Swaziland18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice; no conscription (2008)
Sweden19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force);after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitmentuntil age 47 (2006)
Switzerland19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18years of age for voluntary male and female military service; theSwiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to domilitary service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 daysin the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatorytraining, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for trainingduring the next 10 years (2008)
Syria18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Taiwan19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service;service obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009) year;women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted tononcombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministryof Defense has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntaryenlistment system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts eachyear thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required toperform alternative service or go through 3-4 months of militarytraining (2008)
Tajikistan18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-yearconscript service obligation (2007)
Tanzania18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Thailand21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 yearsof age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)
Timor-Leste18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Togo18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 2-year service obligation (2006)
Tonga18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)
Trinidad and Tobago18 years of age for voluntary military service(16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Tunisia20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntarymilitary service (2007)
Turkey20 years of age (2004)
Turkmenistan18-30 years of age for compulsory military service;2-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Uganda18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryduty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; 9-year serviceobligation; the government has stated that recruitment below 18years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no personunder the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armedforces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2008)
Ukraine18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and AirForce, 24 months for Navy (2004)
United Arab Emirates18 years of age (est.) for voluntary militaryservice; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription(2008)
United Kingdom16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntarymilitary service (with parental consent under 18); women serve inmilitary services, but are excluded from ground combat positions andsome naval postings; must be citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, orRepublic of Ireland; reservists serve a minimum of 3 years, to age45 or 55; 16 years of age for voluntary military service by Nepalesecitizens in the Brigade of the Gurkhas; 16-34 years of age forvoluntary military service by Papua New Guinean citizens (2008)
United States18 years of age (17 years of age with parentalconsent) for male and female voluntary service; maximum enlistmentage 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); serviceobligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 yearsactive (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2008)
Uruguay18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory militaryservice; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the governmenthas the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)
Uzbekistan18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-yearconscript service obligation; moving toward a professional military,but conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodateeveryone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into themilitary is similar to the competition for admission to universities(2007)
Venezuela18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 30-month conscript service obligation - all citizens 18-50years old are obligated to register for military service (2008)
Vietnam18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 yearsof age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force orSelf Defense Forces (2006)
Yemenvoluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-yearservice obligation (2006)
Zambia18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years ofage with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Zimbabwe18-24 years of age for compulsory military service; womenare eligible to serve (2007)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2025 Manpower fit for military service
Afghanistanmales age 16-49: 4,234,180females age 16-49: 3,946,685 (2008 est.)
Albaniamales age 16-49: 798,454females age 16-49: 767,143 (2008 est.)
Algeriamales age 16-49: 8,141,864females age 16-49: 8,215,895 (2008 est.)
Andorramales age 16-49: 14,976 (2008 est.)
Angolamales age 16-49: 1,430,658females age 16-49: 1,371,689 (2008 est.)
Anguillamales age 16-49: 2,929 (2008 est.)
Antigua and Barbudamales age 16-49: 15,591females age 16-49: 15,542 (2008 est.)
Argentinamales age 16-49: 8,352,147females age 16-49: 8,366,781 (2008 est.)
Armeniamales age 16-49: 637,776females age 16-49: 729,846 (2008 est.)
Arubamales age 16-49: 20,173females age 16-49: 21,062 (2008 est.)
Australiamales age 16-49: 4,137,176females age 16-49: 4,022,588 (2008 est.)
Austriamales age 16-49: 1,617,385females age 16-49: 1,583,886 (2008 est.)
Azerbaijanmales age 16-49: 1,696,167females age 16-49: 1,923,556 (2008 est.)
Bahamas, Themales age 16-49: 50,282 (2008 est.)
Bahrainmales age 16-49: 171,536females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008 est.)
Bangladeshmales age 16-49: 31,968,168 (2008 est.)
Barbadosmales age 16-49: 58,556females age 16-49: 58,143 (2008 est.)
Belarusmales age 16-49: 1,727,974females age 16-49: 2,093,106 (2008 est.)
Belgiummales age 16-49: 1,973,167females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)
Belizemales age 16-49: 54,627females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008 est.)
Beninmales age 16-49: 1,173,742females age 16-49: 1,162,113 (2008 est.)
Bermudamales age 16-49: 12,682 (2008 est.)
Bhutanmales age 16-49: 146,063females age 16-49: 131,193 (2008 est.)
Boliviamales age 16-49: 1,600,219females age 16-49: 1,815,514 (2008 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovinamales age 16-49: 996,225females age 16-49: 962,927 (2008 est.)
Botswanamales age 16-49: 290,093females age 16-49: 257,700 (2008 est.)
Brazilmales age 16-49: 39,263,710females age 16-49: 44,109,056 (2008 est.)
British Virgin Islandsmales age 16-49: 5,921 (2008 est.)
Bruneimales age 16-49: 91,297females age 16-49: 93,228 (2008 est.)
