world map

ASIA 149

E F GH

Sea of POLITICAL FACTFILE 1
Okhotsk 2
TOTAL AREA: 3
Kurile Islands 17,006,354 sq miles 4
(44,046,472 sq km) 5
NORTH JAPAN Cancer
KOREA TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES:
TOKYO 49
PYONGYANG Tropic of
TOTAL POPULATION:
BEIJING SEOUL 4148.4 million

SOUTH LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION:
KOREA Tokyo, Japan 33.8 million

COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST
POPULATION DENSITY:
Singapore 20,072 people per sq mile
(7765 people per sq km)

LARGEST COUNTRY:
Asiatic Russia 5,065,394 sq miles
(13,119,382 sq km)

SMALLEST COUNTRY:
Maldives 116 sq miles
(300 sq km)

Ryukyu Islands

TAIPEI PACIFIC
OCEAN
TAIWAN

MANILA Equator 0 1000 km
0 1000 miles
PHILIPPINES
AUSTRALASIA
BRUNEI BANDAR & OCEANIA
Y S I A SERI BEGAWAN

DONESIA

DILI

EAST TIMOR

E F GH

150 AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA D

Australasia & Oceania

A BC

Wake Island

Northern (to US)

1 Mariana
Islands

Philippine (US)
Sea M
i c MARSHALL
HAGÅTÑA
Guam r o ISLANDS
n
(US)

MELEKEOK Caroline PALIKIR e MAJURO
Islands s

Babeldaob MICRONESIA
a
2 i BAIRIKI

PALAU Melan ividing Range NAURU
PAPUA NEW Gre
e s NAURU KIRIBATI

AEquator S I A GUINEA i TUVALU
a
FONGAFALE
SOLOMON

PORT MORESBY ISLANDS

HONIARA

3

VANUATU

Ashmore & Coral Sea PORT VILA SUVA
Cartier Islands Islands New Caledonia
(Australia) FIJI
(Australia) (France)
at
INDIAN D NOUMÉA

4 OCEAN AUSTRALIA Darling Norfolk Island
(Australia)
Tropic of Capricorn Lake Eyre North
5 Lake Torrens Lord Howe
Island
NEW
(Australia) ZEALAND

Murray CANBERRA

WELLINGTON

Tasman
Sea

Tasmania

A B CD

AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA 151

E F GH

International Dateline Johnston Atoll POLITICAL FACTFILE COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST 1
(US) POPULATION DENSITY:
TOTAL AREA: Nauru 1210 people per sq mile
3,244,632 sq miles (8,403,608 sq km) (467 people per sq km)

TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: LARGEST COUNTRY:
14 Australia 2,967,893 sq miles
(7,686,850 sq km)
TOTAL POPULATION:
34.5 million

LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: SMALLEST COUNTRY:
Sydney, Australia 4.4 million Nauru 8.1 sq miles (21 sq km)

Baker & Howland Jarvis Island 2
Islands (US)
l PACIFIC
(US) y
n
KIRIBATI eKIRIBATI OCEAN Equator
sia
Phoenix Islands

Tokelau

Wallis & (NZ) Marquesas Islands
Futuna American Cook Islands
(Fr.) SAMOA Samoa (NZ)
3
MATÁ’UTU ÁPIA (US) 4
PAGO PAGO

TONGA Society PAPEETE
Islands
Niue
(NZ)

NUKU‘ AVARUA French Polynesia
ALOFA
Iles
(France)
Kermadec Islands Australes Pitcairn
(New Zealand) Islands

(UK)

International Dateline o Tropic of Capricorn
P

0 1000 km 5
0 1000 miles

Chatham Islands
(New Zealand)

E F GH

152

Key to factfile maps

FOREWORD
This factfile is intended as a guide to a world that is continually changing as
political fashions and personalities come and go. Nevertheless, all the
material in these factfiles has been researched from the most up-to-date
and authoritative sources to give an incisive portrait of the geographical,
social, and economic characteristics that make each country unique.

KEY TO MAP SYMBOLS DRAINAGE FEATURES

ELEVATION River
Seasonal river
4000m/13,124ft Canal
3000m/9843ft Lake
2000m/6562ft Seasonal lake
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft SYMBOLS
200m/656ft
0 Capital city
Below sea level Major town

BORDERS International airport
Mountain
Full international
The asterisk in the Factfile denotes the country's
Disputed de facto official language(s)
Date of formation denotes the date of political
Territorial claim origin or independence; the second date (if any)
identifies when its current borders were established
Cease-fire line The area figure denotes total land area

State/Province

ASIA 153

Afghanistan

About 75% of this landlocked Asian country is
inaccessible. The Islamist Taliban, ousted in 2001, continue
to fight a guerrilla war against Afghan and NATO-led forces.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Predominantly mountainous. Mainly agricultural, severely
Highest range is the Hindu Kush. disrupted by war. Illicit opium trade is big
Mountains are bordered by fertile plains. cash earner. Natural gas pipeline planned
Desert plateau in the south. from the Caspian Sea to Pakistan.

CLIMATE INSIGHT: The UN estimates that it
Harsh continental. Hot, dry could take 100 years to remove the
summers. Cold winters with heavy 10 million landmines laid since 1979
snow, especially in the Hindu Kush.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY UZBEK. TAJIKISTAN
CHINA

Mujahideen factions fought first TURKMENISTAN Feyzábád
against Soviet invaders (from 1979), Mazár-e Sharíf Kush
and then against each other (after 1989), Kondoz indu
before the Taliban won control in 1996. Meymaneh Baghlán
Under their strict Islamist regime
H

Herát Cháríkár Jalálábád
KABUL Khyber Pass

Ghazní

women were denied all rights and PAKISTAN

ethnic tensions were exacerbated. Gereshk Kandahár

The US assisted anti-Taliban forces in
2001 as part of its “war on terrorism.” IRAN

A new democratic government 0 100 km 3000m/9843ft
struggles to maintain control as 0 100 miles 2000m/6562ft
insurgency continues. 1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

FACTFILE DENSITY: 112 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Pashtu*, Dari*, Tajik, other
OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic State RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 84%,
of Afghanistan Shi’a Muslim 15%, other 1%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1919 ETHNIC MIX: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Hazara
CAPITAL: Kabul 19%, Uzbek, Turkmen, other 18%
POPULATION: 28.1 million GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
TOTAL AREA: 250,000 sq. miles CURRENCY: Afghani = 100 puls
(647,500 sq. km)

154 EUROPE

Albania

Lying at the southeastern end of the Adriatic Sea,
Albania was the last east European country to liberalize its
economy. The regional strife of the 1990s has left a difficult legacy.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Narrow coastal plain. Interior is Oil and natural gas reserves have
mostly hills and mountains. Forest and potential to offset rudimentary
scrub cover over 40% of the land. infrastructure and lack of foreign
investment. Organized crime problem.
CLIMATE
Mediterranean coastal climate, MONTENEGRO KOSOVO 2000m/6562ft
with warm summers and cool winters. Kukës 1000m/3281ft
Mountains receive heavy rains or Lake Scutari 500m/1640ft
snows in winter. Shkodër
200m/656ft
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Sea Level
The pace of economic reform
remains a major issue. EU membership, Adriatic MACEDONIA
applied for in 2009, is a distant Sea
prospect. Mosques and churches TIRANA
have reopened in what was once the Durrës
world’s only officially atheist state.
The Greek minority in the south Elbasan Lake
suffers much discrimination. Ohrid
Lushnjë Berat
INSIGHT: The Albanians’ name Fier Lake
for their country, Shqipërisë, Prespa
means “Land of the Eagles”
Vlorë Korçë

Ionian Delvinë
Sea GREECE

0 50 km
0 50 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Albanian*, Greek
RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 70%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Albania Orthodox Christian 20%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1912 Roman Catholic 10%
CAPITAL: Tirana ETHNIC MIX: Albanian 93%, Greek 5%,
POPULATION: 3.16 million other 2%
TOTAL AREA: 11,100 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(28,748 sq. km) CURRENCY: Lek = 100 qindarka (qintars)
DENSITY: 298 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 155

Algeria

Africa’s second-largest country, Algeria won independence
from France in 1962. Today, national reconciliation is key to
recovery from a conflict launched by Islamic extremists in 1992.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
85% of the country lies within the Oil and natural gas exports.
Sahara Desert. Fertile coastal region with Political turmoil has led to exodus of
plains and hills rises from the southeast skilled foreign labor. Limited agriculture.
to the Atlas Mountains.
INSIGHT: The world’s highest dunes
CLIMATE are located in the deserts
Coastal areas are warm and of east central Algeria
temperate, with most rainfall during the
mild winters. The south is very hot, with Mediterranean Sea
negligible rainfall.
ALGIERS Béjaïa Annaba
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Oran
Algerians are predominantly Constantine
Arab, under 30 years of age, and Sétif
urban. Most indigenous Berbers MOROCTCleOmcenAtlasTiMartest. Biskra Batna
consider the mountainous Kabylia TUNISIA
region in the northeast to be their
homeland. They have been granted Ghardaïa
greater ethnic rights in recent years.
The Sahara sustains just 500,000 people, Béchar
mainly oil workers and Tuareg nomads
with goat and camel herds, who move I-n-Salah Tassili-n-Ajjer LIBYA
between the irrigated oases.
MAUR.

