwan
Nonelectrical
machinery
24%
Exports
miles
km
Plastic
articles
7%
Other
15%
Farms/
cropland
25%
Forests
55%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
5%
Taiwan
The People
Most of Taiwans residents live on its
western coast. More than 1.5 million
Taiwanese musician
people moved to Taiwan from mainland China after Communists took

over China in 1949. Today, most of
Taiwans native people, or aborigines,
live on reservations in the mountains.
About one fifth of the people in
Taiwan are farmers, who work small
2- or 3-acre famers, often terraced
into hillsides. Most farmhouses are
made of brick, with tile roofs and
central courtyards.
A typical Taiwanese meal includes
rice, vegetables and chopped meat or
Mainland
Chinese
14%
fish. Farmers and others who work in

the hot sun wear cone-shaped straw
hats. Most city people, however, wear
Western-style clothing. Life
Taiwanese people speak various
Chinese dialects, but most of the
people also use Northern Chinese
(Mandarin), which is the official
Chinese dialect.
About 42% of Taiwanese practice
Buddhism and about 8% are
Christians.
Aborigine 2%
Christian
8%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Education

Taiwans people have a strong heritage of traditional Chinese culture
as well as influences from modern
Chinese and Western cultures. The
government sponsors concerts,
classes, and competitions to preserve
and revitalize the countrys traditional arts, which include painting,
calligraphy, ceramics, and music.
Taiwans performing arts include
Other 2%
Buddhist, Confucian
and Taoist
90%
Taiwanese
84%
Taiwans education system is the

same as that of mainland China.
Taiwans schools have high attendance rates, and good facilities and
equipment. Most adults in Taiwan
can read and write. Children are
required to complete 6 years of
primary school and 3 years of
middle school. Taiwans secondary
education includes senior high
schools and vocational schools.
Preschool, social, adult and special
educations are also available. Taiwan
(continued)
Government
Literate
86%
Type: Multiparty democratic

regime
Leader: President/Premier
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
has more than 100 institutions of

higher learning, including the
National Taiwan University, National
Chung-hsing University, and
National Chung-shan University.
Chinese opera, Taiwanese opera,
and drama. The country also has an
established film industry that makes
more than 100 movies each year.
Taiwan continues to celebrate
many ancient Chinese customs and
holidays, including the Dragon Boat
Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival,
the Chinese New Year, and the
Feast of Lanterns. Taiwan also celebrates the birthday of Chinese
570 tanks
42 major ships
430 combat aircraft
philosopher Confucius with an

annual celebration.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
378
333
116
112
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
291
Tajikistan
Land area rank
93
Population rank
96
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Sy
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
r D
UZBEKISTAN
a
a

EQUATOR
of Tajikistan
Continent: Asia
(142,700 sq. km)
Capital City: Dushanbe
Largest City: Dushanbe (602,000)
Unit of Money: Tajikistani ruble
Major Languages: Tajik (official), Russian
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 25% permanent pastures, 6% arable land,
4% forests and woodland, 65% other
Natural Resources: Hydropower potential, petroleum,
uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony,
tungsten
ry
ASIA
AFRICA
N
TA
ZS
Y
RG
KY
W
Khujand
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
Panjakent
Gharm
A N TA R C T I C A
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Other 9%
Average Rainfall
Tajikistan, also spelled Tadzhikistan, is a landlocked

country in central Asia that was part of the Soviet
Union until 1991. Its capital and
largest city is Dushanbe. Tajikstan
is bordered by Afghanistan,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan, and China.
It is located on the western side of
the Pamirs mountain range. More
than half of Tajikistans land is above
10,000 feet (3,050 meters). The Amu
Darya and the Syr Darya, 2 major rivers, flow through
parts of the country.
Summers in Tajikistans valleys are typically long, hot
and dry, while winters in the countrys higher regions
are long and cold. Temperatures in the valleys average
36 F (2 C) in January and 86 F (30 C) in July.
Temperatures in the highlands average -4 F (-20 C) in
January and 72 F (22C) in July. Tajikistan receives less
than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rainfall each year.
Cotton
fiber
32%
Tursunzoda
miles
km
100
100
CHINA
Murghob
m
i
Kulob
Khorugh
Farkhor
Exports
$768 million
E
S
Norak
Qurghonteppa
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
The People
Tajikistans population is mainly made up of Tajiks and
Uzbeks. Russians account for about 7% of the population, and other ethnic groups there include Tatars,
Kyrgyz, Kazaks, and Turkmen.
Many Tajikistan people have settled in the countrys
southwest valley, however most people live in rural villages. Most families in Tajikistan are large, and often,
many members of an extended family live together in
one house. Some Tajiks follow a Muslim custom that
permits a man to have as many as 4 wives.
Tajiks wear both modern and traditional clothing.
Traditional garments include loose cotton trousers, and
dark or multicolored robes for
men, and colorful, embroidered Tajik children
silk dresses for women.
Traditional Tajik foods
include rice and shashlik (lamb
or beef broiled on skewers).
Green tea is the countrys most
popular drink. Tajik children
attend school from the ages
of 6 to 17. Tajikistan has 1
university and several other
schools of higher education.
Uzbek
25%
Other 7%
Tajik
65%
Shi'a
Muslim
5%
Other
15%
Sunni
Muslim
80%
0 in/0 cm
292
Dushanbe
Russian
3%
Aluminum
59%
The Place
Am
ry
Da
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Tanzania
Land area rank
32
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
32
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
AFRICA
km
Mwanza
Kilimanjaro
BURUNDI
Arusha
A N TA R C T I C A
Tanga
Iringa
Mbeya
MALAW
Nyasa
Lake
ZAMBIA
Kilwa Masoko
Songea
Mtwara
INDIAN OCEAN
Dar es Salaam
N
E
Tanga
Zanzibar Zanzibar
Island
Dodoma
Sumbawanga
Moshi
Masai
Steppe
Tabora
a
yik
an
ng
Ta
ke
La
CONGO
200
200
KENYA
Musoma
RWANDA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
miles
Lake
Victoria
ASIA
Official Name: United

EQUATOR
Republic of Tanzania
Continent: Africa
(886,040 sq. km)
Capital City: Dar es Salaam
Largest City: Dar es Salaam (1,096,000)
Unit of Money: Tanzanian shilling
Major Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official),
Kiunguju, English, Arabic
Natural Resources: Hydropower potential, tin,
phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones,
gold, natural gas, nickel
UGANDA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
MOZAMBIQUE
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
In Northern Tanzanias highlands,

temperatures average about 75 F
(24 C). Highland areas sometimes
get more than 40 inches (100 centimeters) of rain each year.
Africas highest mountain,
Kilimanjaro, is 19,331 feet tall (5,892

meters) and is located in northern
Tanzania. Lake Tanganyika, the
worlds longest freshwater lake,
covers 420 miles (680 kilometers)
of Tanzanias western border.
Banana vendor, Tanzania
Farms/cropland 4%
Average Rainfall
Tanzania is located in eastern Africa

between Kenya on the north and
Mozambique on the south.
Tanzanias capital and largest city
is Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania is bordered on the west
by Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya,
Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and
Congo. The Indian Ocean forms
500 miles (805 kilometers) of
Tanzanias coastline. Several islands
that are part of Tanzania are located
off this coast, including Zanzibar,
which is 640 square miles (1,658
square kilometers).
The coast and islands have an
average high temperature of 85 F
(29 C) throughout the year. Annual
rainfall totals between about 31 and
55 inches (80 to 140 centimeters) on
the lowlands and more than 40 inches
(100 centimeters) on the islands.
Other
46%
Coffee
22%
Cotton
18%
Other
18%
Forests
38%
Permanent
pastures
40%
0 in/0 cm
Tobacco
4%
Exports
Cashew nuts
10%
Land Use
$760 million
293
Tanzania
(continued)
The People
Woman, Tanzania
About 95% of Tanzanias population

are black Africans, while the rest are
descendents of Arabs, Europeans,
and Asians from India and Pakistan.
Tanzania is one of the worlds
poorest countries, and has a 25
percent unemployment rate. Most
Tanzanians are farmers and raise
livestock, such as chickens, goats,
and sheep. Tanzanians who live in
cities usually work for the national
government. Life expectancy is
46 years.
Swahili (also known as Kiswahili)
and English are the official languages of Tanzania. Swahili, a
combination of Arab and African
languages, is more commonly used
in everyday speech.
are Muslims and follow Islam.
Christians make up about 45% of
Tanzanias population, while other

Tanzanians practice traditional
African religions.
Indigenous
beliefs 20%
Muslim
35%
Major Religions
Other 5%
Bantu
95%
Ethnic Makeup
Government
Education
The majority of Tanzanias adults
can read and write. Tanzanian law
requires children to attend 7 years
of elementary education, but only
about half of the countrys children
go to school. Very few attend high
school. Many children do not attend
school because they must work on
family farms.
The University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzanias wildlife and spectacular
scenery are world famous. Serengeti
National Park and Selous Game
Reserve offer visitors a glimpse of
elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, and
many other wild animals.
Tanzanias most common forms
of recreation include dancing,
singing, and playing or watching
soccer matches. A number of
Tanzanians have become world-class
long-distance runners.
Most homes in Tanzania are con-
294
Christian
45%
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
68%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
is Tanzanias primary university and

has about 3,500 students.
structed from wooden frames plastered with mud. Some homes have
thatched roofs, while others are
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
constructed with flat mud or metal

roofs. Traditional clothing worn in
Tanzania is a colorful wrap called a
kanga or kikoi.
Tanzanian boys
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Thailand
Land area rank
50
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
19
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
MYANMAR
LAOS
IE
Chiang Mai
Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand

Continent: Asia
(511,770 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Bangkok
Largest City: Bangkok
(5,876,000)
Unit of Money: baht
Major Languages: Thai, English, ethnic and regional
dialects
Natural Resources: Tin, rubber, natural gas,
tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum,
lignite, fluorite
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AFRICA
Udon Thani
Phitsanulok
M
g
Uhon
Ratchathami
Nakhon
Rathchaima
Nakhon
Sawan
on
AUSTRALIA
ek
Khon Kaen
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
Thon
Buri
Bangkok
CAMBODIA
Andaman
Sea
Chumphon
Gulf
of
Thailand
Nakhon Si
Thammarat
South
China Sea
Songkhla
Hat Yi
E
S
0
0
MALAYSIA
Young Buddhist, Bangkok, Thailand
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Thailand is a tropical country located in Southeast Asia. It is bordered

by Myanmar on the west. The
Mekong River
forms most of
Thailands eastern
border with Laos.
Cambodia is
southeast.
The country
was called Siam
until 1939, when
it took the name
Thailand.
Thailand is made
up of 4 main land regions: the
Mountainous North, the Khorat
Plateau, the Central Plain, and the
Southern Peninsula. Inthanon
Other
37%
Electrical
machinery
17%
Footwear 4%
Cereals 4%
Non-electrical
machinery
14%
Live fish 5%
Other
32%
Farms/
cropland
40%
Forests
26%
Garments 5%
Exports
Plastics 4%
200
200
Mountain, Thailands highest peak,

stands 8,514 feet (2,595 meters)
above sea level.
Thailand once was home to
elephants, tigers, wild pigs, deer,
crocodiles, king cobras and other
snakes, and several varieties of birds.
However, because so many of these
animals were hunted, many are now
either endangered or extinct.
Thailand has a tropical climate.
From late May to October, monsoons
cause heavy rains throughout
Thailand, with some regions receiving
more than 100 inches (254 centimeters) in a year.
Rubber
products 6%
Precious
jewelry 4%
miles
km
Land Use
Permanent
pastures 2%
$51 billion
295
Thailand
(continued)
The People
Most of the people living in
Thailand are farmers and reside in
rural villages. The countrys urban
centers have expanded rapidly,
however, and almost 6 million
people live in Bangkok, Thailands
capital and largest city.
Most of Thailands people belong
to the Thai ethnic group. Chinese
make up the second largest population group. Other ethnic groups
include Malays, Khmers, Hmong,
Indians and Vietnamese. Life
Village life in Thailand traditionally is based around religious and
agricultural rituals and festivals. Most
Thai villagers live in traditional
wood houses built on stilts. Middleclass Thai live in apartments,
condominiums, or large developments of single-family homes.
About 95% of the Thai people

practice Buddhism.
Thai woman
Muslim 4%
Buddhist
95%
Major Religions
Other
11%
Chinese
14%
Thai
75%
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Thai law requires all children to
attend school from ages 7 to 14.
Thailands government provides free
public education, but some students
attend private schools. Very few
Government
Literate
94%

Leader: Prime Minister
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
Thai students continue schooling

beyond the required years.
Thailand has 15 universities, several large institutes of technology,
dozens of teachers colleges, and a
variety of vocational colleges. Most
School children, Bangkok

Thailands national sport is Muay
Thai (Thai boxing), also known as
kickboxing. Another popular sport is
called takraw. Players try to keep a
ball made of rattan (woven palm
stems) in the air using only their
heads, legs, and feet. Many Thais
also enjoy gambling.
296
Other 1%
Thailands Buddhist temples

display some of the countrys fine
traditional architecture. Modern Thai
paintings often depict traditional religious themes and international styles.
Thai classical dancers wear
spectacular costumes and act out
traditional legends and literature in
performances called khon drama.
Newspapers in Thailand are
privately owned, but the government owns almost all television
and radio stations there. While
203 tanks
10 major ships
197 combat aircraft
of Thailands adult population can

read and write.
telephone services link most cities
and towns, many rural residents still
do not have private phones.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
109
TVs
18
21
12
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Togo
127
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
109
fewest people
most people (1)
BURKINA FASO
At a Glance
Mandouri
Dapaong
EUROPE
Official Name: Togolese

Republic
EQUATOR
Continent: Africa
(54,390 sq. km)
Capital City: Lome
Largest City: Lome (450,000)
Major Languages: French (official), Ewe, Mina,
Kabye, and Dagomba
Literacy: 52%
Land Use: 38% arable land, 17% forests and woodland, 7% permanent crops, 4% permanent pastures, 34% other
Natural Resources: Phosphates, limestone, marble
Government: Republic under transition to multiparty
democratic rule
NORTH
AMERICA
Sansann-Mango
ASIA
B E N I N
AFRICA
Kand
SOUTH
AMERICA
Bafilo
Bassar
AUSTRALIA
G H A N A
Tchamba
Sokod
Sotouboua
A N TA R C T I C A
N I G E R I A
N
Badou
Atakpam
E
S
0
0
Kpalim
miles
km
100
100
Tsevie
Lom
Tabligbo
Anecho
ATLANTIC OCEAN
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
Other 1%
Average Rainfall
Several different ethnic groups have settled in Togo, but

they have similar occupations and religions. Almost all
of Togos citizens are black Africans.
More than two-thirds of the people living in Togo
reside in rural areas and work on family-owned farms.
Dress, language, and other ways of life differ
The Place
throughout Togo, especially between the south and the
north. Many southerners wear a toga, a full-length,
Togo is located in western Africa bordered by Ghana in
loose-fitting garment, and live in compounds. Many
the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Benin in the
northerners wear
east. Togo is long and narrow, only 40 miles
European-style
(64 kilometers) wide at its coast on the Atlantic
clothes. Most of
Ocean and 90 miles (145 kilometers) across at
Togos 250,000
its widest point.
Muslims live in the
The Togo Mountains cover much of westnorth. Life
ern Togo. Togos highest point is Bauman
expectancy in Togo
Peak, which reaches 3,235 feet (986 meters).
is 59 years.
Togo has hot and humid weather, with an
About 70% of
average temperature of 81 F (27 C). Each
Togos children
year, the country gets about 40 inches (100
attend primary
centimeters) of rain in the north and 70 inches
school. Only 20%
(180 centimeters) in the south.
Woman, Togo
go to secondary
Togos main crops raised for export are
school. Togo has
coffee and cacao, however peanuts, cotton,
one university, the University of Benin in Lome. Many
copra (dried coconut meat), and the kernels (nuts)
of Togos students study abroad, particularly in France.
and oil from oil palms are also exported.
Coffee
6%
Re-exports
27%
0 in/0 cm
Other
13% Cotton
30%
Phosphates
24%
Exports
African
99%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim 10%
Christian
20%
Indigenous
beliefs
70%
Major Religions
$196 million
297
Tonga
188
Land area rank

smallest country
Population rank
largest country (1)

194
fewest people
most people (1)
Ha'apai
Group
At a Glance
Tofua
Official Name: Kingdom of Tonga

Area: 277 sq. mi. (718 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Population: 104,277
Capital City: Nukualofa
Largest City: Tongatapu (63,614)
Unit of Money: paanga
Major Languages: Tongan, English
Literacy: 99%
Land Use: 43% permanent crops, 24% arable land,
11% forests and woodland, 6% permanent
pastures, 16% other
Natural Resources: Fish, fertile soil
Government: Hereditary Constitutional Monarchy
Defense: $2 million
Holonga
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
'Uta Vava'u
ASIA
Neiafu
AFRICA
Late
Nomuka
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
E A N
O C
C
F I
C I
A
P
Tongatapu
N
W
Nuku'alofa
Pea
E
S
Ohonua
Eua
miles
km
50
50
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
The majority of Tongas citizens are ethnic Polynesians

who follow the Christian faith. Two-thirds of the counThe Place
trys population live on Tongatapu, while the rest reside
Tonga is a chain of 170 islands located in the South
on 35 of the other islands that form Tonga.
Pacific Ocean approximately 3,140 miles (1,950 kilomeMost Tongans live in small villages and raise crops.
ters) east of Australia. Tongas islands are divided into
Many people also fish. Most of Tongas islands do not
three main groupsHaapai, Tongatapu, and
have running water, and several
Vavau.
are without electric service as
Tongan woman
Tongas climate is warm and wet with high
well. Life expectancy is 70 years.
humidity. The countrys average temperature is
All Tongan children from 6
78 F (26 C), and its average annual rainfall
to 14 years old are required to
ranges from 70 inches (180 centimeters) on
go to school. Tonga has approxTongatapu to 100 inches (250 centimeters) on
imately 125 elementary schools
some of its northern islands. Tongas rainy season
and 45 high schools. Tonga has
is between December and March. Cyclones
a 99% literacy rate, one of the
sometimes hit the islands during the rainy season.
highest in the Pacific. School
About 75% of Tongas workers are farmers.
children enjoy many sports,
The government owns all the countrys land,
especially rugby football.
however every male who is 16 years or older is
Because most Tongans are
entitled to rent a plot to farm on. Bananas,
Christian, no business or recrebreadfruit, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tapioca,
ational activities are permitted
and yams are grown there.
on Sundays, the Christian day
Tonga does not have a railroad system. The
of rest.
government publishes a weekly newspaper and
The countrys official lanoperates the countrys only radio station.
guages are English and Tongan.
Root crops
6%
Vanilla
beans
13%
Fish
24%
Other 8%
Squash
49%
Other
21%
Free
Wesleyan
64%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$15 million
298
Polynesian
Roman
Catholic
15%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Trinidad and Tobago

171
smallest country
largest country (1)

154
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
AUSTRALIA
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
12 in/30 cm
Urea
4%
Methanol
9%
Iron
& steel
10%
n
e a
b b
C a r i
a
S e
Blanchisseuse
Redhead
$3 billion
C
Guaico
I C
G u l f
o f
P a r i a
Trinidad
Rio Claro
San Fernando
Fullarton
S e r
p e n t
' s
Siparia
E
S
M o u t h
The People
Almost half of Trinidad and Tobagos people are descendents of black Africans. Many people there speak
Trinidad English, a form of English with French and
Spanish influences. Many citizens of Trinidad and
Tobago also have Muslim and Hindu heritage. Roman
Catholics, however, form the countrys largest religious
group. Life expectancy is 70 years.
Many people in the
country play native
musical instruments
called pans, which are
made from empty oil
drums. Trinidad is the
home of a widely
known form of folk
music called calypso
as well as the popular
limbo dance.
Almost all adults
in Trinidad and
Tobago can read and
write, and local laws require all children to go to school
for 6 years. Most students go on to higher education
and some Trinidadians attend colleges and universities
in the United States.
Other Refined
20% petroleum
30%
Exports
Port-of-Spain
VENEZUELA
Arima
Trinidad and Tobago is a country made up of 2 islands

in the West Indies. Trinidad and Tobago is located in
the Caribbean Sea, near the northeast coast
of Venezuela. Port-of-Spain is the countrys
capital, largest city, and chief port.
Trinidad is covered in tropical forests, and
a mountain range spans its northern portion.
Tobago, the smaller island, has a central
mountain ridge and scenic beaches.
Trinidad and Tobago has a hot, humid
climate, with temperatures ranging from
64 F (18 C) to 92 F (33 C).
Trinidad and Tobagos economy depends
on oil production and refining. Petroleum
and minerals account for more than 80% of Beach, Tobago
the countrys export income.
Trinidad and Tobago has about 4,000 miles (6,400
kilometers) of roads, and an airport on each island. The
country also has 2 daily newspapers, a television station,
and 2 major radio stations.
15 in/38 cm
Tobago
Scarborough
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
80F/27C
Roxborough
20
20
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
100F/38C
miles
km

EQUATOR
Trinidad and Tobago
Area: 1,981 sq. mi. (5,130 sq. km)
Capital City: Port of Spain
Largest City: Port of Spain (51,076)
Unit of Money: Trinidad and Tobago dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Hindi, French,
Spanish
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 46% forests and woodland, 15% arable
land, 9% permanent crops, 2% permanent pastures, 28% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
At a Glance
E A
N
Land area rank
Crude
petroleum
16%
Anhydrous
ammonia
11%
Mixed
14%
Other 6%
South
Asian
40%
Black
40%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
6%
Other 10%
Hindu
24%
Roman
Catholic
32%
Protestant
28%
Major Religions
299
Tunisia
Land area rank
92
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
81
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
ITALY
Bizerte
Tunis
Bja
ASIA
Nabeul
Le Kef
Sea
ean
rran
Ma
h R
Sousse
AFRICA
Kairouan
SOUTH
AMERICA
Kasserine
AUSTRALIA
Sfax
Gafsa
A N TA R C T I C A
Nefta
Gulf of
Gabs
Gabs
Mdenine
A L G E R I A
Tataouine
L I B Y A
N
W
E
0
Monastir, Tunisia
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Tunisia is the northernmost country

in Africa, with a tip of its land only
85 miles (137 kilometers) from
Sicily. The Mediterranean Sea
forms Tunisias northern and eastern
coasts, which have

many inlets and
harbors. The
coastline is 715
miles (1,150 km)
long. Tunis is the
capital and largest
city of Tunisia.
The Atlas
mountain range,
which crosses
northwestern
Africa, extends
into Tunisia, although few of its peaks
reach more than 2,000 feet (610
meters). The highest peak, Mount
Chambi, is 5,066 feet (1,544 meters)
above sea level. The Majardah River
is the only river in Tunisia that does
Other
20%
Hydrocarbons
34%
Chemicals
18%
Agricultural
products
28%
Exports
$6 billion
300
ite
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
a
ard
ed
Official Name: Republic of Tunisia

Continent: Africa
(155,360 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Tunis
Largest City: Tunis (674,100)
Unit of Money: Tunisian dinar
(commerce)
Natural Resources: Petroleum, phosphates, iron
ore, lead, zinc, salt
Ariana
miles
km
100
100
not dry up in summer.