Bulgariamales age 16-49: 1,364,029females age 16-49: 1,401,348 (2008 est.)
Burkina Fasomales age 16-49: 2,115,948 (2008 est.)
Burmamales age 16-49: 9,031,046females age 16-49: 9,396,547 (2008 est.)
Burundimales age 16-49: 1,083,899females age 16-49: 1,062,488 (2008 est.)
Cambodiamales age 16-49: 2,581,045females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)
Cameroonmales age 16-49: 2,567,428females age 16-49: 2,498,990 (2008 est.)
Canadamales age 16-49: 6,646,281females age 16-49: 6,417,924 (2008 est.)
Cape Verdemales age 16-49: 83,082females age 16-49: 88,832 (2008 est.)
Cayman Islandsmales age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.)
Central African Republicmales age 16-49: 534,141females age 16-49: 495,303 (2008 est.)
Chadmales age 16-49: 1,066,565females age 16-49: 1,279,318 (2008 est.)
Chilemales age 16-49: 3,542,448females age 16-49: 3,500,059 (2008 est.)
Chinamales age 16-49: 313,321,639females age 16-49: 295,951,438 (2008 est.)
Colombiamales age 16-49: 8,056,336females age 16-49: 9,919,952 (2008 est.)
Comorosmales age 16-49: 121,550females age 16-49: 131,015 (2008 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of themales age 16-49: 8,562,989 (2008est.)
Congo, Republic of themales age 16-49: 519,296females age 16-49: 509,564 (2008 est.)
Costa Ricamales age 16-49: 958,013females age 16-49: 925,727 (2008 est.)
Cote d'Ivoiremales age 16-49: 2,393,104females age 16-49: 2,381,607 (2008 est.)
Croatiamales age 16-49: 771,323females age 16-49: 855,937 (2008 est.)
Cubamales age 16-49: 2,543,044females age 16-49: 2,481,823 (2008 est.)
CyprusGreek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):males age 16-49: 165,042females age 16-49: 158,869 (2008 est.)
Czech Republicmales age 16-49: 2,100,789females age 16-49: 2,018,101 (2008 est.)
Denmarkmales age 16-49: 1,012,716females age 16-49: 996,436 (2008 est.)
Djiboutimales age 16-49: 54,460females age 16-49: 51,684 (2008 est.)
Dominicamales age 16-49: 15,648 (2008 est.)
Dominican Republicmales age 16-49: 2,020,490females age 16-49: 1,883,875 (2008 est.)
Ecuadormales age 16-49: 3,030,664females age 16-49: 3,037,892 (2008 est.)
Egyptmales age 16-49: 18,153,158females age 16-49: 17,405,837 (2008 est.)
El Salvadormales age 16-49: 1,168,406females age 16-49: 1,519,375 (2008 est.)
Equatorial Guineamales age 16-49: 101,712females age 16-49: 104,381 (2008 est.)
Eritreamales age 16-49: 715,531females age 16-49: 731,511 (2008 est.)
Estoniamales age 16-49: 218,448females age 16-49: 264,187 (2008 est.)
Ethiopiamales age 16-49: 10,060,775females age 16-49: 9,854,710 (2008 est.)
Faroe Islandsmales age 16-49: 9,735 (2008 est.)
Fijimales age 16-49: 189,282females age 16-49: 202,350 (2008 est.)
Finlandmales age 16-49: 965,131females age 16-49: 923,224 (2008 est.)
Francemales age 16-49: 12,110,718females age 16-49: 11,849,988 (2008 est.)
French Polynesiamales age 16-49: 64,287 (2008 est.)
Gabonmales age 16-49: 192,717females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)
Gambia, Themales age 16-49: 230,202females age 16-49: 244,480 (2008 est.)
Gaza Stripmales age 16-49: 291,467 (2008 est.)
Georgiamales age 16-49: 910,720females age 16-49: 967,566 (2008 est.)
Germanymales age 16-49: 15,906,930females age 16-49: 15,051,183 (2008 est.)
Ghanamales age 16-49: 3,737,481females age 16-49: 3,729,699 (2008 est.)
Gibraltarmales age 16-49: 5,244 (2008 est.)
Greecemales age 16-49: 2,084,469females age 16-49: 2,065,956 (2008 est.)
Greenlandmales age 16-49: 10,739 (2008 est.)
Grenadamales age 16-49: 20,249 (2008 est.)
Guatemalamales age 16-49: 2,310,272females age 16-49: 2,622,450 (2008 est.)
Guineamales age 16-49: 1,268,193females age 16-49: 1,259,913 (2008 est.)
Guinea-Bissaumales age 16-49: 188,605females age 16-49: 195,429 (2008 est.)
Guyanamales age 16-49: 150,623 (2008 est.)
Haitimales age 16-49: 1,303,743females age 16-49: 1,332,316 (2008 est.)
