Romaniamajor transshipment point for Southwest Asian herointransiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin Americancocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significantfinancial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerableto laundering which occurs via the banking system, currency exchangehouses, and casinos
Russialimited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy andproducer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption;government has active illicit crop eradication program; used astransshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin Americancocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extentWestern and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major sourceof heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime arekey concerns; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market
Saint Kitts and Nevistransshipment point for South American drugsdestined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity
Saint Luciatransit point for South American drugs destined for theUS and Europe
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestransshipment point for SouthAmerican drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabiscultivation
Saudi Arabiadeath penalty for traffickers; increasing consumptionof heroin, cocaine, and hashish; not a major money-launderingcenter, improving anti-money-laundering legislation
Senegaltransshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroinand South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America;illicit cultivator of cannabis
Serbia and Montenegrotransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroinmoving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable tomoney laundering
Singaporeas a transportation and financial services hub, Singaporeis vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as atransit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for moneylaundering
Slovakiatransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound forWestern Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market
Sloveniaminor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroinbound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
South Africatransshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana,and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest marketfor illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from Indiathrough various east African countries; illicit cultivation ofmarijuana; attractive venue for money launderers given theincreasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in theregion
Spainkey European gateway country and consumer for Latin Americancocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asianheroin; money-laundering site for European earnings of Colombiannarcotics trafficking organizations
Surinamegrowing transshipment point for South American drugsdestined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point forarms-for-drugs dealing
Switzerlanda major international financial center vulnerable to thelayering and integration stages of money laundering; despitesignificant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rulespersist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business throughoffshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country forand consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Syriaa transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls, bankprivatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering
Taiwanregional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; majorproblem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin;renewal of domestic methamphetamine production is a problem
Tajikistanmajor transit country for Afghan narcotics bound forRussian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limitedillicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption;Tajikistan seizes roughly 80 percent of all drugs captured inCentral Asia and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates(heroin and raw opium)
Tanzaniagrowing role in transshipment of southwest and southeastAsian heroin and south American cocaine destined for south African,European, and US markets and of south Asian methaqualone bound forsouthern Africa; money laundering remains a problem
Thailanda minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicittransit point for heroin en route to the international drug marketfrom Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area ofcannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboringcountries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradicationefforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role inamphetamine production for regional consumption; increasingindigenous abuse of methamphetamine
Togotransit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; moneylaundering not a significant problem
Trinidad and Tobagotransshipment point for South American drugsdestined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
Turkeykey transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to WesternEurope and - to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and searoutes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international traffickingorganizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convertimported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkeyas well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls overareas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy strawconcentrate
Turkmenistantransit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russianand Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursorchemicals bound for Afghanistan
Turks and Caicos Islandstransshipment point for South Americannarcotics destined for the US and Europe
Ukrainelimited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly forCIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to theWest; limited government eradication program; used as transshipmentpoint for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, LatinAmerica, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improvedanti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from theFinancial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries andTerritories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-launderingregime continues to be monitored by FATF
United Arab Emiratesthe UAE is a drug transshipment point fortraffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producingcountries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes itvulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controlsimproving
United Kingdomproducer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs andsynthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asianheroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs;money-laundering center
United Statesconsumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia throughMexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, andincreasingly methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-qualitySoutheast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana,depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine;money-laundering center
Uzbekistantransit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russianand, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicitcultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy fordomestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out bygovernment crop eradication program; transit point for heroinprecursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
Venezuelasmall-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for theprocessing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, largequantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the countryfrom Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-relatedmoney-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombiaand on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarilytargeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities byColombian insurgents on border
Vietnamminor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit pointfor Southeast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamineaddiction problems
Worldcocaine: worldwide, coca is grown on an estimated 173,450hectares - almost exclusively in South America with 70% in Colombia;potential cocaine production during 2003 is estimated at 728 metrictons (or 835 metric tons of export quality cocaine); cocaeradication programs continue in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru; 376metric tons of export quality cocaine are documented to have beenseized in 2003, and 26 metric tons disrupted (jettisoned ordestroyed); consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated tohave been 800 metric tonsopiates: cultivation of opium poppy occurred on an estimated 137,944hectares in 2003 - mostly in Southwest and Southeast Asia - with 44%in Afghanistan, potentially produced 3,775 metric tons of opium,which conceivably could be converted to the equivalent of 429 metrictons of pure heroin; opium eradication programs have been undertakenin Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, andVietnam
Zambiatransshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone,small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa andpossibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupledwith a government commitment to combating money laundering make itan unattractive venue for money launderers
Zimbabwetransit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin,mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African andEuropean markets
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@2087 Imports
Afghanistan$3.759 billion (FY03-04)
Albania$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Algeria$15.25 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
American Samoa$123 million (2002)
Andorra$1.077 billion (1998)
Angola$4.896 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Anguilla$80.9 million (1999)
Antigua and Barbuda$692 million (2002 est.)