Tunisia has hot, dry summers and
warm, wet winters. Average coastal
temperatures there are 79 F (26
C) in summer and 52 F (11 C)
in winter. In the southern desert,
temperatures average 89 F (32 C)
during the summer and 53 F
(12 C) in the winter.
Tunisia is a leading producer of
phosphates for fertilizers, which are
mined near Gafsa. The country also
has petroleum resources that are
used for its own needs as well as for
export. Oil and gas are important
exports for the country. Tunisias
primary farm products include
wheat, barley, grapes, olives, olive
oil, and dates.
Other
44%
Farms/
cropland
32%
Permanent
pastures
20%
Forests
4%
Land Use
Tunisia
The People
Almost all of Tunisias people are of
Arab or Berber descent, however
small groups of Jewish and
Christian people also reside there.
French culture has influenced many
aspects of Tunisian life, including its
architecture and food, and many
Tunisians even speak French as a
second language.
Tunisias cities are generally
divided into old and new sections.
In the past, rural dwellings in
Tunisia included many mud huts and
tents, but today, most rural houses
are made of stone or concrete.
Many people in the rural areas
continue to wear traditional Arab
clothinga turban or skullcap, and
a long, loose gown or a long coatlike garment with long sleeves
while city dwellers dress in
Western-style clothes.
family planning and emigration,

which are helping to slow Tunisias
population growth. Life expectancy is
73 years.
Christian 1%

Tunisia was at one time a center of
ancient Phoenician, Carthaginian,
Roman, Berber, and Arabic power.
Man engraving brass, Tunisia
Jewish 1%
Muslim
98%
Major Religions
Tunisian man, Kairouan, Tunisia
European 1%
Almost 40% of Tunisias population is under 15 years of age, and the

countrys annual rate of population
growth is high by world standards but
is relatively low for the Middle East
and North Africa. The government
has recently made efforts to promote
Other 1%
Arab
98%
Ethnic Makeup
Education
Tunisias government considers
education a top priority, and puts
one-fourth of the national budget
toward it. Tunisian schools are free.
About 80% of school-age children
attend primary school and 44%
attend secondary school in Tunisia.
There are 6-year primary, 7-year
secondary, and 3-year vocational
schools in Tunisia. School is usually
taught in Arabic for lower grades
and then replaced by French for
later grades. The University of
(continued)
Government
Literate
67%
Type: Republic
Structure: Executive Dominant
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

84 tanks
Tunis, founded in 1958, is one of 2

universities in Tunisia. Tunisias literacy rate is about 80% for males
and almost 50% for females.
This legacy has left many architectural remains, particularly in the
northern portion of the country.
Tunisia has 3 major libraries,
including the National Library,
which has a collection of more than
700,000 volumes.
The Muse National duBardo,
founded in 1888, houses collections
of Punic, Greek, Roman, and Islamic
art. Tunis also has a state-supported
municipal theater. The Carthage
0 major ships
32 combat aircraft
Festival, an international arts festival, is held in Tunisia each year.

Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
75
39
TVs
Cars
43
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
301
Turkey
Land area rank
37
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
16
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
RUSSIA
BULGARIA
ASIA
Black Sea
AFRICA
E
S
EQUATOR
SOUTH
AMERICA
Edirne
Istanbul
AUSTRALIA
Zonguldak
Dardanelles
Aegean
Sea
Lesbos
Ankara
Eskiehi
Denizli
Northeastern Turkey has mild

summers but extremely cold
winters, with temperatures that
sometimes fall as low as -40 F
(-40 C). Southeastern Turkey
and the interior of Anatolia also
CYPRUS
Mediterranean
Sea
SYRIA
is
Antakya
Rhodes
gr
Tarsus
Batman
Gaziantep
Eu
ph
ra
t
Ti
Antalya
Crete
Van
Konya
s
a i n
M o u n t Adana
es
IRAQ
R.
0
0
miles
km
200
200
have cold winters with heavy

snowstorms, and summers that
are hot, windy, and extremely dry.
Turkey has many tobacco and cotton farms, as well as food, beverage,
and textile factories.
Istanbul, Turkey
The Place
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Turkey is a Middle Eastern nation

located in both Europe and Asia.
Istanbul, Turkeys largest city, is one
of the oldest cities in the world.
Most of Turkey covers a large,
mountainous peninsula called
Anatolia (or Asia Minor). The climate in each of Turkeys regions is
very different. Thrace and the south
and west coasts of Anatolia have
mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers, while summer temperatures along the Aegean hit 90 F
(32 C). The Black Sea coast has
cooler summers, with an average
temperature of about 72 F (22 C).
100F/38C
Other
56%
Textiles
& clothing
25%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$26 billion
302
Electrical
& electronic
machinery
6%
Iron and steel
8%
Edible fruits 5%
IA
Lake Van
Malatya
T a r s u s
EN
Erzurum
Kayseri
Izmir
GREECE
hr
RM
R.
ates
Lake Tuz
A N A T O L I A
Isparta
Eup
Silvas
Trabzon
Ordu
Bursa
Balikesir
A N TA R C T I C A
Official Name: Republic of Turkey

Continent: Europe and Asia
(770,760 sq. km)
Capital City: Ankara
Largest City: Istanbul (7,331,927)
Unit of Money: Turkish lira
Major Languages: Turkish
(official), Kurdish, Arabic
Natural Resources: Antimony, coal,
chromium, mercury, copper, borate,
sulfur, iron ore
Samsun
Bosporus
Sea of
Marmara
At a
GEORGIA
Other
22%
Farms/
cropland
36%
Forests
26%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures 16%
Turkey
The People
Most of Turkeys people live in cities
or towns, while a few still live on
farms or in small villages. Most
of Turkeys people are Muslims,
followers of Islam.
About 80% of Turkeys people
are descendants of the Turks.
Turkey also has several smaller
minority groups. Arabs, who are
mainly farmers, live near the Syrian
border. Caucasianspeople whose
ancestors came from the Caucasus
Mountains region just northeast of
Turkeylive in the provinces bordering the Black Sea. Greeks and
Armenians live in the Istanbul area.
More than 90% of all Turks speak
Turkish, the countrys official language, and about 6% speak Kurdish.
The rest speak Arabic, Greek, or
one of the other languages of the
minority groups.
Most wealthy Turks live in luxuri-
(continued)
ous concrete-block houses, and

middle-class city dwellers live in
old 2- and 3-story wooden houses.
Kurdish
20%
Turkish
80%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 1%
Muslim
99%
Major Religions
Turkish man and his grandson
Education
The majority of those 15 years old
and older in Turkey can read and
write. Turkish law requires all
children to attend an 8-year primary
school until they graduate or reach
the age of 15. After graduating,
some students attend a middle
school for 3 years. Some middleschool graduates also attend a
3-year college-preparatory high
school called a lise, and others enroll
in a vocational school or begin to
work. Many lise graduates go on to
college.

Turks enjoy family outings and celebrations. Many men spend their
leisure time in coffeehouses playing
the ancient dice game of backgammon. Many Turks also enjoy
archery, horseback riding, soccer,
and wrestling. Other popular pastimes include attending concerts,
movies, stage plays, and operas.
Government
Literate
82%
Type: Republican Parliamentary

Democracy
Literacy
Defense
U.S. rate = 97%
Turkey has about 25 universities.

Istanbul University was founded in
1453 and is the oldest and largest
university in Turkey. The University
of Istanbul has more than 30,000
students.
Turkey is also well known for its
architecture. Many of Turkeys most
beautiful buildings were built during
the 1400s and the 1500s. A large
number were designed by Koca
Sinan, considered Turkeys greatest
architect, including the Mosque of
Suleiman I, which many consider
one of the worlds most beautiful
mosques.

4,280 tanks
37 major ships
447 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
174
117
44
25
TVs
Cars
NA
Phones
VCRs
PCs
303
Turkmenistan
Land area rank
52
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
114
fewest people
most people (1)
KAZAKHSTAN
At a Glance
Official Name: Turkmenistan
Continent: Asia
EQUATOR
Capital City: Ashkhabad
Largest City: Ashkhabad
(517,200)
Unit of Money: Turkmen manat
Major Languages: Turkmen (official), Russian, Uzbek
Literacy: 98%
Land Use: 63% permanent pastures, 8% forests
and woodland, 3% arable land, 26% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal,
sulfur, salt
Kneurgench
Dashhovuz
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
UZBEKISTAN
ASIA
AFRICA
Turkmenbashi
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
Cheleken
Nebit Dag
AUSTRALIA
Chardzhev
Kara-kala
Bakharden
Kaakhka
IRAN
N
W
Gavurdak
Ashkhabad
Caspian
Sea
E
S
0
0
miles
km
Bayramaly Kerki
Mary
Yloten
Serakhs
200
200
AFGHANISTAN
The People
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Other 11%
Average Rainfall
Turkmenistans people are mainly ethnic Turkmen and

Russians. Other ethnic groups there include Uzbeks,
Kazakhs, Tatars, Ukrainians, and Armenians.
The majority of Turkmen are Sunni Muslims, however
The Place
some Turkmenistans are
Turkmen
woman
Located in west central Asia, Turkmenistan
Shiite Muslims and
is in a dry area east of the Caspian Sea.
Russian Orthodox
Turkmenistans capital and largest city is
Christians.
Ashkhabad, and its official language is
Most of the people that
Turkmen.
live in Turkmenistans
Turkmenistan was a Soviet republic from
cities reside in red brick or
1924 to 1991 and was called the Turkmen
limestone apartment buildSoviet Socialist Republic, or Turkmenia.
ings, while rural dwellers
Most of Turkmenistan is covered by desert,
live in brick houses. Only a
and only 2% of its land is suitable for farming.
few rural people still live in
Turkmenistan has long, hot, and dry summers,
traditional tent-like yurts,
while its winters are cold. Desert temperatures
made of wood and felt.
average at about 95 F to 122 F (35 C to 50
Most of Turkmenistans
C) during the summer, and winter temperatures
adults can read and write,
in the desert sometimes drop below 32 F (0 C).
and the government
The country receives about 3 to 12 inches (8 to
requires children to
30 centimeters) of rainfall each year.
attend school from age 6
Turkmenistan is a very isolated country. Few
to 17. The country has
people have telephones and television service is
one university. Life
almost unavailable.
Cotton
20%
Natural
gas & oil
products
69%
Eastern
Orthodox
9%
Other 2%
Uzbek
9%
Turkmen
77%
Muslim
89%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$2 billion
304
Kazakh 2%
Other 8%
Russian
7%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
Tuvalu
Land area rank
232
Population rank
224
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Nanumea
Atoll
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Lolua
ASIA
Official Name: Tuvalu

Continent: Oceania
EQUATOR
(S. Pacific)
Population: 10,991
Capital City: Funafuti
Largest City: Funafuti 2,810
Unit of Money: Tuvaluan dollar or Australian dollar
Major Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Literacy: N/A
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Defense: no armed forces
AFRICA
Nanumanga
Tonga Island
SOUTH
AMERICA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Viatupu
Island
Savave
miles
km
50
50
Funafuti
N
Funafuti
Atoll
Tuvaluans are primarily Polynesians who

live in villages built around a church
and a meetinghouse. Their main
foods include bananas, coconuts,
fish, and taro, an edible tropical plant.
The people speak the
Tuvalu language, and many
also know English. Each of the
8 inhabited islands has at least 1
elementary school. There are 2 secondary schools and a marine training
school based in Funafuti. A few
Tuvaluans also attend the
University of the South
Pacific in Fiji.
Many Tuvaluans are
farmers or fishermen.
About 2,000 Tuvaluans
work overseas as merchant
seamen. Women in Tuvalu
weave baskets, fans, and
mats for export. Life
Clothing and
footwear
30%
Other 4%
Other
40%
Copra
22%
Fruits and
vegetables
8%
Asau
Nukufetau
Atoll
The People
Tuvalu is a small island country located in

the South Pacific Ocean with a population of
approximately 10,000 people and a land area
of 10 square miles (26 square kilometers).
Tuvalu is made of 9 islands in a chain that
extends about 360 miles (580 kilometers).
They are, from north to south, Nanumea,
Niutao, Nanumanga, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau,
Funafuti, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita. People live
on 8 of the islands. Tuvalu means 8 standing
together. Tuvalus climate is tropical, with an
average daytime temperature of approximately
80 F (27 C). The countrys southern islands
receive about 140 inches (356 centimeters)
of rain a year, but its northern islands
are drier.
Tuvalu has poor soil, few natural
resources, almost no manufacturing,
and no mining. Island residents use
coconuts that grow there to make
copra, dried coconut meat, which is
one of the countrys chief exports.
80F/27C
E
S
Nui
Atoll
Tanrake
Woman,
Tuvalu
100F/38C
Niutao
Island
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Kulia
Exports
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%
Other 1%
Baha'i
1%
Polynesian
96%
Church of
Tuvalu
97%
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
$165,000
305
Uganda
Land area rank
84
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
42
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
S U D A N
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Lake
Turkana
ASIA
Arua
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
C O N G O
( Z A I R E )
A N TA R C T I C A
Albert
Ni
le
AFRICA
Gulu
Lira
Lake
Albert
Masindi
Vi
ct
Soroti
o
ri
ile
a N

EQUATOR
of Uganda
Continent: Africa
(199,710 sq. km)
Capital City: Kampala
Largest City: Kampala (773,463)
Unit of Money: Ugandan shilling
Major Languages: English (official), Ganda, Luganda,
Swahili, Arabic
Natural Resources: Copper, cobalt, limestone, salt
Kabarole
Kampala
W
E
Lake
Edward
0
0
miles
km
Mbale
Jinja
K E N Y A
Entebbe
Masaka
Mbarara
Rukungiri
Lake
Victoria
100
100
RWANDA
TANZANIA
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Uganda is a landlocked country in

eastern Africa and is home to more
than 23 million people. Ugandas
capital city is Kampala, and its official name is the Republic of Uganda.
The country is bordered by
Kenya, Sudan, Congo, Rwanda and
Tanzania. Uganda has a total area of
77,108 square miles (199,710 square
kilometers) and measures 388 miles
(625 kilometers) from east to west
and 396 miles (638 kilometers) from
north to south.
Ugandas landscape has savanna,
dense forests, and tall mountains.
Almost half of Lake Victoria, Africas
largest lake and the main source of
the Nile River, is located in Uganda.
The countrys highest point is
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley,
which stands 16,765 feet (5,110
meters) tall. Ugandas lowest point
is Lake Albert, at 2,037 feet (621
meters).
Murchison falls, Uganda
The equator crosses southern

Uganda, but because of the countrys
high altitude, temperatures remain
mild. Generally, the temperature
is rarely higher than 85 F (29 C)
at midday, or below 60 F (16 C)
Tea
2%
Cotton
2%
Other
27 %
Other
29%
Unroasted
coffee
69%
Exports
$604 million
306
at night. Most of Uganda receives

more than 40 inches (100 centimeters) of rain a year. Ugandas rainy
seasons occur from March through
May and again from October
through November.
Farms/
cropland
34%
Forests
28%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
9%
Uganda
The People
Ugandas population is concentrated
in its southern portion, especially
near Lake Victoria. Only 13% of
Ugandas population live in urban
areas. Kampala and Jinja are the
countrys two main cities, and other
large towns include Mbale, Masaka,

Mpigi, and Mbarara.
Ugandans are descendants of
Ugandas 34 ethnic groups, who
migrated there from Sudan and
Ethiopia. English is the official
language of Uganda, but Swahili
is used more frequently.
Today, more than 20
ethnic groups live in
Uganda, and each has its
own language. Different
languages spoken in Uganda
include Luganda, Nkole,
Chiga, Lango, Acholi, Teso,
Lugbara and English.
Most of Ugandas
people are farmers, and
women do most of the
farm work.
Many Ugandans practice
traditional African religions,
but about two-thirds practice Christianity. A small
number of Ugandas people
are Muslims.
Support of the extended family is

very important to Ugandans.
Poverty and disease are common
in Uganda. About 46% of the population has access to clean water. Food is
widely grown, but droughts often
cause severe famines. Life expectancy
is 45 years.
Other
30%

Ugandas arts represent a combination
of the countrys traditional oral cultures and influences from Western
cultures. Today, most of Ugandas
artists study in the Margaret Trowell
School of Fine Art in Makerere.
Popular forms of entertainment
include live performance, music, and
traditional dances. The National
Baganda
17%
Lugbara
4%
Acholi 4%
Bagisu 5%
Rwanda 6%
Karamojong
12%
Basogo
Iteso 8%
8%
Langi 6%
Ethnic Makeup
Muslim
16%
Roman
Catholic
Indigenous
33%
beliefs
18%
Protestant
33%
Major Religions
Education
Ugandas educational system was
originally modeled after Britains
and developed by missionaries.
Today, however, state and private
organizations operate Ugandas
schools. School is not mandatory,
and there are fees for enrollment.
Approximately 74% of children
attend elementary school. About
12% go on to secondary school,
and 2% receive a higher education.
Makerere University in Kampala is
(continued)
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
62%
Defense
Literacy
NA army personnel
U.S. rate = 97%
NA tanks
NA major ships
Ugandas main college. The adult

literacy rate in Uganda is 62%.
Theatre in Kampala teaches students
how to write and produce plays and
dances. These are then performed
in local theaters. Several popular
musicians have emerged from
Uganda during recent years. The
country has also become known for
the Kampala sound, an electric
guitar-based dance music that first
became popular in the 1960s.
NA combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
307
Ukraine
Land area rank
44
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
24
fewest people
most people (1)
D
LAN
PO
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
Chornobyl'
Luts'k
SOUTH
AMERICA
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
9 in/23 cm
60F/16C
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
308
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
es
SLOVAKIA
Mukacheve
Ternopil'
tr
Cherkasy
Vinnytsya
HUNGARY
Dn
ep
Kryvyy Rih
Do
Kremenchuk
ne
ts
Dnepropetrovs'k
Donets'k
Zaporizhzhya
Mykolayiv
Mariupol'
Odesa
Melitopol'
N
Sea of Azov
R OM A N IA
Simferopol'
0
miles 100
0 km 100
Sevastopol'
be
Danu
Mount Hoverla,
the countrys
highest peak. It stands 6,762 feet
(2,061 meters) tall.
The majority of Ukraine has 4
B l a c k
S e a
distinct seasons, with cold winters

and warm summers. The southern
coast has a Mediterranean climate.
Rainfall in Ukraine each year averages about 20 inches (500 mm).
Ukranian house
Other
22%
Food
9%
Dn
VA
100F/38C
Kharkiv
L'vov
O
LD
MO
Ukraine is neighbored by 7 states,

the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine has a total area of 233,089
square miles (603,700 square kilometers), and its capital city is Kiev.
Ukraine, an independent state
established in 1918, was overrun by
Soviet and Polish forces the same
year. It regained its independence
in 1991. The country is divided,
however, between the Ukrainianspeaking residents of the west and
the people of the eastern region,
who are primarily Russian.
Ukraines highest points are located in the western half of the country
and its southeastern Donetsk region.
Northern Ukraine is a lowland
region covered with wooded bogs
and swamps called the Polesye. The
Carpathian Mountains are in the
west, which include the Crimean
Kiev
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Chernihiv
P r i p e t Mar
shes
Official Name: Ukraine

EQUATOR
Continent: Europe
Capital City: Kiev
Largest City: Kiev (2,635,000)
Unit of Money: hryvnia
Major Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian,
Polish, Hungarian
Natural Resources: Iron ore, coal, manganese,
natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium,
magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber
B E L A R U S
NORTH
AMERICA
At a Glance
Ferrous
metal
36%
Chemicals
10%
Mineral
commodities
Exports
11%
$15 billion
Machinery
12%
Permanent
pastures
13%
Other
9%
Forests
18%
Farms /
cropland
60%
Land Use
Ukraine
(continued)
The People
Ukraine experienced a decrease in
population of nearly 1.2 million
between 1990 and 1997, when its
death rates exceeded birth ratesa
result of environmental pollution,
poor diet, smoking, alcoholism, and
deteriorating medical care. Life
Approximately 72% of Ukrainians
live in cities and towns. Ethnic
Ukrainians make up 73% of the total
population. Russians are the largest
minority group, while Jewish and
Byelorussians each make up about 1%
of the total population.
Ukraine was traditionally a
village-based country, under Soviet
rule, however, modernization and
urbanization became popular.
Presently, the western portion of
Ukraine is traditional, religious,
and Ukrainian-speaking. The east is
Education
Ukraine has a very high literacy rate,
and education is mandatory between
the ages of 6 and 15. Children are
required to attend school for 8 years.
Approximately 75% of the teachers
in Ukraine are women.
Since the country gained its independence, school curriculums have
focused on Ukrainian history and
literature, and more private and
religious schools have opened.
Ukraine has 10 universities and
several specialized academies. The
University of Kiev is the countrys

Ukraine has a strong folk culture,
including storytelling, singing, and
dance. Many famous composers and
musicians have come from Ukraine.
The countrys oldest dance is the
khorovody, however ballet is also very
common.
Painting is a popular form of art
in Ukraine, and often focuses on
religious ideas.
Jewish 1% Other 4%
Russian
22%
Ukrainian
73%
Ethnic Makeup
Ukranian dancers
industrial, urban and Russian-speaking. By the 1960s, most Ukrainians

lived in urban areas, and today,
nearly 70% of the population lives
in cities.
An average Ukrainian family has
only about one-seventh the living
space of an average American family.
Typical Ukrainian foods include rye
bread, potatoes, borsch (beet soup),
and pork. City residents usually
most prestigious university. Other
universities are located in Kharkiv,
Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv,
Chernivtsi, Uzhhorod and Donetsk.
The countrys largest scientific
organization, the Academy of
Ukrainian Orthodox,
Protestant,
Ukrainian Catholic,
Jewish
Major Religions
have refrigerators, telephones, and
televisions, which are less common
in villages.
Sciences of Ukraine, operates several
research institutions.
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
98%

4,775 tanks
NA major ships
Literacy
846 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
Soccer is the most popular spectator sport in Ukraine. The countrys main leisure activity is watching
television. Ukrainians enjoy watching figure skaters and tennis matches. Oksana Baiul, Andrei Medvedev,
and Sergei Bubka are respected
Ukranian athletes. Concerts, opera,
and ballet are less accessible for
most people because they are too
expensive.
Ukrainians enjoy skiing in the

Carpathian Mountains.
327
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
133
56
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
309
United Arab Emirates

115
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
138
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
IR A N
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA

EQUATOR
Arab Emirates
Continent: Asia
(82,880 sq. km)
Capital City: Abu Dhabi
Largest City: Abu Dhabi (928,360)
Unit of Money: Emirian dirham
Major Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English,
Hindi, Urdu
Literacy: 80%
Land Use: 2% permanent pastures, 98% other
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas
Government: Federation
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
er
si
an
Str a
G u
l f
AUSTRALIA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a group of 7 independent states in the southeastern corner of the Arabian
Peninsula. Its 7 states are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah,
Ras al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al Quaiwain and Fujairah.
The Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia Gulf, Oman, and the
Gulf of Oman border the UAE.
The UAE covers 31,969 square miles (82,880 square
kilometers), most of which are desert. The highest point
is the Al Hajar al Gharbi, which stands 8,200 feet (2,500
meters) above sea level.
There are no rivers or lakes in the UAE. Wells and
recycled wastewater are used for irrigation. Ocean water
is desalinized for drinking and industrial purposes.
The weather is sometimes extreme during the summer months, when interior temperatures can reach 120
F (49 C). Annual rainfall varies from 1.7 inches (43
mm) in Abu Dhabi to 5.1 inches (130 mm) in Ras al
Khaymah. Sandstorms occur frequently in UAE.
The UAE is a major exporter of crude oil and natural
gas. Mina Jabal Ali, located in Dubai, is the worlds
largest human-made port.
Exports
$33 billion
310
OMAN
Ra's al Khayman
G ulf
of
Oman
Abu Dhabi
N
W
Ar Ruways
Al'Ayn
OM A N
S
0
S A U D I
A R A B IA
miles
50
0 km 50
The People
The UAE has a population of more than 2 million
people. The native people of the UAE are Arabic;
approximately twothirds of its non-native
population are Asians
and Iranians.
Arabic is the UAEs
official language, however English, Hindi,
Urdu, and Persian are
also spoken there.
Shopping bazaar, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Islam is the official
religion of the country.
Most of the people of the United Arab Emirates live
in cities along both coasts, although Al-Ayn has become
increasingly popular.
Less than one-fifth of the people living in the emirates are citizens. The rest are mostly primarily foreign
workers and their families. South Asians, mainly Indians
and Pakistanis, make up almost half of the population.
Because of the countrys oil wealth, citizens of the
UAE have extensive health, education, and social services.
The birth rate in the United Arab Emirates is the
lowest of all Persian Gulf states. Life expectancy in the
UAE is 75 years.
Food and live animals 1%