Hondurasmales age 16-49: 1,359,406females age 16-49: 1,371,418 (2008 est.)
Hong Kongmales age 16-49: 1,438,165females age 16-49: 1,561,252 (2008 est.)
Hungarymales age 16-49: 1,890,105females age 16-49: 1,943,422 (2008 est.)
Icelandmales age 16-49: 62,342 (2008 est.)
Indiamales age 16-49: 231,161,111females age 16-49: 236,633,962 (2008 est.)
Indonesiamales age 16-49: 52,367,788females age 16-49: 52,129,123 (2008 est.)
Iranmales age 16-49: 17,416,126females age 16-49: 16,928,226 (2008 est.)
Iraqmales age 16-49: 6,019,795females age 16-49: 5,878,905 (2008 est.)
Irelandmales age 16-49: 854,982females age 16-49: 852,592 (2008 est.)
Israelmales age 16-49: 1,452,926females age 16-49: 1,383,796 (2008 est.)
Italymales age 16-49: 11,285,488females age 16-49: 10,680,672 (2008 est.)
Jamaicamales age 16-49: 566,477females age 16-49: 583,075 (2008 est.)
Japanmales age 16-49: 22.963 millionfemales age 16-49: 22,134,127 (2008 est.)
Jordanmales age 16-49: 1,546,766females age 16-49: 1,339,366 (2008 est.)
Kazakhstanmales age 16-49: 2,871,205females age 16-49: 3,551,032 (2008 est.)
Kenyamales age 16-49: 5,688,259females age 16-49: 5,396,166 (2008 est.)
Kiribatimales age 16-49: 17,577 (2008 est.)
Korea, Northmales age 16-49: 5,141,240females age 16-49: 5,139,447 (2008 est.)
Korea, Southmales age 16-49: 11,282,699females age 16-49: 10,683,668 (2008 est.)
Kuwaitmales age 16-49: 892,816females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)
Kyrgyzstanmales age 16-49: 1,061,942females age 16-49: 1,211,249 (2008 est.)
Laosmales age 16-49: 993,162females age 16-49: 1,052,053 (2008 est.)
Latviamales age 16-49: 412,849females age 16-49: 468,827 (2008 est.)
Lebanonmales age 16-49: 934,828females age 16-49: 948,327 (2008 est.)
Lesothomales age 16-49: 262,101females age 16-49: 238,350 (2008 est.)
Liberiamales age 16-49: 371,287females age 16-49: 373,265 (2008 est.)
Libyamales age 16-49: 1,439,941females age 16-49: 1,381,914 (2008 est.)
Liechtensteinmales age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.)
Lithuaniamales age 16-49: 678,434females age 16-49: 749,483 (2008 est.)
Luxembourgmales age 16-49: 95,152females age 16-49: 93,792 (2008 est.)
Macaumales age 16-49: 100,826 (2008 est.)
Macedoniamales age 16-49: 444,693females age 16-49: 428,341 (2008 est.)
Madagascarmales age 16-49: 3,034,600females age 16-49: 3,271,732 (2008 est.)
Malawimales age 16-49: 1,676,117 (2008 est.)
Malaysiamales age 16-49: 5,374,006females age 16-49: 5,316,865 (2008 est.)
Maldivesmales age 16-49: 72,150females age 16-49: 69,058 (2008 est.)
Malimales age 16-49: 1,594,184females age 16-49: 1,529,871 (2008 est.)
Maltamales age 16-49: 80,227females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.)
Marshall Islandsmales age 16-49: 12,864 (2008 est.)
Mauritaniamales age 16-49: 463,305females age 16-49: 484,777 (2008 est.)
Mexicomales age 16-49: 22,188,284females age 16-49: 24,884,614 (2008 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States ofmales age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)
Moldovamales age 16-49: 877,070females age 16-49: 994,091 (2008 est.)
Monacomales age 16-49: 5,376 (2008 est.)
Mongoliamales age 16-49: 696,652females age 16-49: 731,480 (2008 est.)
Montserratmales age 16-49: 2,097 (2008 est.)
Moroccomales age 16-49: 7,627,988females age 16-49: 7,754,873 (2008 est.)
Mozambiquemales age 16-49: 2,287,526 (2008 est.)
Namibiamales age 16-49: 313,497 (2008 est.)
Nepalmales age 16-49: 5,146,958females age 16-49: 4,724,495 (2008 est.)
Netherlandsmales age 16-49: 3,233,773females age 16-49: 3,150,790 (2008 est.)
Netherlands Antillesmales age 16-49: 46,102females age 16-49: 47,219 (2008 est.)
New Caledoniamales age 16-49: 47,342 (2008 est.)
New Zealandmales age 16-49: 833,073females age 16-49: 822,807 (2008 est.)
Nicaraguamales age 16-49: 1,235,400females age 16-49: 1,302,318 (2008 est.)