MALI Ahaggar
Tamanrasset

Sahara
NIGER

2000m/6562ft 0 200 km
1000m/3281ft 0 200 miles
500m/1640ft

200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Tamazight, French
OFFICIAL NAME: People’s Democratic RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 99%,
Republic of Algeria Christian and Jewish 1%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1962 ETHNIC MIX: Arab 75%, Berber 24%,
CAPITAL: Algiers European and Jewish 1%
POPULATION: 34.9 million GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
TOTAL AREA: 919,590 sq. miles CURRENCY: Algerian dinar = 100 centimes
(2,381,740 sq. km)

156 EUROPE

Andorra

A tiny landlocked principality, Andorra lies high in the
eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain. It held its first full
elections in 1993. Tourism is the main source of income.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
High mountains, with six deep, Tourism and duty-free sales
glaciated valleys that drain into the dominate the economy. Banking secrecy
Valira River as it flows into Spain. laws and low consumer taxes promote
investment and commerce. France and
CLIMATE Spain effectively decide economic policy.
Cool, wet springs followed by dry, Dependence on imported food and
warm summers. Mountain snows linger raw materials.
until March.
2000m/6562ft
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 1000m/3281ft
Immigration is strictly monitored 500m/1640ft
and restricted by quota to French
and Spanish nationals seeking FRANCE
employment in Andorra. Low taxes
attract wealthy expatriates. A Pyrenees
referendum in 1993 ended 715 years
of semifeudal status, but Andorran Arinsal Soldeu
society remains conservative.
Ordino Canillo Port
INSIGHT: Andorra’s coprincipality Encamp d'Envalira
status dates from the 13th century.
The “princes” are the president of France Escaldes
and the bishop of Urgel in Spain.
Valira ANDORRA LA VELLA

Sant Julià de Lòria

SPAIN

0 5 km
0 5 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Spanish, Catalan*, French,
Portuguese
OFFICIAL NAME: Principality of Andorra RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 94%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1278 other 6%
CAPITAL: Andorra la Vella ETHNIC MIX: Spanish 46%, Andorran 28%,
POPULATION: 82,200 other 18%, French 8%
TOTAL AREA: 181 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(468 sq. km) CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
DENSITY: 457 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 157

Angola

Located in southwest Africa, Angola suffered a civil war
following independence from Portugal in 1975, until a 2002

peace deal. Hundreds of thousands of people died.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Most of the land is hilly and grass- Potentially one of Africa’s richest
covered. Desert in the south. Mountains countries, but long civil war hampered
in the center and north. economic development. Oil and
diamonds are exported.
CLIMATE
Varies from temperate to tropical. CONGO
Rainfall decreases north to south. Coast
is cooler and dry. CABINDA Co ngo
(part of Angola)
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Civil war pitched the ruling M’Banza DEM. REP.CONGO
Kimbundu-dominated MPLA against Congo
UNITA, representing the Ovimbundu. Uíge
Multiparty elections in 1991–1992, after
the MPLA had abandoned Marxism, failed LUANDA Lucapa
to stall the war for long. Power-sharing
from 2002 ended when the MPLA won Malanje Saurimo
the 2008 election; a presidential poll has
yet to be held. ATLANTIC Cua nza Zambezi
OCEAN Luena
INSIGHT: Angola has the greatest
number of amputees (caused by Lobito Huambo Planalto
landmines) in the world Benguela

do Bié

Lubango Menongue ZAMBIA
Namibe

Cunene

NAMIBIA BOTSWANA

2000m/6562ft 0 200 km
1000m/3281ft 0 200 miles
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Portuguese*, Umbundu,
Kimbundu, Kikongo
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Angola RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 50%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 other 30%, Protestant 20%
CAPITAL: Luanda ETHNIC MIX: Ovimbundu 37%, other 25%,
POPULATION: 18.5 million Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%
TOTAL AREA: 481,351 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(1,246,700 sq. km) CURRENCY: Readjusted kwanza = 100 lwei
DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile

158 ANTARCTICA

Antarctica

The circumpolar continent of Antarctica is almost entirely covered by
ice, some up to 1.2 miles (2 km) thick. It also contains 90% of the Earth’s
freshwater reserves.

GEOGRAPHY PEOPLE & SOCIETY
The bulk of Antarctica’s ice is No indigenous population.
contained in the Greater Antarctic Ice Scientists and logistical staff work at
Sheet – a huge dome that rises steeply the 40 permanent, and as many as
from the coast and flattens to a plateau 100 temporary, research stations. A
in the interior. few Chilean settler families live on
King George Island. Tourism is mostly
CLIMATE by cruise ship to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Powerful winds create a storm belt Annual tourist numbers have reached
around the continent, which brings cloud, nearly 50,000.
fog, and blizzards. Winter temperatures
can fall to –112°F (–80°C). 0 1000 km

0 1000 miles

South Antarctic Circle SOUTHERN
Orkney Is. n aMnadud OCEAN

Territorial Claims: South
Shetland Is.
Chilean claim
Argentinian claim King Weddell QLuee
Brazilian zone of interest George I. Sea kes Land
British claim
Norwegian undefined limit Antarctic Enderby
Peninsula
Australian Land
claim
Ronne Ice East
French claim Shelf
New Zealand claim South A n t a r c t i c a
Ellsworth Pole

Land Transant

West arctic MVitcsLt.aonrida
Antarctica

Amundsen Ross Ice Wil
Sea Shelf

The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 Ross SOUTHERN
holds all territorial claims in Sea
abeyance in the interest of SOUTHERN South OCEAN
international cooperation OCEAN Balleny Is. Magnetic
Ice Cap
Pole Permanent Ice

FACTFILE INSIGHT: If the ice sheets of
Antarctica were to melt, the
DATE OF FORMATION: 1961 world’s oceans would rise by as much
TOTAL AREA: 5,405,000 sq. miles as 200–210 ft (60–65 m)
(14,000,000 sq. km)

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA 159

Antigua & Barbuda

A former colony of Spain, France, and the UK, Antigua
and Barbuda lies at the outer edge of the Leeward Islands group
in the Caribbean, and includes the uninhabited islet of Redonda.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mainly low-lying limestone and Tourism is the main source
coral islands with some higher volcanic of revenue and the biggest provider
areas. Antigua’s coast is indented with of jobs. Financial services and Internet
bays and harbors. gambling are expanding. High debt.

CLIMATE 0 5 km ATLANTIC
Tropical, moderated by trade winds 0 5 miles OCEAN
and sea breezes. Humidity and rainfall are
low for the region. Codrington The Highlands

PEOPLE & SOCIETY 200m/656ft Codrington Barbuda
Population almost entirely of Sea Level Lagoon
African origin, with small communities of
Europeans and South Asians. Women’s Islands Palmetto
status has risen as a result of greater Long Point
access to education. Wealth disparities
are small. The Bird family dominated V.C. Bird 30 miles (50 Spanish
politics from 1960, but lost power to the Intl. Airport I. Point
United Progressive Party (UPP) from 2004.
ST. JOHN’S Guiana I. km) apart
INSIGHT: In 1865, Redonda was
“claimed” by an eccentric Englishman as Antigua
a kingdom for his son
Bolans Freetown Green I.