Machinery 1%
Other 2%
Manufactured
goods
3%
Crude & refined
petroleum
93%
ormuz
fH
Khawr
Sharjah
Fakkan
Dubai
Al Fujayrah
Mina Jabal Ali
QATAR
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
it o
Other 8%
Emiri
19%
Arab &
Iranian
23%
South
Asian
50%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 4%
Muslim
96%
Major Religions
United Kingdom
Land area rank
78
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
20
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Shetland
Islands
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
C
TI
N N
A A
L
T CE
A O
ASIA

EQUATOR
Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland
Continent: Europe
Capital City: London
Largest City: London (6,976,500)
Unit of Money: British pound
Major Languages: English, Welsh
Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas,
tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum,
lead, silica
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
Average Rainfall
Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, Scotland
0F/-18C
s
d
ri
b
e
H
Inverness
Aberdeen
SCOTLAND
Glasgow
Edinbugh
Londonderry
Newcastle
upon Tyne
Carlisle
NORTHERN
IRELAND
Belfast
Middlebrough
York
Leeds
and England is the
Irish
Liverpool
Sea
Manchester
largest and most
Sheffield
populous division
IRELAND
ENGLAND
Norwich
of Great Britain.
Leicester
W A L E S Birmingham
Wales is located to
Cambridge
the west, and
Oxford
Swansea
London
Cardiff
Celtic
Scotland is to the
Bristol
Sea
Thames
north of England.
Dover
Portsmouth
Northern Ireland
l
ne
0
miles
100
Isle of
an
is located in the
h
Wight
C
Plymouth
0
km
100
sh
gli
northeast corner
En
FRANCE
of Ireland, the
second largest
deposits of coal, and controls some
island in the British Isles.
oil fields in the North Sea.
The capital of the United
The climate, in general, is mild,
Kingdom is London, which is located
chilly,
and often wet. Up to 300
near the southeastern tip of England.
days each year have rainy or overThe United Kingdom covers
93,278 square miles (241,590 square cast skies. These conditions make
kilometers). Britain is densely popu- Britain lush and green, with rolling
plains in the south and east and
lated, and is highly developed in the
rough hills and mountains to the
arts, economics, sciences and techwest and north.
nology. The country has large
Other
48%
Electrical
equipment
20%
Road
Chemicals
vehicles
13%
9%
0 in/0 cm
N o rth
S ea
Dundee
Isle of
Man
United Kingdom is a constitutional

monarchy located in northwestern
Europe. The country is a series of
islands located in the British Isles. Its
official name is United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain is the largest island,
E
S
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Orkney
Islands
Iron & steel

products 2%
Exports
$268 billion
Food 4%
Professional
& scientific 4%
Other
19%
Forests
10%
Farms /
cropland
25%
Permanent
pastures
46%
Land Use
311
United Kingdom
(continued)
The People
English bobby, or police officer
Education
Primary and secondary education
is a local responsibility in the United
Kingdom, and the Local Education
Authorities (LEA) hires teachers and
provides education to students.
Primary education is free and compulsory from age 5 to 11. LEAs also
provide secondary education for
children aged 11 to 19, which is free
and compulsory to age 16.
In most parts of the United
Kingdom, secondary schools are
open to pupils of all abilities, and students can continue past the minimum
leaving age of 16 to earn a certificate

Britain has been important in the
arts throughout modern times, especially for its plays, novels, stories and
music. Britain has produced many
20th-century artists and composers,
including painter David Hockney
and composer Sir Edward Elgar,
as well as popular music artists such
as the Beatles.
The independent Arts Council,
formed in 1946, supports many
312
English is the official language of

the United Kingdom, and is used
throughout most of the country.
Less than one fifth of the people of
Wales speak both English and
Welsh, while thousands of people in
Scotland speak Scottish Gaelic. Irish
Gaelic is spoken by a small number
of people in Ireland.
People have migrated to the
British Isles from many parts of the
world including America, China,
Russia, Poland, Estonia, Italy, and
Spain. Since the early 1970s,
Ugandan Asians and immigrants
from Latin America, Southeast Asia,
and Sri Lanka have sought political
refuge in Britain. People of Indian,
Pakistani, and Bangladeshi origin
account for more than half of the
or take public examinations that
qualify them for higher education
or technical training.
Universities are mostly independent and self-governing; however,
they have close links with the central
government.
countrys total ethnic minority population. Life expectancy is 77 years.

Ulster 2%
Welch 2%
Other 2%
Irish 2%
Scottish
10%
English
82%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
36%
Methodist
1%
Presbyterian
1%
Anglican
45%
Roman
Catholic
15%
Muslim 2%
Major Religions
Government
Defense
Literate
99%
918 tanks
54 major ships
559 combat aircraft
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
kinds of contemporary creative and

performing arts in the United
Kingdom. The state-owned British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
and privately owned Channel Four
Television are also major patrons of
the arts, especially music and films.
Similar to other countries, there has
been a clash of tastes and values
between generations.
British filmmakers regularly win
more U.S. Academy Awards (Oscars)
than those from any other country

outside the United States do.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
434
367
433
272
27
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
United States
Land area rank
Population rank
smallest country
largest country (1)
fewest people
most people (1)
Seattle
Tacoma
WASHINGTON
Mi sso uri R.
Portland
MAINE
ss
R.
Little Rock
Dallas
A
N
Ri
Gr
de
400
C E
A N
E
miles
200
Miami
THE BAHAMAS
Maui
Hawaii
0 km 100
At a Glance
Official Name: United States of America
Area: 3,536,274 square miles (9,158,960 sq. km)
Capital City: Washington, D.C.
Largest City: New York City (7,333,253)
Unit of Money: United States dollar
Major Language: English
Natural Resources: Coal, copper, lead, molybdenum,
phosphates, uranium,
bauxite, gold, iron,
mercury, nickel,
EQUATOR
potash, silver,
tungsten, zinc,
petroleum, natural
gas, timber
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
Honolulu
0 miles 100
NORTH
AMERICA
Gulf of Mexico
HAWAII
Gulf of
Alaska
Jacksonville
FLORIDA
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
400
Tallahassee
Tampa
an
km
Oahu
Savannah
Orlando
0 km 200
Anchorage
GEORGIA
Montgomery
New Orleans
Kauai
SOUTH
CAROLINA
San Antonio
Bering
Sea
ALABAMA
MISSISSIPPI
Mobile
Houston
C A N A D A
ALASKA
miles
Atlanta
Birmingham
Austin
R U S S I A
TENNESSEE
Memphis
LOUISIANA
TEXAS
Greensboro
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte
Nashville
KENTUCKY
PENNSYLVANIA
Cleveland
OHIO
Jackson
El Paso
RHODE ISLAND
CONNECTICUT
New York
NEW JERSEY
Philadelphia
DELAWARE
O
M
Chicago
si
ARKANSAS
Tucson
Fort Worth
NEW MEXICO
Buffalo
ie
r
.E
Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA
Missis
C
FI
CI
PA
Phoenix
n
L. O
I C
MISSOURI
ARIZONA
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
Boston
NEW YORK MASSACHUSETTS
o
tari
Kansas City
Wichita
Albuquerque
Lake
Huron
Topeka
KANSAS
Detroit
i R
er
i v
Denver
COLORADO
IG
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
Columbus
Washington D. C.
Indianapolis
MARYLAND
.
WEST
R
o
VIRGINIA
Richmond
St. Louis
hi
VIRGINIA
Louisville
O
Des Moines
pp
Omaha
IC
H
pi
IOWA
ip
do
Milwaukee
si
ol
a
or
Los Angeles
San Diego
is
CALIFORNIA
St. Paul
WISCONSIN
.
ri R
UTAH
NEBRASKA
sou
San Francisco
Las Vegas
Sioux Falls
Mis
Salt Lake
City
s
a i n
n t
o u
NEVADA
WYOMING
Reno
Sacramento
Minneapolis
Pierre
igan
y
c k
R o
SOUTH DAKOTA
IDAHO
Great
Salt
Lake
MINNESOTA
ONT
VERM
OREGON
Boise
Lake Superior
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck
L. Mich
MONTANA
The Place
The United States of America is the third largest
country in the world in population and fourth
largest country in area. Only Russia, Canada, and
China are larger in area. The United States covers
the middle of the North American continent, from
the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean
in the west. Mexico borders it to the
south and Canada to the north. The
United States also includes Alaska,
the largest state, in the northwest
corner of North America and the
Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific. The
geography of the United States ranges
from the warm beaches of Florida
and Hawaii to the frozen tundra
of Alaska. In between are the level
midwestern prairies and towering,
snow-capped Rocky Mountains. The
temperate climate of New England
contrasts with the desert climate
Statue of Liberty in
New York Harbor
United States
(continued)
Other
48%
Scientific
and precision
equipment
3%
Machinery
and transport
equipment
47%
Exports
$625 billion
Other
26%
Forests
30%
Food and
live animals
10%
Farms/
cropland
19%
Permanent
pastures
25%
Land Use
valuable minerals, including coal, natural gas, and petroleum, lie beneath
the ground and offshore in areas such
as Texas, California, Kentucky, and
Alaska. Excluding Alaska and Hawaii,
the U.S. is usually divided into seven
major regions, each made up of states
with similar geography, climate,
economy, tradition, and history. The
regions are: (1) New England, (2)
the Middle Atlantic States, (3) the
Southern States, (4) the Midwestern
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C

States, (5) the Rocky Mountain
States, (6) the Southwestern States,
and (7) the Pacific Coast States.
Resources
Farm land
Pastures
314
Forests
Other
Cattle
Manufacturing
Engineering
Chemicals
Oil
Grains
0 in/0 cm
The United States grows more

wheat than any other country.
Average Rainfall
of the Southeast. Several great river

systems provide the U.S. with excellent water transport and hydroelectric
power systems. These include the
Mississippi River in the Midwest
and south, the Colorado River in the
southwest, and the Columbia River
in the northwest. The U.S. is rich in
natural resources with some of the
most fertile soil on Earth, plentiful
water supply routes, and large
stretches of forest. Large deposits of
Columbia River in the northwestern U.S.
United States
The History
Until the 1500s, small groups of
Native Americans lived between the
Atlantic and Pacific. Inuit inhabited
what is now Alaska, and Polynesians
lived in Hawaii. European explorers
who arrived in the sixteenth century
saw a New World offering riches
and land. Small groups of Spaniards
settled in what is now the southeastern and western United States in the
1500s. Settlers from England and
other European countries landed
along the East Coast during the
1600s. In 1776, colonists in the East
established an independent nation
based on freedom and economic
opportunity. Westward expansion in
the 1800s spread the nations borders
across the Mississippi River, over
the prairies, to the West Coast. A
The People
The United States has often been
called a melting pot, a place where
people from many lands have come
together and formed a unified culture. White people comprise about
African Americans, the largest
minority group, make up about 12%
of the population. Hispanics make up
9% of the U.S. population. About
3% of the population is of Asian
descent. American Indians make up
about 1% of the population. Other
Alaskan man
(continued)
the 1930s severely damaged the U.S.

economy. Following World War II,
however, the U.S. became one the
worlds first nuclear superpowers.
Today, it is the most powerful nation
on Earth.
Government
Leader: President
The Lincoln Memorial
Defense
disagreement over slavery in the

United States led to a civil war in
the 1860s. During the last half of the
19th century, American industry
grew and the U.S. became a world
power. An economic depression in
groups combine to make up the
remaining 4%. Approximately 92%
of the American population was born
in the United States. The largest foreign-born groups are Mexicans,
Germans, Canadians, and Italians.
The population includes descendants
of people from almost every part of
the world. The first people to live in
what is now the United States were
American Indians, Inuit (also called
Eskimos), and Hawaiians. Most
African Americans are descendants of
Africans who were brought to the
United States as slaves during the
1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. Most white
Americans trace their families to
Europe. Some Spaniards settled in
what is now the United States during
the 1500s. European settlement
Asian 3%

12,245 tanks
207 major ships
increased sharply during the 1600s.

Until the late 1800s, northern and
western Europe provided most of the
immigrants. Then people from
southern and eastern European
nations came to the country. In the
1700s, the United States attracted
immigrants from Asia.
At almost 75 years, the United
States has one of the highest average
life expectancies of any country.
About 12% of the U.S. population
is over 65 years old. This segment
of the population of the United
States will continue to grow rapidly
as the large numbers of people born
during the baby booma period
of high birth rate that occurred in
the United States from 1946 to
1964grow older.
Other 3% Amerindian 1%
Jewish
2%
Black
12%
White
80%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
14%
Roman
Catholic
28%
Protestant
56%
Major Religions
315
United States
(continued)
Education
The U.S. has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. About 35% of
all the children aged 3 and 4 attend
nursery schools, and about 95% of
all 5-year-olds attend kindergarten.
More than 99% of U.S. children
complete elementary school, and
about 75% graduate from high
school. Approximately 60% of high
school graduates go on to colleges
or universities. About 20% of the
countrys adults complete at least four
years of higher education. State and

local governments generally have
the responsibility for establishing
public school systems, and every state
requires children to attend school
until a certain age or completion
of a certain grade. Today, about
75% of the nations elementary and
high schools, and about 45% of its
institutions of higher learning, are
public schools.
Public schools in the United States
are supported mainly by taxation.
Private schools receive their operating funds chiefly from tuition and
contributions of private citizens.
Literate
97%
Literacy
Agriculture 3%
Services
14%
Industry
25%
Managerial,
professional
29%
Technical, sales,
administrative
29%
Labor Force
814
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
570
723
230
NA
TVs
Cars
Central Park, New York City, New York

Americans take part in sports,
attend sporting and cultural events,
watch movies and television, listen
to music, and read. Millions of
Americans enjoy watching sporting
events such as automobile races,
horse races, and baseball, basketball,
and football gamesboth in person
and on television. Many Americans,
especially young people, play baseball, basketball, football, and soccer.
People of all ages participate in
bicycle riding, boating, bowling,
fishing, golf, hiking, skiing, swim-
316
Woman jogging
ming, and tennis. The arts, including motion pictures, plays, concerts,
operas, and dance performances,
attract large audiences in the United
States. Hobbies occupy much of the
leisure time of many Americans.
Popular hobbies include crafts,
gardening, stamp collecting, coin
collecting, and photography. Many
Americans take annual vacations
to lakes or seashores, mountains,
or in other recreational areas. Most
American homes have a television
set, which is on for about seven
hours a day.
Phones
VCRs
PCs
Uruguay
90
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
129
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
Artigas
ASIA
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
Hides &
skins
12%
Other
21%
0
0
L
M
ir
oo
im
Treinta y Tres
ag
Durazno
C
an
miles
km
Melo
r
eg
o P
ar
Carmelo
La
100
Pl
Las
Piedras
Minas
San
Carlos
ata
Montevideo
100
The People
Uruguay is the second smallest country in east central

South America. Uruguay is bordered by Brazil,
Argentina, and its southern coast is on the Atlantic
Ocean. The Uruguay River forms the countrys entire
western boundary. Uruguay is 67,035 square miles
(173,620 square kilometers), and its capital, main port,
and economic center is Montevideo.
Uruguays highest point is the Cuchilla Grande,
which stands 1,644 feet tall (501 meters) at Mirador
Nacional. Ro Negro is the countrys main river.
Uruguays weather is mild yet humid. Because it is
located south of the equator, Uruguays seasons are
opposite those in the Northern Hemisphere. The average temperature in Montevideo is 51 F (11 C) during
July, the coldest month, and 73 F (23 C) in January,
the warmest month.
Approximately 40 inches (102 centimeters) of rain
falls in Uruguay each year, although some regions of the
country experience droughts.
80F/27C
Paysand
Mercedes
Ri
Tacuaremb
Ro N
The Place
100F/38C
B RA ZIL
A N TA R C T I C A
Salto
Rio U
rug
AUSTRALIA
AR
GE
NT
IN
A
SOUTH
AMERICA
W
Rivera
uay
AFRICA
Official Name: Oriental

EQUATOR
Republic of Uruguay
Continent: South
America
(173,620 sq. km)
Capital City: Montevideo
Largest City: Montevideo (1,383,660)
Unit of Money: Uruguayan peso
Major Languages: Spanish, Portunol, Brazilero
Literacy: 97%
Land Use: 7% arable land, 77% permanent pastures,
6% forests and woodland, 10% other
Natural Resources: Fertile soil, hydropower, minor
minerals, fisheries
NORTH
AMERICA
Unlike most South American nations, Uruguays population is primarily of European origin, and none of its
original native people remain. Some 3.3 million people
call Uruguay home. Life expectancy is 75 years.
Three-quarters of Uruguays people are Roman
Catholic. Spanish is the countrys official language,
however it is generally
spoken with an Italian
accent. Many
Uruguayans also speak
English, French, or
Italian. Portuguese is
commonly spoken in
the areas near Brazil.
Uruguay has one
of the highest rates
Montevideo, Uruguay
of literacy in Latin
America, with 97.8
percent of its adult population able to read. Uruguay
is one of the few nations in the Western Hemisphere
where all schooling, including college, is free.
Soccer is the most popular sport in Uruguay. Many
Uruguayan children enjoy playing soccer, however other
popular recreational activities include basketball, rugby,
and gaucho rodeos, called domos.
Live animals &

live-animal
products
26%
Processed
Textiles
foods
20%
4%
Vegetable
products Exports
17%
$3 billion
Mestizo
8%
Black 4%
Other
30%
White
88%
Ethnic Makeup
Jewish
2%
Roman
Catholic
66%
Protestant
2%
Major Religions
317
Uzbekistan
Land area rank
57
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
41
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Aral
Sea
Official Name: Republic of Uzbekistan

Continent: Asia
Capital City: Tashkent
Largest City: Tashkent
(2,100,000)
EQUATOR
Unit of Money: som
Major Languages:
Uzbek, Russian, Tajik
Natural Resources: Natural
gas, petroleum, coal, uranium, silver, copper, lead
and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Nukus
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
318
miles
km
Nawoiy
KYRGYZSTAN
Andijon
Olmaliq
Quqon
Farghona
Samarqand
TAJIKISTAN
Qarshi
Termiz
100
100
AFGHANISTAN
tures sometimes
central Uzbekistan. The country
reaching as high
also has a 261 mile (420 km) shoreas 113 F (45 C). Winters, however, line formed by the southern portion
are cold, and temperatures can dip as of the Aral Sea.
low as -35 F (-37 C).
Uzbekistan is landlocked Woman in traditional dress
and covers approximately
164,245 square miles
(424,400 square kilometers). It is bordered by
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan
is mountainous in the east
and northeast. Portions of
the western Tien Shan and
Pamirs-Alai Mountains
stretch into Uzbekistan
from neighboring
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
West of the mountains,
Uzbekistan has lower
elevations. Qyzylqum, one
of the largest deserts in the
world, is located in north
Farms/cropland 10%
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Tashkent
Bukhoro
M
E
AUSTRALIA
Uzbekistan is a republic in Central

Asia. The countys capital city and
biggest industrial and cultural center
is Tashkent, which is located in the
northeast.
Uzbekistan was called the Uzbek
Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR) from 1924 until 1991, when
it gained its independence. In 1992,
Uzbekistan was officially named a
democratic republic.
The majority of Uzbekistans land
is plains and deserts. The plains are
used for growing cotton, and farmers
raise livestock in both the plains and
irrigated desert areas.
The Fergana Valley, located in the
east, is the countrys most densely
populated area.
Uzbekistans summers are long,
dry, and hot, with southern tempera-
Chirchiq
Urganch
ASIA
AFRICA
The Place
E
S
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
K A Z A K H S T A N
Other
33%
Electricity
5%
Food
products 6%
machine-building
equipment 6%
Light
industrial
products
35%
Other
41%
Permanent
pastures
46%
Oil & gas

15%
Exports
$4 billion
Forests
3%
Land Use
Uzbekistan
Uzbek vendor
The People
Uzbekistan has the largest population of the former Soviet republics
in Central Asia. About 42% of
Uzbekistans people life in urban
areas.
Many different ethnic groups live

in Uzbekistan, including Uzbeks,
descendents of Turkic-speaking
nomads who settled in the region
beginning in the 15th century.
Russians, a large minority group,
make up 6% of the population.
Other minorities include Tajiks,
Kazakhs, and Tatars, as well as
Qoraqalpoghs, Kyrgyz, Koreans,
Ukrainians, and Turkmens.
The official language is Uzbek,
which is part of the Eastern Turkic
language group. Most ethnic minorities there speak their native languages.
Russian was the preferred language
during the Soviet period and is still
widely used in Uzbekistans cities.
The predominant religion in
Uzbekistan is Islam. Uzbeks are
primarily Sunni Muslims, while
Russian and Ukrainian minorities
are usually Orthodox Christians.