Nigermales age 16-49: 1,665,108females age 16-49: 1,548,965 (2008 est.)
Nigeriamales age 16-49: 18,556,755females age 16-49: 17,288,225 (2008 est.)
Norwaymales age 16-49: 888,101females age 16-49: 862,159 (2008 est.)
Omanmales age 16-49: 663,881females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)
Pakistanmales age 16-49: 32,453,913females age 16-49: 31,369,057 (2008 est.)
Palaumales age 16-49: 4,397 (2008 est.)
Panamamales age 16-49: 673,103 (2008 est.)
Papua New Guineamales age 16-49: 1,080,466females age 16-49: 1,092,040 (2008 est.)
Paraguaymales age 16-49: 1,327,730females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)
Perumales age 16-49: 5,796,449females age 16-49: 6,217,524 (2008 est.)
Philippinesmales age 16-49: 18,232,050females age 16-49: 19,827,538 (2008 est.)
Polandmales age 16-49: 7,937,840females age 16-49: 7,949,677 (2008 est.)
Portugalmales age 16-49: 2,099,647females age 16-49: 2,060,559 (2008 est.)
Qatarmales age 16-49: 258,159females age 16-49: 143,999 (2008 est.)
Romaniamales age 16-49: 4,572,017females age 16-49: 4,644,474 (2008 est.)
Russiamales age 16-49: 21,488,878females age 16-49: 28,760,976 (2008 est.)
Rwandamales age 16-49: 1,404,066females age 16-49: 1,403,700 (2008 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevismales age 16-49: 8,064females age 16-49: 8,464 (2008 est.)
Saint Luciamales age 16-49: 38,660 (2008 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesmales age 16-49: 28,518 (2008 est.)
Samoamales age 16-49: 42,359 (2008 est.)
San Marinomales age 16-49: 5,345 (2008 est.)
Sao Tome and Principemales age 16-49: 33,735females age 16-49: 36,779 (2008 est.)
Saudi Arabiamales age 16-49: 7,398,417females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.)
Senegalmales age 16-49: 1,866,602females age 16-49: 1,947,076 (2008 est.)
Seychellesmales age 16-49: 17,942females age 16-49: 20,436 (2008 est.)
Sierra Leonemales age 16-49: 671,418 (2008 est.)
Singaporemales age 16-49: 1,038,603 (2008 est.)
Slovakiamales age 16-49: 1,166,833females age 16-49: 1,156,874 (2008 est.)
Sloveniamales age 16-49: 406,951females age 16-49: 395,444 (2008 est.)
Solomon Islandsmales age 16-49: 116,891 (2008 est.)
Somaliamales age 16-49: 1,274,783females age 16-49: 1,317,991 (2008 est.)
South Africamales age 16-49: 6,042,498females age 16-49: 5,471,103 (2008 est.)
Spainmales age 16-49: 8,228,426females age 16-49: 7,990,678 (2008 est.)
Sri Lankamales age 16-49: 4,477,437females age 16-49: 4,683,716 (2008 est.)
Sudanmales age 16-49: 5,586,468females age 16-49: 5,678,427 (2008 est.)
Surinamemales age 16-49: 105,770females age 16-49: 109,666 (2008 est.)
Swazilandmales age 16-49: 122,260 (2008 est.)
Swedenmales age 16-49: 1,699,115females age 16-49: 1,637,868 (2008 est.)
Switzerlandmales age 16-49: 1,513,984females age 16-49: 1,478,761 (2008 est.)
Syriamales age 16-49: 4,242,401females age 16-49: 4,218,648 (2008 est.)
Taiwanmales age 16-49: 5,112,737females age 16-49: 5,036,346 (2008 est.)
Tajikistanmales age 16-49: 1,391,287females age 16-49: 1,561,826 (2008 est.)
Tanzaniamales age 16-49: 5,278,833 (2008 est.)
Thailandmales age 16-49: 12,968,674females age 16-49: 14,058,779 (2008 est.)
Timor-Lestemales age 16-49: 224,096females age 16-49: 231,901 (2008 est.)
Togomales age 16-49: 897,195females age 16-49: 913,327 (2008 est.)
Tongamales age 16-49: 25,520females age 16-49: 26,893 (2008 est.)
Trinidad and Tobagomales age 16-49: 215,310females age 16-49: 180,526 (2008 est.)
Tunisiamales age 16-49: 2,539,962females age 16-49: 2,465,295 (2008 est.)
Turkeymales age 16-49: 17,011,635females age 16-49: 16,433,364 (2008 est.)
Turkmenistanmales age 16-49: 1,064,965females age 16-49: 1,136,553 (2008 est.)
Ugandamales age 16-49: 3,856,365females age 16-49: 3,769,120 (2008 est.)
Ukrainemales age 16-49: 7,141,814females age 16-49: 9,428,876 (2008 est.)