Falmouth a sasdaegleo u p e
Caribbean Sea Gu P

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: English*, English patois
RELIGIONS: Anglican 45%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Antigua and Barbuda other Protestant 42%, Roman Catholic 10%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1981 other 2%, Rastafarian 1%
CAPITAL: St. John’s ETHNIC MIX: Black African 95%,
POPULATION: 82,800 other 5%
TOTAL AREA: 170 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(442 sq. km) CURRENCY: E. Caribbean $ = 100 cents
DENSITY: 487 people per sq. mile

160 SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina

Argentina occupies most of southern South America.
After 30 years of intermittent military rule, democracy returned
in 1983. Economy has slowed since its recovery from 2001 crash.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
The Andes form a natural border Agricultural exports restored
with Chile in the west. East are the growth from 2003, but bad drought in
heavily wooded plains (Gran Chaco) and 2008 coincided with global downturn.
treeless but fertile Pampas plains. Bleak
and arid Patagonia in the south. BOLIVIA PARAGUAY

CLIMATE Gran Chac
The Andes are semiarid in the north Salta Patagonia Posadas
and snowy in the south. Pampas have a San Miguel de Pampas o Corrientes
mild climate with summer rains.
Tucumán
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Sal ado BRAZIL
People are largely of European
descent; over one-third are of Italian CHILE Andes Santa Fe Paraná URUGUAY
origin. Indigenous peoples are now in a
minority, living mainly in Andean regions San Juan Córdoba Rosario
or in the Gran Chaco. The middle classes Mendoza BUENOS AIRES
were worst hit by the economic La Plata
meltdown of 2001–2002.
Santa Rosa Mar del Plata
INSIGHT: The Tango originated
in the poorer quarters of Buenos Bahía Blanca
Aires at the end of the 19th century
Neuquén Negro Bahía Blanca
Viedma

ATLANTIC

OCEAN
Golfo
San Jorge

Falkland Islands

Bahía (to UK)
Grande

Río Gallegos Tierra
del
Strait of 4000m/13124ft
Magellan Fuego 3000m/9843ft
2000m/6562ft
0 400 km 1000m/3281ft

0 400 miles 200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Italian, Amerindian
languages
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Argentina RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 90%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1816 other 6%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%
CAPITAL: Buenos Aires ETHNIC MIX: Indo-European 83%, Mestizo
POPULATION: 40.3 million 14%, Jewish 2%, Amerindian 1%
TOTAL AREA: 1,068,296 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(2,766,890 sq. km) CURRENCY: Argentine peso = 100 centavos
DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile

ASIA 161

Armenia

The smallest of the former USSR’s republics, Armenia
lies landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. After
1988, a confrontation with Azerbaijan dominated national life.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Rugged and mountainous, with Overseas remittances and
expanses of semidesert and a large lake agriculture each account for a sixth
in the east: Sevana Lich. of GDP. Main products are wine,
tobacco, potatoes, and fruit. Well-
CLIMATE developed machine-building and
Continental climate, with little manufacturing – includes textiles
rainfall in the lowlands. The winters are and bottling of mineral water.
often bitterly cold.
GEORGIA 3000m/9843ft
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Alaverdi 2000m/6562ft
Christianity is the dominant 1000m/3281ft
religion, but minority groups are 500m/1640ft
well integrated. War with Azerbaijan
over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh Vanadzor
forced 350,000 Armenians living in Lesser Caucasus
Azerbaijan to return home, many to Gyumri ASevan AZERBAIJAN
live in poverty. There are close and
important ties to the seven-million- TURKEY Hrazdan
strong Armenian diaspora.
Ashtarak Sevana
INSIGHT: In the 4th century, Armenia Lich
became the first country to adopt Vagharshapat
Christianity as its state religion
Armavir YEREVAN
ras Ararat

AZERBAIJAN Kapan

Aras

0 50 km IRAN
0 50 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Armenian*, Azeri, Russian
RELIGIONS: Armenian Apostolic Church
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Armenia (Orthodox) 88%, Armenian Catholic Church
DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 6%, other 6%
CAPITAL: Yerevan ETHNIC MIX: Armenian 98%, Yezidi 1%,
POPULATION: 3.08 million other 1%
TOTAL AREA: 11,506 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(29,800 sq. km) CURRENCY: Dram = 100 luma
DENSITY: 268 people per sq. mile

162 AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA

Australia

An island continent in its own right, Australia is the
world’s sixth-largest country. European settlement began over
200 years ago. Most Australians now live in cities along the coast.

GEOGRAPHY PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Located between the Indian The first settlers arrived in
and Pacific oceans, Australia has a Australia at least 100,000 years ago.
variety of landscapes, including tropical Today, the Aborigines make up around
rainforests, the arid plateaus, ridges, 2% of the population. European
and vast deserts of the “red center,” colonization began in 1788, and was
the lowlands and river systems draining dominated by British and Irish
into Lake Eyre, rolling tracts of pastoral immigrants, some of whom were
land, and magnificent beaches around convicts. White-only immigration drives
much of the coastline. In the far brought many Europeans to Australia,
east are the mountains of the but since the 1960s multi-culturalism
Great Dividing Range. Famous natural has been encouraged and most new
features include Uluru (Ayers Rock) and settlers are Asian; Cantonese has
the Great Barrier Reef. overtaken Italian as the second most
widely spoken language. Wealth
CLIMATE disparities are small, but Aborigines,
The west and south are semi-arid the exception in an otherwise
with hot summers. The arid interior integrated society, are marginalized:
can reach 120°F (50°C) in the central their average life expectancy is around
desert areas. The north is hot 11 years less than other Australians.
throughout the year, and humid The new Labor government from 2007
during the summer monsoon. East, has overturned right-wing policies on
southeast, and southwest coastal illegal immigration and has signed up
areas are temperate. to limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

FACTFILE DENSITY: 7 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: English*, Cantonese, other
OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of RELIGIONS: Various Protestant 38%,
Australia other 36%, Roman Catholic 26%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1901 ETHNIC MIX: European 90%, Asian 7%,
CAPITAL: Canberra Aboriginal 2%, other 1%
POPULATION: 21.3 million GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
TOTAL AREA: 2,967,893 sq. miles CURRENCY: Australian dollar = 100 cents
(7,686,850 sq. km)

AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA 163

THE ECONOMY Asian financial crisis. China now rivals
Efficient mining and agriculture: Japan as Australia’s major trading partner.
particular success in viticulture. Large Upward trend in Asian visitor arrivals
resource base: coal, iron ore, bauxite, has strengthened tourism.
and most other minerals. Protectionism
abandoned to open up Australian INSIGHT: Sydney has the
markets. Concentration on trade with world’s largest suburban area,
Asia: China’s expanding demand for a conurbation so vast that the city
minerals spurred a return to strong is twice as large as Beijing and
economic growth after the 1997 six times the size of Rome

Timor Arafura Sea Bamaga Cape York Great PACIFIC
Sea OCEAN
Darwin Gulf
Arnhem of Barrier
Land
Carpentaria

INDIAN Kimberley Cairns Coral
OCEAN Plateau Reef Sea
Great
NORTHERN Townsville
TERRITORY

Port Hedland Great Sandy Mount Isa Dividing Mackay

Des e r t Lake Macdonnell Rockhampton
Lake b s Mackay R a n g e s Alice Springs
HRaamnegresleyDisappointmGenti on
QUEENSLAND
Desert Uluru Bundaberg
(Ayers Rock) Ran
WESTERN (867m) Simpson ge Fraser I.
Lake Carnegie Gympie
Carnarvon Desert

Meekatharra Great Lake Eyre Toowoomba Brisbane
AUSTRALIA Victoria SOUTH
Ipswich Gold Coast
Desert Surfers
Flinders Ra Paradise
Great Dividing Range Grafton
Geraldton Kalgoorlie Plain AUSTRALIA nges Darling
N Port Augusta
Perth l a r b o r NEW SOUTH Coffs
Fremantle Harbour
u l Broken Hill Newcastle

D Whyalla Port Pirie WALES

Rockingham ar Elizabeth Sydney
R
Bunbury
Cape Leeuwin al inngge Port Lincoln Wagga

Albany Esperance Kangaroo I. AdelaidBeendMiguorray Wagga Wollongong
Great Australian Albury CANBERRA
Bight AUSTRALIAN

VICTORIA CAPITAL TERRITORY
Melbourne Australian Alps

Geelong Tasman

Bass Strait Sea
Burnie

1000m/3281ft TASMANIA Launceston

500m/1640ft 0 400 km Hobart
South East Cape
200m/656ft

Sea Level 0 400 miles

Below Sea Level

164 EUROPE

Austria

Bordering eight countries in the heart of Europe,
Austria was created in 1918 after the collapse of the Habsburg
Empire. Neutral after World War II, it joined the EU in 1995.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mainly mountainous. Alps and Large manufacturing base, despite
foothills cover the west and south. lack of energy resources. The skilled labor
Lowlands in the east are part of the force is key to high-tech exports.
Danube River basin. Eurozone membership since 2002 has
boosted investment.
CLIMATE
Temperate continental climate. INSIGHT: Many of the world’s great
The western Alpine regions have composers were Austrian, including
colder winters and more rainfall. Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, and Strauss

PEOPLE & SOCIETY 3000m/9843ft
Though Austrians speak German,
they like to stress their distinctive 2000m/6562ft CZECH REP.
identity in relation to Germany. Vienna 1000m/3281ft
is a major cultural center. Minorities
are few; there are some ethnic Croats, 500m/1640ft
Slovenes, and Hungarians, plus
refugees from conflict in former 200m/656ft
Yugoslavia. Though strongly Roman
Catholic, Austrian society is less Sea Level
conservative than some southern
German Länder. Class divisions Linz Da n u e VIENNAb SLVKA.
remain strong. Wels
Salzburg Steyr Sankt Pölten
Wiener
GERMANY Bad Ischl Neustadt