Karakalpak 3%
Kazakh 3%
Tajik 5%

The people of Uzbekistan often
wear traditional garments, although
Western-style clothing is popular in
the cities. The food of Uzbekistan is
distinctive, including kabobespecially mutton, laghmon (long, thick
noodles often used in soups), and
different types of bread, called non.
Soccer and wrestling are popular,
and traditional horseback games are
played on special occasions.
Uzbekistan has long been regarded
Tatar 1%
Other 2%
Russian
6%
Uzbek
80%
Ethnic Makeup
Other 3%
Eastern
Orthodox
9%
Muslim
88%
Major Religions
Education
Education in Uzbekistan is required
up to the 9th grade. Almost all adults
can read and write. Illiteracy was
high at one time, but was almost
entirely eliminated by the Soviet
Unions emphasis on free and universal education. Today, Uzbekistans
education system is still similar to the
Soviet system, although it puts
greater emphasis on Uzbek history
and literature. Teachers are generally
paid low wages, and new textbooks
are often unavailable.
(continued)
Government
Literate
97%
Type: Republic
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

179 tanks
Uzbekistans universities include

Toshkent State University,
Samarqand State University, and
Nukus State University.
as an important region of Muslim
culture. Many medieval scholars
came from the area, including Musa
Khwarezmi, a 9th-century mathematician; Abu Reikhan al-Biruni, a
0 major ships
126 combat aircraft
10th-century philosopher; and Ulugh

Beg, a 15th-century astronomer who
built an observatory at Samarkand.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
Uzbek man
149
78
37
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
319
Vanuatu
159
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)

184
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
E s pi r t u
S a nt o
EUROPE
ASIA
Luganville
AFRICA
miles
km
Ethnic Makeup
$30 million
Exports
Beef
& veal
14%
fat
Port-Vila
320
100
100
E r r om a ngo
T a nna
Potnarhvin
Lommti
The People
The majority of Vanuatus people are ethnic
Melanesians known as ni-Vanuatu. There are also
French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Polynesian, and
Micronesian descendents living there. Approximately
70% of Vanuatus population live on the islands of
fat, Espiritu Santo,
Erromango, and Tanna.
Vanuatus official languages are English, French,
and Bislama, a form of pidgin
English. Bislama is used as
the countrys common language of communication.
Literacy rates in Vanuatu
are low. While almost all
children attend primary
schools, about 1 in 5
Outdoor marketplace,
students continues beyond
Port-Vila, Vanuatu
the primary level.
Most of the people in
Vanuatu are Christians. About 37% of the population
is Presbyterian. Anglicans and Roman
Catholics each make up about 15%.
Church of Christ
4%
Seventh-Day
Other
Adventists
15%
6%
Indigenous
beliefs
8%
Roman
Catholic
15% Major
Presbyterian
37%
Anglican
15%
Religions
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Melanesian
94%
Squash
5%
Timber
8%
Copra
35%
Ranon
Am br y m
Other
34%
French 4% Other 2%
Vanuatu is an archipelago made of more than 80 islands

in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu is located
about 3,500 miles (5,600 kilometers) southwest of
Hawaii and about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) northeast of Australia. Vanuatus capital and largest city is
Port-Vila, which is on the island of fat.
Most of Vanuatus islands are formed by the tops of
volcanic mountain ranges, and several volcanoes there are
active. About 70 of Vanuatus islands are inhabited. Espiritu
Santo is the largest and has an area of 1,875 square miles
(4,856 kilometers). Some other major islands are Malakula,
Erromango, and Ambrym. The highest peak, Mount
Tabwemasana, is located on Espiritu Santo and stands
6,165 feet (1,879 meters) above sea level.
Vanuatus weather is tropical, but trade winds
between May and October make the climate cooler than
during the rest of the year.
Vanuatu has more than 1,000 species of vegetation,
including coconut palms, banyan trees, orchids and ferns.
M a l e k ul a
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
AUSTRALIA
P e nt e c ot e
Norsup
e w
SOUTH
AMERICA
Nasawa
NORTH
AMERICA
Limbot
Official Name: Republic of Vanuatu

(14,760 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Population: 192,910
Capital City: Port-Vila
Largest City: Port-Vila (19,311)
Unit of Money: vatu
Major Languages: English (official), French (official),
pidgin
Literacy: 53%
2% permanent pastures, 75% forests and
woodland, 11% other
Natural Resources: Manganese, hardwood forests,
fish
Defense: No military forces
Cacao
beans
4%
Sola
I l e L a k on
Vatican City
Land area rank 250
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank N/A

fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Official Name: The Holy See

EQUATOR
(State of the Vatican City)
Continent: Europe
Area: 0.17 square miles
(0.44 sq. km)
Population: 880
Capital City: Vatican City
Largest City: Vatican City
Unit of Money: Vatican lira
Major Languages: Italian, Latin
Literacy: N/A
Government: Monarchical-sacerdotal state
Defense: N/A
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
E
S
SOUTH
AMERICA
Vatican
Museums
AUSTRALIA
Vatican
A N TA R C T I C A
Gardens
Saint
Peter's
Basilica
0
0
miles
km
0.1
Sistine
Chapel
St. Peter's
Square
ITA LY
(Rom e)
0.1
The People
Vatican City is an independent state under the authority

of the Pope, who is the leader of the Roman Catholic
Church. At 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers),
Vatican City is the smallest independent country in the
world.
Vatican City was established in 1929 and includes 10
buildings in Rome, as well as the Popes residence at
Castel Gandolfo. Called the Holy See, Vatican City is
the seat of the Catholic Church.
Located on Vatican Hill in northwestern Rome, this
country is surrounded by walls built during medieval
and Renaissance periods. The most important structure
is Saint Peters Basilica, built between the 15th and 17th
centuries, and designed by several artists, including
Michelangelo. Another important structure is the Palace
of the Vatican, which has 1,000 rooms. It houses the
papal apartments, government offices of the Roman
Catholic church, and the famous Sistine Chapel.
Vatican City has its own currency, mail system, telephone and telegraph systems, water supply, bank, and
jail. The Vatican also has its own railroad station, which
uses its 300 yards (270 meters), of track to carry freight.
80F/27C
AFRICA
The Place
100F/38C
N
ASIA
About 1000 people live in Vatican City permanently, but

hundreds of thousands of visitors pass through each
year. Most visitors come from
Italy, Germany,
Spain, and South
America. Up to
100,000 people
listen to the
Popes annual
Easter Message
in St. Peters
Square each year.
The inhabitants
of the City, primarily priests and St. Peters Square, Vatican City
nuns, also include
several hundred laypersons who work in secretarial,
domestic, trade, and service occupations.
The Vatican City University was founded by Pope
Gregory XIII and is highly regarded for its philosophical
and theological studies. There are 79,141 elementary and
31,406 secondary Catholic schools throughout the world.
The Pope and the Vatican staff have the highest standard of living of any country in the world.
NA
Italians,
Swiss,
Other
Roman
Catholic
Exports
Ethnic Makeup
Major Religions
0 in/0 cm
$ NA
321
Venezuela
33
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
43
fewest people
most people (1)
Lesser Antilles
At a Glance
Official Name: Republic of Venezuela
(882,050 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Caracas
Largest City: Caracas
(3,435,795)
Unit of Money: bolivar
Major Languages: Spanish (official), native dialects
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore,
gold bauxite, other minerals, hydropower,
diamonds
Maracaibo
Valencia
Cuman
Barcelona
Trujillo Barquisimeto
Mrida
ASIA
AFRICA
Trinidad
Maturin
rinoco
Rio O
San Cristobal
S e a
Isla de
Margarita
Caracas
Lake
Maricaibo
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Cabimas
C ar ib b e an
Ciudad Guayana
Ciudad
Bolivar
SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Average Rainfall
Venezuela, officially named the

Republic of Venezuela, is located in
South America, at the northern
edge of the Andes Mountains. Its
coastline on the Caribbean Sea is
about 1,700 miles (2,800 kilometers)
long with many indentations. There
are 72 islands off the coast that are
part of Venezuela. Isla de Margarita
is the largest of these.
The total area of Venezuela is
340,560 square miles (882,050
square kilometers). The capital and
largest city is Caracas.
Venezuelas climate is tropical
along the coast and mild in the
mountainous regions. Most rain
falls between May and November,
with the northern mountain slopes
receiving less rain than those in
the south.
Venezuela has many mineral
resources, such as petroleum, natural
Ri
oO
rin
oco
E
S
0
0
miles
km
200
B R A Z I L
200
gas, bauxite, gold,

iron ore, copper,
zinc, lead and diamonds. Forests are
also an important resource for the
country, for their lumber.
Venezuela is home to many exotic
animals, including jaguars, monkeys,
sloths, anteaters, ocelots, bears, deer,
and armadillos. Birds that inhabit

Venezuela include flamingos, herons,
ibis, guacharos (also called oilbirds),
and numerous other species.
Reptiles, including crocodiles, anacondasthe largest snake in the
worldand boa constrictors, are
also found in Venezuela.
Hacha Falls, Carrao River, Venezuela
Basic metal
manufactures
8%
Other
15 %
Farms/cropland 5%
Permanent
pastures
20%
Other
41%
Crude petroleum &
petroleum products
77%
Forests
34%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$21 billion
322
G U Y A N A
Puerto Ayacucho
C OL O M B IA
Land Use
Venezuela
(continued)
Amerindian 2%
Black
10%
White
21%
Mestizo
67%
Ethnic Makeup
Protestant
2%
The People
About 67% of Venezuelans are mestizospeople with mixed European
and Native American ancestry.
About 21% are of European
descent. Venezuela is 87% urban.
The main religion is Roman
Catholicism. Other faiths include
Protestantism, Judaism, and Islam.
Some native Indian people still
practice their traditional religions.
Venezuelan society has a distinct

contrast between the rich and poor.
In Caracas, oil wealth has made
some people millionaires who live in
mansions, while in the nearby hills,
unskilled laborers live in squalor.
Venezuelas Indian groups speak
more than 25 different languages,
most of which are from one of three
linguistic familiesCariban,
Roman
Catholic
96%
Major Religions
Arawak, and Chibcha. Spanish is the

national language. However,
English is often used in cities and
commercial areas.
Education
Education in Venezuela is free and
mandatory for children between the
ages of 6 and 15. The country has
a shortage of qualified teachers,
however, and schools are crowded
Venezuelas institutions of higher
education include the Central
University of Venezuela and Andrs
Bello Catholic University in
Caracas; the University of the
Andes, in Mrida; the University of

Venezuelas culture has been influenced more by its original Spanish
settlers than by the Native Americans,
who have had some influence on the
national culture.
The countrys main folk legend is
the llanero, or South American cow-
Other 2%
Government
Leader: President
Literate
91%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
70 tanks
Zulia, in Maracaibo; and the

Polytechnical Institute, in
Barquisimeto.
boy. Its national dance is the joropo.

Popular instruments, such as the
maraca, a type of rattle, and the cuatro, a small guitar, are all associated
with the llanero legend.
Baseball and soccer are the most
popular sports in Venezuela. Many
cities have professional teams.
8 major ships
119 combat aircraft
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
156
82
93
34
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
323
Vietnam
Land area rank
65
smallest country
largest country (1)

14
Population rank
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name: Socialist

EQUATOR
Republic of Viet Nam
Continent: Asia
(325,360 sq. km)
Capital City: Hanoi
Largest City: Ho Chi Minh City (3,169,135)
Unit of Money: new dong
Major Languages: Vietnamese
(official), Chinese, English, French, Khymer
Natural Resources: Phosphates, coal, manganese,
bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits,
forests
C H IN A
AFRICA
er
SOUTH
AMERICA
Hanoi
Cam Pha
AUSTRALIA
Hai Phong
Nam Dinh
A N TA R C T I C A
Hue
g
Da Nang
iv
T H A IL A N D
S e a
er
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
kon
Seaside village, Vietnam
324
Hainan
Me
C h i n a
o u
t h
square miles
C A M B OD IA
Nha
(325,360 square
Trang
kilometers). The
Da Lat
Cam
Ranh
country is borN
Bien Hoa
dered by China,
Ho Chi Minh City
W
E
My Tho
Laos, Cambodia,
S
Rach Gia
Can Tho
and its entire
eastern coast is on
0
miles
100
0 km 100
the South China
Sea. The far north
and much of central Vietnam are hilly resource is its crop land, however, it
and mountainous. In central Vietnam, also has mineral resources including
gold, iron, tin, zinc, phosphate,
the narrowest part of the country,
chromite, apatite, and anthracite coal.
mountains and highlands extend to
Vietnams climate is generally hot
the coast, while Southern Vietnam is
and humid. The northern plains have
very low. Vietnams 2 major rivers
more seasonal variations and usually
are the Red River in the north and
cooler nighttime temperatures than
the Mekong River in the south.
southern areas. Rainfall is plentiful
Most lowland areas and upland
throughout Vietnam. Typhoons
valleys are planted with rice, although
sometimes hit the central coast, which
other crops grown there include
have caused loss of life and destrucbananas, coconuts, papaya, and bamtion of cropland in recent years.
boo. Vietnams most valuable natural
S
Vietnam is a long, narrow, S-shaped,

country on the eastern coast of the
Indochinese peninsula. Its capital is
Hanoi. Vietnams largest city is Ho
Chi Minh City, formerly called
Saigon.
Vietnams total area is 125,622
Vinh
Qui Nhon
The Place
0F/-18C
L A OS
Gulf
of
Tonkin
Other
40 %
Rubber
3%
Clothing
8%
Crude
petroleum
20%
Coffee
11%
Rice
10%
Exports
$7 billion
Fish &
fish products
8%
Other
48%
Farms/
cropland
21%
Forests
30%
Land Use
Permanent
pastures
1%
Vietnam
School children, Vietnam
The People
Vietnams people are primarily
Vietnamese, accounting for almost
Other ethnicities include Chinese,
Hmong, and the Tai-speaking Nung
and Tay. Southern minorities
include the highland ethnic groups,

Khmer and Chan. Vietnamese is the
countrys official language, however,
French, Chinese, English, and
Khmer are also spoken.
Buddhism and Taoism are
Vietnams major religions. Other
religious groups there include
Roman Catholics, Muslims, Hoa
Hao, Cao Dai, and Protestants.
Vietnamese in the north dress in
cotton pants and coats. Some women
in the south wear the traditional ao
dai coat over trousers. About twofifths of the population is younger
than 15 years, and life expectancy is
about 66 years.
During the Vietnam War, many
Vietnamese moved from rural to
urban areas, especially in the south,
and by the late 20th century, onefifth of the total population lived in
urban areas.

Traditionally, Vietnamese art, architecture, music, and literature followed
Chinese forms. When the French
colonized in the late 19th century,
however, influences from Western
cultures replaced that of China.
Before French colonial rule,
Vietnamese literature was classical,
based on the Chinese model or local
ideas. Today, it is influenced by
Western societies, including that of
the U.S.
Other 6%
Thai 2%
Chinese
4%
Vietnamese
88%
Ethnic Makeup
Other
38%
Buddhist
55%
Christian
7%
Major Religions
When the government of South

Vietnam collapsed in 1975, about 1
million refugees left the country.
Many came to the United States.
Education
About 94% of Vietnamese age
15 and over are literate. Education
is free and is mandatory for the first
5 years of primary school. Most of
Vietnam's children receive primary
schooling. Less than half of young
Vietnamese receive a secondary
education, however, because there
is a shortage of adequate facilities.
Vietnamese education focuses on
science and technology. Many students attend school abroad, mainly
(continued)
Government
Literate
94%

Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

1,300 tanks
in the United States or Japan.

Major universities are located in
Hanoi, Hue, Thai Nguyen, Da
Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Architecture follows international
styles, although there is some effort to
preserve the distinctive character of
major cities such as Hanoi, Hue, and
Ho Chi Minh City. Abstract painting
and Western music have become very
7 major ships
190 combat aircraft
popular. However, the communist

government warns that Western popular music encourages attitudes that
go against long-held cultural beliefs.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
Rice paddy
38
TVs
NA
NA
NA
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
325
Yemen
Land area rank
49
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
54
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
N
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
ASIA
Official Name:
EQUATOR
Republic of Yemen
Continent: Asia
Capital City: Sanaa
Largest City: Sanaa (972,000)
Unit of Money: Yemeni rial
Major Languages: Arabic
Natural Resources: Petroleum, fish, rock salt,
marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel,
and copper, fertile soil in west
S A U D I
A R A B I A
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA
Sa'dah
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
IT
Arabian Sea
Ta'izz
l
Aden
DJIBOUTI
an
de
b s
tra
Socotra
Gulf of Aden
it
0
SOMALIA
miles
on the coast it varies from 3 to 9

inches (76 to 229 mm). The west
and south coasts are flat, while the
inland areas have cliffs and hills.
The Rub al Khali desert extends
from Yemen into Saudi Arabia.
Sanaa, Yemen
Crude minerals
2%
Mineral fuels
95%
Farms/cropland 3%
Other
63%
Permanent
pastures
30%
Forests
4%
Exports
$2 billion
100
0 km 100
0 in/0 cm
326
Al Mukalla
Zabid
June to about
57F (14C) in
January. During summer months,
monsoons are common. The average
rainfall in the highlands varies from
8 to 30 inches (303 to 762 mm), and
Food & live

animals
3%
Average Rainfall
15 in/38 cm
100F/38C
Sayhut
Sana'a'
Al Hudaydah
ab
Yemen is located in southwestern

Asia on the southern tip of the
Arabian Peninsula. Yemens coasts
are formed by the Red Sea and the
Gulf of Aden. It is separated from
Africa by the narrow strait of Bab
el Mandeb. Saudi Arabia and Oman
also border Yemen.
Yemen has several islands, including Socotra, located in the Indian
Ocean; Perim, in the Bab el Mandeb;
and Kamaran, in the Red Sea.
Yemen covers about 203,850
square miles (527,970 square kilometers) and Sanaa is Yemens capital
and largest city.
The Republic of Yemen was
created in 1990 from the unification
of the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR)
and the Peoples Democratic
Republic of Yemen (PDRY).
Average temperatures in Yemen
range from about 80F (27C) in
Say'un
The Place
Al Ghaydan
Red
Sea
A N TA R C T I C A
OMAN
a l i
a l K h
)
R u b '
t
r
e
s
( D e
SOUTH
AMERICA
Land Use
Yemen
The People
Most of Yemens people are ethnic
Arabs, although there also small
groups of Africans, South Asians,
and Europeans living there.
Thousands of refugees from the
conflict in Somalia moved to Yemen
in the early 1990s.
Virtually all inhabitants of northSchoolboys, Sanaa
ern Yemen have homes and do not

move from place to place like
nomads. Housing in Yemen varies
from region to region, from
African-style circular reed huts to
stone or mud-brick houses with
multiple stories. A small number of
nomadic people live on the edge of
the desert. Although Yemen society
has traditionally
been characterized
by a social system
with caste-like
groups, this structure
is breaking down.
Nearly all Yemenis
speak Arabic.
Because of Yemens
rugged terrain,
widely separated
population centers,
and less-developed
transportation and
communications,
however, several
dialectical differences have formed.

Yemens native population is almost
entirely Muslim, with small communities of Christians, Jews, and Hindus.

Yemeni tribesmen a jambiyya, or
curved dagger, in a scabbard on a
wide belt. Men also often wear one
of several types of skirts rather than
pants, and a straw hat or headcloth.
They sometimes wear Western-style
clothing as well. Yemeni women
wear robes, shawls, and veils, which
vary greatly from region to region.
The most important Yemeni
Indian, Somali,
European 2%
Afro-Arab
3%
Arab 95%
Ethnic Makeup
Christian, Hindu, Jewish 3%
Shi'a
Muslim
42%
Sunni
Muslim
55%
Major Religions
Education
Yemens constitution guarantees
all citizens the right to an education,
but the system still fails to reach
a large part of the population,
especially above the primary grades.
Public schools are located in larger
towns and cities, while children in
most rural areas attend Islamic
religious schools.
Only 38% of Yemens adult population is literate.
(continued)
Government
Literate
38%
Type: Republic
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%
1,125 tanks
Secondary schools in Yemen put

many students into Sanaa University
and the University of Aden.
social custom is the qat session, an
afternoon gathering where men and
women socialize separately while
they chew mildly narcotic leaves
from the qat plant. Most men and
many women chew qat at least
twice a week.
The Yemeni diet includes rice,
bread, vegetables, fish, and lamb. A
spicy green stew called salta is one
of Yemens most popular dishes.
0 major ships
69 combat aircraft
Yemeni crafts workers have long

been famous for their weaving,
leatherwork, and ironwork.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
27
13
15
NA
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
VCRs
PCs
327
Yugoslavia
Land area rank
(Serbia and Montenegro)

105
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
67
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
H U N G A R Y
50
Subotica
Drav
EUROPE
iv
ASIA
er
NORTH
AMERICA
miles
0 km 50
AFRICA
CROA TIA
Sa
SOUTH
AMERICA
R OM A N IA
nu
Da
Official Name: Socialist Federal Republic

of Yugoslavia
Continent: Europe
(102,350 sq. km)
EQUATOR
Capital City: Belgrade
Largest City: Belgrade
(1,500,000)
Unit of Money: Yugoslav new dinar
Major Languages: Serbian, Albanian
Natural Resources: Oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper
Zrenjanin
e R .
Novi Sad
E
S
va
AUSTRALIA
Ri
ver
Belgrade
Pancevo
Da
nu
Smederevo
be
S E R B I A
A N TA R C T I C A
B OS N IA
Kragujevac
Cacak
Kraljevo
The Place
Yugoslavia, located on the Balkan
Peninsula in southeastern Europe, is
100F/38C
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
3 in/8 cm
20F/-7C
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
Average Rainfall
Church of the Mother of God, Serbia
Kosovska
made up of Serbia
Mitrovica
MONTENEGRO
and Montenegro.
KOSOVO
Yugoslavias capiPec
Pristina
Podgorica
tal and largest
Prizren
city is Belgrade.
Adriatic
A LBA N IA
Sea
Yugoslavia is a
MACEDONIA
smaller portion of
a larger country,
also called Yugoslavia. The name
Albania, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia
Yugoslavia means, Land of the
and Herzegovina. Yugoslavias far
South Slavs, and was chosen when
southwestern boundary is formed by
the first Yugoslav state was formed
a coastline on the Adriatic Sea. The
in 1918 to unite 3 groups of South
countrys total land area is 39,517
Slavs: Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
square miles (102,350 square kiloFrom 1946 to 1991, Yugoslavia was
meters), less than half the size of the
comprised of 6 republics. In 1991
former Yugoslavia.
and 1992, 4 republicsBosniaThe countrys major rivers include
Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia,
the Danube, Drava and Sava.
and Sloveniadeclared their indeMost of Yugoslavia experiences
pendence. After extensive fighting,
cold winters and hot summers,
Serbia and Montenegro became a
except for a narrow coastal zone in
smaller Yugoslavia.
the southwest, where the climate is
The country is bordered by
mild and rainy in the winter, and
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria,
warm and dry during the summer.
Other
24%
Chemicals
9%
Machinery
12%
Manufactured
goods
33%
NA
Food &
live animals
22%
Exports
$3 billion
328
Leskovac
B U L G A R IA
Nis
Novi Pazar
Land Use
Yugoslavia: Serbia and Montenegro

The People
The people of Yugoslavia are primarily Serbian and Croatian, and they are
evenly divided between the countrys
urban and rural areas. About 63% of
the people are Serbs and 14% are
Albanians. Many other ethnic groups,
including Montenegrins, Magyars
Serbian man
Education
Yugoslavian education is compulsory
from ages 7 to 15, and primary and
secondary education are both provided at no cost.
The overall literacy rate in
Yugoslavia is 93%. It is higher for
males, at 98%, than for females
(89%). Schooling differs between
ethnic groups. For example,
Albanian girls receive less schooling
than girls of other groups do, and
Albanians in general have lower
literacy rates.
The countrys leading universities

Most Yugoslavs are closely tied
to their ethnic group. Some
Yugoslavians still wear traditional
outfits. Most, however, wear contemporary, Western-style clothing,
especially in cities.
The diet consists mainly of
grilled meats and bread. Desserts
range from baklava to tortes, and
the most popular drink is plum
brandy, called slivovitz.
(continued)
and Muslims, also reside there.