Argentina$22.06 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Armenia$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Aruba$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Australia$98.1 billion (2004 est.)
Austria$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Azerbaijan$3.622 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Bahamas, The$1.63 billion (2003)
Bahrain$5.87 billion (2004 est.)
Bangladesh$10.03 billion (2004 est.)
Barbados$1.039 billion (2002)
Belarus$13.57 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Belgium$235 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Belize$579.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Benin$934.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Bermuda$5.523 billion (2002)
Bhutan$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Bolivia$1.595 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina$5.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Botswana$2.255 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Brazil$61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
British Virgin Islands$187 million (2002 est.)
Brunei$5.2 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Bulgaria$12.23 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Burkina Faso$866.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Burma$1.754 billion f.o.b.note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value ofconsumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in fromThailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004 est.)
Burundi$138.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cambodia$3.129 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cameroon$1.979 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Canada$256.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cape Verde$387.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cayman Islands$457.4 million (1999)
Central African Republic$136 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Chad$500.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Chile$22.53 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
China$552.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Christmas IslandNA
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA
Colombia$15.34 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Comoros$88 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the$933 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Congo, Republic of the$749.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cook Islands$50.7 million (2000)
Costa Rica$7.842 billion (2004 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire$3.36 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Croatia$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Cuba$5.296 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
CyprusRepublic of Cyprus: $5.258 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus:$415.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Czech Republic$68.19 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Denmark$63.45 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Djibouti$665 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Dominica$98.2 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic$8.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
East Timor$167 million (2004 est.)
Ecuador$7.65 billion (2004 est.)
Egypt$19.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
El Salvador$5.968 billion (2004 est.)
Equatorial Guinea$1.167 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Eritrea$622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Estonia$7.318 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Ethiopia$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
European Union $1.123 trillion note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2003)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)$53 million (2002)
Faroe Islands$466 million c.i.f. (2002)
Fiji$835 million c.i.f. (2002)
Finland$45.17 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
France$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
French Guiana$625 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
French Polynesia$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Gabon$1.225 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Gambia, The$180.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Gaza Strip$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank (2002)
Georgia$1.806 billion (2004 est.)
Germany$716.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Ghana$3.699 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Gibraltar$1.743 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Greece$54.28 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Greenland$445 million c.i.f. (2002)
Grenada$208 million (2002 est.)
Guadeloupe$1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Guam$462 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Guatemala$7.77 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Guernsey$NA
Guinea$641.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Guinea-Bissau$104 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Guyana$650.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Haiti$1.085 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Honduras$3.332 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Hong Kong$275.9 billion (2004 est.)
Hungary$58.68 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Iceland$3.307 billion (2004 est.)
India$89.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Indonesia$45.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Iran$31.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Iraq$9.9 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Ireland$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Israel$36.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Italy$329.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Jamaica$3.624 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Japan$401.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Jersey$NA
Jordan$7.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Kazakhstan$13.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Kenya$4.19 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Kiribati$83 million c.i.f. (2002)
Korea, North$2.1 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Korea, South$214.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Kuwait$11.12 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Kyrgyzstan$775.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Laos$579.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Latvia$5.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Lebanon$8.162 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Lesotho$730.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Liberia$5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Libya$7.224 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Liechtenstein$917.3 million (1996)
Lithuania$11.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Luxembourg$16.3 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Macau$2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Macedonia$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Madagascar$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Malawi$521.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Malaysia$99.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Maldives$392 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Mali$927 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Malta$3.407 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Man, Isle of$NA
Marshall Islands$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Martinique$2 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Mauritania$860 million f.o.b. (2002)
Mauritius$2.245 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Mayotte$141.3 million f.o.b. (1997)
Mexico$190.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Moldova$1.83 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Monaco$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects andrebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU marketsystem through customs union with France
Mongolia$1 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Montserrat$17 million (2001)
Morocco$15.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Mozambique$972.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Namibia$1.473 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Nauru$19.8 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Nepal$1.419 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Netherlands$252.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Netherlands Antilles$2.233 billion f.o.b. (2002)
New Caledonia$1.007 billion f.o.b. (2002)
New Zealand$19.77 billion (2004 est.)