United Arab Emiratesmales age 16-49: 2,004,558females age 16-49: 760,637 (2008 est.)
United Kingdommales age 16-49: 12,121,602females age 16-49: 11,616,582 (2008 est.)
United Statesmales age 16-49: 59,413,358females age 16-49: 59,187,183 (2008 est.)
Uruguaymales age 16-49: 703,955females age 16-49: 690,296 (2008 est.)
Uzbekistanmales age 16-49: 5,684,540females age 16-49: 6,432,976 (2008 est.)
Vanuatumales age 16-49: 40,577 (2008 est.)
Venezuelamales age 16-49: 5,280,974females age 16-49: 5,768,814 (2008 est.)
Vietnammales age 16-49: 18,849,274females age 16-49: 20,575,884 (2008 est.)
Yemenmales age 16-49: 3,585,947females age 16-49: 3,619,195 (2008 est.)
Zambiamales age 16-49: 1,329,343females age 16-49: 1,218,114 (2008 est.)
Zimbabwemales age 16-49: 1,643,036females age 16-49: 1,404,663 (2008 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2026 Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
Afghanistanmale: 371,451female: 351,295 (2008 est.)
Albaniamale: 36,340female: 33,077 (2008 est.)
Algeriamale: 374,365female: 360,942 (2008 est.)
American Samoamale: 806female: 781 (2008 est.)
Andorramale: 412female: 395 (2008 est.)
Angolamale: 142,791female: 139,539 (2008 est.)
Anguillamale: 103female: 103 (2008 est.)
Antigua and Barbudamale: 744female: 742 (2008 est.)
Argentinamale: 348,310female: 332,944 (2008 est.)
Armeniamale: 30,548female: 29,170 (2008 est.)
Arubamale: 705female: 719 (2008 est.)
Australiamale: 144,934female: 137,511 (2008 est.)
Austriamale: 50,869female: 48,246 (2008 est.)
Azerbaijanmale: 94,402female: 89,686 (2008 est.)
Bahamas, Themale: 3,016female: 3,024 (2008 est.)
Bahrainmale: 6,543female: 6,429 (2008 est.)
Bangladeshmale: 1,311,850female: 1,246,012 (2008 est.)
Barbadosmale: 2,157female: 2,155 (2008 est.)
Belarusmale: 64,232female: 60,788 (2008 est.)
Belgiummale: 64,659female: 61,881 (2008 est.)
Belizemale: 3,580female: 3,449 (2008 est.)
Beninmale: 97,543female: 94,008 (2008 est.)
Bermudamale: 426female: 445 (2008 est.)
Bhutanmale: 7,847female: 7,530 (2008 est.)
Boliviamale: 107,051female: 103,620 (2008 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovinamale: 30,246female: 28,189 (2008 est.)
Botswanamale: 23,007female: 22,551 (2008 est.)
Brazilmale: 1,666,791female: 1,608,363 (2008 est.)
British Virgin Islandsmale: 184female: 179 (2008 est.)
Bruneimale: 3,223female: 3,182 (2008 est.)
Bulgariamale: 39,477female: 37,339 (2008 est.)
Burkina Fasomale: 176,358female: 173,856 (2008 est.)
Burmamale: 423,809female: 415,843 (2008 est.)
Burundimale: 98,105female: 98,533 (2008 est.)
Cambodiamale: 185,959female: 182,558 (2008 est.)
Cameroonmale: 212,205female: 207,545 (2008 est.)
Canadamale: 227,435female: 215,556 (2008 est.)
Cape Verdemale: 5,566female: 5,441 (2008 est.)
Cayman Islandsmale: 336female: 336 (2008 est.)
Central African Republicmale: 54,655female: 54,420 (2008 est.)
Chadmale: 116,824female: 117,831 (2008 est.)
Chilemale: 147,518female: 141,139 (2008 est.)
Chinamale: 10,760,380female: 9,710,032 (2008 est.)
Colombiamale: 442,403female: 433,192 (2008 est.)
Comorosmale: 7,901female: 7,894 (2008 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of themale: 783,762female: 780,922 (2008 est.)
Congo, Republic of themale: 45,671female: 45,248 (2008 est.)
Cook Islandsmale: 157female: 133 (2008 est.)
Costa Ricamale: 40,767female: 38,899 (2008 est.)
Cote d'Ivoiremale: 234,032female: 230,799 (2008 est.)
Croatiamale: 27,500female: 25,893 (2008 est.)
Cubamale: 79,945female: 76,014 (2008 est.)
Cyprusmale: 6,482female: 6,208 (2008 est.)
Czech Republicmale: 63,124female: 59,786 (2008 est.)
Denmarkmale: 36,561female: 34,603 (2008 est.)
Djiboutimale: 5,618female: 5,609 (2008 est.)