It is estimated that two-thirds of
Yugoslavias population is currently
living under subsistence level, and
many people are suffering from
malnutrition and other health problems. These conditions are the
result of nearly 10 years of civil war.
Serbs and Montenegrins practice
Orthodox Christianity and
speak Serbo-Croatian, officially called Serbian.
Yugoslavias Muslims also
speak Serbo-Croatian.
Ethnic Albanians speak
Albanian. Most Albanians
are Sunni Muslims, but
there are also Orthodox
Christian and Roman
Catholic Albanians as well.
Most ethnic Albanians
live in Kosovo. There are
also ethnic Albanians that live in

Montenegro. Life expectancy is
72 years.
include the University of Belgrade,

founded in 1863, as well as the
University of Novi Sad, the
University of Nis, the University of
Podgorica, and the University of
Pristina. However, the University of
Pristina, located in Kosovo, has not

operated since 1990.
Hungarians
4%
Other
13%
Serbs
63%
Albanians
14%
Montenegrins
6%
Ethnic Makeup
Roman
Catholic
4%
Other
12%
Muslim
19%
Orthodox
65%
Major Religions
Government
Type: Republic
Defense
Literate
93%

639 tanks
8 major ships
Literacy
282 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
Montenegrins, however, drink a

grape brandy. Coffee is another
popular drink.
Sports are very popular, and
Yugoslav basketball and soccer teams
are among the best in the world.
Winter sports such as skiing and
hockey are also popular.
Serbia and Montenegro have
thriving music industries. Serbian
rock groups are popular and creative. Traditional Serbian church
music has been revived, largely by

the tenor Pavle Aksentijevic.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
93
65
NA
TVs
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
329
Zambia
Land area rank
39
smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
80
fewest people
most people (1)
EUROPE
C ON G O
( Z A IR E )
Kasama
AFRICA
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
Ri
ua
u
Chipata
Kafu
Kabwe
Mongu
MOZA M BIQU E
Lusaka
Za
m
Lake Kariba
Victoria
Falls
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
Livingstone
ZIMBABWE
0
0
miles
km
200
200
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Other
14%
Other
18%
Cobalt
11%
Copper
71%
Forests
39%
Permanent
pastures
40%
0 in/0 cm
Exports
$975 million
330
Farms/cropland 7%
Average Rainfall
60F/16C
Mpika
ez
i
Land Use
12 in/30 cm
80F/27C
sh
15 in/38 cm
Ri
er
be
ve
100F/38C
between 61 F
(16 C) and
70 F (21 C).
Most of the
country is covered
in grasslands and
trees. Zambias
native animals
include elephants,
lions, rhinoceroses, and
several varieties
of antelope. Rich
mineral deposits
in the countrys
copper belt,
which extends
down into
Zambia from
southern Congo
include copper,
cobalt, and other
minerals.
m
ha
Luanshya
Ri
Zambia, officially named the

Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked
country in south central Africa. It is
bordered by Congo, Malawi,
Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana,
the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, and
Angola. Zambia is 285,992 square
miles (740,720 square kilometers),
and its capital and largest city is
Lusaka.
Most of Zambia is high plateau
with elevations averaging between
3,500 and 4,500 feet (1,100 and
1,400 meters). Mountains in the
countrys northeast stand higher
than 6,600 feet (2,000 meters).
Major rivers are the Zambezi, the
Kafue, the Luangwa, the Luapula
and the Chambesh.
Because of its high altitudes, most
of Zambia has a pleasant, subtropical
climate, with average temperatures
Mufulira
Chingola
Kitwe
Ndola
Zambezi
The Place
A N G OLA
AUSTRALIA
Lake Nyasa
SOUTH
AMERICA
A N TA R C T I C A
TANZANIA
AWI
MAL

EQUATOR
of Zambia
Continent: Africa
Capital City: Lusaka
Largest City: Lusaka (982,362)
Unit of Money: kwacha
Major Languages: English (official), Bemba, Kaonda,
Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga
Natural Resources: Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead,
coal, emeralds, gold silver, uranium, hydropower
potential
Mbala
ASIA
L. Tanganyika
Lake
Mweru
NORTH
AMERICA
ve
At a Glance
Zambia
The People
Zambians are almost all Bantuspeaking Africans, including the
Twa (Pygmies), except for a few
groups of San.
There are also a few Europeans,
white South Africans, and Asians
living in Zambia.
English is the official language of
the country, however, about 80 local
languages and dialects are also spoken
there. The Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja,
Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda, and Luvale languages are used in radio broadcasts.
of Zambia are Christian. Many
Christians attend independent
churches, which combine elements of
Christianity and African religions.
The rest of the population follows
traditional religions. Old customs, like
the use of traditional medicine, polyg-
European 1%
African
99%
Zambian boys
Ethnic Makeup
yny (marrying several wives) and bride

price (paying the parents for a bride),
are slowly dying out in the towns.
In some parts of the country, village life goes on much as it has for
hundreds of years. The people live
in circular, grass-roofed homes and
grow crops on their land. Corn is
the main food. A favorite dish is
nshima, a thick porridge made from
corn. The people plant their crops
in November and December.
Indigenous beliefs 1%
Hindu
36%

Tourists often visit Zambia to see its
wildlife, the Victoria Falls, and to
enjoy white-water rafting on the
Zambezi River. Zambia is one of the
Crowd gathered for street performance
Christian
63%
Major Religions
The development of mining has
caused thousands of Zambians to
move to mining towns.
Education
School attendance has increased
substantially since Zambia became
independent in 1964. In 1995,
approximately 1.5 million students
were enrolled in primary schools,
representing 88% of school aged
children. Only 29% of secondary
school-aged children were enrolled.
The University of Zambia at Lusaka
had about 10,500 students in the
mid-1990s.
The University of Zambia opened
(continued)
Government
Type: Republic
Leader: President
Literate
78%
Defense
Literacy
U.S. rate = 97%

NA tanks
in 1966. Later, other institutes of

higher education were formed, and
today, Zambia offers many types of
college-level schooling.
most urbanized countries in Africa.
Much of Zambias traditional music
is rhythmic and usually played on
drums, whistles and thumb pianos
called kalimba. The music almost
always accompanies dancing, including the popular rumba, originally
from the Republic of the Congo.
Zambias capital, Lusaka, has
several galleries that feature local
artists. Three of the best galleries
are Henry Tayali visual Arts Gallery
at the Showgrounds, the Sculpture
NA major ships
NA combat aircraft
Garden at the Garden House Hotel,

and Mpala Gallery. There is also an
open-air market called the Kamwala
Market, which is very popular.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
25
TVs
12
Cars
Phones
NA
NA
VCRs
PCs
331
Zimbabwe
60
Land area rank

smallest country
largest country (1)
Population rank
66
fewest people
most people (1)
At a Glance
Z A M B IA
EUROPE
NORTH
AMERICA
Zambe
zi
ASIA

EQUATOR
of Zimbabwe
Continent: Africa
(386,670 sq. km)
Capital City: Harare
Largest City: Harare (1,184,169)
Unit of Money: Zimbabwean dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Shona
Natural Resources: Coal, chromium ore, asbestos,
gold nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium,
tin, platinum group metals
AFRICA
Kariba
15 in/38 cm
80F/27C
12 in/30 cm
60F/16C
9 in/23 cm
40F/4C
6 in/15 cm
20F/-7C
3 in/8 cm
0F/-18C
0 in/0 cm
332
Chitungwiza
Mutare
Gweru
Masvingo
Bulawayo
B O T S W A N A
0
miles
100
0 km 100
masasa trees.
Animals native
to Zimbabwe include elephants,
hippopotamuses, lions, hyenas,
crocodiles, antelope, impalas,
giraffes, and baboons.
Zimbabwes climate is often
Limpopo
R.
M O
Z A
M B
I Q
U E
N
E
Harare
M a f unga bus i
R
iv
er
Hwange P l a t e a u
Kwekwe
az
.
e R
SOUTH AFRICA
dependent on the rains caused by

monsoons. Up to 40 inches (1,000
mm) of rain falls in the eastern
portion between October and
March each year, but almost no rain
falls the remainder of the year, when
the weather becomes cool.
Honde Valley, Zimbabwe
Farms/cropland 7%
Average Rainfall
100F/38C
Chinhoyi
yat i
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country

in southern Africa, formerly called
Rhodesia. Zimbabwe was named
after the famous 14th-century
stone-built city of Great Zimbabwe,
located in the southeast.
Zimbabwe has a land area of
149,293 square miles (386,670
square kilometers). It is bordered by
Mozambique, Botswana, South
Africa at the Limpopo River.
Zimbabwes north coast is formed
by the Zambezi River.
Zimbabwes capital is Harare,
formerly known as Salisbury. The
Zambezi River, along the northern
border, is Zimbabwes most important
river. Several smaller rivers, including
the Mazowe and the Sanyati, join the
Zambezi in the north.
Most of Zimbabwe is covered
with savanna grassland and low
Binga
an
NAMIBIA
Victoria Falls
A N TA R C T I C A
The Place
Victoria
Falls
AUSTRALIA
Lake Kariba
SOUTH
AMERICA
Other
39%
Corn
1%
Cut
flowers
1%
Asbestos 3%
Cotton 3%
Tobacco
31%
Gold
12%
Exports
$3 billion
Ferroalloys 7%
Nickel metal 3%
Permanent
pastures
13%
Other
57%
Forests
23%
Land Use
Zimbabwe
The People
More than 11 million people live in
Zimbabwe. Life expectancy at birth
was estimated at 51 years in 2000,
down from 59 years in 1985, mainly
because of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic
that began there in the late 1980s.
Zimbabwes population is divided
into two major ethnic groups: the
Shona and the Ndebele. The Shona
make up 71% of the population, and
the Ndebele minority comprise
16%. Other ethnic groups include
Asians, Caucasians, and other
Africans. About 70% of Zimbabwes
people live in rural areas, while the
rest live in urban settings.
Education
Christian missionaries started the first
formal education in Zimbabwe, and
many schools still have strong religious affiliations. Primary education
in Zimbabwe has been universal and
compulsory since 1987. Almost half
of Zimbabwes population is school
age, and education uses approximately
20% of the governments budget.
White 1%
(continued)
Mixed & Asian 1%
African
98%
Kids, Zimbabwe
Ethnic Makeup
practices Christian and Indigenous

religious beliefs, while most others
practice traditional religions.
Zimbabwes families are large, and
most of the countrys population is
under 15 years of age. Their society
is traditionally male-dominated,
however in recent years, many
women have been named to managerial and political positions.
Almost all primary school-aged

children enroll in school, but only
50% attend secondary schools
and just 7% go on to colleges or
universities. Zimbabwe has 2 state
universities: the University of
Zimbabwe, located in Harare; and
Other 1%
Indigenous
Syncretic
beliefs
(part Christian,
24%
part indigenous
beliefs)
Christian
50%
25%
Major Religions
the National University of Science

and Technology in Bulawayo. There
are also many private colleges.
Government
Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Leader: President
Defense
Literate
85%
40 tanks
0 major ships
Literacy
52 combat aircraft
U.S. rate = 97%
Biology class, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe retains many traditions
from its colonial past. The country
has world-class athletes who compete at international levels in rugby,
cricket, and golf.
Zimbabwe has many tourist
attractions, such as Victoria Falls
and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.

European-style clothing is fashionable in Zimbabwe. Middle and
upper classes tend to dress in styles
similar to the old colonial ruling
class. Younger Africans like the
modern styles of South Africa.
Traditional dance and music were
neglected during the colonial period. Since independence, however,
traditional styles have been revived.
Literature by black Zimbabweans
was restricted until the 1980s. Since
then, many authors, such as Charles

Mungoshi and Tsitsi Dangarembga,
have become popular.
Goods Ownership
per 1,000 people
27
29
TVs
Cars
32
Phones
NA
VCRs
PCs
333
Arctic Ocean Territories

N
Beaufort Sea
W
CANADA
E
S
Leptev Sea
ARCTIC
OCEAN
RUSSIA
Hudson
Bay
Baffin
Bay
Kara
Sea
Svalbard
GREENLAND
Greenland
Sea
Barents Sea
Jan Mayen
ICELAND Norwegian Sea
SWEDEN FINLAND
Baltic
Sea
ESTONIA
Svalbard
At a Glance
Official Name: Svalbard
Area: 38,557 sq. mi. (62,049 sq. km)
Population: 2,416
Unit of Money: Norwegian krone
Major Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government: territory of Norway
Jan Mayen
Uninhabited territory of Norway.
At a Glance
Official Name: Jan Mayen
334
Polar Bear
KAZ
AKH
STA
N
The territories of the Arctic

Ocean lie on the continental
shelves. Svalbard, formerly
called Spitsbergen, and Jan
Mayen are both located there.
The area experiences arctic
maritime weather, and has
frequent storms and persistent
fog. Svalbard is comprised
of nine icy islands that are
situated 400 miles north of
Norway, which are rich with
coal deposits. Jan Mayen is
actually a volcanic island,
located approximately 560
miles (901 km) northwest of
Norway. Jan Mayen is known
for its superior fishing, however other natural resources
include oil and gas deposits.
Atlantic Ocean Territories

Many of the territories in the Atlantic Ocean are islands
located on the continental shelves. Tropical cyclones
(hurricanes) are very common, and often form near Cape
Verde, Africa, on their way westward into the Caribbean
Sea. Hurricanes sometimes occur between May and

December, but are most common from August to
November. Islands located in the North Atlantic generally
experience temperate climate conditions. Manysuch as
the Faeroe Islands and Greenlandhave mild winters and
cool summers. The Faeroe Islands are usually overcast,
foggy, and windy. Islands in southern Atlantic, such as
Bermuda, have warmer climates.
Bouvet Island
Uninhabited territory of Norway
At a Glance
Official Name: Bouvet Island
Bermuda
Faeroe Islands
Bermuda
At a Glance
At a Glance
Official Name: Bermuda
Population: 63,503
Unit of Money: Bermudian dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Government: British dependent territory
Official Name: Faeroe Islands

Area: 541 sq. mi. (1,399 sq. km)
Population: 45,661
Major Languages: Faroese, Danish
Government: self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark
AR CT IC OCE AN
French Guiana
AFRICA
Greenland
Faeroe Islands
SOUTH
AMERICA
Saint Helena
Isle of Man
Jersey
Saint Pierre & Miquelon
NORTH
AMERICA
NO RTH
ATL ANTI C
O CEAN
Bermuda
EUROPE
SOUTH
AT L ANT I C
OCEAN
N
Gibraltar
W
N
W
AFRICA
Falkland Islands
South Georgia Island

Bouvet Island
S
South Sandwich Island
SOUTH
AMERICA
E
S
Peter I Island
(continued)
Gibraltar
At a Glance
Official Name: Gibraltar
Area: 3 sq. mi. (6.5 sq. km)
Population: 27,649
Unit of Money: Gibraltar pound
Major Languages: English (official), Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Government: colony of U.K.
Greenland
At a Glance
Gibraltar
Falkland Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: Colony of the Falkland Islands
Area: 4,699 sq. mi. (12, 173 sq. km)
Population: 2,826
Unit of Money: Falkland Island pound
French Guiana
At a Glance
Official Name: Department of Guiana
Area: 34,421 sq. mi. (89,150 sq. km)
Population: 177,562
Major Languages: French
Government: overseas department of France
336
Official Name: Greenland

Area: 840,000 sq. mi. (2,175,600 sq. km)
Population: 56,352
Major Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish,
Greenlandic
Government: parliamentary democracy with
constitutional monarch
Isle of Man
At a Glance
Official Name: Isle of Man
Population: 73,489
Unit of Money: N/A
Major Languages: English, Manx
Government: British Crown dependency
Isle of Man
(continued)
Jersey
At a Glance
Official Name: Jersey
Population: 89,361
Unit of Money: N/A
(official), Norman-French
Government: British Crown dependency
Bike riding in Jersey
Saint Helena
At a Glance
Official Name: Saint Helena
Population: 7,266
Unit of Money: Saint Helenian pound
Government: dependent territory of U.K.
Saint Pierre and

Miquelon
At a Glance
Official Name: Territorial Collectivity of Saint
Pierre and Miquelon
Population: 6,928
Major Languages: French
Government: Territorial collectivity of France
Jersey
Peter I Island
South Georgia and

South Sandwich Islands
Uninhabited Norwegian dependency
Uninhabited territories of U.K.
At a Glance
Official Name: Peter I Island
At a Glance
Official Name: South Georgia and South
Sandwich Islands
Area: 1,570 sq. mi. (4,066 sq. km)
Caribbean Sea Islands

The islands of the Caribbean experience tropical or
subtropical weather conditions, including high humidity,
little temperature variation between seasons, and the
cooling effects of trade winds. Turks & Caicos are very
dry, while Martinique is vulnerable to cyclones and hurricanes. Puerto Rico, a commonwealth territory of the
United States, is divided by mountains and is a popular
tourist destination. The people of Puerto Rico have
some of the highest living conditions in the Caribbean
region. Natural resources of the Caribbean territories
include oil, bananas, and sugarcane. Tourism, however,
remains a major source of income for this area.
Gu l f o f
Mexico
U.S.
AT L ANTI C
OCEAN
THE BAHAMAS
N
W
Turks and Caicos Islands

G
CUBA
r
Cayman Islands
JAMAICA
HONDURAS
HAITI
British Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico
Anguilla
DOM. REP.
n
t i
Navassa
l l
e s Virgin Islands
Island
Montserrat
(US)
Guadeloupe
C ar i bbe an Se a
L e
s s
e r
NICARAGUA
Aruba
Martinique
A n t i l l
e s
Netherlands Antilles
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
COLOMBIA
VENEZUELA
TRINIDAD
Anguilla
At a Glance
Official Name: Anguilla
Population: 12,132
Cayman Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: Cayman Islands
Population: 35,527
Unit of Money: Caymanian dollar
Government: British dependent territory
Aruba
At a Glance
Official Name: Aruba
Population: 70,007
Unit of Money: Aruban florin
Major Languages: Dutch, Papiamento, English,
Spanish
Government: parliamentary democracy
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands

At a Glance
Official Name: British Virgin Islands
Population: 20,812
338
Guadeloupe
At a Glance
Official Name: Department of Guadeloupe
Area: 659 sq. mi. (1,706 sq. km)
Population: 431,170
Major Languages: French (official), Creole patois
Martinique
At a Glance
Official Name: Department of Martinique
Area: 409 sq. mi. (1,060 sq. km)
Population: 418,454
Major Languages: French, Creole patois
(continued)
Netherlands Antilles
At a Glance
Official Name: Netherlands Antilles
Population: 212,226
Unit of Money: Netherlands Antillean guilder
Major Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento,
English, Spanish
Government: autonomous part of Netherlands,
parliamentary
Puerto Rico
At a Glance
Official Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Area: 3,459 sq. mi. (8,959 sq. km)
Major Languages: Spanish (official), English
Government: commonwealth associated with U.S.
Martinique vendor
Montserrat
At a Glance
Official Name: Montserrat
Population: 7,574
Turks and Caicos Islands

At a Glance
Official Name: Turks and Caicos Islands
Population: 18,122
Virgin Islands
Navassa Island
Uninhabited island owned by the
United States
At a Glance
Official Name: Navassa Island
Area: 2 sq. mi. (5.2 sq. km)
At a Glance
Official Name: Virgin Islands of the United States
Population: 122,211
Major Languages: English, Spanish, Creole
Government: organized, unincorporated territory
of U.S.
339
Indian Ocean Territories

Islands in the Indian Ocean experience tropical
marine conditions, including hot and humid weather,
which is sometimes relieved by trade winds, and small
amounts of rain. One exception, though, are the Heard
and McDonald Islands, which have Antarctic conditions. The region occasionally experiences tropical
storms throughout the year, and the area is known for
its monsoons. There are a variety of natural resources
on these islands, including excellent fishing, phosphate
deposits, and coconuts. Heard & McDonald Islands are
primarily used for scientific research, including an
experiment to monitor global warming. The British

Indian Ocean Territorys coral atolls are used for a
U.S./UK military base.
ASIA
AFRICA
Mayotte
British Indian Ocean

Territory
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling)
Islands
Runion
Ashmore and
Cartier Islands
I ND I AN
O C EAN
AUSTRALIA
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Uninhabited territories of Australia
N
W
At a Glance
E
S
Official Name: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Heard and McDonald

Islands
Christmas Island
British Indian Ocean Territory
Uninhabited territory of U.K.
At a Glance
Official Name: British Indian Ocean Territory
340
At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of Christmas Island
Population: 2,564
Government: territory of Australia
Indian Ocean Territories
(continued)
Mayotte
At a Glance
Official Name: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
Population: 163,366
Major Languages: Mahoran, French
Government: territorial collectivity of France
Runion
At a Glance
Official Name: Department of Runion
Area: 965 sq. mi. (2,500 sq. km)
Population: 732,570
Major Languages: French (official), Creole
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Area: 5.4 sq. mi. (14 sq. km)
Population: 635
Major Languages: English, Malay
Heard and McDonald Islands

Uninhabited territories of Australia
At a Glance
Official Name: Heard and McDonald Islands
Pacific Ocean Territories

There are more than 30,000 islands in the Pacific
Ocean. Their total land area covers about one-quarter
of one percent of the Pacifics surface. Weather conditions in the South Pacific are generally tropical. Most of
the islands located there experience warm temperatures,
but they also are cooled by trade winds. Most of the
South Pacifics islands see little temperature variation
between seasons. Natural resources in the Pacifics territories include farming, bird refuges, and tropical fruits.
Midway Islands
PAC I F I C O C EAN
H AWA II
Northern Mariana
(U S)
Islands
Johnston Atoll
Wake Island
Guam
Kingman Reef
Palmyra Atoll
American Samoa
At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of American Samoa
Area: 76.1 sq. mi. (199 sq. km)
Population: 67,084
Unit of money: U.S. dollar
Major Languages: Samoan, English
Government: unincorporated and unorganized
territory of U.S.
Wallis and Futuna

Coral Sea
Islands
A U STRA LIA
Jarvis Island
Baker and
Howland Islands
PA PU A N EW
G U IN EA
Tokelau
American Samoa
Cook Islands
FIJI
French Polynesia
Niue
New Caledonia
Pitcairn Islands
Norfolk Island
N
N EW ZEA LA N D
E
S
Coral Sea Islands

Baker & Howland Islands
Unincorporated territories administered by the U.S.
Fish and wildlife Service as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge
Uninhabited Territory of Australia
At a Glance
Official Name: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: British Indian Ocean Territory
Area: 0.5-0.6 sq. mi. each (1.40-1.60 sq. km each)
French Polynesia
At a Glance
Cook Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: Cook Islands
Population: 20,611
Unit of money:New Zealand dollar
Major Languages: English (official),
Maori
Government: self-governing
parliamentary democracy in free
association with New Zealand
Official Name: Territory of French Polynesia

Area: 1,413 sq. mi. (3,660 sq. km)
Population: 253,506
Unit of money: Colonial Francs
Major Languages: French, Tahitian (both official)
Government: overseas territory of France
Cook Islands
342
Guam
At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of Guam
Population: 157,557
Major Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Government: organized, unincorporated territory
of U.S.
(continued)
Midway Islands
Uninhabited, unincorporated territory of U.S.
At a Glance
Official Name: Midway Islands
Area: 2.4 sq. mi. (6.2 sq. km)
Jarvis Island
Uninhabited territory of U.S.
At a Glance
Official Name: Jarvis Island
New Calendonia
New Caledonia
Johnston Atoll
At a Glance
Official Name: Johnson Atoll
Population: 1,100
Unit of money: N/A
Major Languages: N/A
Government: unincorporated territory of U.S.
At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of New Caledonia and
Dependencies
Area: 7,172 sq. mi. (18,575 sq. km)
Population: 204,863
Unit of money: Colonial Francs Pacifique
Major Languages: French, Melanesian-Polynesian
dialects
Niue
Kingman Reef
At a Glance
Official Name: Kingman Reef
Population: N/A
Unit of money: N/A
Government: privately owned and administered by
the U.S. Department of the Navy
At a Glance
Official Name: Niue
Population: 2,110
Unit of money: New Zealand dollar
Major Languages: Polynesian dialect closely
related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Government: self-governing parliamentary
democracy territory in free association with
New Zealand
343
(continued)
Norfolk Island
At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of Norfolk Island
Area: 13.3 sq. mi. (34.6 sq. km)
Population: 1,892
Unit of money: Australian dollar
Major Languages: English (official), Norfolk
(a mixture of 18th-century English and
ancient Tahitian)
Tokelau
At a Glance
Official Name: Tokelau
Population: 1,458
Major Languages: Tokelauan, English
Government: territory of New Zealand
Wake Island
Northern Mariana Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands
Population: 74,612
Major Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
Government: commonwealth associated with U.S.
Palmyra Atoll
At a Glance
Official Name: Palmyra Atoll
Area: 4.6 sq. mi. (11.9 sq. km)
Population: N/A
Unit of money: N/A
Government: privately owned and administered by
the U.S. Department of the Navy
Pitcairn Islands
At a Glance
Official Name: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie,
and Oeno Islands
Population: 54
Major Languages: English (official),
a Tahitian/English dialect
344
At a Glance
Official Name: Wake Island
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; U.S.
military personnel left the island, however
some civilians remain
Unit of money: N/A
Government: unincorporated territory of U.S.,
administered by U.S. Air Force
Wallis & Futuna