Dornbirn Innsbruck Leoben HUNG.
LIECH. A
ps Graz
l Wolfsberg

SWITZ. ITALY Villach Klagenfurt

SLOVENIA

0 50 km

0 50 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: German*, Croatian, Slovenian,
Hungarian (Magyar)
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Austria RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 78%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1918 nonreligious 9%, other 8%, Protestant 5%
CAPITAL: Vienna ETHNIC MIX: Austrian 93%, Croat, Slovene,
POPULATION: 8.36 million and Hungarian 6%, other 1%
TOTAL AREA: 32,378 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(83,858 sq. km) CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
DENSITY: 262 people per sq. mile

ASIA 165

Azerbaijan

Situated on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, it
was the first Soviet republic to declare independence in 1991.
Territorial disputes with Armenia have dominated politics since.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Caucasus Mountains in west, Oil and natural gas exports drive
including Naxçivan exclave south of economic growth. Pipeline to Ceyhan,
Armenia. Flat, low-lying terrain on the Turkey, has opened up European market.
coast of the Caspian Sea. Severe pollution in Baku.

CLIMATE INSIGHT: The fire-worshipping
Low rainfall. Continental, with Zoroastrian faith originated in
bitter winters, inland. Subtropical in Azerbaijan in the 6th century BCE
coastal regions.
GEORGIA RUSS. FED.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Kura
Azeris, a Muslim people with C Quba Caspian
ethnic links to Turks, form a large Gäncä a Sea
majority. Thousands of Armenians, fiäki u c
Russians, and Jews have left since Sumqayıt
independence. Influx of half a million a s u
Azeri refugees fleeing war with Armenia
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno s
Karabakh. Armenians there operate with Mingäàevir
de facto independence. The status of
women deteriorated after the fall of Lesser CaucasuNagorno- K ura BAKU
communism but they are slowly
regaining their position. ARMENIA

Karabakh Äli-Bayramlı
Xankändi

s Aras
Naxàıvan

IRAN Länkärän

4000m/13124ft 0 100 km
3000m/9843ft 0 100 miles
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft

200m/656ft
Sea Level

Below Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Azeri*, Russian
RELIGIONS: Shi’a Muslim 68%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Azerbaijan Sunni Muslim 26%, Russian Orthodox 3%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 Armenian Orthodox 2%, other 1%
CAPITAL: Baku ETHNIC MIX: Azeri 91%, other 3%,
POPULATION: 8.83 million Lazs 2%, Russian 2%, Armenian 2%
TOTAL AREA: 33,436 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(86,600 sq. km) CURRENCY: New manat = 100 gopik
DENSITY: 264 people per sq. mile

166 NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

Bahamas

Located off the Florida coast in the western
Atlantic, the Bahamas comprises an archipelago of some 700
islands and 2400 cays, only around 30 of which are inhabited.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Long, mainly flat coral Major tourist destination, especially
formations with a few low hills. for US visitors. Financial services: banking
Some islands have pine forests, and insurance.
lagoons, and mangrove swamps.
INSIGHT: The country’s extensive
CLIMATE merchant fleet consists mainly of
Subtropical. Hot summers and
mild winters. Heavy rainfall, especially “flag-of-convenience” vessels
in summer. Hurricanes can strike in
July–December. Straits of FlorBidaGahraamnad I. registered by foreign owners

PEOPLE & SOCIETY Freeport 200m/656ft
Over 60% of the population live Great Abaco Sea Level
on New Providence. Tourism employs
over 40% of the labor force. There are Berry Is. New Eleuthera I.
marked wealth disparities, from urban
professionals in the banking sector to Nicholls Providence ATLANTIC
traditional fishermen on outlying islands
and illegal Haitian and Cuban immigrants. Town NASSAU OCEAN
More women are now entering the
professions. Government priorities Andros I. Andros Exuma Soun Cat I.
are tackling narcotics trafficking and Town
money laundering.
Exuma San Salvador
Cays
d Rum Cay

Long I.

Crooked I.

Acklins I. Mayaguana

0 100 km Caicos Passage
0 100 miles Great

Inagua

FACTFILE DENSITY: 88 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: English*, English Creole,
OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth French Creole
of the Bahamas RELIGIONS: Baptist 32%, other 29%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1973 Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%
CAPITAL: Nassau ETHNIC MIX: Black African 85%, other 15%
POPULATION: 341,700 GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
TOTAL AREA: 5382 sq. miles CURRENCY: Bahamian dollar = 100 cents
(13,940 sq. km)

ASIA 167

Bahrain

Bahrain is an archipelago of 49 islands between the
Qatar peninsula and the Saudi Arabian mainland. Only three of the

islands are inhabited. It was the first Gulf emirate to export oil.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
All islands are low-lying. The Main exports are refined petroleum
largest, Bahrain Island, is mainly sandy and aluminum products. As oil reserves
plains and salt marshes. run out, natural gas is of increasing
importance. Major Middle East offshore
CLIMATE banking center, hit by global banking
Summers are hot and humid. crisis in 2008–2009.
Winters are mild. Low rainfall.
Persian Jazírat al
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Gulf Al Busaytín Muíarraq
The key social division is
between the Shi’a majority and Al Muíarraq
Sunni minority. Sunnis hold the best
jobs in bureaucracy and business while To mainland Jidd Íaf§ MANAMA
Shi’as tend to do menial work. The
al-Khalifa family has ruled since 1783, (Saudi Arabia) Madínat ‘Ísá
but transformed Bahrain into a
constitutional monarchy, with Sitrah
limited democracy, in 2002. Bahrain
is socially liberal. Ar Rifá‘ al Ar Rifá‘ ash
Umm an Gharbí Sharqí
INSIGHT: The 16 Hawar Islands were Na‘sán
awarded to Bahrain in 2001 after a Gulf
lengthy dispute with Qatar of
Gulf 200m/656ft
of Bahrain Bahrain Sea Level

Bahrain

Hawar
Islands

0 10 km
0 10 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Arabic*
RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Shi’a) 99%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Bahrain other 1%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1971 ETHNIC MIX: Bahraini 70%, Iranian,
CAPITAL: Manama Indian, and Pakistani 24%, other 6%
POPULATION: 791,500 GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchical-
TOTAL AREA: 239 sq. miles parliamentary system
(620 sq. km) CURRENCY: Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils
DENSITY: 2899 people per sq. mile

168 ASIA

Bangladesh

Bangladesh lies at the north end of the Bay of Bengal
and frequently suffers devastating flood, cyclones,
and famine. It seceded from Pakistan in 1971.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mostly flat alluvial plains and Agriculture is vulnerable to
deltas of the Brahmaputra and Ganges unpredictable climate. Bangladesh
rivers. Southeast coasts are fringed accounts for 90% of world jute fiber
with mangrove forests. exports. Poor infrastructure deters
investment. Growing textile industry.
CLIMATE
Hot and humid. During the Rangpur ra 500m/1640ft
monsoon, water levels can rise 20 ft (6 m) 200m/656ft
above sea level. Sea Level

PEOPLE & SOCIETY Saidpur Brahmaput INDIA
After a period of military rule,
Bangladesh returned to democracy in Dinajpur
1991; political instability has continued,
however, and corruption is a major Jamalpur Sylhet
problem. Half of the population live in
poverty, but living standards are Rajshahi Mymensingh
improving. Women are prominent in Shirajganj Ghat
politics, but their rights are neglected.
Brahmanbaria
INSIGHT: Torrential monsoon Ganges (PadmDa) HAKCAomilla
rains flood two-thirds of the Pabna Haringhá
country every year INDIA

Jessore
Khulna t Barisal

Mouths Chittagong
of the Ganges

Bay (MBYUARNMMA )A R
of

Bengal

0 100 km
0 100 miles

FACTFILE DENSITY: 3138 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Bengali*, Urdu, Chakma,
OFFICIAL NAME: People’s Republic Marma, Garo, Khasi, Santhali, Tripuri, Mro
of Bangladesh RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 87%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1971 Hindu 12%, other 1%
CAPITAL: Dhaka ETHNIC MIX: Bengali 98%, other 2%
POPULATION: 162 million GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
TOTAL AREA: 55,598 sq. miles CURRENCY: Taka = 100 poisha
(144,000 sq. km)