Dominicamale: 756female: 713 (2008 est.)
Dominican Republicmale: 96,971female: 93,116 (2008 est.)
Ecuadormale: 144,821female: 139,091 (2008 est.)
Egyptmale: 825,300female: 786,590 (2008 est.)
El Salvadormale: 73,915female: 71,252 (2008 est.)
Equatorial Guineamale: 6,784female: 6,543 (2008 est.)
Eritreamale: 60,490female: 60,639 (2008 est.)
Estoniamale: 8,322female: 7,846 (2008 est.)
Ethiopiamale: 887,061female: 896,048 (2008 est.)
Faroe Islandsmale: 400female: 387 (2008 est.)
Fijimale: 9,077female: 8,728 (2008 est.)
Finlandmale: 34,152female: 32,870 (2008 est.)
Francemale: 401,379female: 382,409 (2008 est.)
French Polynesiamale: 2,699female: 2,589 (2008 est.)
Gabonmale: 16,558female: 16,577 (2008 est.)
Gambia, Themale: 19,650female: 19,582 (2008 est.)
Gaza Stripmale: 19,275female: 18,309 (2008 est.)
Georgiamale: 35,917female: 34,566 (2008 est.)
Germanymale: 442,972female: 420,801 (2008 est.)
Ghanamale: 273,265female: 267,204 (2008 est.)
Gibraltarmale: 190female: 185 (2008 est.)
Greecemale: 53,858female: 50,488 (2008 est.)
Greenlandmale: 534female: 503 (2008 est.)
Grenadamale: 1,034female: 970 (2008 est.)
Guammale: 1,665female: 1,547 (2008 est.)
Guatemalamale: 161,550female: 159,760 (2008 est.)
Guernseymale: 379female: 353 (2008 est.)
Guineamale: 106,967female: 104,631 (2008 est.)
Guinea-Bissaumale: 16,634female: 16,841 (2008 est.)
Guyanamale: 6,713female: 6,451 (2008 est.)
Haitimale: 105,655female: 104,376 (2008 est.)
Hondurasmale: 90,876female: 87,292 (2008 est.)
Hong Kongmale: 42,173female: 38,753 (2008 est.)
Hungarymale: 62,197female: 59,267 (2008 est.)
Icelandmale: 2,393female: 2,317 (2008 est.)
Indiamale: 11,592,516female: 10,636,857 (2008 est.)
Indonesiamale: 2,181,303female: 2,110,397 (2008 est.)
Iranmale: 766,668female: 727,654 (2008 est.)
Iraqmale: 302,926female: 294,747 (2008 est.)
Irelandmale: 28,610female: 27,095 (2008 est.)
Isle of Manmale: 471female: 447 (2008 est.)
Israelmale: 60,602female: 57,532 (2008 est.)
Italymale: 290,740female: 273,569 (2008 est.)
Jamaicamale: 32,000female: 31,428 (2008 est.)
Japanmale: 622,168female: 590,153 (2008 est.)
Jerseymale: 587female: 540 (2008 est.)
Jordanmale: 68,067female: 65,512 (2008 est.)
Kazakhstanmale: 145,495female: 140,149 (2008 est.)
Kenyamale: 411,032female: 406,794 (2008 est.)
Kiribatimale: 1,247female: 1,226 (2008 est.)
Korea, Northmale: 199,628female: 192,388 (2008 est.)
Korea, Southmale: 371,108female: 325,408 (2008 est.)
Kuwaitmale: 17,737female: 18,519 (2008 est.)
Kyrgyzstanmale: 60,706female: 58,721 (2008 est.)
Laosmale: 73,973female: 72,758 (2008 est.)
Latviamale: 14,506female: 13,982 (2008 est.)
Lebanonmale: 32,815female: 31,610 (2008 est.)
Lesothomale: 26,084female: 26,006 (2008 est.)
Liberiamale: 30,448female: 29,902 (2008 est.)
Libyamale: 61,305female: 58,788 (2008 est.)
Liechtensteinmale: 202female: 222 (2008 est.)
Lithuaniamale: 25,907female: 24,735 (2008 est.)
Luxembourgmale: 3,066female: 2,909 (2008 est.)
Macaumale: 4,601female: 4,171 (2008 est.)
Macedoniamale: 15,141female: 14,434 (2008 est.)
Madagascarmale: 230,088female: 229,932 (2008 est.)
Malawimale: 168,858female: 168,946 (2008 est.)
Malaysiamale: 260,725female: 247,309 (2008 est.)
Maldivesmale: 4,749female: 4,084 (2008 est.)
Malimale: 144,293female: 136,381 (2008 est.)
Maltamale: 2,815female: 2,657 (2008 est.)
Marshall Islandsmale: 512female: 494 (2008 est.)
Mauritaniamale: 38,191female: 38,638 (2008 est.)
Mauritiusmale: 11,089female: 10,843 (2008 est.)