At a Glance
Official Name: Territory of the Wallis and
Futuna Islands
Population: 15,453
Unit of money: Colonial Francs Pacifique
Major Languages: French (official), Wallisian
(indigenous Polynesian language)
South China Sea Islands

The South China Sea is home to three territories,
of their close proximity to shipping lanes, and they are
which all experience tropical weather conditions. Macao,
believed to hold some of the biggest oil and gas deposits
which is a territory of Portugal, is
in the world.
located at the opening of the Pearl
River. Macao is a major exporter
Formosa
of finished goods, including trinCHINA
Str.
TAIWAN
kets and toys. The Parcel Islands
are located about 250 miles to the
Macao
east of Vietnam and are occupied
by the Chinese. The Paracel
Gulf of
LAOS
Tonkin
Islands experience frequent
P A C I FI C
typhoons. Also located in the
OCEAN
Paracel Islands
PHILIPPINES
South China Sea are the Spratly
THAILAND
Islands, made up of reefs and
N
Philippine Sea
atolls. China, Taiwan, Vietnam,
So u th C h i n a
VIETNAM
W
E
Se a
KAMPUCHEA
Brunei, Malaysia, and the
S
Philippines each claim all or
portions of these islands. The
islands are very desirable because
Spratly Islands
Paracel Islands
Uninhabited territory of China, also claimed by Taiwan
and Vietnam
At a Glance
Official Name: Paracel Islands
Area: N/A
Macao
Macao
At a Glance
Official Name: Macao
Population: 453,733
Unit of money: pataca
Government: special administrative region of
China
Spratly Islands
Uninhabited territory that is partially claimed by China,
Malaysia, Phillipines, Taiwan and Vietnam
At a Glance
Official Name: Spratly Islands
345
Antarctica
carbons. Antarctica contains more than 80% of the
worlds freshwater. None of its natural resources have
been mined or sold.
Antarctica is home to a variety of wildlife, including
seals, whales, and penguins. These animals are well
adapted for the icy climate they live inthe polar fish,
for example, common in Antarcticas waters, is able to
survive because it has anti-freezing agents in its blood.
Several species are unique to Antarctica, including the
King penguin.
There are no indigenous inhabitants of Antarctica.
Several research stations are located there, and staff
members are sometimes stationed temporarily. In the
summer, the population sometimes rises to more than
4,000 people representing 25 different countries; during
the winter, approximately 1,000 researchers are stationed
there. There are radio broadcast stations available in
Antarctica for communication. There are also 39 different landing facilities for airplanes. Planes must be fitted
with skis to be able to land. There are no telephones or
cars on Antarctica.
Antarctica is governed under the Antarctic Treat
Summary, which was signed on December 1, 1959.
Thirty nations signed the treaty, and another 14 countries
are considered observers. These nations have appointed
members to a panel that consults and manages Antarctica.
They meet each year to discuss environmental, scientific,
and political issues. Today, rivalries remain between these
countries, because many still wish to claim the continent
as their own. Tourism has recently become more popular
and is a growing industry.
Antarctica
Antarctica is the second-largest continent on Earth. The

land mass covers 5,405,400 square miles (14 million sq.
km), most of which is encased under a thick layer of ice.
In some areas, the ice is as deep as 6,560 feet (2,000
meters). Only 2% of Antarcticas land is exposed, and
those areas are nothing more than barren rock. Glaciers
and ice shelves along the coast, as well as floating ice
pieces, account for about 11% of Antarcticas total area.
The countrys highest point is Vinson Massif, at 16,863
feet (5,140 meters).
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest
continent. Temperatures vary according to season,
altitude, and distance from the ocean. The
eastern portion of Antarctica is cooler
than the west. Temperatures average
about -58 F (-50 C). During
summer months, Antarctica is hit
Ross Sea
with more solar radiation than
the equator in the same amount
of time. Blizzards are common
there, and storms often form
over the ocean and travel
A N TA R C T I C A
I ND I AN
O CEAN
along the continents coast.
The continent has many
natural resources, including
iron ore, chromium, copper,
gold, nickel, platinum, and
N
other minerals. There are also
small deposits of coal and hydroW
E
S
346
AT L ANT I C
O C EAN
PAC I F I C
O C EAN
Bellingshausen
Sea
Weddell Sea
Penguins
For More Information

Books
Ash, Russell. Factastic Millennium Facts. New York, NY:
Dorling Kindersley, 1999.
Brunner, Borgna, ed. Time Almanac 2001 with
Information Please. Boston: Time Inc., 2000.
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Dulles,
Va.: Brasseys, 1999.
Dorling Kindersley. The Dorling Kindersley World
Reference Atlas. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited,
1998.
MacQuitty, Miranda. Inside Oceans. Buffalo, NY: Firefly
Books Limited, 1999.
Miles, Lisa. Atlas of 20th Century (History Atlases). Tulsa,
OK: EDC Publications, 1997.
World Almanac Books. The World Almanac and Book of
Facts 2001. New Jersey: World Almanac Education
Group, Inc., 2001.
Wright, John W., ed. The New York Times 2001 Almanac.
Middlesex: Penguin Reference Books, 2000.
Internet Sites
Visit any of these sites to learn more about your favorite
places in the world.
An Atlas of World Maps by Encarta Online
http://encarta.msn.com/maps/MapView.asp
Asiaville
http://www.asiaville.com
This site has information about Asian countries, culture,
current events, and travel.
Britannica.com
http://www.britannica.com/
This online resource has information and statistics
about countries from around the world.
CIA World Factbook-Geography
http://geography.about.com/science/geography/library/
cia/blcindex.htm
This source has figures, statistics, and data about each
country.
Discovery.com Homework Help: Geography

http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozgeography/index.html
Discovery Channels online edition has geography
information, as well as homework help and program
guides for its television series.
The Explorers Club
http://www.explorers.org
Visit this site to learn more about expeditions and
explorations from all over the world.
National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com
With a kids section, this site has information from
around the globe.
Rand McNally
http://www.randmcnallykids.com
This site features world maps and a trivia section for
kids.
Where in the World?
http://www.geographygames.com/index.html
See this site for geography quizzes and games, as well as
current events and weather information.
World Desk Reference: Online Nation Information
http://travel.dk.com/wdr/index_flash.htm
This is an online edition of Dorling Kindersleys book
of world facts.
CD Roms
Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective Edition. The Learning
Company.
Discover the world while solving crime.
My First Amazing History Explorer. DK Multimedia. Take
a world tour across the continents.
Oceans. CounterTop Software. Discover the ocean and its
underwater life.
20th Century Day by Day. DK Multimedia. Learn the
history of the past century.
347
Index
Abidjan, Cte dIvoire, 105, 106
Aborigines, 53, 88, 291
Abuja, Nigeria, 226
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 310
Academy Awards, 312
Accra, Ghana, 136
Adamawa Plateau, 85, 86
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 125
Ad-Dukhan, 58
Aden, Gulf of, 114, 271, 326
Adriatic Sea, 42,107,166, 269, 328
Aegean Islands, 138, 139
Afar, 114, 123, 126
Africa, 19, 27
Afghanistan, 40-41, 234
Agalega, 203
Agel, Mount, 208
Agni, 106
AIDS, 81, 82, 103, 333
Air Mountain, 224
Ajman, UAE, 310
Akagera River, 255
Akan, 137
Akanyaru River, 255
Akosombo Dam, 136
Alai Mountains, 180
Al-Akhdar, Mount, 231
Al Ayn, UAE, 310
Alaska, 313, 314, 315
Albania, 42
Albert, Lake, 102, 306
Aleppo, Syria, 288
Aleut, 253
Algeria, 43-44
Algerian Sahara , 43
Algiers, Algeria, 43
Al Hajar Mountains, 231, 310
Almaty, Kazakhstan, 174
Alps, 42, 54, 107, 129, 134, 149, 187,
269, 287
Alps, Japanese, 169
Alps, Julian, 269
Alps, Southern, 222
Altai Mountains, 174, 209
Altiplano, 71
Alvernia, Mount, 57
Alzette River, 189
Amazon River, 74, 117, 240
Ambrym, 320
American Indian, 315
American Samoa, 342
Amerindian, 118, 142, 241
Amhara, 126
Amman, Jordan, 173
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 220, 221
348
Amu River, 40
Amu Darya River, 292
Amur River, 252
Anatolia , 302
Andalusia, 278
Andes Mountains, 49, 71, 92, 98, 99,
117, 240, 322
Andorra, 45
Andorra La Vella, Andorra, 45
Andros, 57
Angola, 46-47
Anguilla, 338
animals, 38
animism, 101
Anjouan, 100
Ankara, Turkey, 302
Annam Highlands, 181
Antananarivo, Madagascar, 191
Antarctica, 26, 346
Antarctic Circle, 13
Antigua and Barbuda, 48
apartheid, 274
Apia, Samoa, 259
Apo, Mount, 242
Appenines, 166, 260
Arab, 44, 202, 211, 213, 231, 248, 263,
282, 301, 303, 310
Arabian Desert, 119
Arabian Peninsula, 231, 262, 310, 326
Arabian Sea, 152, 153, 231, 232
Aragats, Mt., 51
Arakan Yoma, 214
Aral Sea, 174
Aras River, 51
archery, 303
archipelago, 8, 57, 87, 100, 108, 127,
156, 169, 270, 320
architecture, 303
Arctic Archipelago, 87
Arctic Circle, 87, 151, 285
Arctic Ocean, 251
Arctic Ocean Territories, 334
Ardennes Mountains, 66, 129, 189
Argentina, 49-50
Armenia, 51, 56
art, 167, 227, 280, 312
Artibonite River, 146
arts and crafts, 58, 86, 139, 142, 163
Aruba, 338
Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan, 304
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, 340
Asia, 20, 28
Asia Minor, 302
Asmara, Eritrea, 123
Astana, Kazakhstan, 174
Asuncion, Paraguay, 239

Aswan High Dam, 119
Atakora Mountains, 69
atheism, 42
Athens, Greece, 138, 139
Atlantic Ocean, 13, 57, 89, 116, 122,
151, 164, 246, 258, 313
Atlantic Ocean Territories, 335
atlas, 8, 9, 12, 14, 43
Atlas Mountains, 210, 300
atoll, 8, 178, 197, 201, 206, 265
attan, 41
Auckland, New Zealand, 222
Australia, 52-53, 217
Austria, 54-55
Ayers Rock, 52
Aymara, 71
Azerbaijan, 56
Azeri, 161
Azov, Sea of, 308
Bab el Mandeb, 326

Babelthaup, 236
baby boom, 315
backgammon, 303
badminton, 62, 159
Bafata Plateau, 144
Bafing River, 143
Baghdad, Iraq, 162, 163
Bahamas, 57
Bahrain, 58
Bahrain, Gulf of, 248
Bairiki, Kiribati, 178
Baiul, Oksana, 309
Baker and Howland Islands, 342
Bakongo, 47
Baku, Azerbaijan, 56
Balaneshty, Mount, 207
Balanta, 144
Balaton, Lake, 149
Balearic Islands, 277
Bali, 157
Balkan Mountains, 79, 138
Balkan Peninsula, 42, 72, 249, 328
ballet, 51, 124, 254, 309
Balsas River, 204
Baltic Lakes, 244
Baltic Sea, 124, 128, 182, 188, 244, 251,
285
Baltic States, 188
Baluch, 234
Bamako, Mali, 198, 199
Bambara, 199
bamboo, 70
Bamileke, 86
Banaba, 178
Banbara, 202
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, 78
Banfora Escarpment, 80
Bangkok, Thailand, 295, 296
Bangladesh, 59-62, 312
Bangui, Central African Republic, 90
Banjul, Gambia, 132
Bantu, 103, 194, 331
Baoule, 106
Baraka River, 123
Barbados, 63
Barcelona, Spain, 278
Barents Sea, 230
Barisan Mountains, 156
Ba River, 127
Barlavento, 89
barrier reef, 68, 197
baseball, 104, 109, 116, 167, 172, 205,
237, 276, 316, 323
Bashkir, 253
basketball, 53, 65, 97, 99, 103, 104, 109,
142, 150, 167, 173, 211, 225, 237,
241, 254, 316, 317,
329
basketry, 84, 268
Basotho, 184
Bassa, 185
Basseterre, St. Kits and Nevis, 256
Bata, Equatorial Guinea, 122
Bateke Plateau, 101
batik, 196
Bauman Peak, 297
Baykal, Lake, 252
BBC, 312
Beatles, 312
Bedouin, 120, 163, 173, 289
beech tree, 189
Beijing, China, 94
Beiruit, Lebanon, 183
Bekaa Valley, 183
Belarus, 64-65
Belgium, 66-67
Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 328, 329
Belize, 68
Belize Barrier Reef, 68
Belize City, Belize, 68
Belmopan, Belize, 68
Bengal, 61
Bengal, Bay of, 59, 152, 153, 214
Benin, 69
Benue River, 226
Bequia, 258
Berber, 44, 202, 211, 300
Berlin, Germany, 134
Bermuda, 335
Berne, Switzerland, 287
Betsiboka River, 191
Bette Peak, 186
Bhote, 70
Bhutan, 70
Biafra, Bight of , 85
bicycling, 130, 135, 142, 167, 221, 225,
254, 278, 316
Bie Plateau, 46
Bight of Biafra, 85
Bikini, 201
Binga, Mount, 212
Bioko, 122
biomes, 37
Birkirkara, Malta, 200
birth rate, 58, 189
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 180
Bismarck Archipelago, 238
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, 144
Black Forest, 134
Black Sea, 79, 133, 249, 250, 251, 302,
308
Black Volta River, 80
Blanc, Mont, 129
blizzards, 346
Blue Mountains, 168
Blue Nile River, 281
Boa Vista, 89
boat people, 148
boating, 135, 150, 221, 316
Bobo, 81
bobsledding, 287
Bodensee, Lake, 54
Bogota, Colombia, 98
Bohemia, 111
Bohemian Forest, 111
Bolivia, 71
Bolshoi Ballet, 254
Bombay, India, 152
Bomi Hills, 185
Bong Mountains, 185
Bon Pays, 189
Borneo, 78, 156, 157, 195
Bornholm, 113
Bosnia & Herzegovina, 72, 107, 328
Bothnia, Gulf of, 128, 285
Botrange, 66
Botswana, 73
Bougainville, 238
Bouvet Island, 335
bowling, 172, 316
boxing, 65, 103, 276
Brasilia, Brazil, 74
Bratislava, Slovakia, 268
Brava, 89
Brazil, 74-77
Brazzaville, Congo, 101
Bridgetown, Barbados, 63
Britain, 311
British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC), 312
British Commonwealth of Nations, 234
British Indian Ocean Territory, 340

British Isles, 311
British Virgin Islands, 338
bronchitis, 89
Brunei, 78
Brussels, Belgium, 66
Buada Lagoon, 217
Bubi, 122
Bubiyan, 179
Bubka, Sergei, 309
Bucharest, Romania, 249, 250
Budapest, Hungary, 149
Buddhism, 84, 154, 215, 229, 280, 291,
296, 325
Buell, Abel, 15
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 49
Bug River, 244
Bujumbura, Burundi, 82
Buka, 238
Bulgaria, 79, 207
bullfighting, 99, 104, 205, 241, 247, 278
Burkina Faso, 80-81
Burma, 214
Burmese, 215
Burundi, 82
Byelavyezhskaya Forest, 64
Byelorussian, 182, 188, 245, 253, 309
Cabinda, 46
Cairo, Egypt, 119
calendar, 32
California, 314
calligraphy, 97, 291
calms, 13
calypso music, 299
Cambodia, 83-84
Cameroon, 85-86
Cameroon, Mount, 85
Campania, 167
campesinos, 99
camping, 222, 245, 268, 286, 287
Canada, 87-88, 313
Canadian Shield, 87
Canary Islands, 12, 277
Canberra, Australia, 52, 53
cancer, 65, 188
Cancer, Tropic of, 13
Canouan, 258
Cape Mountains, 273
Cape Town, South Africa, 273
Cape Verde, 89, 261, 335
Capricorn, Tropic of, 13
Caracas, Venezuela, 322, 323
Carajos Shoals, 203
Cargados, 203
Caribbean region, 57
Caribbean Sea, 48, 63, 108, 115, 116,
140, 141, 146, 147, 168, 256, 257,
258, 299, 322,335
349
Carnival, 77
Caroline Islands, 206
Carpathian Mountains, 111, 149, 207,
244, 249, 268, 308, 309
carpets, 51, 56, 139, 161, 163, 211, 259
Carriacou, 140
cartography, 9
Casablanca, Morocco, 210, 211
Casamance River, 264
Caspian Sea, 56, 160, 161, 174, 252, 304
caste system, 70, 154, 327
Castries, St. Lucia, 257
Catherine, Mount, 140
Caucasian, 303
Caucasus Mountains, 56, 133, 252
Cavalla River, 185
caves, 269
Cayman Islands, 338
cays, 57
Central African Republic, 90
Central America, 68, 104, 121, 141, 147,
223, 237
ceramics, 291
Cerros de Celaque, 147
Cestos River, 185
Ceylon, 279
Chaco, 239
Chad, 91
Chad, Lake, 85, 91, 224
Chambesh River, 330
Chambi, Mount, 300
Chan, 325
chanting, 227, 272
Chapala, Lake, 204
Chari River, 91
Charlestown, St. Kitts and Nevis, 256
Chechen, 253
Chelif River, 43
Chernobyl, 65
Chewa, 194
Chiapas Highlands, 204, 205
chihuahua, 204
Chile, 92-93
Chimoio Highlands, 212
China, 94-97, 148, 217, 291, 313, 325
Chisinau, Moldova, 207
Chittagong Hills, 59, 60
Chobe River, 73
Choiseul, 270
cholera, 11, 219
Christianity, 123, 183, 243, 294, 298,
307, 300, 320, 331
Christmas Island, 341
Chukchi, 253
Chuvash, 253
Cidade de Praia, Cape Verde, 89
circumference, earths, 11
Citlaltepetl, 204
civil war, 47, 72, 84, 121, 183 , 213, 234,
350
255, 280, 282, 315, 329

clan, 180, 272
climate zones, 36
coconut, 305
Cocos Islands, 104, 340
Colombia, 98-99
Colombo, Sri Lanka, 279
Colon, Panama, 237
Colorado River, 314
Columbia River, 314
Columbus, 12
Coma Pedrosa, 45
Comino, 200
Cominotto, 200
Commonwealth of Independent States,
253
communicable diseases, 282
communism, 96, 97, 109, 229, 253, 291,
325
Comoros, 100
compass rose, 9
composers, music, 55, 135, 150, 245,
254, 309
Conakry, Guinea, 143
Confucianism, 229
Congo, 101
Congo (Zaire), 102-103
Congo River, 90, 101, 102
Constance, Lake, 287
contours, 10
Cook Islandsk, 342
Cook, Mount, 222
Copenhagen, Denmark, 113
Copernicus, Nicolaus, 245
coral , 48, 63, 197, 200, 206, 265
coral reef, 127, 157, 178, 203, 236, 258,
259
Coral Sea Islands, 342
cordillera, 71, 87, 92, 98, 104, 116
Cordillera Central, 104
Cordillera de Guancaste, 104
Cordillera de Talamanca, 104
Corsica, 129
Costa Rica, 104
Cte dAzur, 208
Cte dIvoire, 105-106
Cte Lorraines, 66
Cotonou, Benin, 69
cowboy, 323
Creole, 68, 203, 261, 265, 266, 283
Crete, 138
cricket, 53, 62, 155, 222, 235, 274, 333
crime, 11, 47, 84, 135, 175, 257
Crimea, 308
Cristal Mountains, 102, 131
Cristobal Colon, 98
Croat, 55, 72, 328, 329
Croatia, 107, 328
Cuba, 108-109, 146
Cuchilla Grande, 317

currencies, 34
currents, ocean, 37
cyclone, 60, 203, 298
Cypriot, 110
Cyprus, 110
czar, 253
Czech Republic, 111-112
Czechoslovakia, 268
Dakar, Senegal, 264

Dalmacia, 107
Damascus, Syria, 288, 289
Damrei Mountains, 83
Danakil Depression, 123
Danakil Desert, 125
dance, 41, 42, 62, 103, 127, 139, 155,
159, 177, 194, 199, 205, 219, 241,
245, 259, 280, 294, 299, 307, 316,
323, 331
Danube River, 54, 79, 149, 249, 268,
328
Dan-Yacouba, 106
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 293, 294
Darien Mountains, 237
Dead Sea, 165, 173
death rate, 47, 81, 82, 91, 100, 132, 309
debke, 173
Deccan Plateau, 153
defense budget, 34
degrees, 12
Delhi, India, 154
Democratic Republic of Congo, 102
Denmark, 113
DEntrecasteaux Island, 238
desert, 40, 43, 51, 52, 73, 80, 81, 91, 95,
114, 119, 125, 153, 160, 162, 165,
173, 174, 179, 186,
191, 198, 199, 202, 209, 216, 224,
231, 233, 240, 248, 251, 262, 273,
281, 288, 304, 313,
318, 326
Dhaka, Bangladesh, 59
Diablotin, Mount, 115
diamonds, 216, 266, 273, 322
Digue, La, 265
dike, 220
Dimlang Peak, 226
Dinara, 107
Dinka, 282
Diola, 264
Dion, Celine, 88
Dion River, 143
Djerma-Songhai, 225
Djibouti, 114
Dnestr River, 207
dog, 204
Doha, Qatar, 248
Doiran Lake, 190
Dominica, 115
Dominican Republic, 116, 146
Don River, 252
Donegal Mountains, 164
Douala, Cameroon, 85
Douro River, 246
Dover, Strait of, 66
Drakensberg Mountains, 184
drama, 214
Drava River, 328
Dravidian, 154
Dreketi River, 127
drought, 73, 81, 89, 210, 212, 217, 239,
271, 272, 307, 317
Duars Plain, 70
Duarte Peak, 116
Dubai, 310
Dublin, Ireland, 164
Dufourspitze, 287
Dushanbe, Tajikstan, 292
dwarf lemur, 191
dzong, 70
Dzyarzhynsk Mountain, 64
Earth, circumference of, 11

earthquake, 151, 209, 210, 240, 242
East African Rift System, 102
Eastern Desert, 119
Eastern Orthodox, 207
Ebeye Island, 201
Ecuador, 117-118
fat, 320
eggs, painted, 112
Egypt, 119-120
El Gezira, 281
El Salvador, 121
Elbe River, 134
Elbrus, Mount, 252
Elburz Mountains, 160
embroidery, 51, 139, 192
emigration, 89, 90, 121
Emi Koussi, 91
emperor, 253
Ems River, 134
endangered species, 38
Enewetak, 201
Enns River, 54
Enriquillo, Lake, 116
Epirus, 138
equal rights, 222
equator, 10, 12, 13, 122, 131, 217, 261,
306
Equatorial Guinea, 122
Erg, 43
Eritrea, 123
Erromango, 320
escarpment, 134
Esfahan, Iran, 161
Eskimo, 315
Espiritu Santo, 320

Essequibo River, 145
Estonia, 124
Estrela, 246
Ethiopia, 125-126
ethnic makeup, 8
Euphrates River, 162, 163, 288
Europe, 18, 26
Everest, Mount, 94, 218
Ewe, 137
exports, 8
Faeroe Islands, 335