Nicaragua$2.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Niger$400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Nigeria$17.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Niue$2.38 million (1999)
Norfolk Island$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)
Northern Mariana IslandsNA
Norway$45.96 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Oman$6.373 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Pakistan$14.01 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Palau$99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Panama$7.164 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004est.)
Papua New Guinea$1.353 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Paraguay$3.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Peru$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Philippines$37.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Pitcairn IslandsNA
Poland$81.61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Portugal$52.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Puerto Rico$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Qatar$6.15 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Reunion$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Romania$28.43 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Russia$92.91 billion (2004 est.)
Rwanda$260 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Saint Helena$42 million c.i.f. (2002)
Saint Kitts and Nevis$195 million (2002 est.)
Saint Lucia$267 million (2002 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon$106 million f.o.b. (2002)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$174 million (2002 est.)
Samoa$113 million f.o.b. (2002)
San Marinotrade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Sao Tome and Principe$41 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Saudi Arabia$36.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Senegal$2.128 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro$9.538 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Seychelles$393.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Sierra Leone$264 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Singapore$155.2 billion (2004 est.)
Slovakia$29.67 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Slovenia$16.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Solomon Islands$67 million f.o.b. (2003)
Somalia$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
South Africa$39.42 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Spain$222 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Sri Lanka$7.265 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Sudan$3.496 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Suriname$604 million f.o.b. (2002)
Svalbard$NA
Swaziland$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Sweden$97.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Switzerland$121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Syria$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Taiwan$165.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Tajikistan$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Tanzania$1.972 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Thailand$80.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Togo$824.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Tokelau$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)
Tonga$86 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago$4.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Tunisia$11.52 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Turkey$94.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Turkmenistan$2.85 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands$175.6 million (2000)
Tuvalu$79 million c.i.f. (2002)
Uganda$1.306 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Ukraine$31.45 billion (2004 est.)
United Arab Emirates$45.66 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
United Kingdom$439.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
United States$1.476 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Uruguay$2.071 billion f.o.b. (2003)
Uzbekistan$2.82 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Vanuatu$138 million c.i.f. (2002)
Venezuela$14.98 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Vietnam$26.31 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Virgin IslandsNA
Wallis and Futuna$300,000 f.o.b. (1999)
West Bank$1.5 billion c.i.f., includes Gaza Strip (2002)
Western SaharaNA
World$8.754 trillion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Yemen$3.734 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Zambia$1.519 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Zimbabwe$1.599 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@2088 Independence
Afghanistan19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreignaffairs)
Albania28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
Algeria5 July 1962 (from France)
American Samoanone (territory of the US)
Andorra1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the Frenchcount of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
Angola11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Antigua and Barbuda1 November 1981 (from UK)
Argentina9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Armenia21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Arubanone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Australia1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Austria1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republicproclaimed)
Azerbaijan30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Bahamas, The10 July 1973 (from UK)
Bahrain15 August 1971 (from UK)
Bangladesh16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creationof the state of Bangladesh
Barbados30 November 1966 (from UK)
Belarus25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Belgium4 October 1830 (a provisional government declaresindependence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold Iascends to the throne)
Belize21 September 1981 (from UK)
Benin1 August 1960 (from France)
Bermudanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Bhutan8 August 1949 (from India)
Bolivia6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Bosnia and Herzegovina1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum forindependence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3March 1992)
Botswana30 September 1966 (from UK)
Brazil7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
British Virgin Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Brunei1 January 1984 (from UK)
Bulgaria3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within theOttoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from theOttoman Empire)
Burkina Faso5 August 1960 (from France)
Burma4 January 1948 (from UK)
Burundi1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgianadministration)
Cambodia9 November 1953 (from France)
Cameroon1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Canada1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11December 1931 (independence recognized)
Cape Verde5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Cayman Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Central African Republic13 August 1960 (from France)
Chad11 August 1960 (from France)
Chile18 September 1810 (from Spain)
China221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949(People's Republic established)
Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia)