Mayottemale: 2,407female: 2,401 (2008 est.)
Mexicomale: 1,110,544female: 1,073,223 (2008 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States ofmale: 1,310female: 1,262 (2008 est.)
Moldovamale: 33,053female: 31,712 (2008 est.)
Monacomale: 191female: 182 (2008 est.)
Mongoliamale: 29,990female: 29,256 (2008 est.)
Montenegromale: 4,426female: 4,201 (2008 est.)
Montserratmale: 31female: 39 (2008 est.)
Moroccomale: 355,479female: 343,016 (2008 est.)
Mozambiquemale: 257,261female: 259,114 (2008 est.)
Namibiamale: 25,525female: 25,182 (2008 est.)
Naurumale: 173female: 159 (2008 est.)
Nepalmale: 335,747female: 312,297 (2008 est.)
Netherlandsmale: 105,735female: 100,747 (2008 est.)
Netherlands Antillesmale: 1,855female: 1,760 (2008 est.)
New Caledoniamale: 2,202female: 2,121 (2008 est.)
New Zealandmale: 31,834female: 30,243 (2008 est.)
Nicaraguamale: 72,689female: 70,452 (2008 est.)
Nigermale: 150,728female: 143,379 (2008 est.)
Nigeriamale: 1,663,025female: 1,585,224 (2008 est.)
Northern Mariana Islandsmale: 572female: 594 (2008 est.)
Norwaymale: 32,185female: 30,683 (2008 est.)
Omanmale: 34,238female: 33,139 (2008 est.)
Pakistanmale: 2,062,065female: 1,936,916 (2008 est.)
Palaumale: 179female: 165 (2008 est.)
Panamamale: 31,042female: 29,969 (2008 est.)
Papua New Guineamale: 62,865female: 61,102 (2008 est.)
Paraguaymale: 72,109female: 70,509 (2008 est.)
Perumale: 306,260female: 296,819 (2008 est.)
Philippinesmale: 1,012,779female: 977,030 (2008 est.)
Polandmale: 257,605female: 245,832 (2008 est.)
Portugalmale: 64,910female: 58,599 (2008 est.)
Puerto Ricomale: 30,760female: 29,469 (2008 est.)
Qatarmale: 6,224female: 4,845 (2008 est.)
Romaniamale: 127,706female: 121,852 (2008 est.)
Russiamale: 821,103female: 781,570 (2008 est.)
Rwandamale: 111,791female: 112,131 (2008 est.)
Saint Barthelemymale: 21female: 20 (2008 est.)
Saint Helenamale: 47female: 43 (2008 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevismale: 367female: 352 (2008 est.)
Saint Luciamale: 1,591female: 1,504 (2008 est.)
Saint Martinmale: 186female: 162 (2008 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelonmale: 61female: 58 (2008 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesmale: 1,224female: 1,169 (2008 est.)
Samoamale: 2,571female: 2,454 (2008 est.)
San Marinomale: 156female: 154 (2008 est.)
Sao Tome and Principemale: 2,437female: 2,394 (2008 est.)
Saudi Arabiamale: 271,905female: 261,795 (2008 est.)
Senegalmale: 141,832female: 139,541 (2008 est.)
Serbiamale: 66,263female: 62,165 (2008 est.)
Seychellesmale: 770female: 750 (2008 est.)
Sierra Leonemale: 70,068female: 73,930 (2008 est.)
Singaporemale: 27,742female: 26,325 (2008 est.)
Slovakiamale: 38,183female: 36,388 (2008 est.)
Sloveniamale: 10,516female: 9,934 (2008 est.)
Solomon Islandsmale: 6,924female: 6,679 (2008 est.)
Somaliamale: 95,446female: 95,339 (2008 est.)
South Africamale: 529,201female: 522,678 (2008 est.)
Spainmale: 203,650female: 191,352 (2008 est.)
Sri Lankamale: 174,065female: 168,593 (2008 est.)
Sudanmale: 488,679female: 469,547 (2008 est.)
Surinamemale: 4,329female: 4,350 (2008 est.)
Swazilandmale: 15,951female: 15,728 (2008 est.)
Swedenmale: 64,605female: 61,110 (2008 est.)
Switzerlandmale: 49,205female: 45,220 (2008 est.)
Syriamale: 215,734female: 203,106 (2008 est.)
Taiwanmale: 164,883female: 152,085 (2008 est.)
Tajikistanmale: 84,137female: 81,777 (2008 est.)
Tanzaniamale: 478,812female: 479,557 (2008 est.)
Thailandmale: 531,315female: 511,288 (2008 est.)
Timor-Lestemale: 13,045female: 12,670 (2008 est.)
Togomale: 69,156female: 69,200 (2008 est.)
Tongamale: 1,464female: 1,412 (2008 est.)