Falkland Islands, 336
family, 41, 48, 49, 55, 76, 107, 120, 133,
137, 150, 154, 167, 173, 175, 243,
247, 259, 263, 289, 303, 307
famine, 47, 229, 307
Fang, 122, 131
Farga de Moles, La, 45
Fatima, Portugal, 247
Faylakah, 179
fencing, 150
Fergana Valley, 318
Fernandino, 122
festivals, 45, 67, 78, 124, 126, 139, 161,
163, 172, 237, 241, 260, 291, 300
field hockey, 62, 155, 221
Fiji, 127, 270, 305
Filfla, 200
Filipino, 243
Finland, 128
Finland, Gulf of, 124, 128
fiord, 113, 230
fish, 193
Flanders, 66, 67
flat map, 10
flooding, 60, 61, 145, 224, 239
floodplain, 75
Florida, 313
Fogo, 89
folk art, 42, 112, 247, 250, 268
folk culture, 235, 309
folk dance, 79, 99, 139, 173, 205, 229
folklore, 182, 323
folk music, 41, 42, 79, 99, 124, 139, 150,
190, 250
folk song, 99, 124, 175, 182, 247
Fontvieille, Monaco, 208
football, 88, 316
forest, 64, 68, 72, 82, 111, 124, 134,
189, 251, 306, 314, 322
Fouta Djallon, 143, 144
France, 129-130, 297, 301
frankincense, 231
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 266
French Guiana, 336
French Polynesia, 342
French Riviera, 208
Frunze, Kyrgyzstan, 180

Fujairah, 310
Fuji, Mount, 169
Fula, 132, 143, 144, 225
Fulani, 86, 264
Fulbe, 202
Funafuti, Tuvalu, 305
Ga, 137
Gabon, 131
Gaborone, Botswana, 73
Gafsa, Tunisia, 300
Gaizinkalns, 182
Galapagos Islands, 117
Galdhopiggen, 230
Galicia, 278
Galilee, 165
Galilee, Sea of, 173
Gambia, 132, 264
Gambia River, 132, 143, 264
gambling, 296
gamelon, 159
Gandhi, Mahatma, 154
Ganges River, 59, 153
Garifuna Indians, 147
Gash River, 123
Gatun Lake, 237
gaucho, 50
Geba River, 144
Geneva, Lake, 287
Georgetown, Guyana, 145
Georgia, 133
Gerlachovsky, Mount, 268
Germany, 134-135, 180
geyser, 151, 222
Ghana, 81, 136-137
Ghats, 153
Gibraltar, 336
Gibraltar, Strait of, 210, 277
Gilbert Islands, 178
Gimie, Mt., 257
Gio, 185
glacier, 64, 151, 230, 287
glass painting, 268
globe, 10
Gobi Desert, 95, 209
gold, 58, 273
golf, 53, 172, 274, 276, 316, 333
Gonave, Gulf of, 146
Goombay, 57
Gotland, 285
Gozo, 200
Gran Santiago, Chile, 92
Gran Valira River, 45
Grand Bahama, 57
Grand Etang, 140
Grande Comore, 100
granite, 265
grassland, 330
351
graves, 192
Great Abaco, 57
Great Barrier Reef, 52
Great Britain, 234, 307, 311
Great Dividing Range, 52, 53
Great Escarpment, 75
Great Lakes, 87
Great Rift Valley, 125, 165, 193, 255
Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, 332, 333
Greater Antilles, 168
Greater Sundra Islands, 156
Greater Hinggan Mountains, 95
Greboun, Mount, 224
Greece, 9, 138-139
Greeks, 110
Greenland, 113, 336
Greenwich, England, 12
Grenada, 140
Grenadines, 258
Grossglockner, 54
Guadalcanal, 270
Guadeloupe, 335
Guadiana River, 246
Guam, 343
Guatemala, 141-142
Guatemala City, Guatemala, 141
Guayaquil, Ecuador, 117
Guest House Hill, 185
Guinea, 143
Guinea, Gulf of, 136, 261
Guinea-Bissau, 144
gulf, 8
Gulf of Mexico, 204
Gulf of Oman, 310
Gurage, 126
Gutland, 189
Guyana, 145
gymnastics, 172, 229, 2545
Gypsy, 55, 250, 268
Haapai, 298
Haiti, 116, 146
Halmahera, 157
Hamgyong Mountains, 228
Hamite, 103, 126
handicrafts, 51, 56, 58, 78, 84, 137, 161,
163, 201, 211, 247, 272, 280, 282
Hanoi, Vietnam, 324, 325
Harare, Zimbabwe, 332, 333
hardveld, 73
Hari River, 40
Hausa, 225, 227
Havana, Cuba, 108
Hawaii, 313, 314, 315
Hazara, 41
Heard and McDonald Islands, 341
Heha, Mount, 82
Helsinki, Finland, 128
hepatitis, 137
352
Hermon, Mount, 183

High Tatras, 268
Hiiumaa, 124
hiking, 53, 112, 135, 150, 222, 245, 250,
254, 268, 286, 287, 316
Himalayas, 70, 94, 152, 218, 219
Hindu Kush Mountains, 40
Hinduism, 70, 154, 158, 219, 280, 299
Hindustani, 283
Hispaniola, 116, 146
Hkakabo Razi, 214
Hmong, 181, 296, 325
hobbies, 316
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 324, 325
hockey, 65, 88, 254, 286, 329
Hohe Tauren, 54
Hokkaido, 170, 171
Holland, 220
Holy See, 321
Honduras, 147
Hong Kong, 148
Honiara, Solomon Islands, 270
Honshu, 169, 171
Hornad River, 268
Horse Latitudes, 13
horseback riding, 303
hot springs, 151, 222
Hoverla, Mount, 308
Hrazdan River, 51
Hron River, 268
Huang He River, 94
Huascaran, 240
Hudson Bay, 87
Hungary, 149-150
Hutu, 255
Hydroelectric power, 46, 284
Ialomita River, 249

Iberian Peninsula, 246, 277
Ibo, 227
Iboundji, Mount, 131
Iceland, 151
ice skating, 130, 221, 230
Iguacu Falls, 49
Ile de Gonave, 146
immigration, 88, 112, 130, 165, 179,
315
India, 59, 61, 152-155, 234, 312
Indian, 241
Indian Ocean, 100, 156, 176, 191, 203,
212, 265, 271, 293, 326, 340
Indian Ocean Territories, 340
indigenous beliefs, 86, 106, 192, 213,
294, 307, 333
indigenous people, 70, 78, 196
Indochinese Peninsula, 83, 181, 324
Indonesia, 156-159
Indus River, 232
infant mortality, 90, 91, 106, 132, 143
infectious diseases, 122, 147

influenza, 82
Inn River, 54
Inn-Danube River, 287
instruments, musical, 39
international time zones, 32
intestinal diseases, 118
Inthanon Mountain, 295
Inuit, 9, 253, 315
Ionian Islands, 138
Iran, 160-161
Iraq, 162-163
Ireland, 164, 311, 312
Irrawaddy River, 214
irrigation, 43
Isabal, Lake, 141
Isla de Margarita, 322
Islam, 44, 197, 225, 248, 294, 310
Islamabad, Pakistan, 232
island, 113, 122, 124, 128, 164, 166,
169, 275, 285, 311
island country, 48, 57, 58, 63, 89, 100,
104, 108, 110, 115, 116, 127, 146,
140, 151, 156, 168,
178, 191, 197, 200, 201, 203, 206,
217, 222, 236, 238, 242, 256, 257,
258, 259, 261, 265,
267, 270, 279, 290, 298, 299, 305,
320
Isle of Man, 336
Israel, 165
Issas, 114
Istanbul, Turkey, 302, 303
Isthmus of Panama, 237
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, 204
Italy, 166-167, 260
ivory, 9
Ivory Coast, 105
Jakarta, Indonesia, 156

Jamaica, 168
Jamuna River, 60
Japan, 169-172, 241, 325
Japan, Sea of, 169, 171, 228
Jarvis Island, 343
Java, 156, 158
Jan Mayen island, 334
Jersey, 336
Jerusalem, Israel, 165
jewelry, 199, 225, 235, 241, 280
Jews, 50, 130, 165, 253, 300, 309
Jhelum River, 232
Jinja, Uganda, 307
Jiu River, 249
Johnston Atoll, 343
Jola, 132
Jordan, 173
Jordan River, 173
Jostedal Glacier, 230
Juazapines, 188
Jubba River, 271
Julian Alps, 269
jungle, 240, 281
Junkanoo, 57
Jura Mountains, 129, 287
Jutland, 113
K2, 232
Kabul, Afghanistan, 40
Kabyle, 44
Kachin, 215
Kadavu, 127
Kafue River, 330
Kaieteur Falls, 145
Kalahari Desert, 73, 216, 273
Kalenjin, 177
Kalimantan, 156
Kamaran, 326
Kamba, 177
Kampala, Uganda, 306, 307
Kanchenjunga, 153
Kanuri, 225
Kapuas River, 156
Karachi, Pakistan, 232
Kara-Darya, 180
Karagiye Depression, 174
Karakoram Mountains, 232
Karen, 215
Karisimbi, 255
Karnali River, 218
Karpas Peninsula, 110
Karre Mountains, 90
Karst, 269
Karthala, 100
Kashmir, 234
Kathmandu, Nepal, 218, 219
Kavir Desert, 160
Kazakh, 209, 253, 292, 304, 319
Kazakhstan, 174-175
Kediet Ijill, Mount, 202
Kegali, Rwanda, 255
Kempenland, 66
kendo, 172
Kentucky, 314
Kenya, 176-177
Kerry, Mountains of, 164
key, 9
Khartoum, Sudan, 281
Khmer, 84, 296, 325
Khorasan Mountains, 160
khorovody, 309
kibbutzim, 165
kickboxing, 296
Kiev, Ukraine, 308
Kagali, Rwanda, 255
Kikuyu, 177
Kilimanjaro, Mount, 293
Kimbundu, 47
Kinabalu, Mount, 195

Kinabatangan River, 195
Kindundu, 47
Kingman Reef, 343
Kingston, Jamaica, 168
Kingstown, St. Vincent/Grenadines, 258
Kinshasa, Congo, 102, 103
Kiribati, 178, 217
Kiritimati, 178
Kirov Ballet, 254
Kivu, Lake, 102, 255
Kjolen Mountains, 230
Kokpar, 175
Kolen Mountains, 285
Kombo St. Mary, Gambia, 132
Komoe National Park, 105
Kongo, 101
Korab, 42
Korabit, Mount, 190
Korea Bay, 228
Koror, Palau, 236
Koryak, 253
Kosciusko, Mount, 52
Kosi River, 218
Kosovo, Yugoslavia, 329
Kowloon, 148
Kowloon Peak, 148
Kpelle, 185
Krahn, 185
Kravanh Mountains, 83
Krkonose Mountains, 111
Kru, 185
Kuala Belait, Brunei, 78
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 195
Kunama, 123
Kunene River, 216
Kunlun Mountains, 94
Kura River, 133
Kurd, 289
Kuwait, 179
Kuwait City, Kuwait, 179
Kwajalein Atoll, 201
Kyrenia Mountains, 110
Kyrgyz, 292, 319
Kyrgyzstan, 180
Kyushu, 170, 171
La Condamine, Monaco, 208

La Digue, 265
La Paz, Bolivia, 71
Labuan, 195
lace, 247
lacrosse, 88
Ladino, 142
Ladoga, Lake, 252
lagoon, 48, 69, 105, 131, 176, 178, 185,
201, 204, 226
Lagos, Nigeria, 226
Laguna de Bay, 242
lake, 54, 71, 128, 136, 165, 188, 193,

252, 285, 293
Lamaism, 209
landlocked country, 40, 45, 51, 64, 70,
71, 73, 80, 82, 90, 91, 111, 125, 149,
180, 181, 187, 189, 190, 193, 198,
207, 209, 218, 224, 239, 255, 268,
284, 287, 292, 306, 330, 332
landmarks of the world, 39
languages of the world, 33
lang, k.d., 88
Lantau Island, 148
Lao Loum, 181
Lao Soung, 181
Lao Theung, 181
Laos, 181
Lapland, 286
Latin America, 109
latitude, 10, 11, 12, 13
Latvia, 182
leatherwork, 327
Lebanon, 183
Lebanon Mountains, 183
Lebombo Mountains, 284
legend (map), 9
lemur, dwarf, 191
Lena River, 252
leprosy, 219
Lesotho, 184, 273
Lesser Antilles, 256
Lesser Sundra Islands, 157
leukemia, 65
Lewis and Clark Expedition, 15
Liamuiga, Mount, 256
Liberia, 185
Libreville, Gabon, 131
Libya, 186
Libyan Desert, 119, 186
Liechtenstein, 187
life expectancy, 18, 48, 148, 266, 315
Liguria, Italy, 167
Lilongwe, Malawi, 193
Lima, Peru, 240, 241
limbo dance, 299
limestone, 269
Line Islands, 178
lingua franca, 238
Lisbon, Portugal, 246, 247
literate, 8
Lithuania, 188
Ljubljana, Slovenia, 269
llanero, 323
Lobi, 81
locator, 9
Logone River, 91
Loire River, 129
Lombardy, Italy, 167
Lome, Togo, 297
London, England, 311
353
Long Island, Bahamas, 57

Long Mountains, 230
longitude, 10, 11, 12
Louisiade Archipelago, 238
Loum, 181
Luanda, Angola, 46
Luangwa River, 330
Luapula River, 330
Luhya, 177
Lunda-Chokwe, 47
Luo, 177
Lusaka, Zambia, 330, 331
Lut Desert, 160
Luxembourg, 189
Luzon, 242
Macedonia, 138, 190, 328

Madagascar, 191-192
Madrid, Spain, 277, 278
Madura, 158
Magellan, 12
Maghna River, 60
Maglic, 72
Magyar, 329
Mahe, 265
Main Range Mountains, 195
Maio, 89
Majardah River, 300
Majuro, Marshall Islands, 201
Makonde, 212
makossa, 86
Makua-Lomwe, 213
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 122
Malagasy, 192
Malaita, 270
Malakula, 320
malaria, 81, 82, 103, 122, 132, 137, 143,
144
Malawi, 193-194
Malawi, Lake, 193
Malay, 267
Malaysia, 195-196
Maldives, 197
Mal, Maldives, 197
Mali, 198-199
Malinke, 106, 143
malnutrition, 118, 137, 266, 329
Malta, 200
Managua, Lake, 223
Managua, Nicaragua, 223
Manama, Bahrain, 58
Manchuria, 95
Mande, 199
Mandinga, 144
Mandingo, 185, 264
Mandinka, 132
Mangoky River, 191
Mania River, 191
Manila, Philippines, 242
Manjaca, 144
354
Maori, 222
map index, 9
maps, 9-39
Maputo, Mozambique, 212, 213
marble, 45
Margherita Peak, 102, 306
Mari, 253
mariachi, 205
marimba, 142, 212, 213
Maroon, 283
marsh, 64, 69
Marshall Islands, 201
martial arts, 172, 173, 229, 276
Martinique, 339
Masaka, Uganda, 307
Maseru, Lesotho, 184
mask, 81, 86, 106, 226, 280
Massif De La Hotte, 146
Massif De La Selle, 146
Massif Du Nord, 146
Mauritania, 202
Mauritius, 203
Maurs, 202
Maya Mountains, 68
Mayo, Mountains of, 164
Mayombe Escarpment, 101
Mazowe River, 332
Mbabane, Swaziland, 284
Mbale, Uganda, 307
Mbarara, Uganda, 307
MBochi, 101
measles, 82, 122, 137
Mediterranean Sea, 110, 138, 165, 166,
183, 186, 200, 208, 277, 288, 300
Medvedev, Andrei, 309
Mekong River, 83, 181, 295, 324
Melanesian, 270
melting pot, 315
Mende, 266
Mercator, 10, 14
meridian, 12
Meron, Mount, 165
mesa, 204
Mesaoria, 110
Meseta, 277
Mestico, 144
Mestizo, 68, 71, 93, 118, 142, 147, 205,
223, 237, 239, 241, 323
Mexico, 204-205, 313
Mexico, Gulf of, 204
Mexico City, Mexico, 204, 205
Michelangelo, 321
Micronesia, 206
Middle Ages, 260
Middle Atlantic States, 314
Middle East, 58, 160, 162, 165, 173,
179, 183, 231, 248, 288
Midwestern States, 314
Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago, 242
Mindoro, 242
Midway Islands, 343

Mina Jabal Ali. 310
Minsk, Belarus, 64
minute, 12
Mirador Nacional, 317
Miskito Indians, 147
missionaries, 333
Mississippi River, 314, 315
Mlanje Sapitwa, Mount, 193
Modekngei, 236
Mogadishu, Somalia, 271
Mohajir, 234
Moheli, 100
Moldova, 207
Moldoveanu, Mount, 249
Molleweid, 10
Molucca Islands, 157
Mon, 215
Monaco, 208
Mongolia, 209
Mongolian Border Highlands, 95
monolith, 52
Monrovia, Liberia, 185
monsoon, 60, 83, 197, 214, , 326, 332
Mont Blanc, 129
Monte Carlo, Monaco, 208
Montenegrin, 329
Montenegro, 328
Montevideo, Uruguay, 317
Montserrat, 339
Moors, 199
Moravia, 111
Mordvin, 253
Morocco, 210-211
Moroni, Comoros, 100
Morrison, Mount, 290
Moscow, Russia, 251, 253, 254
Moselle River, 189
Moshi Dogamba, 137
Mosque of Suleiman I, 303
Mosquito Coast, 147
Mossi, 81
Motagna River, 141
mountain chain, 8
mountain climbing, 222, 250, 268, 287
movies, 97, 112, 135, 155, 159, 235,
241, 243, 245, 254, 291, 312, 316
Mozambique, 212-213
Mozambique Channel, 100
Mpigi, Uganda, 307
Muay Thai, 296
mulatto, 146, 237
Mullerthal, 189
Mur River, 54
mural, 213
Murray, Anne, 88
Murz River, 54
Muscat, Oman, 231
music, 55, 62, 86, 88, 103, 205, 219,
237, 241, 245, 254, 291, 299, 307,
312, 316, 329, 331

musical styles, 39
museum, 167
Muslim, 41, 91, 114, 123, 161, 183, 199,
202, 211, 225, 231, 234, 248, 294,
299, 304, 307, 319,
327, 329
Muslim League, 234
Mustique, 258
Mwera, Lake, 102
Myanmar, 214-215
Mzabite, 44
Naga, 215
Nagorno, 56
Nairobi, Kenya, 176
Naktong River, 275
Namib Desert, 216, 273
Namibia, 216
Nangnim Mountains, 228
Nanumanga, 305
Nanumea, 305
Narayani River, 218
Nassau, Bahamas, 57
Nasser, Lake, 119
Native American, 315
natural gas, 262, 300
Nauru, 217
Navassa Island, 339
navigation chart, 10
Naxcivan, 56
Nayramadlin Peak, 209
Ndebele, 333
NDjamena, Chad, 91
Neblina Peak, 75
Negev Desert, 165
Neman River, 188
Nepal, 218-219
Nepalese, 70
Netherlands, 220-221
Netherlands Antilles, 339
New Caledonia, 343
New Delhi, India, 152
New England, 313, 314
New Georgia, 270
New Guinea, 238
New Providence, 57
New South Wales, 53
New Territories, 148
New World, 315
New York City, 313
New Zealand, 222
Nganguela, 47
Ngaouri, Mount, 90
Ngoni, 194
Niamey, Niger, 224
Niari Valley, 101
Nicaragua, 223
Nicaragua, Lake, 223
Nicosia, Cyprus, 110
Niger, 224-225
Nigeria, 226-227
Niger Plains, 69
Niger River, 69, 198, 199, 224, 226
Nile River, 82, 119, 120, 281, 282, 306
Nimba, Mount, 143, 185
Niulakita, 305
Niue, 343
Niutao, 305
ni-Vanuatu, 320
nomad, 91, 120, 126, 132, 163, 173,
174, 175, 177, 186, 199, 202, 225,
231, 272, 288, 289, 319, 326, 327
Norfolk Isand, 344
North America, 22, 30
North Korea, 228-229
North Pacific Ocean, 201, 206
North Pole, 9, 12, 13
North Sea, 66, 220, 230
Northern Hemisphere, 13
Northern Ireland, 164
Northern Mariana Islands, 344
Norway, 230
Norwegian Sea, 230
Nouakchott, Mauritania, 202
Ntlenyana, Mount, 184
Nui, 305
Nukualofa, Tonga, 298
Nukufetau, 305
Nukulaelae, 305
Nung, 325
Nyala, 281
Nyanja, 194
Nyasa, Lake, 193
Oasis, 161, 262

Ob River, 252
Oceania, 21, 29
oceans, 36
Oder River, 134, 244
Ogooue River, 131
Ohrid Lake, 190
oil, 58, 161, 179, 248, 262, 300, 323
Okavango River, 216
Okavango Swamp, 73
Olt River, 249
Olympics, 65
Olympus, Mount, 110, 138
Oman, 231, 310
Oman, Gulf of, 160, 231, 310
Omyene, 131
Onilahy River, 191
opera, 124, 150
oral traditions, 82, 84, 194, 199, 227,
307
Orange River, 184, 216, 273
orchid, 191
Ordos Desert, 95
Oromo, 126
orphan, 84, 121
Oscars, 312
Osijek, Croatia, 107
Oslo, Norway, 230
Oti River, 136
Ottawa, Canada, 87
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 80-81
Our River, 189
Outback, 52
Ovambo, 216
Ovimbundu, 47
Pacific Coast States, 314

Pacific Ocean, 92, 141, 156, 169, 178,
217, 238, 242, 251, 270, 313, 320
Pacific Ocean Territories, 342
Paektu, Mount, 228
Pagon Peak, 78
Pahang River, 195
painting, 103, 135, 205, 213, 221, 243,
250, 268, 291, 309, 325
Pakistan, 61, 232-235
Palau, 236
Palikir, Micronesia, 206
Palk Strait, 279
Palmyra Atoll, 344
Pamir Mountains, 40, 94, 232, 292
Pamirs-Alai Mountains, 318
Panama, 237
Panama Canal, 237
Panama City, Panama, 237
Pampas, 49
panpipes, 118
Papua New Guinea, 238, 270
Paraguay, 239
Paraguay River, 239
parallels, 12
Paramaribo, Suriname, 283
Parana River, 49, 239
parasitic diseases, 89, 132, 147
Parcel Islands, 345
Paris, France, 129
Pashtun, 41, 234
Patagonia, 49
Peak Pobedy, 180
Pedro, Dom, 76
Peipus, Lake, 124
Peloponnesus Peninsula, 138
Peoples Democratic Republic of
Yemen, 326
per capita income, 91
performing arts, 55, 62, 67, 127, 159,
291, 312
Perim, 326
permafrost, 251
permanent pastures, 8
Persian, 161, 310
Persian Gulf, 58, 160, 162, 179, 248,
262, 310
Peru, 240-241
Peter I Island, 337
355
Petite Martinique, 140

petroleum, 262
Peul, 199
Philippines, 217, 242-243
Philippine Trench, 242
Phnom Arual, 83
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 83
phosphate, 210, 217, 300
Phou Bia, 181
physical map, 10
Pico de Cano, 89
Pico de Orizaba , 204
Pico Mogoton, 223
pidgin, 238, 270, 320
Pilcomayo River, 239
Pindus Mountains, 138
Pitcairn Islands, 344
Pitons, 257
plains, 8
plateau, 46, 60, 69, 151, 160, 181, 224,
277, 330
Pobedy, Peak, 180
poetry, 205, 272
Poland, 188, 244
polder, 220
Polesye, 308
political map, 10, 16-23
pollution, 188
polyandry, 219
polygamy, 61
polygyny, 331
Polynesian, 298, 305, 315
Pope, 321
population, 76, 94, 96, 99, 126, 132,
154, 158
population decrease, 309
population density, 8, 35, 47, 61, 63, 71,
82, 91, 100, 121, 131, 200, 203, 209,
215, 221, 255, 267
population growth, 35, 69, 132, 209,
223, 225, 227
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 146
Port Louis, Mauritius, 203
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 238
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago,
299
Port-Vila, Vanuatu, 320
Porto, Portugal, 247
Porto-Novo, Benin, 69
Portugal, 77, 246-247
pottery, 56, 58, 127, 137, 142, 211, 225,
241, 247, 268, 280
poverty, 51, 61, 71, 76, 81, 82, 89, 91,
100, 103, 107, 115, 118, 126, 133,
144, 147, 154, 158, 175, 197, 199,
266, 294, 307, 323, 329
Prague, Czech Republic, 111, 112
Praia, Cape Verde, 89
Praslin, 265
356
Prespa Lake, 190