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA 169

Barbados

Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.
Once solely inhabited by the native Arawak, Barbados

was first colonized by British settlers in the 1620s.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Encircled by coral reefs. Fertile and Well-developed tourism sector
predominantly flat, with a few gentle hills based on climate and accessibility.
to the north. Financial services, offshore banking,
and information processing are key
CLIMATE industries. Sugar production has
Moderate tropical climate. Sunnier dwindled. High cost of living.
and drier than its more mountainous
neighbors. 0 5 km

PEOPLE & SOCIETY 0 5 miles
Some latent tension between white
community, which controls politics and Speightstown ATLANTIC
much of the economy, and majority Holetown OCEAN
black population, but violence is rare.
Increasing social mobility has enabled Bathsheba
black Barbadians to enter the professions.
Despite political stability, and good Marchfield
welfare and education services, pockets BRIDGETOWN
of abject poverty remain.
Hastings Oistins Grantley Adams
INSIGHT: Barbados retains a strong Intl. Airport
British influence and is referred to by its ATLANTIC
neighbors as “Little England” OCEAN 200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Bajan (Barbadian English),
English*
OFFICIAL NAME: Barbados RELIGIONS: Anglican 40%, other 24%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 nonreligious 17%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist
CAPITAL: Bridgetown 7%, Roman Catholic 4%
POPULATION: 255,900 ETHNIC MIX: Black African 92%, other 8%
TOTAL AREA: 166 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(430 sq. km) CURRENCY: Barbados dollar = 100 cents
DENSITY: 1542 people per sq. mile

170 EUROPE

Belarus

Literally “White Russia,” Belarus lies landlocked in
eastern Europe. It reluctantly became independent when the
USSR broke up in 1991. It has few resources other than agriculture.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mainly plains and low hills. The Low unemployment. Industry
Dnieper and Dvina rivers drain the outmoded and mainly state-owned.
eastern lowlands. Vast Pripet Marshes Depends on Russia for energy and raw
in the southwest. materials: tensions over natural gas prices.

CLIMATE INSIGHT: The number of cancer
Extreme continental climate. and leukemia cases soared after
Winters are long, sub-freezing, but the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
mainly dry; summers are hot.
LATVIA
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Only 2% of people are non-Slav, 200m/656ft Western Dvina Vitsyebsk
so ethnic tension is minimal. Russian Sea Level
culture dominates. Belarus was the RUSS.
slowest ex-Soviet state to implement LITHUANIA FED.
political reform; President Lukashenka Orsha
has been labeled as Europe’s last
dictator. Enthusiasm for a merger with Barysaw
Russia has waned. Wealth is held by a
small ex-Communist elite. Fallout from Lida MINSK
the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Hrodna
Ukraine still seriously affects health and
the environment. Baranavichy
DnieperMahilyow
POLAND
Slutsk Babruysk

Brest Pinsk Pripet Homyel’
Marshes Rechytsa

Mazyr

UKRAINE UKRAINE

0 100 km

0 100 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Belarussian*, Russian*
RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 60%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Belarus other (including Muslim, Jewish, and
DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 Protestant) 32%, Roman Catholic 8%
CAPITAL: Minsk ETHNIC MIX: Belarussian 81%, Russian 11%,
POPULATION: 9.63 million Polish 4%, Ukrainian 2%, other 2%
TOTAL AREA: 80,154 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(207,600 sq. km) CURRENCY: Belarussian rouble = 100 kopeks
DENSITY: 120 people per sq. mile

EUROPE 171

Belgium

Belgium lies in northwestern Europe. Its history has been
marked by tensions between the majority Dutch-speaking
(Flemish) and minority French-speaking (Walloon) communities.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Low-lying coastal plain covers Variety of industrial exports,
two-thirds of the country. Land including steel, glassware, cut
becomes hilly and forested in the diamonds, and textiles. Very high
southeast (Ardennes) region. levels of public debt. Bureaucracy
larger than European average.
CLIMATE
Maritime climate with Gulf INSIGHT: The Ardennes region,
Stream influences. Temperatures are in the southeast of the country, is
mild, with heavy cloud cover and rain. famous for its forests, lakes, and cuisine
More rainfall and weather fluctuations
at the coast. North Sea NETHERLANDS
Antwerpen
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Oostende
Since 1970, Flemish regions Brugge Mechelen
have become more prosperous than Gent Meuse
those of the minority Walloons,
overturning traditional roles and Kortrijk Aalst Leuven
increasing friction. Belgium moved to
a federal system from 1980 in order to Tournai BRUSSELS Liège
contain tensions, but recent fractious La Louvière
politics have raised doubts over the GER.
union’s survival. Brussels hosts key
European Union institutions. Mons Namur
FRANCE Charleroi

es
Ardenn LUX.
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level

0 40 km
0 40 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Dutch*, French*,
German*
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Belgium RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 88%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1830 other 10%, Muslim 2%
CAPITAL: Brussels ETHNIC MIX: Flemish 58%, Walloon 33%,
POPULATION: 10.6 million other 6%, Italian 2%, Moroccan 1%
TOTAL AREA: 11,780 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(30,510 sq. km) CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
DENSITY: 840 people per sq. mile

172 NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

Belize

Belize lies on the eastern shore of the Yucatan
Peninsula. Formerly called British Honduras, Belize was the last
Central American country to gain its independence, in 1981.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Almost half the land area is Tourism, agriculture, and offshore
forested. Low mountains in southeast. banking. Oil extraction began in 2005.
Flat swampy coastal plains. Sugar, textiles, lobsters, and shrimp are
exported. Serious hurricane damage is a
CLIMATE recurring problem.
Tropical. Very hot and humid, with
May–December rainy season. 0 50 km

PEOPLE & SOCIETY 0 50 miles Louisville Corozal
English-speaking black Creoles
are outnumbered by Spanish speakers, MEXICO do
including native mestizos and immigrants Orange Walk
from neighboring states. The Creoles Hon
have traditionally dominated society, er Maskall
but high levels of emigration to the Crooked Tree
US have weakened their influence. Riv
The Afro-Carib garifuna have their Belize City
own language. Corruption, and w
trafficking of people and narcotics,
are major problems. e

INSIGHT: Belize’s barrier reef is N
the second-largest in the world e

liz
Be
Reef
BELMOPAN

San Ignacio Dangriga

GUATEMALA a Barrier
M
ts.
ay
M Monkey River
San Antonio Town
Punta Gorda
Caribbean
1000m/3281ft Sarstoon Sea
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: English Creole, Spanish,
English*, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)
OFFICIAL NAME: Belize RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 62%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1981 other 20%, Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%
CAPITAL: Belmopan ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 49%, Creole 25%,
POPULATION: 306,800 Maya 11%, other 9%, Garifuna 6%
TOTAL AREA: 8867 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(22,966 sq. km) CURRENCY: Belizean dollar = 100 cents
DENSITY: 35 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 173

Benin

Benin stretches north from the west African coast.
In 1990, Benin became one of the pioneers of African
democratization, ending 17 years of one-party Marxist-Leninist rule.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Sandy coastal region. Numerous Strong agricultural sector: cash
lagoons lie just behind the shoreline. crops include cotton, oil palm, and
Forested plateaus inland. Mountains in cashew nuts. Large-scale smuggling is
the northwest. a serious problem. France is the main
aid donor.
CLIMATE
Hot and humid in the south. INSIGHT: BURKINA NIGER
Two rainy seasons. Hot, dusty Voodoo is Niger
harmattan winds blow during the thought to have
December–February dry season. originated in Malanville
Benin, and was
PEOPLE & SOCIETY taken to Haiti Kandi
There are 42 different ethnic by slaves
groups. The southern Fon have tended Natitingou
to dominate politics. Other major Ndali
groups are the Adja and Yoruba.
The northern Fulani follow a nomadic Djougou
lifestyle. North–south tension is Parakou
mainly due to the south being more
developed. French culture, centered TOGO
on Cotonou, is highly prized. Substantial
differences in wealth reflect a strongly NIGERIA
hierarchical society.
Savè

500m/1640ft Ouéme
200m/656ft
Sea Level Lokossa PORTO-NOVO
Ouidah Cotonou
0 100 km
0 100 miles ATLANTIC OCEAN

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Fon, Bariba, Yoruba, Adja,
Houeda, Somba, French*
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Benin RELIGIONS: 50%, Muslim 30%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 Christian 20%
CAPITAL: Porto-Novo ETHNIC MIX: Fon 41%, other 21%,
POPULATION: 8.94 million Adja 16%, Yoruba 12%, Bariba 10%
TOTAL AREA: 43,483 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(112,620 sq. km) CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
DENSITY: 209 people per sq. mile