Colombia20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Comoros6 July 1975 (from France)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Congo, Republic of the15 August 1960 (from France)
Cook Islandsnone (became self-governing in free association withNew Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to moveto full independence by unilateral action)
Costa Rica15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Cote d'Ivoire7 August 1960 (from France)
Croatia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Cuba20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by theUS from 1898 to 1902)
Cyprus16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimedself-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but theseproclamations are only recognized by Turkey
Czech Republic1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the CzechRepublic and Slovakia)
Denmarkfirst organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849became a constitutional monarchy
Djibouti27 June 1977 (from France)
Dominica3 November 1978 (from UK)
Dominican Republic27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
East Timor28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independencefrom Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date ofinternational recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
Ecuador24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Egypt28 February 1922 (from UK)
El Salvador15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Equatorial Guinea12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Eritrea24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
Estonia20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Ethiopiaoldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldestin the world - at least 2,000 years
European Union7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signedestablishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty enteredinto force)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of theUK; also claimed by Argentina)
Faroe Islandsnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governingoverseas administrative division of Denmark)
Fiji10 October 1970 (from UK)
Finland6 December 1917 (from Russia)
France486 (unified by Clovis)
French Guiananone (overseas department of France)
French Polynesianone (overseas lands of France)
Gabon17 August 1960 (from France)
Gambia, The18 February 1965 (from UK)
Georgia9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Germany18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided intofour zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or WestGermany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, andFrench zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
Ghana6 March 1957 (from UK)
Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Greece1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Greenlandnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs isthe responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participatesin international agreements relating to Greenland)
Grenada7 February 1974 (from UK)
Guadeloupenone (overseas department of France)
Guamnone (territory of the US)
Guatemala15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Guernseynone (British crown dependency)
Guinea2 October 1958 (from France)
Guinea-Bissau24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared byGuinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
Guyana26 May 1966 (from UK)
Haiti1 January 1804 (from France)
Holy See (Vatican City)11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - thethree treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged,among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican andestablished its territorial extent; however, the origin of the PapalStates, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, maybe traced back to the 8th century
Honduras15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Hong Kongnone (special administrative region of China)
Hungary1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
Iceland1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the DanishCrown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
India15 August 1947 (from UK)
Indonesia17 August 1945 (independence proclaimed); 27 December 1949(Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence)
Iran1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Iraq3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition ProvisionalAuthority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government
Ireland6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Israel14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration)
Italy17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was notfinally unified until 1870)
Jamaica6 August 1962 (from UK)
Japan660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)
Jerseynone (British crown dependency)
Jordan25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration)
Kazakhstan16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Kenya12 December 1963 (from UK)
Kiribati12 July 1979 (from UK)
Korea, North15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Korea, South15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Kuwait19 June 1961 (from UK)
Kyrgyzstan31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Laos19 July 1949 (from France)
Latvia21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Lebanon22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
Lesotho4 October 1966 (from UK)
Liberia26 July 1847
Libya24 December 1951 (from Italy)
Liechtenstein23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtensteinestablished); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
Lithuania11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
Luxembourg1839 (from the Netherlands)
Macaunone (special administrative region of China)
Macedonia8 September 1991 (referendum by registered votersendorsing independence from Yugoslavia)
Madagascar26 June 1960 (from France)
Malawi6 July 1964 (from UK)
Malaysia31 August 1957 (from UK)
Maldives26 July 1965 (from UK)
Mali22 September 1960 (from France)
Malta21 September 1964 (from UK)
Man, Isle ofnone (British crown dependency)
Marshall Islands 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Martiniquenone (overseas department of France)
Mauritania28 November 1960 (from France)
Mauritius12 March 1968 (from UK)
Mayottenone (territorial collectivity of France)
Mexico16 September 1810 (from Spain)
Micronesia, Federated States of3 November 1986 (from theUS-administered UN Trusteeship)
Moldova27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Monaco1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
Mongolia11 July 1921 (from China)
Montserratnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Morocco2 March 1956 (from France)
Mozambique25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Namibia21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Nauru31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administeredUN trusteeship)
Nepal1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
Netherlands23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the LowCountries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it wasnot until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)
Netherlands Antillesnone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
New Caledonianone (overseas territory of France); note - areferendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a newreferendum is scheduled for 2014
New Zealand26 September 1907 (from UK)
Nicaragua15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Niger3 August 1960 (from France)