Pretoria, South Africa, 273
prime meridian, 12
Pripet Marshes, 64
projection, 10
Protestants, 253
Prut River, 207, 249
Ptolemy, 11, 12
Punjabi, 234
puppet, 112, 159, 196
Puerto Rico, 338, 339
Pygmy, 131, 331
Pyongyang, North Korea, 228
Pyrenees Mountains, 45, 129, 277
Qat session, 327

Qatar, 248
Qattara Depression, 119
Qin Ling Mountains, 95
Qoraqalpogh, 319
Quechua, 71
Queensland, 52, 53
Quito, Ecuador, 117
Qurnat as Sawda, 183
Qyzlqum Desert, 318
Rabat, Morocco, 210

racing, 99, 103, 163, 175, 316
rafflesia, 195
rafting, 331
rain forest, 46, 75, 78, 85, 100, 102,115,
117, 125, 131, 141, 145, 147, 157,
176, 206, 240, 257,
267, 279, 283
rainfall, 60, 83
Rajang River, 195
Rakhine, 215
Ralik, 201
Rand McNally & Company, 15
Rangoon, Myanmar, 214
Ras al Khaimah, UAE, 310
Ras Dashen, 125
Rastafarian, 168
Ratak, 201
Ravi River, 232
reading, 229, 276, 316
Real de Turquino, 108
Redondo, 48
Red River, 324
Red Sea, 114, 119, 123, 326
Red Volta River, 80
refugee, 55, 112, 114, 183, 234, 312,
325, 327
reliefs, 10
religions of the world, 33
religious activities, 90, 142, 234
respiratory diseases, 143, 188
Runion, 341
Rewa River, 127
Reykjavik, Iceland, 151

Rhine River, 129, 134, 187, 287
Rhodesia, 332
Rhodope Mountains, 138
Rhone River, 287
Rif Mountains, 210
Riga, Gulf of, 182
Riga, Latvia, 182
Rigestan Desert, 40
Rijeka, Croatia, 107
Rila-Rhodope massif, 79
Rio Bravo del Norte River, 204
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 74
Rio de Plata, 49
Rio Grande River, 204
Rio Muni, 122
Ro Negro, 317
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 262
Robinson map, 10
rock, 48
Rocky Mountain States, 314
Rocky Mountains, 87, 313
rodeo, 317
Rodrigues, 203
Roman Catholic, 50, 116, 150, 164, 188,
208, 223, 243, 245, 247, 253, 255,
260, 299, 317, 321, 323
Romania, 249-250
Romanian Orthodox Church, 250
Rome, Italy, 166, 321
Ronde, 140
Roraima, Mount, 145
Roseau, Dominica, 115
Rotterdam, Netherlands, 221
Rub al Khali Desert, 231, 326
rugby, 130, 222, 274, 298, 317, 333
rumba, 331
running, 177, 274, 294
rural, 8
Rusizi River, 255
Russia, 182, 188, 207, 209, 251-254,
304, 313
Russian Orthodox, 253, 304
Ruvubu River, 82
Rwanda, 255
Rysy Peak, 244
Saaremaa, 124
Sab, 272
Sabah, 195
Sahara Atlas Mountains, 43
Sahara Desert, 43, 80, 91, 119, 186,
198, 199, 202, 210
Sahel, 80, 198, 199
Saho, 123
Saigon, Vietnam, 324
sailing, 135, 286
Saint Helena, 337
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 337
St. Georges, Grenada, 140

St. John River, 185
St. Johns, Antigua, 48
St. Kitts and Nevis, 256
St. Lawrence River, 87
St. Lucia, 257
St. Paul River, 185
St. Petersburg, Russia, 253, 254
St. Vincent/Grenadines, 258
Sal, 89
Salisbury, Zimbabwe, 332
Salmiya, Kuwait, 179
salsa, 109
saltwater lake, 252
Samaal, 272
samba music, 77
Samoa, 259
San Blas Mountains, 237
San Jose, Costa Rica, 104
San Marino, 260
San Salvador, El Salvador, 121
Sanaa, Yemen, 326
Sanaga River, 85
sand dunes, 43, 91, 186, 212, 216
Sangha, 101
Sankarani River, 143
San Miguelito, Panama, 237
Santa Luzia, 89
Santiago, Chile, 93
Santiago River, 204
Santo Anato , 89
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
116
Sanyati River, 332
Sao Nicolau, 89
So Tom and Prncipe, 261
Sao Tiago, 89
Sao Vincente, 89
Sara, 91
Sarajevo, Bosnia, 72
Sarawak, 78, 195
Satpura Mountains, 153
Saudi Arabia, 262-263, 310
Sava River, 328
Savaii, 259
savanna, 8, 71, 90, 105, 136, 143, 145,
202, 224, 283, 306, 332
scale, 10
scale bar, 9
Scandinavian Peninsula, 285
Schaan, Liechtenstein, 187
Scotland, 311, 312
sculpture, 47, 84, 86, 103, 227, 235, 241
seconds, 12
segregation, 274
Selous Game Reserve, 294
Semite, 126, 289
Senegal, 264
Senegal River, 202, 264
Senoufou, 106
Seoul, South Korea, 275
Serahuli, 132
Serb, 72, 328, 329
Serbia, 328
Serbia and Montenegro, 72
Serengeti National Park, 294
Serer, 264
Seria, 78
Serra da Estrela Mountains, 246
Serra do Mar, 75
Sevana Lake, 51
Seychelles, 265
Shabeelle, 271
Shamanism, 209
Sham Chun River, 148
Shan, 215
Shangdong Peninsula, 95
Shanghai, China, 94
Shannon, River, 164
Sharchops, 70
Sharjah, 310
Shawia, 44
Sherpa, 219
shifting cultivation, 196
Shikoku, 170, 171
Shire River, 193
Shkhara, Mount, 133
shoes, wooden, 221
shogun, 171
Shona, 333
Siam, 295
Siberia, 252, 253
Sichuan Basin, 95
Sicily, 166
Sierra de Bahoruco, 116
Sierra de los Organos, 108
Sierra de Neiba, 116
Sierra de Trinidad, 108
Sierra Leone, 266
Sierra Madre, 121, 204
Sierra Maestras, 108
Sigatoka River, 127
silverwork, 84
Sinai Peninsula, 119
Sindi, 234
Singapore, 267
singing, 82, 259, 294
Sinhalese, 280
Siret River, 249
Sistine Chapel, 321
Sjaelland, Denmark, 113
Skagerrak Strait, 230
skating, 167, 175, 221, 254
skiing, 93, 99, 130, 135, 222, 230, 250,
254, 268, 286, 287, 309, 316, 329
Skopje, Macedonia, 190
slash-and-burn farming, 181
slavery, 48, 63, 257, 258, 263, 266, 283,
315
Slovakia, 268
Slovene, 55, 328
Slovenia, 269, 328
slum 99, 113
soccer, 62, 65, 93, 99, 103, 104, 111,
120, 126, 130, 135, 139, 142, 150,
155, 159, 163, 167, 173, 175, 177,
205, 211, 221, 225, 227, 230, 241,
245, 247, 250, 254, 268, 272, 274,
276, 278, 282, 286, 294, 303, 309,
316, 317, 319, 323, 329
Socotra, 326
Sofia, Bulgaria, 79
Solomon Islands, 238, 270
solstice, 13
Somali, 126
Somalia, 271-272, 327
Soninke, 202
Sosso, 143
Sotovento, 89
Soufriere, Mount, 258
South Africa, 73, 184, 273-274, 284
South America, 23, 31
South China Sea, 148, 195
South China Sea Islands, 345
South Korea, 228, 275-276
South Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands, 337
South Pacific islands, 92
South Pacific Ocean, 127, 222, 259,
298, 305
South Pole, 12, 13, 346
South West Africa, 216
Southern Alps, 222
Southern Hemisphere, 13
Southern States, 314
Southwestern States, 314
Soviet Union, 65, 124, 133, 174, 253,
292, 304, 309, 318, 319
Spain, 277-278
Special Administrative Region, 148
Split, Croatia, 107
sports, 53, 65, 88, 99, 103, 104, 109,
126, 130, 139, 150, 167, 172, 173,
175, 177, 222, 230, 254,
274, 276, 316, 329
Spratly Islands, 345
Sri Lanka, 279-280
standard of living, 106, 112, 113, 187,
222, 250, 286
Stanley, Mount, 306
Stanley Pool Region, 101
starvation, 272
steppes, 251
Stockholm, Sweden, 285
storytelling, 47, 82, 84
Strait of Dover, 66
Strait of Gibraltar, 210, 277
357
Sucre, Bolivia, 71
Sudan, 281-282
Sudd, 281
Sudeten Mountains, 244
Sudety Mountains, 111
sugarcane, 63, 203
Sulawesi, 156
Sultan Alonto, Lake, 242
Sumatra, 156, 157
Sumava Mountains, 111
summer, 13
sumo, 172
suq, 211
Sre River, 189
Suriname, 283
Surma River, 60
Sutlej River, 232
Suva, Fiji, 127
Svalbard island, 334
swamp, 71, 73, 100, 101, 131, 144, 176,
185, 204, 206, 212, 226, 236, 266,
267, 281
Swaziland, 284
Sweden, 285-286
swimming, 53, 103, 109, 130, 135, 139,
150, 159, 222, 230, 250, 254, 286,
316
Switzerland, 287
Sydney, Australia, 52
Syr Darya River, 292
Syria, 288-289
Syrian Desert, 162, 173
Table tennis, 97, 276

Tabuaeran, 178
Tabwemasana, Mount, 320
Tadjoura, Gulf of, 114
Tadzhikistan, 292
tae kwon do, 276
Tagus River, 246
Tahan, Mount, 195
Tai Mo, Mount, 148
Taipei, Taiwan, 290
Taiwan, 290-291
Taiwan Strait, 290
Tajik, 41, 292, 319
Tajikstan, 292
takraw, 296
Tallinn, Estonia, 124
Tamil, 280
Tanganyika, Lake, 82, 102, 293
Tanna, 320
Tanzania, 293-294
Taoism, 325
Tarawa, Kiribati, 178
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 318
Tasmania, 52
Tatar, 253, 292, 304, 319
Taurus Mountains, 162
358
Taveuni, 127
Tay, 325
TaZuta, 200
Tbilisi, Georgia, 133
tea, 194
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 147
Tehran, Iran, 160
Tehuantepec, Isthmus of, 204
Tejo, 99
Teke, 101
television, 97, 112, 135, 254, 309, 316
Temne, 266
Tendre, Mount, 287
Tengri, Mount, 174
tennis, 53, 62, 104, 126, 130, 159, 171,
221, 222, 254, 274, 276, 286, 316
tennis, table, 97, 276
Teraina, 178
territory, 8
Texas, 314
Thailand, 295-296
Thar Desert, 153, 233
The Hague, Netherlands, 221
thematic maps, 11
Thessaly, 138
Thimphu, Bhutan, 70
Thrace, 138, 302
Tian Shan Mountains, 95, 174, 318
Tibetan Highlands, 94
Tidirhine, Mount, 210
Tien Shan Mountains, 180
Tigre, 123, 126
Tigrinya, 123
Tigris River, 162, 163
time zones, international, 32
Timor, 157
Tirane, Albania, 42
Titano, Mount, 260
Titicaca, Lake, 71, 240
Togo, 297
Togo Mountains, 297
Tokelau, 344
Tokyo, Japan, 169, 171
Tomanivi, Mount, 127
Tonga, 298
Tongariro, Mount, 222
Tongatapu, Tonga, 298
Tonle Sap , 83
topographical map, 10, 24-31
Toronto, Canada, 87
Torrid Zone, 13
Toubkal, Mount, 210
Toucouleur, 202, 264
Tour de France, 130
tourism, 45, 48, 53, 57, 139, 197, 200,
201, 203, 208, 247, 256, 257, 258,
260, 265, 268, 331, 333, 338
Toussoro, Mount, 90
track and field, 109, 211, 274
trade winds, 37
Transdanubia, 149
Transylvania, 249
Traun River, 54
tribe, 41
Triglav, Mount, 269
Trinidad and Tobago, 299
Tripoli, Libya, 186
Trobriand Island, 238
Troodos Mountains, 110
tropical forest, 71
Tropic of Cancer, 13
Tropic of Capricorn, 13
Tuareg, 44, 199, 225
tuberculosis, 89, 132, 143, 144, 219
Tugela River, 184
tugurio, 99
Tuira River, 237
tulips, 221
Tumbuka, 194
Tumen River, 228
tundra, 8, 87, 251
Tunis, Tunisia, 300
Tunisia, 300-301
Turkey, 302-303
Turkmen, 41, 292, 319
Turkmenistan, 304
Turks and Caicos Islands, 339
Tutsi, 255
Tuvalu, 217, 305
Twa, 255, 331
typhoid fever, 144
typhoon, 201, 228, 290, 324
Tyrrhenian Sea, 166
Ubangi River, 90
Udmurt, 253
Uganda, 306-307
Ukraine, 9, 308-309
Ulan Bator, Mongolia, 209
Umm al Quaiwain, UAE, 310
Union, 258
unique animals, 38
United Arab Emirates, 310
United Kingdom, 311-312
United States, 201, 206, 313-316, 325
Upolu, 259
Upper Volta, 80
uranium, 216
urban, 8
Urdu, 310
Uruguay, 317
Uruguay River, 49, 317
Uvs Lake, 209
Uzbek, 41, 180, 292, 304, 319
Uzbekistan, 318-319
Vaal River, 273
Vaalser Berg, 220
Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 187

Vah River, 268
Vaitupu, 305
Valira del Norte, 45
Valira del Oriente, 45
Valletta, Malta, 200
vanilla, 192
Vanua Levu, 127
Vanuatu, 320
Vardar River, 190
Vatican City, 208, 321
Vavau, 298
Vega Real, 116
veld, 273
Venezuela, 322-323
Victoria Falls, 331
Victoria, Hong Kong, 148
Victoria, Lake, 306, 307
Victoria Peak, 68
Victoria, Seychelles, 265
Vienna, Austria, 54, 55
Vientiane, Laos, 181
Vietnam, 296, 324-325
Vilnius, Lithuania, 188
Vinson Massif, 346
Virgin Islands, 339
Virunga Mountains, 255
Visayan Islands, 242
Vistula River, 244
visual arts, 55, 67, 127
Viti Levu, 127
Volcan Baru, 237
Volcan Tajumulco, 141
volcano, 51, 71, 85, 89, 100, 115, 122,
140, 151, 156, 160, 203, 206, 222,
223, 236, 238, 240, 242, 255, 256,
257, 258, 259, 261, 320
Volga River, 252
volleyball, 109, 126, 150, 159, 241
Volta, Lake, 136

Voltaic, 199
Volta River, 136
voodoo medicine, 146
Vortsjarv, Lake, 124
Woodlark Island, 238

world maps, 16-17, 24-25
World War II, 315
wrestling, 65, 175, 276, 303, 319
Wu., 215
Wake Islands, 344
Xinjiang-Mongolian Uplands, 94
Wales, 311, 312

Wallis & Futuna, 344
Walloon, 67
Warsaw, Poland, 244
Warta River, 244
Washington, D.C., 313
waterfalls, 46, 145
wealth, 208, 248, 323
weaving, 51, 56, 58, 84, 139, 142, 161,
280, 305, 326, 327
Wellington, New Zealand, 222
Weser River, 134
West Indies, 108, 116, 140, 146, 168,
257, 258, 299
Western Australian Shield, 52
Western Desert, 119
Western Samoa, 259
White Nile River, 281
White Volta River, 80, 136
whooping cough, 144
Windhoek, Namibia, 216
windmill, 220
windsurfing, 221
Windward Islands, 257
winter, 13
Wolof, 132, 202, 264
women, 44, 63, 179, 222, 263, 289
wonders of the world, 39
wood carving, 81, 86, 106, 127, 137,
142, 192, 196, 199, 213, 225, 249,
268, 280
wooden shoes, 221
Yamoussoukro, Cte dIvoire, 105

Yalu River, 228
Yangtze River, 94, 95
Yao, 194
Yaounde, Cameroon, 85, 86
Yap, 206
Yaren, Nauru, 217
Ybbs River, 54
Yellow Sea, 228
Yemen, 326-327
Yemen Arab Republic, 326
Yenisey River, 252
Yerevan, Armenia, 51
Yoruba, 227
Yucatan Peninsula, 204, 205
Yugoslavia, 72, 328-329
yurt, 175, 304
Yu Shan, 290
Zagreb, Croatia, 107
Zagros Mountains, 160, 162
Zambezi River, 193, 212, 216, 330, 331,
332
Zambia, 330-331
Zanzibar, 293
Zimbabwe, 332-333
Zugspitze Peak, 134
Zurich, Switzerland, 287
359
Photo Credits
Cover: top left, center right: PhotoDisc; op right, center left: Photospin; bottom right: Blackbirch Press archives;
bottom left: Corel Corporation; Back Cover: Corel Corporation; Pages 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 75 (bottom), 89, 94, 96
(right), 118 (bottom), 140, 145, 256, 290, 314 (bottom): PhotoDisc; pages 40, 41 (bottom), 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,
48, 49, 51, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 (left), 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76 (bottom), 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 88
(top), 92, 95 (bottom), 99, 102, 104, 105, 107, 110, 111, 112 (bottom), 117, 124, 125, 127, 128 (top), 130, 132, 133,
135, 136, 137, 141, 142 (top), 146 (right), 148, 153, 154, 155 (top), 156, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166, 167
(top), 168, 172, 173, 178, 179, 181, 182, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 197, 198 (bottom), 200, 206, 208,
210, 212, 213 (top), 214, 215, 216, 218, 219 (top), 220, 221, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234,
236, 238 (left), 240, 241 (top), 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254 (bottom), 255, 257, 259,
262,263, 264, 267, 268, 270, 274 (top), 275, 276 (top), 277, 278 (bottom), 279, 280, 281, 282, 285, 286, 287, 288,
289 (bottom), 291, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 306, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314 (top),
315, 316, 318, 319, 320, 322, 324, 325, 326, 327, 330, 332, 333, 334 (right), 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 342, 343, 346
(bottom): Corel Corporation; pages 41 (top), 53, 56, 62, 64 (left), 84, 93, 97 (bottom), 98, 101, 103, 108, 109 (top),
112 (top), 118 (top), 120 (top), 126, 128 (bottom), 143, 146 (left), 147, 151, 165, 169, 170, 171, 177, 183, 199 (top),
209, 211, 213 (bottom), 219 (bottom), 235, 237, 238 (right), 239, 241 (bottom), 246, 260, 272, 308, 317, 329, 331,
345: Blackbirch Press archives; pages 50 (top), 149, 150, 160, 167 (bottom), 254 (top), 258, 276 (bottom), 278 (top),
289 (top): National Geographic Society; page 50 (bottom): Marcela Staudenmaier; pages 52, 54, 113, 129, 134, 138,
265, 346 (top): Digital Stock;; page 63 (right): Courtesy Ruder Finn Public Relations; page 65: (c)Photo
Researchers, Inc./Jeff Greenberg/MRP; pages 72, 188, 269, 328: (c)Galyn C. Hammond; pages 73, 119, 120 (bottom), 176, 273: Corbis; page 76 (top): The Library of Congress; page s81, 97 (top), 109 (bottom), 142 (bottom),
270 (right), 274 (bottom): The United Nations; page 82: (c)Photo Researchers, Inc./G. Varela/Explorer; pages 85,
86, 90, 91, 106, 123, 283, 323: (c)Victor Englebert; page 87: Courtesy The Province of British Columbia; page 88
(bottom): Courtesy Industry, Science, and Technology Canada; page s95 (top), 96 (left): China National Tourist
Office; page 100: (c)Christine Osborne/CORBIS; page 121: (c)Mike Hutchison; page 122: (c)Vittoriano
Rastelli/CORBIS; page 131: (c)The Purcell Team/CORBIS; page 139: (c)Bruce Glassman; page s144, 266, 304,
305, 307: (c)CORBIS; pages 152, 155 (bottom): Air India Library; page s174, 175: (c)Wolfgang Kaehler/CORBIS;
page 180: Courtesy Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the USA and Canada; pages 184, 185, 202, 271: (c)John
Isaac; page 186: (c)Francoise de Mulder/CORBIS; page 195: (c)J. Apicella/CP&A; page 201: (c)Jack Fields/CORBIS; page 202: page 203: PictureQuest; pages 204, 205: Mexican Government Tourism Office; page 207: (c)Nik
Wheeler/CORBIS; page 217: US Government; page 223: (c)Wesley Bocxe/Photo Researchers, Inc.; page 248:
(c)Christine Osborne/CORBIS; page 261: (c)Robert Grossman/Africaphotos.com; page 284: (c)Bruce Leighty; page
292: Courtesy DHU; page 321: Courtesy Italian Government Tourist Board; pages 334 (left), 340, 341, 344:
Courtesy NOAA.
360

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The

Published by Blackbirch Press, Inc.

A Note About Statistics

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Color Key for Continents

Trade Winds and Currents..37

All About Maps ......................9

Selected Endangered Species

Parts of a Map ........................9

Kinds of Maps ......................10

North America ..................30

Thematic Maps ....................11

South America ..................31

Longitude and Latitude ......12

Religions of the World ........33

Landmarks Around the

Languages of the World ......33

Selected Countries and

Countries of the World

Defense Budget ....................34

North America ..................22

World Population Density ..35

South America ..................23

World Annual Average

Population Growth ..........35

Oceans of the World............36

Antigua and Barbuda ........48

World Climate Zones ..........36

World Biomes ......................37

Equatorial Guinea ..........122

Burkina Faso ......................80

Cape Verde ........................89

Central African Republic ..90

Marshall Islands ..............201

Congo (Zaire) ..................102

St. Kitts and Nevis ..........256

St. Lucia ..........................257

St. Vincent ......................258

Trinidad and Tobago ......299

San Marino ......................260

So Tom and Prncipe ..261

Saudi Arabia ....................262

New Zealand ..................222

Sierra Leone ....................266

United Arab Emirates ....310

United Kingdom ............311

North Korea ....................228

United States ..................313

Solomon Islands ..............270

South Africa ....................273

South Korea ....................275

Vatican City ....................321

Papua New Guinea..........238

Territories and Possessions ..334

For Further Information ....346

How to Use This Book

Average Daily Temperature

4. Review your visit. On the last day of a

permanent pastures used for the commercial raising

All About Maps

A map key or legend explains

The scale bar shows how