174 ASIA

Bhutan

Perched in the eastern Himalayas between India and
China lies the landlocked Kingdom of Bhutan. It is largely closed to
the outside world to protect its culture; TV was banned until 1999.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Low, tropical southern strip rising Reliant on India for trade. Most
through fertile central valleys to high people farm their own plots of land and
Himalayas in the north. Around 70% of herd cattle and yaks. Steep land unsuited
the land is forested. for cultivation. Development of cash
crops for Asian markets.
CLIMATE
South is tropical, north is alpine, INSIGHT: In 2004 Bhutan became
cold, and harsh. Central valleys warmer the first country in the world to ban
in east than west. smoking and the sale of tobacco

PEOPLE & SOCIETY CHINA
The king was absolute monarch
until 1998, and the first democratic Himalayas
elections were held a decade later. Most
people are devoutly Buddhist and THIMPHU
originate from Tibet. The Hindu Nepalese
settled in the south. Bhutan has 20 Paro Wangdi Tashigang
languages. In 1988, Dzongkha (a Tibetan International Phodrang
dialect native to just 16% of the people) Shemgang
was made the official language. The
Nepalese community regard this as Chhukha
“cultural imperialism,” causing
considerable ethnic tensions. Phuntsholing Samdrup
INDIA Jonkhar

4000m/13124ft 0 50 km
3000m/9843ft 0 50 miles
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Dzongkha*, Nepali
RELIGIONS: Mahayana Buddhist 70%,
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Bhutan Hindu 24%, other 6%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1656 ETHNIC MIX: Bhute 50%, other 25%,
CAPITAL: Thimphu Nepalese 25%
POPULATION: 697,300 GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchical–
TOTAL AREA: 18,147 sq. miles parliamentary system
(47,000 sq. km) CURRENCY: Ngultrum = 100 chetrum
DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile

SOUTH AMERICA 175

Bolivia

Landlocked high in central South America, Bolivia is one
of the region’s poorest countries. La Paz is the world’s highest

capital city: 13,385 feet (3631 m) above sea level.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
A high windswept plateau, the Gold, silver, zinc, tin, oil, natural gas:
altiplano, lies between two Andean all vulnerable to world price fluctuations.
mountain ranges. Semiarid grasslands Social issues and nationalization of
to the east; dense tropical forests natural gas sector deter investors. Major
to the north. coca producer. Lack of manufacturing.
Rich eastern provinces want autonomy.
CLIMATE
Altiplano has extreme tropical Guayaramerín 3000m/9843ft
climate, with night-frost in winter. North Riberalta 2000m/6562ft
and east are hot and humid. 1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
The indigenous majority faces 200m/656ft
widespread discrimination. Wealthy
Spanish-descended families have Sea Level
traditionally controlled the economy.
Amerindian Evo Morales, president from PERU Guaporé
2005, pledged to cut poverty, legalize Lake Trinidad
coca, and redistribute land. Titicaca
LA PAZ
INSIGHT: Between 1825 and 1982 ndesBeni BRAZIL
Bolivia averaged more than one armed A Gran
coup a year Cochabamba Montero

Oruro Santa Cruz Puerto
SUCRE Chaco Suárez

A l t i p l Potosí
no
a

CHILE Tupiza PARAGUAY
Tarija

ARGENTINA 0 200 km
0 200 miles

FACTFILE DENSITY: 24 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Aymara*, Quechua*, Spanish*
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bolivia RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 93%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1825 other 7%
CAPITAL: La Paz (administrative); ETHNIC MIX: Quechua 37%, Aymara 32%,
Sucre (judicial) mixed 13%, European 10%, other 8%
POPULATION: 9.86 million GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
TOTAL AREA: 424,162 sq. miles CURRENCY: Boliviano = 100 centavos
(1,098,580 sq. km)

176 EUROPE

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Perched in the highlands of southeast Europe, Bosnia
and Herzegovina was the focus of the bitter ethnic conflict which
accompanied the early 1990s dissolution of the Yugoslav state.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Hills and mountains, with narrow Potential to recover status as a
river valleys. Lowlands in the north. thriving market economy with a strong
Mainly deciduous forest covers about manufacturing base, but still struggles
half of the total area. with resettling refugees and the legacy
of war. Little investment.
CLIMATE
Continental. Hot summers Sava CROATIA
and cold, often snowy winters.
Prijedor Modriâa
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Despite sharing the same origin Bihaá REPUBLICA SRPSKA
and spoken language, Bosnians have
been divided by history between D Banja Luka Doboj Tuzla SERBIA
Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and in
Muslim Bosniaks. Ethnic cleansing was osna Zvornik
practiced by all sides in the civil war, Alps Travnik B Zenica Srebrenica Drina
displacing about 60% of the population. aric
Hopes for EU integration will require Bugojno
further ethnic reconciliation.
CROATIA FEDERACIJA SARAJEVO
INSIGHT: The murder of Archduke BOSNA I
Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in
1914 triggered the First World War HERCEGOVINA

Mostar

2000m/6562ft MONTENEGRO
1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft

200m/656ft
Sea Level

0 50 km
0 50 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Bosnian*, Serbian*,
Croatian*
OFFICIAL NAME: Bosnia and Herzegovina RELIGIONS: Muslim 40%, Orthodox
DATE OF FORMATION: 1992 Christian 31%, Catholic 15%, other 14%
CAPITAL: Sarajevo ETHNIC MIX: Bosniak 44%, Serb 31%,
POPULATION: 3.77 million Croat 17%, other 8%
TOTAL AREA: 19,741 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(51,129 sq. km) CURRENCY: Marka = 100 pfeninga
DENSITY: 191 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 177

Botswana

Landlocked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana
boasts the world’s largest inland river delta. Diamonds provide

potential wealth, but the country is crippled by HIV/AIDS.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Lies on vast plateau, high Overreliance on diamonds:
above sea level. Hills in the east. vulnerable to world price fluctuations.
Kalahari Desert in center and Beef is exported to Europe. Tourism
southwest. Swamps and salt pans aimed at wealthy wildlife enthusiasts.
elsewhere and in Okavango Basin. AIDS is devastating the population.

CLIMATE ZAMBIA 1000m/3281ft
Dry and prone to drought. Kwando Kasane 500m/1640ft
Summer wet season, April–October.
Winters are warm, with cold nights. NAMIBIA Okavango ZIMBABWE
Delta Maun
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
The nomadic San bushmen, Makgadikgadi
the first inhabitants, are marginalized.
One in four adults are living with Ghanzi Francistown
HIV/AIDS: only Swaziland is worse
affected. Life expectancy is around Selebi Phikwe
50 years. Diamond revenue has widened Serowe
wealth inequalities.
Kalahari Mahalapye popo
INSIGHT: Water, Botswana’s most Desert Lim
precious resource, is honored in the
name of the currency – pula GABORONE Mochudi
Kanye
SOUTH
Lobatse AFRICA

0 200 km
0 200 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Setswana, English*, Shona,
San, Khoikhoi, isiNdebele
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Botswana RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 50%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 Christian (mainly Protestant) 30%,
CAPITAL: Gaborone other (including Muslim) 20%
POPULATION: 1.95 million ETHNIC MIX: Tswana 98%, other 2%
TOTAL AREA: 231,803 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(600,370 sq. km) CURRENCY: Pula = 100 thebe
DENSITY: 9 people per sq. mile

178 SOUTH AMERICA

Brazil

Covering almost half of South America, Brazil is the site
of the world’s largest and ecologically most important rainforest.
The country has immense natural and economic resources.

GEOGRAPHY PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Rainforest grows around the
massive Amazon River and its delta, Diverse population includes
covering almost half of Brazil’s total
land area. Apart from the basin of the Amerindians, black people of Equator
River Plate to the south, the rest of the African descent, European
country consists of highlands. The
mountainous east is part-forested immigrants, and those of COLOMBIA
and part-desert. The coastal plain
in the southeast has swampy areas. mixed race. Amerindians suffer
The Atlantic coastline is 1240 miles
(2000 km) long. prejudice from most other

CLIMATE groups. Shanty towns in the
Brazil’s share of the Amazon
Basin has a model tropical equatorial cities attract poor migrants from
climate, with high temperatures and
rainfall all year round. The Brazilian the northeast. Urban crime,
plateau has far greater seasonal
variation. The dry northeast suffers violent land disputes, and
frequent droughts, though coastal
regions are occasionally flooded by unchecked development in
bouts of torrential rain. The south has
hot summers and cool winters. Amazonia tarnish Brazil’s image as
a modern nation. Catholicism and P E R U

the family unit remain strong.

THE ECONOMY
Dominant regional economy.
Huge potential for growth based
on abundant natural resources.
A leading exporter of coffee, sugar,
and orange juice. Social tension
threatens stability. Infrastructure
needs investment.