Nigeria1 October 1960 (from UK)
Niueon 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentarygovernment in free association with New Zealand
Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Northern Mariana Islandsnone (commonwealth in political union withthe US)
Norway7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Swedendissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of theunion)
Oman1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Pakistan14 August 1947 (from UK)
Palau1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
Panama3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain28 November 1821)
Papua New Guinea16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administeredUN trusteeship)
Paraguay14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Peru28 July 1821 (from Spain)
Philippines12 June 1898 (from Spain)
Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Poland11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
Portugal1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910(independent republic proclaimed)
Puerto Riconone (commonwealth associated with the US)
Qatar3 September 1971 (from UK)
Reunionnone (overseas department of France)
Romania9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire;independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin;kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republicproclaimed)
Russia24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Rwanda1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
Saint Helenanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Saint Kitts and Nevis19 September 1983 (from UK)
Saint Lucia22 February 1979 (from UK)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines27 October 1979 (from UK)
Samoa1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
San Marino3 September 301
Sao Tome and Principe12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Saudi Arabia23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
Senegal4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence wasachieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
Serbia and Montenegro27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslaviaor FRY - now Serbia and Montenegro - formed as self-proclaimedsuccessor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)
Seychelles29 June 1976 (from UK)
Sierra Leone27 April 1961 (from UK)
Singapore9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
Slovakia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the CzechRepublic and Slovakia)
Slovenia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Solomon Islands7 July 1978 (from UK)
Somalia1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, whichbecame independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and ItalianSomaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administeredUN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
South Africa31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became arepublic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum
Spainthe Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety ofindependent kingdoms prior to the Moslem occupation that began inthe early 8th century A. D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; thesmall Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almostimmediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; thisevent completed the unification of several kingdoms and istraditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
Sri Lanka4 February 1948 (from UK)
Sudan1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
Suriname25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
Svalbardnone (territory of Norway)
Swaziland6 September 1968 (from UK)
Sweden6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
Switzerland1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Syria17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
Tajikistan9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Tanzania26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar becameindependent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united withZanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika andZanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
Thailand1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Togo27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand)
Tonga4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Trinidad and Tobago31 August 1962 (from UK)
Tunisia20 March 1956 (from France)
Turkey29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
Turkmenistan27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Tuvalu1 October 1978 (from UK)
Uganda9 October 1962 (from UK)
Ukraine24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
United Arab Emirates2 December 1971 (from UK)
United KingdomEngland has existed as a unified entity since the10th century; the union between England and Wales, begun in 1284with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with anAct of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotlandagreed to permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative unionof Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with theadoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain andIreland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition ofIreland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the UnitedKingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in1927
United States4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
Uruguay25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Uzbekistan1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Vanuatu30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Venezuela5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Vietnam2 September 1945 (from France)
Wallis and Futunanone (overseas territory of France)
Yemen22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger ofthe Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and theMarxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen(Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had becomeindependent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and SouthYemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
Zambia24 October 1964 (from UK)
Zimbabwe18 April 1980 (from UK)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2089 Industrial production growth rate (%)
AfghanistanNA
Albania3.1% (2004 est.)
Algeria6% (2004 est.)
American SamoaNA%
AndorraNA%
Angola1% (2000)
Anguilla3.1% (1997 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda6% (1997 est.)
Argentina12% (2004 est.)
Armenia15% (2002 est.)
ArubaNA%
Australia1.9% (2004 est.)
Austria3.3% (2004 est.)
Azerbaijan4% (2004 est.)
Bahamas, TheNA
Bahrain2% (2000 est.)
Bangladesh6.5% (2004 est.)
Barbados-3.2% (2000 est.)
Belarus4% (2004 est.)
Belgium3.5% (2004 est.)
Belize4.6% (1999)
Benin8.3% (2001 est.)
BermudaNA%
Bhutan9.3% (1996 est.)
Bolivia5.7% (2004 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina5.5% (2003 est.)
Botswana4.4% (2004 est.)
Brazil6% (2004 est.)
British Virgin IslandsNA%
Brunei5% (2002 est.)
Bulgaria5.2% (2004 est.)
Burkina Faso14% (2001 est.)
BurmaNA
Burundi18% (2001)
Cambodia22% (2002 est.)
Cameroon4.2% (1999 est.)
Canada2% (2004 est.)
Cape VerdeNA
Cayman IslandsNA%
Central African Republic3% (2002)
Chad5% (1995)
Chile7.8% (2004 est.)
China17.1% (2004 est.)
Colombia4% (2004 est.)
Comoros-2% (1999 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of theNA
Congo, Republic of the0% (2002 est.)
Cook Islands1% (2002)
Costa Rica3.1% (2004 est.)