Trinidad and Tobagomale: 8,671female: 8,153 (2008 est.)
Tunisiamale: 101,794female: 95,198 (2008 est.)
Turkeymale: 660,452female: 638,527 (2008 est.)
Turkmenistanmale: 57,615female: 55,426 (2008 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islandsmale: 222female: 214 (2008 est.)
Tuvalumale: 128female: 125 (2008 est.)
Ugandamale: 384,638female: 381,990 (2008 est.)
Ukrainemale: 288,605female: 276,324 (2008 est.)
United Arab Emiratesmale: 25,856female: 23,085 (2008 est.)
United Kingdommale: 400,927female: 383,593 (2008 est.)
United Statesmale: 2,186,440female: 2,079,688 (2008 est.)
Uruguaymale: 27,082female: 26,075 (2008 est.)
Uzbekistanmale: 324,094female: 323,923 (2008 est.)
Vanuatumale: 2,385female: 2,290 (2008 est.)
Venezuelamale: 275,323female: 274,106 (2008 est.)
Vietnammale: 903,734female: 845,306 (2008 est.)
Virgin Islandsmale: 861female: 897 (2008 est.)
Wallis and Futunamale: 172female: 170 (2008 est.)
West Bankmale: 29,866female: 28,372 (2008 est.)
Western Saharamale: 4,658female: 4,545 (2008 est.)
Yemenmale: 268,468female: 258,196 (2008 est.)
Zambiamale: 147,358female: 146,771 (2008 est.)
Zimbabwemale: 144,601female: 147,627 (2008 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2028 Background
AfghanistanAhmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes andfounded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer betweenthe British and Russian empires until it won independence fromnotional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracyended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The SovietUnion invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communistregime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrewin 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supportedanti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil warssaw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardlinePakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end thecountry's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001terrorist attacks in New York City, a US, Allied, and anti-TalibanNorthern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for shelteringOsama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001established a process for political reconstruction that included theadoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, andNational Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAIbecame the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan andthe National Assembly was inaugurated the following December.Despite gains toward building a stable central government, aresurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability -particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challengesfor the Afghan Government.
AkrotiriBy terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that createdthe independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereigntyand jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is theAkrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as theWestern Sovereign Base Area.
AlbaniaAlbania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans tookover the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR(until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s,Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and establisheda multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging assuccessive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment,widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure,powerful organized crime networks, and combative politicalopponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic developmentsince first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficienciesremain. International observers judged elections to be largely freeand fair since the restoration of political stability following thecollapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections,the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory onpledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth,and decreasing the size of government. The election, andparticularly the orderly transition of power, was considered animportant step forward. Although Albania's economy continues togrow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered bya large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportationinfrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role inmanaging inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and iscontinuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, withtroops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of theglobal war on terrorism.
AlgeriaAfter more than a century of rule by France, Algeriansfought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962.Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front(FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in thesubsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved tocounter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprisingfirst round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in theDecember 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene andpostpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secularelite feared would be an extremist-led government from assumingpower. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FISsupporters to begin attacking government targets. The governmentlater allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderatereligious-based parties, but did not appease the activists whoprogressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into aninsurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and whichresulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminatemassacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained theupper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the IslamicSalvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers ofarmed militants persist in confronting government forces andconducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The armyplaced Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in afraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslidereelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to faceBOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minorityBerbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, ashortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies,government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuingactivities of extremist militants. The 2006 merger of the SalafistGroup for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) with al-Qaida (followed by aname change to al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb)signaled an increase in bombings, including high-profile,mass-casualty suicide attacks targeted against the Algeriangovernment and Western interests. Algeria must also diversify itspetroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve butwhich has not been used to redress Algeria's many social andinfrastructure problems.
American SamoaSettled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered"by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalriesin the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of easternislands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
AndorraFor 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under aunique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop ofUrgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titularheads of state retained, but the government transformed into aparliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainousAndorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II throughits tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) areattracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
AngolaAngola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-yearcivil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for theLiberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and theNational Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led byJonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peaceseemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, butUNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million peopledisplaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold onpower. President DOS SANTOS has announced legislative elections willbe held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned forsometime in 2009.
AnguillaColonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19thcentury, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with SaintKitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, twoyears after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; thisarrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becominga separate British dependency.
AntarcticaSpeculation over the existence of a "southern land" wasnot confirmed until the early 1820s when British and Americancommercial operators and British and Russian national expeditionsbegan exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas southof the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established thatAntarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20thcentury. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientificresearch on the continent. A number of countries have set up a rangeof year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to supportscientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorialclaims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order toform a legal framework for the activities of nations on thecontinent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither deniesnor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Antigua and BarbudaThe Siboney were the first to inhabit theislands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indianspopulated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded bythe English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to runthe sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islandsbecame an independent state within the British Commonwealth ofNations in 1981.