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Portuguese*, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish, Japanese, other
OFFICIAL NAME: Federative Rep. of Brazil RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant
DATE OF FORMATION: 1822 15%, atheist 7%, other 4%
CAPITAL: Brasília ETHNIC MIX: White 54%, Mixed race 38%,
POPULATION: 194 million Black 6%, other 2%
TOTAL AREA: 3,286,470 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(8,511,965 sq. km) CURRENCY: Real = 100 centavos
DENSITY: 59 people per sq. mile

SOUTH AMERICA 179

INSIGHT: Since 1900, a third of

Brazil’s indigenous Amerindian groups

have become extinct due to disease,

VENEZUELA French starvation, or the forceful taking of land
Boa Vista Guiana by miners, loggers, and settlers
Branco (France)
SURINAME ATLANTIC

GUYANA

G u i a n a H i g h l a n d s Macapá

Japurá Rio Negro Amazon Ilha de Equator O C E A N
Amazon Santarém Marajó Belém
São Luís
Manaus Tocantins

ruá Basin Madeira apajós aíba
Ju T Teresina
São Francisco Parn Fortaleza
Purus Xingu Imperatriz San
Iriri
Fernando
de Noronha

Porto Velho Aripuanã Sã o Ma Tocantins Juazeiro Natal
Rio Branco do Norte João Pessoa
Jurue n a nuel Represa Campina Olinda
Grande Recife
de Sobradinbo

GCuhaappoaréda dos Parecis Taguatinga Maceió
IVIA Brazilian
B O L CuidaebáMPaltaonGalrtoosso raguaia Aracaju
Feira de Santana
A Salvador
Itabuna
PaPraagnutaya n a l BRASÍLIA H i g h l a n d s Vitória da Conquista

Goiânia Montes

Uberlândia Claros
Uberaba Governador Valadares

Campo Belo Horizonte

Grande Bauru Ribeirão Preto Vitória

PARAGUAY Londrina Campinas Nova Campos
á São Paulo
Iguaçu Duque de Caxias

Paran Rio de Janeiro

Santos

Curitiba

ARGENTINA Joinville ATLANTIC 2000m/6562ft
Florianópolis OCEAN 1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
Caxias do Sul 0 200m/656ft
Porto Alegre Sea Level

Lagoa dos Patos 500 km
Pelotas

URUGUAY Rio Grande
Mirim Lagoon

0 500 miles

180 ASIA

Brunei

Lying on the northern coast of the island of Borneo,
Brunei is surrounded and divided in two by the Malaysian
state of Sarawak. It has been independent since 1984.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mostly dense lowland rainforest Oil and natural gas production has
and mangrove swamps, with some brought one of the world’s highest
mountains in the southeast. standards of living. Massive overseas
investments. Major consumer of high-
CLIMATE tech hi-fi, video equipment, and Western
Tropical. Six-month rainy season designer clothes.
with very high humidity.
1000m/3281ft South China Sea
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 500m/1640ft Pekan Muara
Malays benefit from positive 200m/656ft
discrimination. Many in the Chinese Sea Level
community are stateless. Since a failed
rebellion in 1962, Brunei has been ruled Kampong BANDAR SERI
by decree of the sultan. In 1990, “Malay Bunut BEGAWAN
Muslim Monarchy” was introduced,
promoting Islamic values as state Tutong Bangar
ideology. Women, less restricted than in
some Muslim states, usually wear Pekan Seria Kampong Kampong
headscarves but not the veil. Kuala Belait Bukit Sawat Batang Duri

INSIGHT: The sultan spent Kampong Kampong
US$350 million building the world’s Tanajor Sukang
largest palace at Bandar Seri Begawan
Kampong MALAYSIA
Teraja

Borneo

0 20 km
0 20 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Malay*, English,
Chinese
OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Brunei RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 66%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1984 Buddhist 14%, other 10%, Christian 10%
CAPITAL: Bandar Seri Begawan ETHNIC MIX: Malay 67%, Chinese 16%,
POPULATION: 399,700 other 11%, indigenous 6%
TOTAL AREA: 2228 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Monarchy
(5770 sq. km) CURRENCY: Brunei dollar = 100 cents
DENSITY: 196 people per sq. mile

EUROPE 181

Bulgaria

Located in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria was under
communist rule from 1947 to 1989. Political and economic

reform since then enabled it to join the EU in 2007.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mountains run east–west across Good agricultural production,
center and along southern border. including grapes, for well-developed wine
Danube plain in north, Thracian plain in industry, and tobacco. Expertise in
southeast. Black Sea to the east. software development. Industry and
infrastructure are outdated.
CLIMATE
Warm summers and snowy winters, INSIGHT: Archaeologists have found
especially in mountains. East winds bring evidence of wine-making in Bulgaria
seasonal extremes. dating back over 5000 years

PEOPLE & SOCIETY ROMANIA
The communists tried forcibly to
suppress cultural identities, leading to a Danube Ruse Dobrich
large exodus of Bulgarian Turks in 1989.
Later privatization programs left many Vratsa Pleven Shumen Varna
Turks landless, prompting further
emigration. Roma suffer discrimination at SERBIA B Veliko Tûrnovo
all levels of society. Women have equal lkan Moun
rights in theory, but society remains a a n s
patriarchal. EU accession included caveats Sliven
demanding further action against SOFIA t i Burgas
organized crime, human trafficking,
and corruption. Pernik Kazanlûk Stara Yambol Black
Zagora Sea
Pazardzhik Plovdiv

MAC. Khaskovo
TURKEY

GREECE 2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft
0 50 km 500m/1640ft
0 50 miles
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Bulgarian*, Turkish,
Romani
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bulgaria RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 83%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1908 Muslim 12%, other 4%, Catholic 1%
CAPITAL: Sofia ETHNIC MIX: Bulgarian 84%, Turkish 9%,
POPULATION: 7.54 million Roma 5%, other 2%
TOTAL AREA: 42,822 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(110,910 sq. km) CURRENCY: Lev = 100 stotinki
DENSITY: 177 people per sq. mile

182 AFRICA

Burkina

The west African state of Burkina was known as Upper
Volta until 1984. It became a multiparty state in 1991, though
former military ruler Blaise Compaoré remains in power.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
The Sahara covers the north of Cotton is the major cash crop,
the country. The south is largely but the encroaching Sahara Desert is
savanna. The three main rivers are restricting agriculture. Beneficiary of
the Black, White, and Red Voltas. foreign debt cancellation plans.

CLIMATE INSIGHT: Droughts and poor
Tropical. Dry, cool weather soils mean that many Burkinabes
November–February. Erratic rain seek work southward in Ghana and
March–April, mostly in southeast. Côte d’Ivoire

PEOPLE & SOCIETY 500m/1640ft MALI
No single ethnic group is 200m/656ft
dominant, but the Mossi, from Sea Level
around Ouagadougou, have
always played an important part Ouahigouya NIGER
in government. The people from
the west are much more ethnically Kaya
mixed. Extreme poverty has led to a
strong sense of egalitarianism. Most Koudougou OUAGADOUGOU
women are still denied access to
education, though their absence Volta Red White Volt Fada-Ngourma
from public life belies their real Bobo-DioulassoBlack Volta
power and social influence. Black Léo Volta Tenkodogo

a
BENIN

Banfora GHANA TOGO

CÔTE 0 100 km
D'IVOIRE 0 100 miles
(IVORY COAST)

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Mossi, Fulani, French*, Tuareg,
Dyula, Songhai
OFFICIAL NAME: Burkina Faso RELIGIONS: Muslim 55%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 Traditional beliefs 35%, Roman Catholic 9%,
CAPITAL: Ouagadougou other Christian 1%
POPULATION: 15.8 million ETHNIC MIX: Other 52%, Mossi 48%
TOTAL AREA: 105,869 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(274,200 sq. km) CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
DENSITY: 149 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 183

Burundi

Small, densely populated and landlocked, Burundi lies
just south of the equator, on the Nile–Congo watershed in central

Africa. Its people have the world’s lowest per capita income.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Hilly with high plateaus in center Overwhelmingly agricultural
and savanna in the east. Great Rift Valley economy, mostly subsistence. Small
on western side. quantities of gold and tungsten. Potential
of oil in Lake Tanganyika. Little prospect
CLIMATE of lasting stability.
Temperate, with high humidity.
Heavy and frequent rainfall, mostly RWANDA Kirundo
October–May. Highlands have frost.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY Kayanza Ngozi Muyinga
Burundi has been riven by ethnic Bubanza
conflict between majority Hutu and the Cankuzo
Tutsi, who controlled the army – with BUJUMBURA Karuzi
repeated large-scale massacres: hundreds
of thousands of people have died since Ruyigi
1993. The constitution now guarantees an Gitega
ethnic balance in the government and
army. Twa pygmies were not involved in DEM.REP. TANZANIA
the conflict. CONGO

Bururi Rutana

Lake Makamba
Tanganyika Nyanza-Lac

INSIGHT: Burundi’s fertility rate 0 50 km 2000m/6562ft
is one of the highest in Africa. On 0 50 miles 1000m/3281ft
average, women have seven children 500m/1640ft

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Kirundi*, French*,
Kiswahili
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Burundi RELIGIONS: Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)
DATE OF FORMATION: 1962 60%, traditional beliefs 39%,
CAPITAL: Bujumbura Muslim 1%
POPULATION: 8.3 million ETHNIC MIX: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa 1%
TOTAL AREA: 10,745 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(27,830 sq. km) CURRENCY: Burundi franc = 100 centimes
DENSITY: 838 people per sq. mile

184 ASIA

Cambodia

Located on the Indochinese peninsula in southeast Asia,
Cambodia has emerged from genocide, civil war, and invasion
from Vietnam. Tourists are returning. Rice is the principal crop.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mostly low-lying basin. Tônlé Sap Economy is heavily aid-reliant, still
(Great Lake) drains into the Mekong River. recovering from civil war. Exports rubber
Forested mountains and plateau east of and timber. Self-sufficient in rice.
the Mekong. Garment industry is growing. Land
disputes and corruption issues.
CLIMATE
Tropical. High temperatures INSIGHT: Cambodia has many
throughout the year. Heavy rainfall during impressive temples, dating from
May–October monsoon. when the country was the center of
the Khmer Empire
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Devastated by US bombing, then THAILAND LAOS
by the Khmer Rouge regime, whose
extreme Marxist program killed over a Phumî Chôâm Virôchey
million between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia Sâmraông Khsant
then endured further civil conflict and Sisôphôn Phumî
Vietnamese occupation. The effects are
still felt, reflected in the high rates of Bâtdâmbâng Kâmpóng Trâbék
orphans, widows, and land-mine victims.
A fragile stability has lasted since Tônlé Sap
elections in 1993. King Norodom
Sihanouk, a key figure in politics, Poûthîsât Kâmpóng Mekong
abdicated in 2004. Chhnâng Krâchéh

Krông Kaôh Kâmpóng Cham

Kông PHNOM PENH

Gulf Prey Vêng

of Kâmpóng Saôm VIETNAM
Thailand

1000m/3281ft 0 100 km
500m/1640ft 0 100 miles
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Khmer*, French, Chinese,
Vietnamese, Cham
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Cambodia RELIGIONS: Buddhist 93%, Muslim 6%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1953 Christian 1%
CAPITAL: Phnom Penh ETHNIC MIX: Khmer 90%, other 5%,
POPULATION: 14.8 million Vietnamese 4%, Chinese 1%
TOTAL AREA: 69,900 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(181,040 sq. km) CURRENCY: Riel = 100 sen
DENSITY: 217 people per sq. mile

AFRICA 185

Cameroon

Situated in the corner of the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon
was effectively a one-party state for 30 years. Multiparty
elections, since 1992, regularly return that same party to power.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Over half the land is forested: Oil reserves. Very diversified
equatorial rainforest in north, evergreen agricultural economy – timber, cocoa,
forest and wooded savanna in south. bananas, coffee. Fuel smuggling from
Mountains in the west. Nigeria undermines refinery profits.
Corruption. Port for Chad and CAR.
CLIMATE
South is equatorial, with plentiful 2000m/6562ft CHAD
rainfall, declining inland. Far north is beset 1000m/3281ft
by drought. 500m/1640ft Lake
200m/656ft Chad
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Sea Level
Around 230 ethnic groups; no single Maroua
group is dominant. The Bamileke is the 0 100 km
largest, though it has never held political 0 100 miles NIGERIA
power. North–south tensions are
diminished by the ethnic diversity. There Garoua
is more rivalry between majority French-
and minority English-speakers. Ngaoundéré

INSIGHT: Cameroon’s name Bamenda Kumbo Meiganga
derives from the Portuguese word
camarões, after the shrimp fished by the Kumba Bafoussam CENTRAL
early European explorers Nkongsamba AFRICAN
REPUBLIC

YAOUNDÉ

Douala Edéa Mbalmayo

ATLANTIC Ebolowa

O C E A N EQ. GABON C ONGO
GUINEA

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Bamileke, Fang, Fulani,
French*, English*
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cameroon RELIGIONS: Catholic 35%, traditional beliefs
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 25%, Muslim 22%, Protestant 18%
CAPITAL: Yaoundé ETHNIC MIX: Highlanders 31%, other 39%,
POPULATION: 19.5 million equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%
TOTAL AREA: 183,567 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(475,400 sq. km) CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
DENSITY: 109 people per sq. mile

186 NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

Canada

Canada extends from the Arctic to its US border
along the 49th parallel. Unified under British rule from 1763, its
development and expansion attracted large-scale immigration.

GEOGRAPHY PEOPLE & SOCIETY
The world’s second-largest Two-thirds of the population
country, stretching north to Cape live in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence
Colombia on Ellesmere Island, south to lowlands, fostering some shared
Lake Erie, and across five time zones cultural values with the neighboring
from the Pacific seaboard to US. Important differences, however,
Newfoundland. Arctic tundra and include wider welfare provision and
islands in the far north give way Commonwealth membership. The
southward to forests, interspersed with French-speaking Québécois wish to
lakes and rivers, and then the vast preserve their culture and language
Canadian Shield, which covers over half from further Anglicization, and demand
the area of Canada. Rocky Mountains in to be recognized as a “distinct society.”
west, beyond which are the Coast The government welcomes ethnic
Mountains, islands, and fjords. Fertile diversity among immigrants, promoting
lowlands in the east. a policy that encourages each group
to maintain its own culture. Land claims
CLIMATE made by the indigenous peoples are being
Ranges from polar and subpolar in redressed. Nunavut, an Inuit-governed
the north, to continental in the south. territory that covers nearly
Winters in the interior are colder and a quarter of Canada’s land area, was
longer than on the coast, with created from a portion of the
temperatures well below freezing and Northwest Territories in 1999. Women
deep snow; summers are hotter. Pacific are well represented at most levels
coast has the mildest winters. of business and government.

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: English*, French*, other
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 44%, Protestant
OFFICIAL NAME: Canada 29%, other 27%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1867 ETHNIC ORIGIN: British, French, and other
CAPITAL: Ottawa European 87%, Asian 9%, Amerindian, Métis,
POPULATION: 33.6 million and Inuit 4%
TOTAL AREA: 3,855,171 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(9,984,670 sq. km) CURRENCY: Canadian dollar = 100 cents
DENSITY: 9 people per sq. mile

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA 187

THE ECONOMY competition, especially since the
Wide-ranging resources, creation of the NAFTA free trade area, but
providing exports, cheap energy, and reliance on the US market makes
raw materials for manufacturing, the Canadian economy vulnerable to
underpin a high standard of living, US slowdowns. Unemployment rose
with smaller wealth disparities than in during the 2009 recession.
the US. Prices for primary exports
fluctuate, but the high oil price has INSIGHT: The Magnetic North Pole,
encouraged development of Alberta’s vast where the dipping needle of a
oil fields. Manufactured exports compass stands still, migrates across
have flourished under growing global northern Canada

A R C T I C O C E A N + Magnetic North Ellesmere I.
Pole

Beaufort Queen Elizabeth Baffin
Sea Bay
Banks I. Islands
Devon I.
Parry Islands
Bathurst I.

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA

(ALASKA) Victoria
Island
Ma Baffin Island Davis Str
McakcekneznizeieMRouontcaiknsy ait
Great Bear Melville
YUKON Lake Peninsula

TERRITORY NORTHWEST NUNAVUT Iqaluit
Whitehorse Southampton I. (Frobisher Bay)

TERRITORIES Labrador

Yellowknife Péninsule Sea
d’Ungava NE&WLFAOBURANDDOLARND
BRITISH Great Slave Labrador
Lake Hudson
PACIFIC Bay
OCEAN C O L U M B I A Peace Lake
Mountains Athabasca
Queen Coast Mountains Athabasca St Law

Charlotte MANITOBA St.John’s

Island ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN James QUÉBEC Gulf
Québec of Newfoundland
Edmonton Lake Bay renceSt Lawrence

Vancouver Calgary Saskatoon Winnipeg PRINCE
Island Lethbridge Regina ONTARIO
Victoria Vancouver EDWARD I.
Winnipeg
NEW
BRUNSWICK

Thunder Bay Laval Halifax
NOVA SCOTIA
Lake Lake Montréal
Superior Huron OTTAWA ATLANTIC
Oshawa OCEAN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Lake Toronto Lake Ontario
Hamilton
Niagara Falls
3000m/9843ft Michigan
2000m/6562ft Windsor Lake Erie

1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft
200m/656ft 0 400 km
Sea Level 0 400 miles